Sports

Batavia Downs Casino will hold its annual Weiner Dog Races and Family Fun Day on Sunday, Aug. 29.

The whole family is invited to visit with Mr. Scribbles, Pringles the Clown, and get free pony rides 2 to 4 p.m. for the kids. Sahlens hot dogs and sodas will be just $1 at the Paddock Room concession stand beginning at noon.

At approximately 4:30 p.m., the Weiner Dogs will take to the track! Petco of Batavia is the official sponsor of the event and will supply doggy bags to the owners of the participating dogs.

This year, six separate heats will be held with the fastest dachshund that dashes down the track in each heat declared the winner. The winners will be given an opportunity to race in the championship following the final heat and compete for prizes. Last year, Jean Smart’s 2-year-old dachshund, “Jake Arnold," was a narrow winner.

If you would like to enter your dachshund, please contact Arna Tygart at 343-3750, ext 437 beginning July 26.

In a game, which on paper, should have been an easy win for Batavia’s 12-year-old Little League All Stars vs. Dansville, it turned out to be a very exciting comeback-from-behind victory.

Batavia started the game poorly, throwing 3 pitchers with a combined 80 pitches to get out of the first inning, as the scoreboard read, Dansville up 7-0.

Batavia bounced back with 4 runs to reduce the deficit. Dansville came back with 4 more runs, making it 11-4 after 3 innings in wet weather conditions. Batavia was flat, as Dansville had a commanding lead.

But CJ Suozzi provided the spark for Batavia’s comeback. Suozzi hit a laser over the left center field fence with Greg Mruczek and Dakota Swimline on base. The ball ended up
in the street lined outfield at Dansville’s LL Stadium.

This was Suozzi’s 3rd homer in the District Tournament. Batavia went on to score 3
more runs in the 4th inning making the score 11-10.

In the bottom of the 5th, Suozzi led off the inning with a double. The umpire stopped the game for a rain delay. After 30 minutes the game resumed as darkness was fast approaching.

Tyler Prospero walked. A wild pitch advanced both runners into scoring position. Josh Johnson hit a sacrifice fly to deep center, scoring Suozzi and moving Prospero to third. A hot batting Trevor Sherwood (4 for 4), hit in Prospero for Batavia to take its first lead of the game!

Prospero came in relief in the 3rd inning and pitched masterfully (8 strikeouts) to get the win for Batavia, especially in the final inning when the playing conditions were wet and dark.

Batavia was led by great hitting from Sherwood, Suozzi, Nate Goodwin, Jarret Lasket and Mruczek.

Batavia now advances to the District 3 Championship game at Geneseo tomorrow at 6 p.m. (Thursday, July 15).

This information was submitted by a reader.

"Batavia Downs Live," a three-and-a-half hour television broadcast of the harness races from Batavia Downs, returns on July 26 -- opening night of the 2010 season -- at the historic track.

Up to 69 race cards will be televised in the Time-Warner Rochester region on Channel 98. Channel 98 is on Time-Warner's basic digital package. The coverage area extends from portions of eastward Niagara County and through all or most of Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming, Monroe, Livingston, Wayne, Ontario, Seneca, Yates and Steuben counties.

The broadcast begins at 6:30 p.m.,10 mintues before the Downs' new 6:40 p.m. first race post time.

Once again, racing analyst Todd Haight and track announcer Joe Zambito will anchor the broadcast.
 
“We are extremely pleased to be back on Time-Warner,” said Michael D. Kane, vice president of Live Racing and OTB branch operations. “This is a wonderful opportunity for Batavia Downs to once again showcase its live racing product to new customers and to provide our longtime racing fans with the nightly races in the comfort of their homes.”
 
Last year the races were also shown in Erie County and Buffalo.
 
“We continue discussions with Time-Warner in those areas, but as of right now we have no deal in place," Kane said. "Our racing fans should visit our website for any further updates.” <http://www.bataviadownscasino/>
 
Western Regional Off-Track betting, the owner of Batavia Downs, provides telephone betting through its Dial-A-Bet service. Patrons may phone 1-800-724-4000 to establish an account.

July is upon us, and that means the return of pacers and trotters to Batavia Downs Casino.

Opening night is July 26, which not only marks the 64th season of live harness racing at America’s Oldest Lighted Harness Track, but a newly expanded stakes schedule.

Batavia is doubling the number of New York Sire Stakes contests it will offer as compared to 2009 and is adding the County Fair Finals for 2- and 3-year-old pacers and trotters.

The 2010 Batavia Downs Casino stakes schedule boasts combined purses in excess of $1 million. Stakes racing culminates with the eighth annual Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace on Oct. 16.

“We are thrilled to see an expanded stakes schedule for 2010,” said Todd Haight, track analyst for Batavia Downs Casino. “I’m confident the New York bred pacers and trotters will bring as much excitement and as many fast miles for our patrons this year as they did in 2009.”

In all, there will be eight New York Sire Stakes and seven New York Late Closers throughout July, August and September at Batavia Downs Casino.

The glamour division, the 3-year-old New York Sire Stakes colt and gelding pacers, are set to race on Saturday, Sept. 4. In 2009, the 3-year-old pacers gave Kenneth J’s all-age track record of 1:52 a scare when Jim Morrill Jr., with OK Braveheart, Handsome Harry, and Hypnotic Blue Chip each did the mile in a sizzling 1:52.2, 1:53 and 1:52.3, respectively. OK Braveheart’s 1:52.2 mile established a new track record for 3-year-olds.

Haight is optimistic that the same level of talent will be showcased this year as well.

Sept. 18 marks a notable day in the 70-year history of Batavia Downs, as the second largest (combined) stakes purses ever will be up for grabs when the 2-year-old filly trotters and 3-year-old colt trotters vie for estimated purses of $280,000. This figure is second only to Armbro Flori’s victory in the Breeders Crown in 1988, which boasted a purse of $286,756.

Another highly anticipated event this year is the Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace, which carried a $40,000 purse in 2009. Scheduled for Oct. 16, Haight believes that the timing is attractive for pacers that want to continue racing after the Oct. 9 Breeders Crown.

“Scheduling the Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace a week after the Breeders Crown could be an attractive option for many of the best horses in all of harness racing,” Haight said.

Last year’s winner, Foiled Again, one of the top pacers in the sport, cruised around the Downs oval in 1:52.3. Matt Kakaley was in the sulky for trainer Ron Burke <http://fanguide.ustrotting.com/dt_stars_profiles.cfm?id=133792>.

For the complete Batavia Downs stakes schedule, visit www.bataviadownscasino.com <http://www.bataviadownscasino.com/>.

Batavia's 12-year-old All Stars shut out Wayland 10-0 yesterday.

Josh Johnson led off the game Sunday with a home run to right center. CJ Suozzi led off the third inning with another towering home run to center field (his 2nd of the District 3 Tournament) and Mike Falitico added a 2-run laser to deep left field to lead Batavia.

Quentin Weis and Tyler Prospero combined for multiple strikeouts and pitched a 1 hitter.

Greg Mruczek hit 2 line drives for doubles. Also, Dakota Swimline and Weis hit doubles. Other key hits were by Nathan Goodwin and Dominic Mogavaro.

Batavia #2 seed (2-1) plays in Dansville tomorrow (July 13). The #1 Seed Geneseo will play #2 seed Thursday at 6 p.m. in Geneseo for the District Championship.

This information submitted by a reader.

Tonight's Batavia Muckdogs game versus the Connecticut Tigers has been postponed due to rain.

The two teams will play a double-header tomorrow night starting at 5:05. They will play two seven-inning games, with the second starting a half hour after the conclusion of game one.

The fireworks originally scheduled for Friday’s game will occur after the game on Saturday, July 31st versus the Jamestown Jammers. That night’s game is scheduled for 7:05, with gates opening at 6 p.m.

Nick Ficarella hit a walk off 3-run homer to finish the game 12 to 2 over Oakfield.

Oakfield scored with their first batter. Hale lead off the game with a home run to left field.

Batavia bounced back with a 3-run inning with runs scored by Trevor Sherwood, Tyler Prospero and CJ Suozzi to take a 3-to-1 lead after the first inning.

Batavia shut out Oakfield in the second inning with great pitching by Dominic Mogavaro (9 strikeouts on the day).

Prospero came up with a big 3-run homer over the left center-field fence to advance Batavia to a 6-to-1 lead after two innings of play.

Batavia's Dakota Swimline hit a solo home run in the third. His second homer in two games. Oakfield's first baseman Hamm followed with a towering home run to right center in the fourth inning.

Ficarella came up to bat in the bottom of the fifth to ice the game with a 3-run homer.

Batavia had multiple hits by Sherwood, Prospero, Swimline, Suozzi, Ficarella, Noah Dobbertin, Ryan Cummings, Jarret Lasket, Mike Falitco and Greg Mrucek.

Batavia is now 2-0 in pool play with a big game this Thursday at home against highly rated Geneseo.

This information was submitted by a reader.

On July 10 and 17 there will be overnight camping after each Muckdog game for City of Batavia residents.

All campers need to be accompanied by an adult family member and everyone needs to purchase a ticket to the game.

Advance tickets can be purchased at $1 saving per ticket from the game day price. When buying your ticket, all you have to do is to say you will be camping and you will be given a voucher. which will give you entrance to the outfield to set up your tent.

Tent stakes can not be longer that 10 inches. No pets allowed and everyone needs to be off the field by 8 a.m. the next day.

Any questions call the Muckdogs at 343-5454.

CJ Suozzi hit a Grand Slam to lead Batavia 12-year-old All-stars 18 to 5 over Le Roy.

Le Roy came out of the gates fast with a 2-run lead in the first, with runs by Fix and Tygart. Batavia's "Q" (Quinten) Weis tied the game with one swing of the bat, hitting a 2-run homer as Josh Johnson led off the inning with a walk. Bro (Dakota) Swimline followed Weis with a back-to-back home run as Batavia ended the inning up 4 to 2.

Le Roy bounced back with 3 more runs in the second inning by Elliot, Fisher and Midwick to take the lead back 5 to 4.

Batavia's big hit came with bases loaded. Suozzi hit a towering home run over the center field fence to lead an 8-run inning, which was too much to overcome.

Suozzi, Weis, Swimline and Tyler Prospero went 3 for 3 while Johnson, Mike Falitico and Nick Ficarella contributed with hits.

Information submitted by a reader.