Sports

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs:

A new era gets underway at America’s oldest lighted harness track on Monday (July 25) when Batavia Downs raises the curtain on its 70th season of live harness racing action.

Opening night features the $100,000 New York Sires Stakes division for 2-year-old trotting fillies along with free racing programs and magnetic racing schedules for the fans on track. Post time is set for 6:15 p.m.

The 2016 season (that runs through Dec. 10) features 70 race dates and includes seven matinees and three twilight programs.

Live racing will be presented on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights to begin the season with a new post time of 6:15. Sunday afternoon will replace Monday night beginning on July 31.

Holiday matinees include Labor Day (Sept. 5) and Columbus Day (Oct. 10). All matinee post times are 1:15. A special Breeders Cup program on Saturday (Nov. 5) begins at 3:30 p.m.   

The renaissance begins with the new "Hotel at Batavia Downs," which is located trackside between the grandstand and the paddock. Racing fans can check into this fantastic 82-room facility and access the track and the gaming floor for the duration of their stay without ever having to leave the premises.

Half of the rooms in the hotel overlook the home stretch of the track and members of bataviabets.com can watch and wager from their room. There are even four balcony suites facing the track. 

The hotel is slated to open in September. 

Fans will see the best racing possible after the Downs invested $125,000 in racetrack improvements under the guidance of new track Superintendent, Peter Arrigenna.

Arrigenna designed and directed the re-banking of the turns, leveling of the straightaways and then topping it off with 5,000 tons of new surface material to provide the fastest and safest racing strip possible. Once the track sets up, the competition should produce record speeds all year.

"These are very exciting times for Batavia Downs" said Todd Haight, director/GM of Live Racing. "There has been a lot of money invested in the racing side of this facility this year between the new hotel and track improvements and the entire management and staff cannot wait for our customers to come out and enjoy them." 

More than $1,000,000 in purse money will be up for grabs in stake races during the meet and that will draw some of the top horses and drivers in North America to the Genesee County oval.

Eight divisions of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) each going for an estimated $100,000 will highlight the best youthful performers in the Empire State this year and that should provide competition for the fans that is both exciting to watch and profitable to wager on.

NYSS divisions by age, sex and gait will be at Batavia on Monday (July 25, opening night), Aug. 7, 13, 20 and 31, and Sept. 3, 10 and 14. And eight New York County Fair finals, each vying for $10,000 will be contested on Wednesday (Sept. 7).

Batavia Downs signature stake, the $50,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace, will be held on Saturday (Oct. 8) and will draw some of the top older Open pacers from the Northeast. This race has become a highly anticipated event by the fans as it presents an opportunity to break the all-age track record each year.

During the 70 cards of racing there will be 25 major promotions scattered throughout the year. Highlights of these special events include Sunday Dollar Days in August, the very popular wiener dog races and Family Fun Day, the first ever Racing Under Saddle (RUS) non-wagering exhibition at Batavia Downs (pending NYS Gaming approval), the Labor Day driver's bike race, a Columbus Day Chicken BBQ and another "Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend" promotion, when the racetrack will be giving away a pair of diamond earrings valued at $4,000.

There are buffet specials in the clubhouse every racing night all year, and the chef will once again be serving up his famous prime rib, crab leg, and shrimp buffet every Saturday night for the entire meet. All clubhouse buffet specials include gaming free play offers.

"We have put together the most aggressive entertainment package possible and believe we offer something for every member of the family all year," Haight said. "Between the caliber of horses that will compete over the new surface and the new amenities our customers will enjoy, we are looking for our 70th year of racing to be the most memorable one yet."

For more information and updates as they happen, log onto the track's website at www.bataviadownsgaming.com and click on “Live Racing” and follow us on Facebook as well.

Join the Muckdogs at Dwyer Stadium Aug. 18th, 19th, and 20th for our youth baseball camp!

Kids ages 6-14 will receive two days of on-field instruction from the Muckdogs players and coaches on August 18^th and 19^th from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Children will learn from the pros in the areas of hitting, fielding, pitching, catching, base running and bunting. Then on Aug. 20^th, campers will be able to come back to Dwyer for a private autograph signing with the team 30 minutes before the gates open (5:30 p.m.) and then be recognized on the field prior to the Muckdogs game vs. the West Virginia Black Bears (Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate).

Campers will also receive a special T-shirt not available in the team store, a camp photo, two tickets to the Aug. 20^th game, as well as daily lunch, all for only $70. Registration forms are available at Dwyer Stadium and online at muckdogs.com. Space is limited and all registrations and payments must be turned in by Friday, Aug. 5^th. 

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The Batavia Muckdogs are the short-season, Class A affiliate of the Miami Marlins and are the lone remaining founding members of the New York-Penn League, dating back to 1939. The Batavia Muckdogs are operated by the neighboring Rochester Red Wings.

Location: Dwyer Stadium, 299 Bank Street, Batavia, NY 14020

Phone: 585-343-5454; Fax: 585-343-5620

Website: www.muckdogs.com

Head Coach Brennan Briggs submitted this photo of youths who participated in a two-day football camp at Batavia High School.

Submitted photo. First row, from left: Gianni Ferrara, Kenny Saunders, Zac Vanderhoof, Colin McCulley, Maveric McKenzie, Shawn Morabito, Adam Risewick, Cole Rauscher, John Panepento, Jim Burns, Tyler Strollo, Brady Fix. Back row, from left: Coaches Rob Panepento, Ken Saunders and Manager Erik Fix.

Press release:

The Le Roy Little League U12 All-Stars captured the District 3 Championships with a 5-3 victory over Batavia Tuesday evening in Le Roy. 

The game was a hard-fought battle by both teams. Batavia struck first in the bottom of the second when Dominic Taylor would reach on an error and score on a fielder’s choice by Sawyer Siverling. 

It didn’t take long for Le Roy to answer as Maveric McKenzie would lead off the top of the third with a double to right and reach third on a passed ball. He would score on a sacrifice fly by Colin McCulley to make it 1-1. Le Roy would add three more in the top of the fourth when Kenny Saunders hit a two-run homerun scoring Zac Vanderhoof.

Catcher Cole Rauscher would make it back-to-back homers just two pitches later and Le Roy would take a 4-1 lead.

Luke Rogers and Jameson Richardson would both score in the bottom of the fourth to pull Batavia to within 1, 4-3.

Le Roy got an insurance run in the top of the sixth when Brady Fix would score on a sacrifice fly by Saunders to take a 5-3 lead. Saunders would get the win on the mound, thanks to some strong defense including two double plays, and a great catch by Fix on the last out of the game. 

Le Roy advances to Sectional play in Fredonia, July 17-21^st.

Submitted photo. Seated, from left: Mekhi Fortes, Ryan Fitzpatrick. Kneeling, from left: Trenton Woods, Jay Antinore. Players (from left): Alex Johnson, Jimmy Fanara, Dane Dombrowski, Cal Koukides, Bronx Buchholz, Cole Grazioplene, Jameson Motyka, Jaden Firmstone. Back Row: Coaches Jeff Grazioplene, Leon Koukides, Ben Buchholz, Manager Sam Antinore, Coach Tim Antinore.

Press release from Mark Fitzpatrick, Batavia Little League board member:

Batavia's 9-10 All-Stars won the New York District 3 Championship on Monday, July 11, defeating Le Roy 15-0 in four innings.

Through their five games en route to the tournament title, Batavia outscored its opponents 65-5, led by pitchers Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jaden Firmstone, Dane Dombrowski and Bronx Buchholz.

In the title game after a scoreless opening inning, Mekhi Fortes and Dombrowski led off the second with back-to-back doubles, followed by singles by Buchholz, Firmstone, and Trent Woods, scoring four in the inning.

Batavia broke the game open in the third when offense was able to send 17 batters to the plate while scoring 11 runs. On defense, Batavia was led by the pitching performance of Fitzpatrick, who threw a no-hitter over his four innings of work, striking out six.

Batavia plays Section 2 Champion Olean/Portville in Penfield today in the first round of the Section 1 West double elimination tournament. Game time is 1 p.m. at Bachman Field, 3100 Atlantic Ave., Penfield.

Visiting teams are bringing more top prospects to Batavia over the next couple of nights, with a first-rounder starting for Aberdeen tonight, and the son of a former major leaguer who missed last season because of an injury tomorrow night.

This evening, Cody Sedlock, the 27th overall pick for the Baltimore Orioles, takes the mound against the Muckdogs in his second professional start. Hailing from Rock Island, Ill., Sedlock set a new school record in strikeouts this season for the University of Illinois. 

On Saturday, Hunter Harvey (photo) continues his comeback effort. The son of former major league pitcher Bryan Harvey was a first-round pick for the Orioles in 2013.

Last night, Aberdeen also put a prospect from Rochester on the mound. Steven Klimek, a graduate of Greece Arcadia before attending St. Bonaventure, pitched two and a third innings, fanning six and not allowing a hit against eight batters.

Photo of Hunter Havery courtesy Mike Janes/Four Seam Images.

A Western New York native is returning to the area to become the new athletic director at Le Roy High School.

The school board approved the appointment of Jennifer Dean to the position at its meeting Tuesday night.

Dean is a graduate of Cuba-Rushford, where she was a three-sport athlete. She majored in physical education at St. Bonaventure University and is certified in Physical Education by the NYS State Board of Education.

Most recently, Dean was with the Hamilton Central School District in Central New York, where she was a secondary Physical Education teacher as well as a coach for basketball, soccer, softball, track and field and field hockey.

In 2011, she was appointed to the AD's position and under her leadership the soccer team on a state champion and the school won four sectional titles as well as numerous individual track and field sectional and state titles. 

She was seeking a position closer to friends and family and is residing in Dale.

Dean replaces Jon Wilson, who is now the elementary school principal in Pavilion.

Press release:

The 40th Annual Genesee ARC Golf, Tennis & Bocce Tournament at Stafford Country Club held this past Monday was dedicated in memory of Ralph Houseknecht, a longtime tournament supporter, disability advocate and friend of ARC who passed away earlier this year.

Prior to the start of golf, ARC Executive Director Donna Saskowski said “Ralph spent much of his life helping Genesee ARC and the people we serve, most notably as the first local businessman to offer community employment opportunities to individuals with intellectual disabilities, when he ran Pepsi of Batavia.”

She encouraged the 120 golfers including five Houseknecht children and three grandsons to play in Ralph’s honor and enjoy the game as he did.

In golf play, coming out on top was Zach Fuller who shot a 72, followed by Mark State with 77, and a tie for third with Paul Barton and Tom Burgess, both shooting 79. Low gross honors for women went to Francesca Fuller with an 88.

In the low net category, Jim Gibson came in with a 65 followed by Chuck Graney, 66, and Bill Wassink, 67. Katie Houseknecht Berger had a low net score of 67 for women.

In the blind bogey competition, Alan Saskowski and John Ottaviano matched the blind bogey number drawn of 72.

There were several contests on the course including the longest drive on 7, Jesse Luxon and closest-to-the-line on 15, Al Leaton. In the closest-to-the-pin contests, Mike Davison won a golf bag, courtesy of C.H. Wright on 8 (3’9”); Bruce Partridge, Donnie Miller and Mark Houseknecht won cash prizes on 12 and Katie Houseknecht Berger won a Schwinn bicycle, donated by Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle in the top prize on 14.

The hole-in-one contest on 8 was sponsored by Castilone Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Unfortunately, no one shot an ace to drive away with a 2016 Jeep Wrangler Sport.

In bocce, the first-place team was Yvonne Branton, Jane Scott, Kathy Zeliff and Chris Fix.

Top score in tennis went to Steve Clemm. First-place team honors went to Phil McNulty and Marjorie Fulmer and second-place team went to Hollis Upson and Jim Fulmer.

Gold sponsors of the event were Turnbull Heating & Air-Conditioning, The Bonadio Group, Graham Corporation, MTE Turf Equipment Solutions/Tom & Lynn Houseknecht, Crickler Vending and Relph Benefit Advisors. Silver sponsors were: The Daily News, Oakfield Family Medical Care, Alpina Foods, Erie and Niagara Insurance Association, In Memory of Ralph Houseknecht, Tompkins Bank of Castile, Castilone Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Tops Friendly Markets, Bessey Tools, Parkview Health Services, Genesee Valley PennySaver, Rochester Regional Health/United Memorial Medical Center, One Group and The Insurance Center.

Also supporting the event were 16 golf sponsors, four tennis sponsors, eight bocce sponsors and six Friend of ARC Tournament sponsors. Door Prizes, silent and Chinese auction items were donated by dozens of area businesses. The 2016 cart sponsors were Manning Napier, Orcon Industries and Philadelphia Insurance.

A total of 120 golfers, 12 tennis players and 32 bocce players participated in the annual event that raises money to benefit programs and service for people with disabilities served by Genesee ARC. The winner of the $1,000 cash drawing was Ron Brueckner with ticket number 11966. The ticket seller was Deb Hinze of Batavia. The ARC/Lullo Memorial tournament is named in memory of Danny Lullo. Mr. Lullo was a local businessman who came up with the idea to hold a tournament to benefit Genesee ARC programs and services for people with disabilities in our community.

The Genesee ARC/Lullo Memorial Tournament is the longest-running charity event held at the local private club.

A youth basketball player with a head injury is reported in the gymnasium at Pembroke High School. He was unconscious, but is now alert. He is collared and boarded. Mercy Flight is on ground standby for now. Mercy medics are on scene. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are called and will be establishing a landing zone.

UPDATE 6:46 p.m.: Mercy Flight is headed to the scene with a 5-minute ETA.

UPDATE 6:51 p.m.: The head-injury victim is a 13-year-old male. Another victim, a person with a knee injury who collided with the other patient, may need ambulance transport. Mercy Flight is to land on the grass at the northwest corner of school property.

UPDATE 6:54 p.m.: The knee-injury patient will have his leg splinted and be transported to a hospital via private vehicle.

From left, Bill Sheron, Genesee County undersheriff; Matt Landers, STOP-DWI coordinator; Jocelyn Sikorski, STOP-DWI board chair; and John Roche, owner of Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle.

(Submitted photo and press release.)

Come on down to the Batavia Muckdogs game and enjoy a safe summer night with us! STOP-DWI Night at the Ballpark is happening on Friday, July 15, gates opening at 6 p.m. The Batavia Muckdogs will play the Aberdeen Ironbirds.

NYS STOP-DWI, Genesee County STOP-DWI and the Genesee County Youth Bureau are sponsoring this evening. There are giveaways for the first 500 who enter the gate, and several interactive booths for families and children to visit including: Sheriff’s K-9 Officer, City Police, Le Roy Police, Probation and the STOP-DWI display.

A grand prize giveaway, a youth bike, sponsored by Adam Miller Toy and Bicycle, will be on display and a winning ticket drawn that evening. So join us for a great night at the ballpark and the Friday night fireworks!

(Photos by Zach Lee.)

Le Roy beat the Batavia 12u All-Stars 5-4 in seven innings Tuesday evening.

On a night when the Batavia Muckdogs fell to 4-14 in a 5-1 loss to Brooklyn, at least there were fireworks after the game.

There was also the professional debut of the New York Mets' #1 draft pick, Justin Dunn, who brought his own kind of heat, striking out two in the ninth of a jittery eighth frame.

In the eighth, the Muckdogs managed two hits off of Dunn, matching the total number of hits they got over seven innings against starter Merandy Gonzalez (2-0, 2.21 ERA).

Muckdogs starter Reilly Hovis took the loss, giving up four runs and seven hits over four innings to fall to 1-2 with a 5.60 ERA. Relievers Chevis Hoover and Parker Bugg held things down over the final five innings, giving up a run and two hits.

For the Muckdogs, Isaiah White had two hits.

The Muckdogs face Brooklyn again tonight at Dwyer. Game time is 7:05. 

Top photo: Dunn delivering his first professional pitch.

Batavia second baseman Rony Cabrera gets ready to apply the tag on Gene Cone's steal attempt in the sixth inning.

In the second, Samuel Castro attempted to bunt for a base hit, but seemed to wait for the umpire to call his bunt foul before running toward first. He was thrown out at first.

Dale Burdick steals second in the second. Burdick is the nephew of Tom Turnbull, president of the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce.

Reilly Hovis pitching.

Aaron Knapp gets a stolen base, his second of the season.

Justin Dunn

The annual July 4 Kiwanis 5K was held this morning, starting and finishing at Centennial Park.

Today is PIcnic in the Park and tonight the Muckdog's play Brooklyn at Dwyer Stadium, game time 7:05, followed by fireworks.