Oakfield-Alabama beat Notre Dame on the Fighting Irish home court on Thursday night 68-56.
For the Hornets, Travis Wiedrich scored 25 points and Joey Burdick scored 18. They each hit three three-pointers.
Gabe Macdonald scored 18 for ND and Cody Henry scored 10.
Photos by Kristen Smith, click here. For JV photos, click here.
Write up and photo submitted by Coach Matt Holman.
SWAIN -- The Batavia Alpine Ski Team competed in a two-run slalom race on Wednesday. This changed from a previously scheduled giant slalom race because conditions were prime for snowmaking on the headwall of Wheels Run due to the high temperatures and rain forecasted for the weekend.
Heavy snow in the early afternoon, wind and cold; ski racing conditions were near perfect at the 5:30 p.m. start. The course wore well, but still testing each athlete's skiing ability and the importance of a freshly tuned pair of skis.
Eighth-grader Lily Wagner successfully passed the advanced placement test early this week and will now participate as a varsity racer for the rest of the season. This gives Batavia a full girls varsity team, which finished in fourth place.
Senior Aubrey Towner was the team's top individual finisher in sixth place. Junior Lily Whiting was 14th and Lily Wagner was 15th.
Zack Wagner finished in 14th place on the boys' side.
Eighth-grader Ethan Bradley placed 10th, the first modified top-10 finish in his young career. Elijah Abdella (eighth grade) was 20th, and seventh-grader Abby Bestine was 23rd.
A big thank you to the BHS Ski Club and advisor Mr. Metler along with the Ski Team parents and alumni for helping host the race.
The Batavia Ski Team will next race at Swain on Saturday, Jan. 12th.
Photo: First-year Modified Skiers Abby Bestine, Brody Swinehart, and Elijah Abdella after receiving their team jackets.
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today released the following statement, following his meeting with Commissioner of Major League Baseball (MLB) Rob Manfred:
“Last month, Commissioner Manfred and I had a productive meeting to discuss Minor League Baseball’s presence in New York. Throughout the state, from Binghamton to Auburn, to Batavia, Staten Island and beyond baseball is woven into the very fabric of our communities, with fan bases that glean a sense of pride and joy from their success.
"That is why I will continue to fight to ensure that these teams remain in those communities. It is critical going forward that all of the parties — from team owners, to local leaders, to MLB and MiLB representatives—step up to the plate and negotiate in good faith,” Senator Schumer said. “In fact, I have urged MLB officials to come to these communities and hear directly from local leaders, and I expect that will occur early this year.”
“We appreciate Senator Schumer’s efforts to bring the parties together to discuss the issues that currently exist in Minor League Baseball,” said Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred Jr. “We are at the very early stage of negotiations and are hopeful that Minor League Baseball will come to the negotiating room and engage in good faith negotiations in an effort to make a deal.”
In November, news reports revealed that MLB proposed plans to take 42 teams that are currently affiliated with Major League teams and reassign them to compete in a newly-formed league, called the Dream League. Reports indicate that MLB’s proposal would mean the reassignment of four teams across New York State: the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Batavia Muckdogs, Auburn Doubledays and Staten Island Yankees — and an alteration of the business plans of the Tri-City Valleycats, Hudson Valley Renegades and Brooklyn Cyclones.
In November, after learning of the proposal, Schumer wrote to MLB to express his serious concerns, request the league sit down with local stakeholders to discuss the plan and search for constructive solutions that would maintain minor league baseball’s strong presence in Upstate New York.
In the time since, MLB met with representatives of MiLB and team owners to work through and negotiate potential plans in further detail. Schumer is now urging those conversations to continue and for all of the parties to negotiate in good faith to figure out a way to preserve baseball throughout Upstate New York.
Photos and information submitted by Coach Matt Holman.
SWAIN -- The Batavia Ski Team and Southern Tier Race League began their race season Saturday at Swain Resort with a double race.
Two runs of Giant Slalom in the morning, followed by a single run of slalom in the afternoon.
It was an above-average temperature day for ski racing, spring-like conditions and morning mist turned to sleet and back to rain that making the top layer of snow soft and lumpy like mashed potatoes and also exposed the hard-packed ice base in spots of Wheels Run at Swain.
The Batavia Alpine Ski Team had a successful day, senior Aubrey Towner had the best finish of her career and led the way in fourth place in the giant slalom, and sixth in slalom. Junior Lily Whiting came in ninth in giant slalom and 13th in the slolam. Junior Zack Wagner finished in 11th in giant slalom and 12th in the slalom on the boys' side.
Modified skiers Lily Wagner (11th/13th), Ethan Bradley (12th/12th), Ben Stone (16th/18th), Elijah Abdella (18th/15th), Brody Swinehart (23rd/20th) and Abby Bestine (24th/23rd) all had strong first races.
The ski team will next compete at Swain on Wednesday, in a two-run Giant Slalom race at 5:30 p.m.
Team photo: Aubrey Towner, Lily Wagner, Lily Whiting, Elijah Abdella, Abby Bestine, Zack Wagner, Ben Stone, Ethan Bradley, and Brody Swinehart.
Zack Wagner
Aubrey Towner
Submitted photo and press release:
On Dec. 19th, Genesee Women’s Soccer signed their sixth recruit for the upcoming season, Kiaya Condidorio.
Kiaya is a 5’7” center midfielder and a three-year varsity starter for Le Roy High School Girls’ Soccer Team. She is an Honor Roll student, appeared in the Exceptional Senior Game this past fall, and was awarded All Livingston County as well. She has played for the Greece Cobras in the offseason and also plays basketball at LeRoy.
When asked what Genesee Head Coach Jeff Reyngoudt saw in Condidorio, he said “She’s big, strong, and wins balls out of the air. She commands leadership on the field and distributes so well. We have been lacking a midfield with size and strength for a while.”
Reyngoudt had also mentioned that Chloe Barrett, who was Genesee’s first signee for the 2020 season, will be a perfect fit with Kiaya.
“They are both powerhouses and I’m excited to put the two of them on the field together,” Reyngoudt said.
The Genesee Cougar’s coaching staff is still in the process of recruiting for the 2020 team and have some more signings coming up. If you are interested in trying out for the Genesee Cougars, please email Jeff Reyngoudt at: jcreyngoudt@genesee.edu.
The Batavia Blue Devils fought through a couple of lead changes against local rival Notre Dame on Friday night in the championship game of the 31st Annual Rotary Tournament but prevailed in the end, 53-46.
Mackenzie Reigle scored 22 points on the night and was named the tournament's MVP.
Reigle's scoring included a pair of three-pointers while Bryn Wormley added 13 points, hitting four three-pointers in the second and third quarters. Emma Krolczyk scored nine points.
For Notre Dame, Morgan Rhodes scored 20 points, hitting a pair of threes along the way. Amelia McCulley, who fouled out with about 1:30 left in the game, scored 15. Lindsay Weidman scored six points.
In the consolation game, Pembroke beat Le Roy 59-49. It's the most points the 7-1 team has scored on the season. It is also the most points the Lady Dragons have allowed. Serene Calderon scored 17 points as did Nicole Von Kramer. Von Kramer hit five three-point shots. Mackenna Johnson scored 11 points. Jillian Curtis scored 12 points for Le Roy. Bryn Luckey added 11 and Kailyn Tresco scored nine.
Jackson Briggs, son of Batavia Blue Devils football Coach Brennan Briggs, made his first snowman today, finishing it this morning in advance of the Buffalo Bills' playoff game today in Houston.
Photo submitted by Brennan Briggs.
From Jan. 3, 2020 edition of Speedway Digest:
Genesee Speedway in Batavia and DIRTcar Racing have entered into a new partnership for the 2020 season.
The Sportsman Modified division at Genesee Speedway will now be DIRTcar sanctioned, which includes upgraded support from Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, and an increased public relations presence across the board.
The DIRTcar Sportsman Modified division is one of the most successful formulas in racing today. The Sportsman's reputation is built on the parity of race equipment, safety, and general affordability.
"Genesee Speedway is home to many talented Sportsman teams from the region that will benefit from the DIRTcar sanction, noted promoter Jim Johnson. "We can't thank DIRTcar enough for giving us the opportunity to come on board this season and look forward to working with all the officials."
Top stars such as Oswego Chevy Performance 75 sportsman champion Kyle Inman, Jim Harbison, Cameron Tuttle, Dave Conant, Zach George, and others call the Genesee County Fairgrounds' oval home. It is located at 5056 E. Main Street Road (Route 5) in the Town of Batavia.
All DIRTcar Sportsman Modified drivers are automatically featured in the Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly Championship. Racer's top 16 finishes in weekly and Series racing produce points for the year-long championship.
Drivers, teams and sponsors will also enjoy increased exposure through DIRTcar's social media channels and weekly newsletter, which reaches nearly 40,000 people.
A DIRTcar Sportsman Western Region Series is also close to being finalized -- joining Ransomville, Merrittville, Humberstone, Freedom and Brighton speedways -- in hosting events for the region that boast of $1,500 point fund to the top five. Home track and Region Bonus points are totaled. Then drivers can strive to be the overall DIRTcar Sportsman Champion by attending the year-end Fall Championship Challenge events.
The sanction further strengthens the relationship between Genesee and DIRTcar Racing as this year Genesee Speedway welcomes the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series to Batavia. The Outlaws will race for $10,000 on Friday, June 19. It's going to be a huge year for Genesee.
Genesee Speedway is a .375-mile oval built in 1983. Bookmark their website for race reports and points standings.
The Notre Dame Girls Basketball Team, ranked number 19 in the state in Class D, upset the Pembroke Lady Dragons, ranked #4 in Class C, in a first-round Rotary Championship game at Genesee Community College on Thursday night.
The Lady Irish won 33-28.
Amelia McCulley (top photo) scored 20 points for ND. Morgan Rhodes scored six.
For Pembroke, Serene Calderon, MacKenna Johnson, and Emily Peters, all scored six points each.
Photos by Philip Casper.
Mackenna Johnson
Serene Calderon
Dekari Moss
Montana Weedman
Attica gave Batavia a game in the large-school championship of the Pete Arras Lions Tournament at Genesee Community College.
A strategy of ball control -- often running the shot clock down to just seconds -- and a defense that kept the Batavia Blue Devils' high-powered offense from running away with the game meant the visitors had a chance up until their final possession.
In the end, Batavia defended its crown, securing a 53-51 victory.
Camden White, who scored 21 points, many of them off his eight offensive rebounds (he had 11 total rebounds) was named the tournament MVP.
Zach Gilebarto, who missed the first game of the tournament due to an injury, scored 14 points, hitting four three-pointers. Stone Siverling scored 12 points.
For Attica, Frankie Bisceglie scored 15 points and Tyler Myer hit four three-pointers for 12 points. Ayden Goll scored eight points.
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The small-school championship game of the Pete Arras Lions Tournament came down to the final play as Elba beat Notre Dame 64-62.
Colton Dillion (top photo) was tournament MVP after scoring 22 points in the finale.
Collin O'Holloran scored 16 points. Caleb Scoten hit three three-point baskets for nine points.
For Notre Dame, Gabe Macdonald scored 19 points. Cody Henry and Colin McCulley scored 15 points each with McCulley hitting three three-point shots.
Photos by Philip Casper.
Caeden and Camden White scored a combined 43 points for Batavia against Le Roy in the first-round large-school game in the annual Pete Arras Lions Tournament at Genesee Community College.
Caeden White hit five three-point shots on his way to 21 points on the night. Camden White dominated in the paint scoring 22 points.
Stone Siverling scored 14 points, Luke Rogers scored nine, hitting three three-point shots in the fourth quarter, and Max Rapone hit two three-pointers for six points.
Andrew Loftus scored 11 points for the Oatkan Knights and Ethan Beswick scored 10 points.
Batavia will play Attica for the large-school championship on Monday at GCC at 8:45 p.m.
Elba plays Notre Dame in the small-school championship at 7 p.m. on Monday at GCC.
Still photos by Philip Casper.
Gabe Macdonald (top photo) scored 25 points to go with 18 from Collin McCulley to propel Notre Dame to a 65-59 win over Perry in a first-round small-school game at the annual Pete Arras Lions Tournament at Genesee Community College.
Photos by Phillip Casper.
Mark Sanders
In the small school first-round game between Elba and Oakfield-Alabama in the Pete Arras Lions Tournament at Genesee Community College, Elba came out on top 50-46.
Colton Dillion scored 31 points to lead the Lancers to victory and Travis Wiedrich scored 16 for O-A.
Top photo: Colton Dillion.
Photos by Philip Casper.
Elba's Caleb Scouten on a drive to the basket against O-A's Spencer Murphy.
Elba's Collin O'Halloran
O-A's Travis Wiedrich
Press release:
NYS Snowmobile Safety course will be taught at Alexander Fire Hall from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25.
The Alexander Fire Hall is located on Route 98 and Route 20, Alexander.
The course is free to children from 10 to 18 years of age. New York State’s Snowmobile Law requires that youngsters ages 10-18 acquire a safety certificate before they may lawfully operate a snowmobile.
Youngsters may qualify for their safety certificates by taking safety course and passing the examination given at the end of the course. The course and all materials are furnished free. The course is also open to adults.
The instructors for snowmobile Safety Course are certified by New York State.
You must sign up for the course and attend both classes where you register.
All materials for the Snowmobile Safety Course will be furnished. Those that pass the written exam will be issued a patch, certificate, and a license.
If your child is interested in taking the course and would like to lawfully drive a snowmobile.
Preregister by calling 716-481-2623 after 5:30 p.m.
The class is sponsored by the Millgrove Sportsmen Club, Alexander Fire Dept, Genesee Sno-Packers Snowmobile Club.
Seven hundred series were sprinkled throughout Genesee Region leagues heading into Christmas week.
Mickey Hyde, of Le Roy, coming off a GRUSBC Senior Masters title last month, posted a 767 series in the Le Roy American Legion Thursday Men's League at Legion Lanes with consistent games of 268, 245 and 254.
Along with prize money earned at the Senior Masters event, Hyde won a free spot in the GRUSBC Scratch Memorial Tournament on Jan. 4-5 at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion, and has signed up to compete on the 1 p.m. Saturday squad.
To enter, send an email to mikep@bowlgr.com. Qualifying squads are at 1 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 4) and 10 a.m. Sunday (Jan. 5).
Other 700 shooters last week included:
-- Rob Stefani, 740 in the G&W Vending League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen;
-- Rich Wagner, 740 in the Toyota of Batavia Thursday League at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia;
-- Casey Palmer Jr., 736 in the Friday Night Mixers League at Oak Orchard Bowl;
-- Brian Green, 729 in the Mancuso Real Estate/Smokin' Eagle BBQ League at Mancuso's;
-- Reid Cole, 731 in the Sneezy's Monday Night League at Oak Orchard Bowl;
-- Tom Allis, 728, and Bruce Kraus, 727, in the County Line Stone League at Paris Lanes in Oakfield.
For a list of high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of this page.
Everyone is invited to come explore 12 miles of trails in the 431-acre Genesee County Park and Forest in East Bethany. Wintertime hiking is especially beautiful.
Snowshoes must be used. You may bring your own or rentals are available at the Interpretive Nature Center December through March, weather permitting: starting at 10 a.m. on Thursdays and Fridays; 12 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Ending time for all days is 3 p.m.
Sizes are available for age 3 and up.
Fee: $5/person. All proceeds go to the ACORNS group supporting the parks -- the Association for Conservation of Recreational and Natural Spaces Inc. The park and forest are not handicapped accessible.
Preregistration recommended, call 585-344-1122!
***********************
Snowshoe Trail Group Hikes are also an option at Genesee County Park & Forest on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m January and February, by reservation only and weather permitting.
You may bring your own snowshoes or rentals are available at the Interpretive Nature Center in sizes for age 3 and up. Fee: $5/person; minimum group fee $75.
Handicapped accessible: No.
Call 585-344-1122 to book your own adventure!
Make a memory this winter with your own Snowshoe Trail Group Hike! An intrepid Naturalist guides your group through peaceful woodland trails and open meadows.
Enjoy winter’s quiet beauty and find signs of wildlife. Lessons are included, no previous experience needed! Come explore and escape to the wild!
Website: http://www.co.genesee.ny.us/departments/parks/eventsprograms.html
Email: Shannon.Lyaski@co.genesee.ny.us
Le Roy's boys swim team met a tough opponent, Attica, on Friday, losing 105-53.
Brady Fix did win two races, the 50 free at 25.26 and the 100 butterfly at 1:04.21.
Photos and information submitted by Tim McArdle.
Photos and story by Faith DesRoches.
Mackenna Johnson, a senior at Pembroke Jr./Sr. High School, has committed to attend Niagara County Community College.
She plans to play girls basketball and girls softball and she will be coached by Nate Beutel.
The signing by NCCC is a result of Johnson's accomplishments at Pembroke in both basketball and softball.
Johnson has been a starter on her basketball team for the last four years and a team captain for three of those seasons.
During Johnson's career in basketball, she ranks sixth all-time in points (529), 11th in rebounds (338), second in assists (233), and third in steals (203).
She is the only second Lady Dragon to be ranked in the top five in all four categories. The first person to do it was her sister Breanna Johnson.
As a softball player, Johnson has also been a four-year starter and a captain for three seasons. Johnson has been a Genesee Region All-Star.
Johnson said she's eager to begin her basketball and softball career with the Thunderwolves.
Top photo: Pembroke basketball coach Ron Funke, Mackenna Johnson, and Nate Beutel, NCCC coach.
The Johnson family: sisters Sydney Johnson and Aralyse Johnson, mother Shannon Johnson, father Jamie Johnson, McKenna, her sister Breanna Johnson, and grandparents Darlene and Dwayne Johnson.
The varsity girls' basketball team: Nicole von Kramer, Dekari Moss, Emily Peters, Serene Calderone, Casey Wurtz, Allie Schwerthoffer, Isabel Breeden, Megan Conibear, and Brianna Rindell.
By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
Although the final day of racing was canceled on Saturday (Dec. 14) due to bad weather conditions, the clubhouse that night was still sold out and the 400 or so patrons enjoyed Christmas music instead of race calls. But that was the norm at Batavia Downs in 2019; happy customers having fun at the races.
Indicators for every aspect of the racing product pointed toward positive territory and in several areas showed record breaking performances.
Betting-wise the on track handle was up 12.2 percent, driven by a 5-percent increase in attendance, the export signal was up 24 percent and Western Regional Off Track Betting (WROTB) revenue was up 5.3 percent. All tolled, wagering from all sources was up a combined 19.9 percent and provided the highest total handle at the track and the top three highest single night handles since WROTB reopened the Downs in 2002.
The total handle was also $1.4 million higher than last year and all of this was accomplished with three fewer race days on the schedule.
“Our customers came out in force, both live and at simulcast to support us all year and we couldn’t be more grateful to them,” said Todd Haight, director/general manager of Live Racing at Batavia Downs. “We gave them some of the best racing in the state this year and they validated it by betting us the whole season.”
There were several reasons for the increases and they were all primarily driven by the eight legs of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) culminating in the $1.8 million Night of Champions (NOC) finals in September. Along with the highest overnight purses ever offered at the track, Batavia Downs dolled out more than $8.1 million in total purses this year and that drew top horses and horsemen from across North America all year, providing great betting opportunities for the customers.
The Downs also took full advantage of the Strategic Wagering Pool sponsored by the United States Trotting Association (USTA) and offered enhanced funds for exotic wagers that also provided free program pages for half the card on those nights. Aside from the NYSS NOC which was the highest handle in the tracks history under WROTB ownership, the track saw its highest total nightly handles on cards where the Strategic Wagering Pools were offered.
“We had 14 Strategic Wagering opportunities during the course of the season and every one paid off," Haight said. "Many thanks to USTA Director Chris Schick and Social Media Director Michael Carter for their assistance with these wagers."
Two other factors for the increase include the simulcast department doing a great job marketing the live signal from Batavia and picking up many new customers this year which drove the export numbers and the track’s group sales department who brought in 31 percent more parties and events to the clubhouse than ever before and enhanced the live handle.
“A lot of the people we see during live racing were introduced to the sport by attending our live concert series over the summer," Haight said. "They actually walk across the track and ask questions about horse racing and then come back when the meet starts to see it. It’s really been a good selling point for us and we’ve made many new customers as a result.”
On the track, Billy Davis Jr. won his first driving title at Batavia Downs in 2019 by averaging two wins a night for the entire meet. His 131 wins, 102 seconds and 83 thirds out of 629 starts earned him a Universal Driver Rating (UDR) of .342 for the meet and $861,336 in purses.
Jim Morrill Jr. was second with 79 wins, 56 seconds and 37 thirds with $921,527 in earnings and Dave McNeight III was third with 78 wins, 61 seconds and 70 thirds with $543,064 in purses.
On the training side, Jim Clouser Jr. also won his first Batavia Downs training title after scoring 51 wins, 29 seconds and 39 thirds out of 219 starts for a UTR of .366 and $361,413 in earnings. His stable members finished in the money 54 percent of the time.
Finishing second in the trainer race was Maria Rice who scored 43 wins, 31 seconds and 21 thirds out of 190 starts and earned $358,234 in purses with the legendary Gerry Sarama finishing third while making 246 starts with 32 wins, 40 seconds and 32 thirds with $256,619 in earnings.
Live racing returns to the oldest lighted harness racing track in America on July 22, pending approval from the New York State Gaming Commission.
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