Sports

Press release from Wyoming County International Speedway:

By Dan Turner, track announcer

It has been many, many months since the racers of the Wyoming County International Speedway got the chance to “Feel the Need for Speed." This past Saturday night (may 18) was their first time in 2019 to do just that.

Racers for north of the border, from Canada, were in attendance as well as some teams from near the Pennsylvania border. A total of 24 modified teams 15 4 cyl., 7 SST Super Stocks, 11 Super 6 cars, were ready to stretch their legs and see if all their hard off season work and upgrades would net them the winner’s trophy and prize money that goes hand in hand.

Opening night was sponsored by the Churchville Fire Equipment Co.

Mother Nature cooperated and has given the track a fantastic afternoon and evening for racing. Just one ominous feature of the night was the dreaded FULL MOON…

As on most nights at the Blacktop Bullring the mighty 4 cylinders lead off the program. The 4 bangers as usual put on a great race with a great mix of Hondas, Saturns, Acuras and other makes mixed in. The qualifying went off pretty much hassle free. Then the redraw took place during intermission and that shuffled up the top 6 racers. The feature would run to about half way before a caution would fly for a simple spin.

At this point is was a 2-car race between the #8 of Dave Heims and the #51 of Greg Moldt. Officals would see the exhaust pipe was dragging on the Moldt ride. For safety purposes the #51 had to go pit side and have the crew fix or remove it and not cause a dangerous racing situation if, it was ran over by another car and cause a wreck.

This I believe was the twisted sense of humor of the full moon. But now we had the fastest 4 cyl. In the tail of the field and less than 10 laps to gain as many spots as possible before the checkers waved. Well, Moldt put on the blinders and focused on moving his car to the front.

Drop the green and Moldt passes 5 cars on the back straight, 4 more on the front straight. Now 6^th and every lap getting pasted 1 or 2 cars. With the white in the air Moldt put it besides the #8 of Heims.  There was nothing Heims could do, but watch Moldt pick up feature #1 on opening night.

Well over 17 cars are registered to run the SST Super Stock class but only 7 cars were in attendance on opening night. Many of the drivers and crews stating they will be ready next week on Military Appreciation Night. All our perennial runners were on hand and the much awaited return of 3-time track champion, Dave Krawczyk. It was only awaited by the fans, most of the teams in the Super Stock division know that the 11k is the car to beat on most nights.

Tonight was no exception as it was only a handful of laps the the Krawczyk and his 11k were out front. Eric Hastreiter and Paul Flye, both graduates of the 4 cylider class have started making noise in the thou small, but tight class at the bullring.

A new addition to the weekly racing program is the Super 6 class that got its start in Spencer Speedway a few years back. Being the primary entry-level racing division, it keeps the cars very basic. It keeps the cars on OEM rims, bodies, engines and transmission, though the car must have all the safety gear to prevent injuries in case of a wreck at speed on the track.

This class over the years was a 6 to 8 car field. With the class getting more and more competitive, its growing to a very respectable 11 car field, pretty respectable for opening night. During the meet and greet it was Flyin Brian Hallett saying that he did not think that the car was winner capable. But a great start and starting spot helped put the 36 out front early and Brian was not going to let it get away. Hallett was chaced across the line by Cocilova, new comer Chris Deyoe.

Just for fun lets shuffle up the top 12 SST Modified drivers and see what happens. Neil Dietz would lead this full field of Mods to green. Dietz would take the early command of the race and yes he was getting challenges from, Timmy Lewis in the #41 and the #27 of Kevin Lewis. On lap 15 of the 30 lap main, the first of a few yellows waved.

This with the cars of Virts, Logsdon, Dennie, Fuchs and Kosachook. Only Dennie, Logsdon and Zack Kosachook could restart, the rest would watch the conclusion from the grandstands. Lap 18 came and possible damage from the previous wreck may have caused Logsdon to bring out caution 2 in turn one.

The cream was rising to the time and it was clear Bookmiller brought his A game along with John Barber, Danny Majcrhzak, Kevin Timmerman and fan favorite Gary Coon. With only 2 laps remaining, Bookmiller was applying pressure and Dietz was fighting them off. Off turn 3 Dietz entered the turn wide and Bookmiller took his shot and dove deep into the turn three at the apex, Dietz slammed the door and Bookmiller was coming fast. They made contact and it was Dietz spinning off turn four and Bookmiller powered through.

Yellows flew and officials deemed Bookmiller to join Dietz in the rear with only a one lap shoot out. Did I already mention the full moon? Green, white checker is ready now with Timmy Lewis on the pole, Majchrzak outside and Barber in the #01 behind Lewis.

Clean start and Barber helped push Lewis past Majchrzak and it was a two-car battle and barber had the bottom off turn 2 Lewis up high and they had contact and both Lewis and Barber slid they the wet infield grass off turn two. Majchrzak would capitalize on the aggressive misfortune of Lewis and Barber.

 “I could sorta see that these two were not going to lift, so I just held my breath and took full advantage of the spin," said Majchrzak in Victory lane.

4 cylinders

 1)Greg Moldt, 2)D.Hiems, 3)J.Gustafson, 4)B.Woch, 5)J.Anastewicz, 6)K.Ricketson, 7)M.Hurlburt, 8)B.Dils, 9)R.Laskowski, 10)J.Landwehr, 11)J.Kriebs, 12)J.Klamat,13)E.Reardon, 14)K.Kocher, 15)J.Sass

Super 6  

1)Brian Hallett, 2)A.Cocilova, 3)C.Deyoe, 4)r.Cassidy, 5)J.Parthemer, 6)F.Parsons, 7)A.Knoepfler, 8)P.Rodriguez, 9)J.Welton, 10)A.Parthemer, 11)D.Parsons

SST Super Stocks

1)Dave Krawczyk, 2)E.Hastrieter, 3)P.Flye, 4)J.Horvatits, 5)F.Kline, 6)R.Richter, 7)S.Gleed

SST Modifieds

1)Daniel Majchrzak, 2)K.Timmerman, 3)G.Coon, 4)R.Nugent, 5)B.Dennie, 6)A.Bookmiller, 7)K.Lewis, 8)N.Dietz, 9)B.Kosachook. 10)J.Barber, 11)T.Lewis, 12)P.Townsend, 13)C.Jenkins, 14)C.Lanni, 15)C.Logsdon, 16)Z.Kosachook, 17)N.Michielsen, 18)T.Alloco, 19)M.Virts, 20)S.Fuchs, 21)G.Sharkey, 22, B.Chandler, K.Woody DNS

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Batavia, NY --- Batavia Downs has announced that they have retained the services of Heather Wilder and Peter Kleinhans as their on-air personalities for the broadcast of the $1.8 million New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) Night of Champions which will be held at the track on Saturday (Sept. 14).

Wilder will be doing pre and post-race interviews and Kleinhans will provide analysis and handicapping insight.

Heather Wilder, above, grew up with solid roots in harness racing  being the daughter of Dan and Ruth Altmeyer and later marrying Meadows leading driver Mike Wilder. Her knowledge of every aspect of the sport is extensive as is her relationships with all its participants. 

Besides being actively involved in racing everyday, Wilder currently handles talent management for the Delaware County Fair during the live TV broadcast of the Little Brown Jug. She has also been a regular part of the United States Harness Writers Association’s (USHWA) Dan Patch Awards Banquet both as an onstage host and Facebook live interviewer and producer for many years. 

While she worked as public relations and marketing director for the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association (MSOA) she became a pioneer of reporting on racing on Facebook Live and coordinated the promotion of countless on-track events. In recognition of her fine work she was the recipient of USHWA's Lew Barasch Memorial Breakthrough Award for industry career achievements in 2013. 

Wilder’s lifelong involvement with the sport and its players will make for interesting trackside and winner’s circle interviews throughout the night.

Peter Kleinhans started going to Roosevelt Raceway as a teenager and his passion for the sport grew from there. Eventually he started training and driving his own stable and reached the top of the game. 

Kleinhans was training a stable of 20 horses led by Enough Talk who was the first trotter in the world to break the 1:50 barrier when he won by over eight lengths in 1:49.3 at Colonial Downs in 2008. Enough Talk also won the Breeders Crown in 2010 and received the Dan Patch older trotter of the year trophy from USHWA in each of those two seasons.  

Although he still competes as an amateur driver, Kleinhans has expanded his role in the sport to announcer, analyst and host and has recently filled in at the Meadowlands in those capacities. His knowledge and expertise of the sport and articulate delivery of same will provide an informative and entertaining look at the night’s races for all who are watching.  

“We are very excited to add such accomplished and professional talents to our production of the Night of Champions” said Todd Haight, Director/General Manager of Live Racing at Batavia Downs. “Heather and Peter have performed at the highest levels of the sport both on and off the track and will bring a unique perspective to the show for our fans.” 

The Batavia Downs live racing meet kicks off on Wednesday (July 24) and runs through Saturday (Dec. 14). For more information on the upcoming racing season log on to www.bataviadownsgaming.com/live-racing.

(Wilder photo credit: USTA. Kleinhans photo credit: Meadowlands)

By Tim Bojarski for Batavia Downs

Longtime Western New York harness horseman John P. Cummings Sr. passed away on Saturday (May 11) after a lengthy illness. 

Mr. Cummings first got involved in harness racing in 1968 at the age of 22 through his brother-in-law Steve Flanigen. While working full time at both Trico Products and Bethlehem Steel (where he was a tradesman bricklayer) he started jogging and training horses with Flanigen and found what would soon become a lifelong vocation. 

He started out with a couple homebreds named Clippers Classic and Windjammer Munk and soon added overnighters like Don J and Jack Flood to build his stable. Then through his 42-year career he went on to train horse that included Pembroke Primo (1:55.4, $341,026), Mr. Casanova (1:53.2, $274,073), Cambestion (1:52.4, $184,892), Good Evening Smile (1:57.3, $89,219), Solitaire Hanover (1:53.2, $63,953), Pitch The Prez (1:54.4, $89,396) and New York Sire Stake winner Pass Now (1:55.2, $81,918). 

Mr. Cummings most notable horse was Arm And A Leg (1:54, $320,791) who in 2009 won 13 out of 39 starts and $86,000 to be named the Western New York Horse of the Year in a ceremony held at Batavia Downs. 

Over the years Mr. Cummings amassed 3,779 training starts with 731 wins, 574 seconds and 466 thirds and earnings in excess of $1.8 million. 

Although he did also drive, it wasn’t too often. Early on he used Flanigen who had more experience in the bike, and then later he had several more viable options that provided him the luxury of staying solely in the jog cart. You see Mr. Cummings is not only known as a trainer at the track, he also has the distinction of being the patriarch of one of the largest family of drivers in New York State. Four of his five children were boys who were brought up in the business since they could walk. 

John Cummings Jr., Tony Cummings, Todd Cummings and Kevin Cummings were taught the ropes by their father and have all been training and driving since they were old enough to get their licenses. And now Todd’s son Kyle Cummings has made his grandfather proud by breaking out on the racing scene earlier this year with his first driving win.

All told, Mr. Cummings impact on harness racing through himself and his family has been 54,387 starts with 8,272 wins and over $38 million in earnings. That is a family tradition. 

Although his wife, children and horses were his primary passion, when Mr. Cummings had any free time he enjoyed playing cards and was also an avid bowler. He did roll a 300 game and proudly wore the ring he received indicating that milestone everyday. 

"Harry", as he was affectionately known by everyone, had an affable personality and the ability to make people laugh in any situation throughout his entire life and his presence will be sorely missed by all that knew him. 

John Cummings Sr. was the beloved husband of Lallah (nee Flanigen) Cummings; devoted father of John Jr. (Megan Wilson), Anthony (Barbara), Colleen (Tim) Gallagher, Todd (Tammy), and Kevin (Rhonda) Cummings; son of the late Edward and Dorothy (nee Pike) Cummings; loving brother of Edward (late Clara), Frank, late Dorothy "Snookie" and late Peter Cummings; cherished grandfather of 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; also survived by many nieces and nephews. 

Friends will be received on Tuesday (May 14) from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Lakeside Memorial Funeral Home, 4199 Lake Shore Road (corner of Camp Road and Route 5) Hamburg, NY. A mass of Christian burial will be held Wednesday (May 15) at noon at Saint John Paul II Parish 2052 Lakeview Road, Lakeview, NY.  

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association. Donations and condolences may be left online at www.lakesidefuneralhome.com.

Genesee Region USBC bowlers have carried themselves very well recently while competing in national and state tournaments.

But before diving into the scores and standings, let’s give one more "shout-out" to Batavia native (and Corfu resident) Joe Mortellaro on his successful quest to hit the 50-year mark for participation at the USBC Open Championships.

Regular readers of The Batavian would have seen the stories (including my previous Pin Points column) and photos of “Mort” being recognized by USBC officials at this year’s tournament in Las Vegas.

Batavian Paul Spiotta, a national tournament teammate of Mortellaro’s for nearly 25 years, said he and the rest of Joe’s bowling mates and family members in attendance at the South Point Bowling Plaza were overcome with emotion during the presentation on April 26.

“Joe Mort’s ceremony was outstanding,” Spiotta said. “First off, when they announced all of the ‘celebrities’ in the squad room prior to heading to the lanes, they saved Joe for last and he received a standing ovation from the full squad of bowlers. It was so cool as he raised both arms in the air to acknowledge their applause.”

Spiotta said he was “truly touched” when Mortellaro asked Joe Trigilio (another longtime teammate who is battling brain cancer and was unable to bowl) and him to accompany Mort onto the lanes for the presentation.

“All of the other bowlers had already proceeded to their assigned lanes and then they announced Joe Mort and we all walked together to music and applause,” Spiotta said. “The tournament director gave a bio of all of Joe’s bowling achievements -- both local and at the national tournament -- and then Joe was asked to say a few words. It was very emotional for me.”

 Mortellaro was unsure whether he would be able to make it to the tournament this year due to health problems, including the fact that he needs dialysis three times per week.

But he made it and bowled eight of the nine games – three in the Team event on one day and three in Doubles and two in Singles on the next day before having to stop. While 155 was his high game, the scores weren’t important.

Joe Mortellaro is now part of bowling history that not many others can claim. Congratulations, Joe!

Spiotta said his two five-man teams from the Genesee Region didn’t set the world on fire – shooting 2,514 and 2,333, but he and Gregg Wolff made a big splash in the Standard Division Doubles competition.

The duo combined for 1,225 in Doubles, with Spiotta posting 670 and Wolff 555, and left the building in fourth place. When I last looked at the current standings on bowl.com, I saw that they were in fifth place.

The USBC uses bowlers’ averages for their last 27 games in the Open Championships to determine their division, so that put Spiotta (183 average) and Wolff (166 average) in the Standard Division. 

The group’s high series came from the left hand of Brian Green, who posted 625 in Singles with a 252 final game. 

Earlier in the tournament, Scott Culp of Honeoye Falls rolled a 299 game en route to a 715 score in Singles and his in 54^th place. His 1,959 All-Events score – a sparkling 217 average – has him in 69^th place.

Culp is on the short list of best bowlers in our area, having won numerous tournaments and compiling multiple 300 games and 800 series.

AREA BOWLERS AMONG LEADERS AT NYS OPEN

The 95^th NYS Open Championships are taking place at Valley Bowling Center in Waverly – next weekend wraps things up – and Genesee Region bowlers are among the leaders.

In the 1001 & Over Team event, the Johnson No. 1 squad posted a 3,179 score and is in 18^th place out of the 104 teams that have competed thus far. The tournament pays one out of every five entries, so the team has a chance to cash.

Mike Johnson of Batavia led the way with a 691 series on the 41-foot challenge pattern while Josh Elliott of Attica added 629. Other team members were Bryan Johnson, A.J. Allenbrandt and Josh Caryl.

In 400 & Under Doubles, Allenbrandt and Elliott recorded 1,193, which currently stands in 18^th place out of 127 entries, and in 401 & Over Doubles, Elliott and Nathan Cordes are in 47^th place out of 200 entries with a 1,290 score.

In 200 & Under Singles, three GRUSBC bowlers are in the top six, with Allenbrandt tied for third at 683, Bryan Johnson in fourth at 681 and Bruce Kraus of Corfu in sixth at 678.

In 201 & Over Singles, Steve O’Dell of Oakfield shot 724 and is in 17^th place out of nearly 400 entrants, while Jason Quilliam of Batavia sits in 25^th place at 708 and Mike Johnson is 30^th with 705.

Bryan Johnson is 22^nd in 200 & Under All-Events with 1,803 and his father, Mike, is in 31^st place in 201 & Over All-Events with 2,034. Culp’s 2,009 score has him in 38^th place.

Handicap in the 200 & Under division is based on 200 and in the 201 & Over division is based on 220.

NEARLY 100 TO ATTEND GRUSBC BANQUET SATURDAY

About 100 people, including four inductees into the Hall of Fame, tournament winners and league representatives, are expected to attend the Genesee Region USBC Annual Banquet at 6 p.m. this Saturday at Batavia Downs Gaming on Park Road.

The event features guest speaker Carl Dixon, famed Canadian rocker who played with The Guess Who, April Wine and Coney Hatch.  Dixon’s inspirational story centers on his recovery from a horrific car accident in 2008.

They are James Foss of Medina in the Achievement Regular category, Robert Hodgson of Medina and Al Vlietstra of Geneseo in the Achievement Veteran category, and Eunice Englert of Nunda in the Meritorious Service category will be inducted into the GRUSBC Hall of Fame.

Team New Era Baseball will hold tryouts for its fall elite travel baseball program for players ages 9 through 17 on Friday May 17th and Tuesday May 28th at our Depew facility, 3950 Broadway.

For more information or to register for a tryout, visitwww.teamnewerabaseball.com.

For additional questions, contact Rich Wozniak at 716-681-3001 or tnemail@teamnewerabaseball.com.