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Miss Irish Rose A dominates; Stalbaum wins eight at Batavia Downs

By Billie Owens

Photo of Miss Irish Rose A with driver Larry Stalbaum, courtesy of Paul White.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

The wind and rain blew into Genesee County prior to post time on Wednesday (Oct. 4) but the sun did come out for the first race. That combination may have helped Miss Irish Rose A bloom for a second straight week as she easily won the $9,500 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace at Batavia Downs in impressive style.

Larry Stalbaum fired Miss Irish Rose A hard off the gate and crossed over to the pylons before anyone knew what happened. They may as well have put the finish line there because at that point, the race was over. Leading the rest of the way with a gapped advantage, Miss Irish Rose A cut the corners in :28, :57.1 and 1:25.4 where she opened up a six-length advantage. Stalbaum shut her down at the top of the lane but Miss Irish Rose A still paced home in :28.2 to win by over a length in 1:54.1.

It was the second consecutive win for Miss Irish Rose A ($3.20), her second win in North America and her second successive lifetime mark. Larry Stalbaum owns the 5-year-old McCardle progeny who is trained by Kim Asher.

In the $8,000 F&M Open II co-feature the Asher/Stalbaum playbook was still opened to the same page as Exotic Beach took a quick lead and toured the facility in front from there, winning by a length in 1:56 over an even muddier track. Exotic Beach ($5.70) scored her fifth win of the year for the Man from Matamoris, who owns this one as well.

Larry Stalbaum (Photo provided by Batavia Downs.)

It was quite a big night for the Larry Stalbaum/Kim Asher combination as they teamed up for seven wins on the card.  Besides Miss Irish Rose A and Exotic Beach, they also scored with Kaitlyn Rae (1:56.4, $6.70), Rockin Kasbah (1:57, $6.70), Quicksilvercandy A (1:56.4, $7.20), Cartoonist (1:56, $5.80) and Saint William A (1:57.4, $2.50).

The eighth win by Stalbaum was with Hitontheflipside (2:01, $19.00) who is trained by Jim Graham.

Stalbaum had 10 drives on the card with eight wins and one third and that gave him an unbelievable .833 UDR for the evening. 

The wielding of wins on Wednesday by Stalbaum vaulted him into second place among drivers for dash wins for the meet. Currently Drew Monti is on top with 68 wins, Stalbaum is now is second with 60 and Ray Fisher Jr. has dropped into third.

As far as Asher is concerned, she is now firmly in the lead for wins by a trainer this session with 40. That is seven more than JD Perrin who currently sits in second place as a result of the stellar night by the Asher entourage.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs tonight (Oct. 6) with post time at 6 o'clock.

No. 3 Men’s Soccer Team Brings Win Streak to Eight

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

The  No. 3 Genesee Community College men's soccer team took a 4-0 lead into the intermission before recording a 6-1 win over visiting Jamestown Community College Oct.4. The win was the Cougars' eighth in-a-row and left the team with a 9-2 record overall.

Philip Melo needed just a dozen minutes into the contest to notch the game's first two goals - the second of which was the official game winner.

Charlie Livesey then recorded three of his team-high six points on the team's next two goals for a 4-0 lead at the break. Livesey tallied once in each half, while earning assists on Ben Wattis' first-half goal and on Melo's game-winner to account for his impressive performance.

Rounding out the scoring was a second-half goal by Adam Price and an assist by Billy Murphy on the game's opening goal.

The Cougars out-shot the Jayhawks 29-6 overall, and 17-3 with shots on net. Leading the way in shots was Sam Hall with seven, while Melo added a half-dozen for the night.

Gaurav Cheema recorded two saves in the win, while the Cougars also held the edge in corner kicks, 9-2.

Genesee will travel to No. 4 Herkimer Oct. 7 with a 3 p.m. start. The Cougars leap-frogged over the Generals in the most recent National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association D-III Poll after Herkimer dropped a 3-2 game to Cayuga, a team the Cougars beat Sept. 20.

Photo: Curtis Kreutter/GCC

GCC's No. 1 Women’s Soccer Team Records Seventh Shutout Win

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

The No. 1 Genesee Community College women's soccer remained undefeated in National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association D-III play with a 2-0 victory over visiting Jamestown Community College Oct. 4, while improving to 9-1-1 overall.

The shutout victory was the team's seventh overall and fifth in its last seven games. Although the score was close, the statistics for the contest were not.

The Cougars out-shot the Jayhawks 37-4 overall, with 25 Cougar shots finding their way on net. Five Cougars accounted for 17 of those shots on net with Katline Cartwright leading the way with five. Sara Zakes, Miko Yamashita, Allison Duhow and Jayna Wright all registered three shots on net with the latter three finding the scoresheet.

Wright scored the game-winner about 30 minutes into the contest, while Duhow added an insurance marker five minutes into the second. Yamashita got an official assist on the second goal and set up the play on the first goal that came off a rebound.

The Cougars were just as dominant in the corner kick category holding an 11-0 edge, while Jaclyn Guzdek recorded one save for the shutout.

Genesee's next game may be their toughest the rest of the regular season as they travel to No. 3 Herkimer, Oct. 7 with a 1 p.m. start. The best margin of comparison between the two teams involves games with No. 9 Corning. Although both of those games ended 3-2, the Cougars rallied from 2-0 to win, while the Generals never held a lead in a loss to the Red Barons.

Photo by Curtis Kreutter/GCC

Currently, four of the nation's top-10 teams in NJCAA D-III hail from Region III with Genesee at No. 1, Erie No. 2, Herkimer No. 3, and Corning No. 9.

Photos and results of 2017 Run the Acorns at Genesee County Park & Forest

By Steve Ognibene

The Fifth Annual Run for the Acorns was this morning at Genesee County Park & Forest.

Here are the results:

10K
Male overall winners:
1 -- Chad Minuto (Batavia) time: 41:11
2 -- Michael Emmons (LeRoy) time: 46:34

Age 30-39 winner: Stephen Konieczny
Age 40-49: James Caswell
50-59: John Cole
60-69: Daniel Miller

Female overall winners:
1 -- Lyndsey Macmillan (Rochester) time: 47:13
2 -- Jess Juliano (Hamburg) time: 50:16

Age 30-39 winner: Jaime Kelly
40-49: Heather Biondolillo
50-59: Karen Samis

5K
Male overall winners:
1 -- EJ Boyce (Bergen) time: 19:15
2 -- Kevin Sheehan (Victor) time: 20:36

Age 14 and under: Cooper Konieczny
Age 15-19: Adam Hess
20-29: Thomas Demmer
30-39: Dave Bateman
40-49: Gabe Abdella
50-59: David Demmer
60-69: Frank Gioia

Female overall winners:
1 -- Kimberly Mills ( Basom) time: 22:06
2 -- Alison  Zybczynski (Alden) time: 24:24

Age 14 and under: Ainsley Kent
15-19: Megan Smith
20-29: Kerry Mills
30-39: Amanda Hoy
40-49: Sheila Hess
50-59: Mary Ann Arnold
60-69: Denise Macpherson

For more photos: http://steveognibenephotography.zenfolio.com/f354975482

5K race and walk start pictured above.

Le Roy and Batavia both pick up 48-0 wins in Saturday's football games

By Howard B. Owens

Le Roy beat Notre Dame at Notre Dame on Saturday, 48-0.

The Fighting Irish hung tough for the first quarter and into the second quarter against the undefeated Oatkan Knights, trailing only 7-0 with six minutes left before the Knights snagged three interceptions and converted all three opportunities into touchdowns.

Cineque Robinson gains 108 yards and scored a TD on 14 rushes. Kyler LaCarte also scored while gaining 81 yards on 15 carries. Luke Stella added two touchdowns while gaining 80 yards on eight carries. Cole Biggins was 8-13 passing for 158 yards and three TDs. Gavin Luckey caught five of those passes for 77 yards and two TDs. Reece Tresco had two catches for 64 yards and TD. 

Tresco, Luckey, and Jake Hill each had four tackles and an interception. Bryce Bordonaro also had four tackles.

For Notre Dame, Gabe MacDonald gained 29 yards on seven carries. Devon Grimshaw had two catches for 27 yards. Micheal Keeler had 10.5 tacks, Tyler Trotten had eight and MacDonalds had seven.

Saturday's other game was Batavia at Bishop Kearney. The Blue Devils won 48-0. Ray Leach rushed 24 times for 153 yards and three touchdowns. He also scooped up a fumble and returned it for a TD. Chandler Baker was 5-8 passing for two TDs. He was intercepted once but got one back on defense. Eric Davis also had an interception. Taiyo Iburi-Bethel had eight tackles. Anthony Ray had five tackles. Josh Barber had five tackles.

Top photo: Reece Tresco. Photos by Ed Henry.

Cineque Robinson

Cole Biggins

Kyler LaCarte, #34

Luke Stella, #2

Steve Lyness, #67

Batavia High School honors inductees into its Blue Devils' sports hall of fame

By Mike Pettinella

Five individuals and the 1986-87 ice hockey team were inducted into the Batavia Blue Devils Hall of Fame on Saturday night at the 16th annual Induction Dinner at Terry Hills Restaurant. From left are Joe Fiannaca, captain of the hockey team; Nathan Hicks (track and field, Class of 1998), Bruce Dedman (baseball and basketball, Class of 1973), Brian Herdlein (baseball, football and basketball, Class of 1999); Jason Bibler (cross-country, indoor and outdoor track and swimming, Class of 1991), and Joe Amico (football and wrestling, Class of 1987).

Members of the 1986-87 ice hockey team, the first BHS sectional champion in the sport and NYS state finalists, are, front from left, Mike Siembida, Joe Fiannaca, Tony Graber, Steve Pies, Greg Fiannaca and Ted Lesh; back, Tony Tresco, Assistant Coach Roy Reed, Brian Wormley, Brett Wormley and Steve Lakins. About 140 people attended the dinner.

Photos by Mike Pettinella.

Friday Night Football: Alexander remains undefeated

By Howard B. Owens

The Alexander Trojans are looking more and more like a threat to repeat as Section V champions as they moved to 5-0 Friday with a 36-12 win over previously undefeated Canisteo Greenwood.

Coach Tim Sawyer said the Trojans offensive line dominated as the team chewed up 440 total yards. 

Chris McClinic had another big game, going for 208 yards on 20 carries scoring four touchdowns. He now has 1,022 yards on the season on 90 carries with 16 TDs.

Freshman Terrez Smith ran for 97 yards on 12 carries, scoring on a five-yard run.

Dylan Busch was 7-9 passing for 83 yards. Tight end Erik Scharlau hauled in two of those passes for 32 yards and two TDs. 

On defense, Scharlau had six tackles and a sack for a safety. Danny Burns had seven tackles and a sack. Nick Young also had seven tackles.

Next up for the Trojans, Notre Dame at home.

Also on Friday night:

  • Cal-Mum/Byron-Bergen beat Oakfield/Elba  34-0 
  • Holley beat York/Pavilion  34-22 

Osprey Vision upsets in Batavia Downs trot

By Billie Owens

Osprey Vision with reinsman Drew Monti, second from outside and pulling ahead.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

The old wagering adage suggesting you bet the longest shot in the shortest field was right on point in the $10,000 Open Handicap Trot at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Sept. 29) as Osprey Vision scored big after being overlooked at 10-1 in the five-horse field.

With the late scratch of Lutetium, Noble Legend (Jim Morrill Jr.) decided to be the leader to follow this week and took that position shortly after the start. With a sloppy track and no early opposition, Morrill took the field down to the half in :58.1 and looked comfortable in doing so.

As the group was into the second circuit, Egosnattitudes (Larry Stalbaum) was motoring up on the outside with Osprey Vision (Drew Monti) second over. But halfway up the backstretch Egosnattitudes copped one and made a break, leaving Osprey Vision advancing alone towards the leader around the final turn. By the time the race hit the head of the lane Osprey Vision looked Noble Legend in the eye before trotting right by. Osprey Vision then maintained the lead while holding off the late charging Barn Winner (Ray Fisher Jr.) and BZ Glide (Mike Caprio) to win in 1:59.2.

Osprey Vision ($23.80) now has eight wins and $55,814 earned this year for owner Marissa Russo and trainer David Russo.

In the $8,000 Open II trot Empire Earl N (Larry Stalbaum) broke a six-week drought, coming from way off the pace at the half following dull outside cover before tipping three-deep off the last turn to close down the lane and win by a neck in 1:59.4.

Empire Earl N ($12) registered his sixth win of the year and bumped his bank to $55,590 for his owner who drives him, Larry Stalbaum. The New Zealand bred son of Earl is trained by Kim Asher.

Ray Fisher Jr. had a driving triple on Friday. Drivers scoring two wins included Drew Monti and Larry Stalbaum. Trainers getting two wins included Kim Asher, David Russo and Angelo Nappo.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs tonight (Sept. 30) at 6 p.m.

Miss Irish Rose A makes winning debut at Batavia Downs

By Billie Owens

Photo of Miss Irish Rose A with reinsman Larry Stalbaum.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

Aussie invader Miss Irish Rose A, who was privately purchased from down-under on Aug. 23 by Larry Stalbaum, made her North American debut a winning one by taking the $9,500 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap pace at Batavia Downs on Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 27) as heavy downpours moved through the area.

From the start, Machin Marley (Kevin Cummings) and Squeeze This (Jim Morrill Jr.) argued vehemently for the lead over the rain-soaked track and pushed the quarter to :28 flat. Machin Marley settled on the front around the second bend and proceeded to take the race to the half in :58. At that station the race became a two-tiered event with Who Says That (Ray Fisher Jr.), Classy Lane Rose (Drew Monti) and Miss Irish Rose A (Larry Stalbaum) advancing in the outer flow.

With three-in and three-out, there was a lot of action up the backside as Who Says That took the lead from Machin Marley for an eighth of a mile before Classy Lane Rose wrestled it from her at the three-quarter pole in 1:25.4. But Miss Irish Rose A was still on the attack and drew alongside the latest leader around the final turn, and then getting a slight advantage at the head of the stretch. It was Rose v. Rose as they headed for the finish; Classy Lane inside and Miss Irish outside. But despite a good fight, Miss Irish Rose A pulled away from her formidable foe about ten yards from the wire and won by a length in 1:54.2.

The 10th lifetime win for Miss Irish Rose A ($3) was not only her first in the northern hemisphere; it was also a lifetime mark for the 5-year-old daughter of McArdle. Kim Asher trains the winner.

In the $8,000 Mares Open II pace, Voltina (Kevin Cummings) abandoned her normal front-running posture in lieu of a two-hole trip to victory behind Mean Pauline (Shawn McDonough) courtesy of the passing lane in 1:56.1.

Voltina ($7.10) is owned by CHS Racing LLC and is trained by Tony Cummings.

Kevin Cummings had the driving hat-trick on Wednesday while Drew Monti, Larry Stalbaum and Ray Fisher Jr. each each had two wins apiece. Trainer Kim Asher also sent two from her stable to the winner’s enclosure.

Racing resumes at Batavia Downs tonight (Friday, Sept. 29) with post time at 6 o'clock.

Run for the ACORNS celebrates 5th anniversary with event Sunday

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

Grab a friend for some great exercise, fun and free stuff!

This race is part of the United Way of Genesee County race series, which is sponsored by LaCivita Enterprises.

Race signup includes coupons and special offers from local businesses and restaurants! This year's race will feature the first-ever Kids Fun Run! Free to youth 10 and under. Must register on race day. Age-appropriate categories and distances. Run is on a grassy playing field. Everyone is a “winner”! This 5K/10K trail run and walk is designed for people of all ages and activity levels.

Walk or run on single and double track trails through the forest, along a creek and up and down rolling hills in the Genesee County Park & Forest, with an estimated 100 feet of climb in the 10K loop. Trails are very wide and easy to negotiate (minimal rocks and roots). The course starts on asphalt and then leads into the woods for a truly beautiful run and walk through the countryside. Enjoy post-race snacks and drinks as you congratulate your fellow participants!

East Bethany – The 5th Anniversary Run for the ACORNS is Sunday, Oct. 1st, at Genesee County Park & Forest and promises to be the best event yet!

Run for the ACORNS and surround yourself in the beauty of the forest in October on trails through the woods, along with the headwaters of Black Creek and over rolling hills.

All proceeds benefit the ACORNS, the nonprofit organization that supports the Genesee County parks with a mission to enhance the visitor experience and foster environmental stewardship and education.

Awards prizes will be given to the top overall male and female running finishers in each race. Awards will also be given to the top male and female running finishers in each age group.

Check-in begins at 8 a.m. The 10k run begins at 9 a.m; the 5K run/walk begins at 9:15 a.m. Kids Fun Run begins about 10:30 a.m.

Registration is required! The fee is $25 before Sept. 27th; $30 late registration. Those who registered before Sept. 17th will get your long-sleeved race tech shirt! Special 5th-year-anniversary shirts to participants registered for this and all other previous Run for the ACORNS races!

 Register online  or at check-in on the day of the race. Enjoy the morning in the forest and run for the ACORNS – You’re “NUTS” if you don’t! See you there! For more information visit our website or call 585- 344-1122. 

Photo: File photo by Howard Owens.

BHS soccer teams celebrate seniors night

By Howard B. Owens

Write up and photos submitted by Carolyn DellaPenna.

Last night the Batavia Varsity girls and boys senior recognition game was held at Van Detta Stadium against Greece-Odyssey.

After double overtime, the girls game ended in a 2-2 tie with goals made by #6 Ari Brown & #13 Bri Bromley. All players stepped up their game and goalkeeper Bri Janes made multiple saves to hold Greece-Odyssey to just two goals.

Seniors Recognized included:
   #2 Rachel DeNise
   #3 Claire Zickl
   #7 Alaina Bowman
   #9 Sophie Dinehart
  #11 Brigid McCormack
   #14 Bri Janes
   # 32 Kelsey Kasmarek

Last Varsity home games at Batavia High School are Monday, Oct. 2, against Wayland-Cohocton at 5 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 5, against Honeoye Falls-Lima at 4:30 p.m.

The boys won 1-0 with a goal made by Andrés Mateos in the 18th minute of the game. Nathan Hamilton had four shots on goal. Due to a strong defense by seniors Brandon Bradley, Stephen Gilebarto, Kyler Preston, and Jake Stokes, Greece-Odyssey was held to no goals. This is the second shutout for goalkeeper Jake Stokes.

Seniors recognized included:
  #1 Jake Stokes
  #4 Nathan Hamilton
  #7 Brandon Bradley
  #8 Cameron Hardy
  #9 Gordie Montgomery
  #11 Peter Fallon
  #12 Andrew Freeman
  #13 Julio Vazquez
  #14 Charlie Beaver
  #17 Kyler Preston
  #20 Stephen Gilebarto

Last Varsity home game at Batavia High School is Friday, Oct. 13, against Pembroke at 4:30 p.m.

Sudden downpour arrives with a hopeful message

By Mike Pettinella

When the skies opened up around 5 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the Batavia High School junior varsity girls soccer game, this rainbow appeared shortly thereafter. The teams kept playing, the rain eventually stopped and Batavia came away with a 3-0 victory over Greece Odyssey.

Photo by Mike Pettinella.

Batavia woman captures NYS title; Youth tournament set for Oct. 28 at Perry Bowling Center

By Mike Pettinella

Batavian Mary Ann Stone is among six division winners of the 37th NYS Women’s Senior Singles Championships who have earned the opportunity to compete in the USBC Senior Championships next August in Reno, Nev.

Stone placed first in the 60-64 age classification at the state tournament last month at East Greenbush Bowling Center near Albany, posting 1,405 with handicap for six games.

The right-hander rolled 1,063 scratch – much better than her 153 average – to outdistance second-place Keesa Bess of Binghamton by 53 pins.  Stone won $160.

Her effort gives her the right to represent New York State at the national tournament, which is scheduled for Aug. 7-9, 2018, at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno.

Stone is part of a bowling family that includes husband, Roger; brother, local Hall of Famer Fred Gravanda, and cousin, Paul Spiotta, also a Hall of Famer.

The New York State USBC pays the entry fee and provides some expense money for those who bowl at the national level.

Around 550 women participated in the state tournament in six age groups – 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74 and 75 and over.

For more about the Women's Senior Singles Tournament and the NYS Open Senior Championships in Liverpool next month, go to www.bowlny.com.

PBA DEVELOPS NEW OIL PATTERNS TO MARK 60TH YEAR

As it commemorates its 60th anniversary, the GoBowling! Professional Bowlers Association is set to unveil 16 different oil patterns – including the new (and difficult) 45-foot Dragon and the new (and easy) Chris Paul “house shot.”

It’s a good idea, especially in light of the ever-changing technology that is dominating the sport.

According to a PBA news release, some of the revised patterns will be used during the season-opening GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling IX in Reno from Nov. 7-19.

Each of the patterns vary in length, oil volume and shape, and will be used exclusively during the GoBowling! PBA Tour, PBA50 Tour and PBA Regional program’s 2018 seasons. Each will include a number in its name to indicate the length of the pattern.

Some of the PBA tournaments and their patterns are as follows:

-- Cheetah 33, Chameleon 39, Scorpion 42, Shark 45 and Earl Anthony 42 patterns, World Series of Bowling IX, Nov. 7-19.
-- Don Johnson 40 pattern at the PBA Tournament of Champions in Akron, Feb. 5-11.
-- Dick Weber 45 at the Go Bowling! PBA 60th Anniversary Classic in Indianapolis, Feb. 13-18.
-- Carmen Salvino 44 at the Barbasol PBA Players Championship in Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 19-25.
-- Mark Roth 42 will be used for the Roth/Holman PBA Doubles Championship in Columbus, Ohio, Feb, 19-25, and for the PBA League competition in Portland, Maine, April 16-22.

The oil pattern library also will include the Dragon 45, Wolf 33, Viper 36, Bear 39 and Johnny Petraglia 36.

YOUTH ELIMINATOR, MORASCO EVENT SCHEDULED

Perry Bowling Center is hosting the 6th annual Genesee Region USBC Youth Eliminator Tournament, featuring scholarships for the top eight bowlers (based on at least 24 entries), on Saturday, Oct. 28.

The tourney is open to Genesee Region USBC youth members only (boys and girls). The entry fee is $25 with each participant guaranteed at least four games.

The handicap event lists one squad – 12:30 p.m.

To enter, contact GRUSBC President Tom Fluker at 585-284-2637 or by email at tfstrikeforce@msn.com.

Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia is hosting the 2nd annual Brian Morasco Memorial 3-Person Handicap No-Tap Tournament on Nov. 4, with squads at noon, 2 and 4 p.m.

First place, based on 48 entries, is $750.  Proceeds from the tournament and a basket raffle will go to Genesee Cancer Assistance and the Arthritis Foundation.

To enter, contact Mark Brown at 716-474-7960 or call Mancuso’s at 585-343-1319.

SPARE SHOTS: SCOPANO’S YOUTH SIGN-UPS THIS WEEKEND

-- Carrie Monachino is returning for a second year as coordinator of the Paradise Youth Junior League at Scopano’s Lanes in Oakfield and she reports the program will begin on Oct. 14 and run for 20 weeks through Feb. 24, 2018.

Sign-ups for the league are this weekend – from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 2 p.m. Sunday at the 12-lane center on South Pearl Street.  The registration fee is $20.

Entrants (it’s open to boys and girls) must be at least 4 years old as of Aug. 1, 2017 or enrolled in either a UPK or Kindergarten for the 2017-18 school year. All squads will be comprised of mixed age groups to allow families to bowl at the same time.

The league also will be conducting a pulled pork BBQ fundraiser at Caryville Inn in Oakfield from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 5.

For more information, contact Carrie at 585-356-8307.

-- Medina Lanes produced a couple of honor scores on Sept. 21 as Curtis Foss rolled 299 and Joe Brower 290 in the Thursday Firefighters League. Rob Dennis picked the 4-6-7-10 (also known as the Double Pinochle or Big 4) on that night.

The league still has openings for teams and individuals.

Jim Foss, employee at Medina Lanes, said he is hoping to floor a Sunday morning coed handicap doubles league, with a target starting date of Oct. 15.  If you’re interested, call Medina Lanes at 585-318-4474.

-- At Perry Bowling Center, Chris Huntz strung 11 strikes before leaving the 2-4-5 in the Monday Night League on Sept. 18.

-- Fluker indicated that the Genesee Region Youth Travel League is expected to have at least 15 teams this season, including five from Mancuso Bowling Center.

Fluker said the league’s opening session is set for 12:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at Mancuso’s. Other teams will be from Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion (three), Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen (two) and Perry, Mount Morris, Medina, Scopano’s and Legion Lanes in Le Roy.

-- The County Line Stone League at Scopano’s has bowled two weeks thus far, but can use a few more bowlers to fill teams. If you’re interested in bowling on a four-person team, contact Bruce Kraus, league secretary, at 716-695-5041.

Bill Hayes, president of Turnbull Heating & Air, poses with three members of the Turnbull Junior League at Mancuso Bowling Center that he will be sponsoring this season, from left, Ashlynn Shisler, Bailey Quilliam and Jack Pickard. Hayes has sponsored the league for about 20 years.

Alexander volleyball teams will serve it up for Gateway Home in Attica, opens in 2018 for terminally ill

By Billie Owens

Alexander High School Volleyball players (junior varsity and varsity) are looking forward to an Oct. 5th fundraiser game to benefit Gateway Home of Attica.

Submitted photo and press release:

Gateway Home of Attica is the beneficiary of this year's charity fundraising volleyball game scheduled Oct. 5th at the Alexander Central School Gymnasium.

The Lady Trojans will face the Lady Blue Devils of Attica with the junior varsity game at 5 p.m., followed by varsity play at 6:30.

Event co-chairs Colette Yax and Laura Marzolf invite the community to come support the Alexander Volleyball Booster Club benefit.

“This is our sixth annual fundraiser and we are so excited funds raised will help an organization so close to home,” Yax
said.

Gateway Home is gearing up for a 2018 opening of its historic location at 91 Main St., Attica, as a comfort care home for individuals who are at the final stages of their lives.

Gateway volunteer Jeff Clark said the home is undergoing renovations including electrical and plumbing work and the structure is going to need a new roof.

“We’ve had extraordinary financial and volunteer support,” Clark said. “Community involvement and community support is the key to our success."

Marzolf said: “We are rallying Alexander, Attica and surrounding communities to help us make this our most successful benefit to date. All of Gateway Home’s funding is through donations and fundraisers. We have a friendly rivalry between Alexander and Attica schools and we are hoping this pays off for Gateway Home."

The Alexander Volleyball Booster Club fundraiser includes a basket auction, bake sale and a serving contest with a chance to win prizes from local merchants. Alexander Central School is located at 3314 Buffalo St. in Alexander.

Community members wishing to donate to the Alexander event may contact Colette Yax at 716-400-3628 or Laura Marzolf at 585-322-3748.

Batavia's baseball historian Bill Dougherty passes

By Howard B. Owens

Most baseball men attain their legendary status on the field. Bill Dougherty attained his sitting at a typewriter.

Dougherty was Batavia's baseball historian, digging deep into the lore and stats of how the game was played locally over the past 150 years or so. Much of his work can be found in his book, "A View from the Bleachers: Batavia Baseball."

Dougherty passed away Sunday.

"Bill Dougherty was the kind of person every community should have, a dedicated, passionate, knowledgeable, local historian," said Bill Kauffman, a friend of Dougherty's and himself a historian. "His primary interest was baseball, so his work was also responsible for Major League Baseball rewriting its record book and including the name of Vince Maney, who was the only Batavian to ever appear in a Major League Baseball game."

In 1912, Ty Cobb was suspended and the players on his Detroit Tigers team decided to go on strike. The commissioner ordered the game played so the Tigers had to hire replacement players. The shortstop that day for a game in Philadelphia was listed as Pat Meany. Dougherty was able to find the evidence and prove that Pat Meany was really Vince Maney.

Dougherty was a member of the Notre Dame Sports Boosters, Society of American Baseball Research, Board of Directors of the Genesee County Baseball Club and a life member of the Stafford Volunteer Fire Department. He was a graduate of Batavia High School and Alfred State College.

"He was a great guy," Kauffman said. "He was full of energy and enthusiasm and wit and mischief and we’re really going to miss him."

Previously: 

Pembroke will get win Friday after Geneseo throws away 2017 season in apparent drug scandal

By Howard B. Owens

The Pembroke Dragons get a night off, get to skip a road game and they will pick up a win this Friday because Geneseo High School has forfeited its entire season over an apparent drug scandal.

This Friday's game was supposed to be Geneseo's homecoming game, too.

Geneseo Superintendent Tim Hays announced the district was scrubbing the team's season this afternoon.

"A number of players have been dismissed from the Geneseo High School Varsity Football Team," Hayes said in a statement. "These dismissals stem from serious violations of the District's Code of Conduct and Athletic Eligibility Standards.

"Due to the number of student-athletes involved and the serious nature of this incident, pursuant to our Athletic Code and New York State Public High School Athletic Association standards, the remainder of the varsity football season will be forfeited."

The Livingston County News reported today that police are investigating a report that a player brought OxyContin pills to Friday's game against Bolivar-Richburg. The player allegedly distributed the pills to teammates.

Geneseo won that game on the field 26-24 but that game will now revert to the loss column with the Geneseo Blue Devils giving up that win as well.

Pembroke moves to 5-1 on the season and next plays Attica on Oct. 6 at home.

"The Geneseo Central School District is committed to upholding the highest standards of excellence in all of our academic, extracurricular, and athletic programs," Hayes said. "We will continue to work with all of our student-athletes to ensure that their actions represent the expectations of the District and our community."

Le Roy resident became first woman to win steel boar challenge at Pennsylvania festival

By Maria Pericozzi

Melissa Bender, a resident of Le Roy, made history at the Pennsylvania Bowhunters Festival, after competing with an all-male crowd, becoming the first and only woman to win the steel boar challenge.

The festival is held in Forksville in the middle of September, every year since 1957. It is the oldest gathering of bowhunters in the world.

“People come from all over the place to go,” Bender said.

The three-day event offers a variety of shooting activities and events designed to prepare the Bowhunters for the upcoming archery season. The festival features the famous “Forksville Running Deer” target, mechanical bear and turkey targets, pop-up and moving small game targets, a timed clay pigeon shoot, stationary targets set at variable distances, and three game trails designed with all 3-D targets.

The grand prize for the steel boar challenge, was a wild hog hunt, which drew Bender to competing.

“It was really neat because they had never had a girl win it before,” Bender said. “They were super excited for me.”

Bender’s love for archery began after she went hunting with her husband.

“When I was out hunting, I hit a deer,” Bender said. “We tracked it for two days and we never found it.”

Bender decided that she wanted to be a better shooter, so she started with the help of a local archery organization.

“The people down there [at C&C Archery] are so willing to help anyone,” Bender said. “Especially young people in becoming better shots, either in archery, in competitive form, just for shooting, or just in hunting.”

C&C Archery, in Le Roy, has an indoor archery range, with all different kinds of targets. They offer a variety of services and products to help anyone be successful.

“If I hadn’t gone down there to sign up for [archery] leagues, I obviously would have never had the opportunity to win that challenge.”

Bender hopes to continue strengthening her archery skills to become a more ethical hunter.

“I want to have a better shot so that I don’t have to go through what I went through a year ago,” Bender said.

Challenger sports offer adaptive program for young people in 'success-oriented atmosphere'

By Billie Owens
 
Submitted photo and press release:
 
The month-long Challenger Tennis Program is in its third week. This collaborative community program offers children with disabilities, ages 5-21, a fun adaptive tennis program in a success-oriented atmosphere.
 
The first session was held Sept. 10. It's held for four consecutive Sundays from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Batavia High School tennis courts.
 
A "Tennis Carnival" is scheduled at the program's conclusion on Oct. 1.
 
Collaborative partners are the Batavia Youth Bureau, which is the lead facilitator of the program, Arc of Genesee Orleans, Genesee County YMCA and the U.S. Tennis Association Eastern/Western Region.
 
A total of 10 athletes are participating this year alongside volunteers from area high schools, Genesee Community College and the community. Volunteers attended training, facilitated by Shelley Falitico, director of Development at Arc Genesee Orleans, on disability awareness and sensitivity training.
 
The tennis players begin each session with a warm up and do some stretching exercises. They rotate through adapted tennis activity stations, addressing skills such as balance, hand-eye coordination, team work, speed and agility, accuracy and movements forward, backward and side-to-side.
 
The Oct. 1 "Tennis Carnival" will offer the participating athletes an opportunity to earn "Challenger Cash" at each station and buy prizes such as tennis racquets, tennis balls, board games, candy, kites, movie DVDs, books and more.
 
The next Challenger sport to be offered will be basketball, beginning in November. Community members interested in volunteering, including college and high school students looking for community service hours, are welcome to donate their time for a Challenger sport. It's a great experience for all involved!
 
For more information, to register or to volunteer, call the YMCA at 344-1664.

Focus Power in career best at Batavia Downs

By Billie Owens
Focus Power out front with driver Drew Monti.
 
By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
 
Focus Power left no doubt who the top pacer on the grounds was this week as he tripped out to a two-length victory in the $10,000 Open Handicap pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday evening (Sept. 23).
 
The Downs leading driver Drew Monti sent Focus Power off the gate and took a short-lived lead until he relinquished that spot to Fireyourguns (Mike Caprio) who rushed up and grabbed it by the quarter in :26.2. Fireyourguns then set stout fractions of :55.3 and 1:24.1 while Focus Power drafted in the garden spot. 
 
With little challenge coming from the rest of the field to that point, the top two horses rounded the final turn in line before Monti popped Focus Power out of the pocket and let him do the rest. Focus Power's legs were a blur as he paced into overdrive and flew by Fireyourguns and away from the rest of the group to win in 1:52.4, which was a new lifetime mark. 
 
It was the third win in the last four starts for Focus Power ($6.40), two of which were Open-I paces at Batavia Downs and has earned $81,470 so far this year. The 5-year-old altered son of Shadow Play is owned by James Caradori and trained by Darrin Monti. 
 
In the $9,000 Open II pace, Santana Beach (John Cummings Jr.) went gate to wire in commanding style, winning by eight lengths in 1:53, which was a new seasonal mark. 
 
Santana Beach ($13.80) is owned by Jason Newell and is trained by Richard Roth.
 
Funny Photo with jockey Sophie Engerran.
 
RUS New York had an exhibition non-betting event after the seventh race and the finish was as exciting as last year's race. 
 
Funny Photo (Sophie Engerran) led the entire race cutting fractions of :30.4, 1:02.3 and 1:33.3. But just when it looked like he was home free, One True Friend (Hillary Harnett) came flying from behind and mounted a serious challenge at the top of the lane. But although One True Friend made up almost seven lengths, Funny Photo still hung on and won in 2:04.3, which was a seasonal mark for the winner. 
 
Funny Photo is owned by his rider, Sophie Engerran and is trained by Kimberly Gilman-Daios. 
 
Racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednsday (Sept. 27) with post time at 5 p.m.

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