Monday and Tuesday leagues produced some big scores last week in the Genesee Region USBC.
At Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia, Michele Larson of Batavia just missed a 700 series -- posting 201-256-236--693 in the Meyer's RV Monday Night NFL League and Brian Cline of Middleport continued his stellar bowling with 258-245-259--762 in the Mancuso Real Estate Monday Doubles League.
At Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion, Curtis Foss of Medina added another perfect game to his long list of honor scores with 300-204-257--761 in the Sneezy's Monday Night League and Sarah Cassidy of Albion rolled her first 700 series with 285-247-202--734 in the Tuesday Ladies Merchants League.
In the Sunday Rolloffs League at Medina Lanes, Hayden Allis led the way with 278--736, a week after recording a 300 game and 731 series in the Wednesday Community League. Previously in the Wednesday league, Alex Allis of Medina rolled a 298 game and 737 series.
For a list of high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.
Batavia High School hosted a winterguard competition, as it does annually, on Saturday.
Winterguard is the indoor version of color guard, and the teams are judged on the effectiveness of their program, including colors and props selected for the performance, on dance technique, equipment used, and the speed and efficiency of setting up for their performance and removing their set after the performance.
Photos are of Batavia's cadet team. The varsity squad performed later in the evening.
Justin Smith shooting from the paint. He had 24 points in the win over Odyssey. Photo by Steve Ognibene
The Blue Devils scored a season-high 90 points on Friday, beating Greece Odyssey 90-68 for Batavia's ninth win against seven losses.
Carter Mullen scored 25 points, Justin Smith, 24, Aiden Bellavia, 15, and Brady Mazur, 10.
Also in Boys Basketball:
On Friday, Le Roy beat Geneseo 51-44. Merritt Holly scored 24 points and had 18 rebounds. Matthew Hockey, 12 points. Adam Woodworth, eight points and five rebounds.
On Saturday, Pembroke over Medina, 61-33. Elle Peterson had a double-double, 10 points and 10 rebounds. Peton Liss and Jayden Hootman each scored 16 points Taylor Bischoff and Ashlyn Robinson combined for 27 rebounds.
On Thursday, Notre Dame beat Alexander 41-36. The Irish are now 10-5. Sofia Falleti scored 15 points and had nine rebounds. Nina Bartz had 12 points and six rebounds. Hayden Bezon scored 13 points for Alexander.
Steady rain and an off-track threw a curveball at bettors at Batavia Downs on Thursday (Feb. 1) as many favorites failed to fire allowing some bountiful payoffs to prevail. That included both featured races, where photos were needed to decide the winners.
In the $15,000 Open I Handicap pace, despite having post seven, Primo Uomo (Jim McNeight Jr.) went gate to wire to win after an exciting stretch drive.
Primo Uomo was sent to the front and paced unchallenged through quarters of :27.2, :57 and 1:25.4. Halfway through the last turn, the tripped-out The Bird Dance N (Brett Beckwith) pulled to advance and that left Ideal Artillery (Drew Monti) a path to dip into the passing lane. As the horses headed for home, Primo Uomo paced down the center of the lane, flanked by Ideal Artillery and The Bird Dance N, and held both off all the way to the wire to win by a head in 1:55.2.
Overlooked at 7-1, Primo Uomo returned $17.60 for owners Chris Lawton and Dale Lawton. David Dewhurst trains the winner.
Then in the $15,000 Open I Handicap trot, Credit List (Kyle Cummings) was similarly released at 9-1 and paid a premium for those who backed him.
Credit List got away third and watched as E Street (Jim Morrill Jr.) and Big Box Hanover (Larry Stalbaum) engaged in a slugfest. After leaving side by side, E Street took the lead, but Big Box Hanover settled in the breeze and matched strides through fractions of :28.1, :58 and 1:28.3. As the pair passed that last station, Big Box Hanover folded as Special Prosecutor (Kevin Cummings) and I Got The Looks (Dan Yetman) tipped three-wide around him. In the final bend and under siege again by Special Prosecutor, E Street continued his valiant grind and took his lead into the stretch. When they straightened out, Credit List found room in the passing lane while I Got The Looks was flying on the outside. All three had a shot coming to the wire, but Credit List took the shortest route and won by a mere nose in 1:59.4.
Credit List ($21.80) is owned by Linda Dellheim and trained by Kevin Reynolds Jr.
Brett Beckwith, Jim Morrill Jr., and Kyle Cummings all had three driving wins while Shawn McDonough and David Russo both scored two training victories.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Monday (Feb. 5) at 3 p.m. and the card will feature the third round of the Western New York Trackmaster Series for pacers. Also, there will be a $526 carryover in the Jackpot Super Hi-5 pentafecta in the 15th race.
Free full past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.
Byron-Bergen's Braedyn Chambry scored his 1,000th career point on Wednesday in Pembroke against the Dragons, as part of a 28-point effort to help the Bees to a 62-56 win.
The Bees are now 12-4 on the season, and the Dragons are 9-4. The teams are 1-1 against each other this season.
Brody Baubie scored 19 points for the Bees.
For Pembroke, Tyson Totten scored 24 points, and Avery Ferreira scored 12 points.
Press release from Byron-Bergen Central Schools:
The Byron-Bergen High School Athletic Department proudly announces that Braedyn Chambry scored his 1000th point as a varsity basketball player on Jan. 31. He joins an elite group of high school athletes but, despite this milestone, remains a team player.
“Braedyn has been an exceptional player for our program over his career,” said Boys Varsity Basketball Coach Roxanne Noeth. “His work ethic and team-first approach have provided us with so many exciting moments. We hope the best are yet to come. We are so proud of him for this achievement.”
Chambry, who is also team captain, is in his fourth year as a varsity basketball player. His varsity career started out with a season shortened by COVID, in which he only tallied 33 points. Three excellent seasons followed, though, bringing his overall scoring tally into the quadruple digits.
Chambry would like to thank all his teammates, his family, and his coaches who have helped and supported him along the way. He adds, “Special shout out to Mr. Pimm for doing a lot of extra work in my early years.” In addition to basketball, Chambry plays varsity soccer and baseball. After graduation, he plans to attend college and continue his athletic career.
Also in Boys Basketball on Wednesday, Canandaigua beat Batavia 65-47. Carter Mullen scored 13 points and Justin Smith scored 12.
Mancuso Bowling Center, Le Roy Legion Lanes and Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen are hosting tournaments in February.
Two tourneys are scheduled for this weekend – the Help ‘R Heroes handicap team event at Legion Lanes and the Genesee Region USBC Youth Team event at Rose Garden Bowl.
While the Help ‘R Heroes tournament runs from Friday through Sunday, the only openings are on the Friday 7 p.m. squad. First prize, based on 32 teams, is $1,000.
To enter the four-person team tourney, call Scott O’Neill at 409-0459.
The GRUSBC Youth Team tournament lists squads at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday (following the GR Youth Travel League).
Travel League bowlers are eligible to participate in the tournament, using their league scores.
Each team is comprised of three bowlers. Entry fee is $60 per team. Scholarships for the first place team and trophies for the top three teams will be awarded.
-- Feb. 9-10: 28th annual Betty Ellison Memorial Crossroads House Tournament, Mancuso Bowling Center. Squads are scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, with the Friday squad and the 6 p.m. Saturday squad featuring glow bowling with a DJ. Each team consists of four bowlers. To enter, go to www.crossroadshouse.com.
-- Feb. 11: “Super Bowl” Handicap Singles, Mancuso Bowling Center. The four-game qualifying squad is set for noon. One in four bowlers will advance to the head-to-head match play round. Entry fee is $45. First prize (based on 32 teams) is $450. To enter, contact Mark Brown at 716-474-7960.
-- Feb. 17-18: GRUSBC No-Tap Doubles, Le Roy Legion Lanes. Qualifying squads are scheduled for 1, 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. each day. Entry fee is $60 per team. The maximum team averages is 420. First prize, based on 48 teams, is $600. To enter, email mikep@bowlgr.com. Note: Only one opening at 1 p.m. Feb. 17 and no openings at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 17. Openings exist on the other four squads.
-- Feb. 23-25: 22nd annual Ron Riggi Memorial 4-Person Handicap, Le Roy Legion Lanes. An $800 top prize is offered, based on 24 teams. Squad times are 6:30 p.m. Feb. 23, noon Feb. 24 and 1 p.m. Entry fee is $100 per team. To enter, contact Brown at 716-474-7960.
For the fourth time in only six days of live racing in 2024, Batavia Downs set a new one-day, all-source record handle while under the ownership of Western Regional Off-Track Betting on Monday (Jan. 29). Bettors pushed $515,078 through the windows to top the short-lived old record of $509,180 which was set only one week ago.
The handle reflects that Batavia’s loyal wagering patrons turned out in force again to bet the second round of the Western New York Trackmaster Series that had evenly matched fields and yielded outcomes many didn’t anticipate, with price horses giving chalk bettors agita while sending speculators home with a jovial disposition.
The top class, $9,000 Trackmaster 79 division produced two large payouts after come-from-behind efforts were put in by both.
First, Dogfight (Kevin Cummings) got away sixth at 25-1 and remained there to the half that was cut by Remember The Beach (Jim Morrill Jr.). At that station, Cummings pulled Dogfight third-over with cover and then swung three-deep into the last turn. At the top of the stretch, Lana’s Desire (Dave McNeight III) took the lead from Remember The Beach, but Dogfight quickly supplanted Lana’s Desire in deep stretch to win by 1-¼ lengths in 1:57.1.
It was the first win of the year for Dogfight ($52.00) who is owned by Mike Torcello and trained by Sam Smith.
Then later, I’ll Take The Bet (Drew Monti) also got away sixth as Sleeping Single (Jim McNeight Jr.) and Carrythetorchman (Dave McNeight III) traded blows and leads from the half to the top of the stretch. It was there that Monti steered I’ll Take The Bet into the passing lane, found clear road and bolted to the line to win by a neck in 1:57.4.
Similarly, it was the first win of the year as well for I’ll Take The Bet ($38.80) and owner Justina Ohol. Mike Ohol conditions the winner.
Other upsets on the card included Rockn’ With T (1:59.1, $49.90), Always A Fiji (2:00.1, $31.40), Odds On Cheddar (1:58.1, $25.00) and Jimmy CR (1:59.1, $18.40).
Nine of the night’s participating horsemen scored doubles during the proceedings. Drivers Brett Beckwith, Drew Monti, Jim Morrill Jr., Kevin Cummings, and Kyle Cummings joined trainers Sam Smith, Jim Rothfuss, Shawn McDonough and Chris Petrelli in claiming two wins each on Monday.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Thursday (Feb. 1) at 3 p.m. and will feature the second round of the Western New York Trackmaster Series for trotters along with a $15,000 Open I for both gaits.
Free full past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.
Photo of I’ll Take The Bet courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery.
Five Genesee Region USBC members, including two Batavia residents, cashed at the 60-and-Over Tour tournament on Sunday at Medina Lanes.
Batavians Scott Shields and Bill Neubert along with Medina residents Jim Foss, Roger Allis and Bob Hodgson advanced to the 16-bowler eliminator finals as a result of their three-game qualifying scores.
Foss, who led the qualifier with a 730 series, went on to place third, winning $225.
Jim Galletta of Oswego placed first, posting a 266 game in the final round, to take home the $420 top prize. Buffalo’s Dave Rudnick was second ($300) and Jim Pitts of Elmira finished in fourth place ($170).
Shields, who rolled 693 in the qualifying round, and Allis made it to the semifinals and won $125 each. Neubert and Hodgson lost in the first round and won $100 apiece.
In Genesee Region USBC league action last week:
-- Robbie Hanks hit the 800 mark for the eighth time at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion, posting 278-279-257—814 in the Sneezy’s Monday Night League.
-- Brian Cline raised his average to 238 with a 259-278-237—774 effort in the Mancuso Real Estate Monday Doubles League at Mancuso Bowling Center.
-- Andrew Rose rolled 727 in the Tuesday Coed League and James Townsend registered 726 in the Brighton Securities Tuesday Triples League, both at Mancuso’s.
For a list of high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.
Batavia and Notre Dame faced off against each other in both Girls and Boys Basketball in support of a good cause at Genesee Community College.
The Hoops for Hope Tournament benefited the Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation.
The Notre Dame girls won the first game 29-24. For the Irish, Sofia Falleti scored eight points and had five rebounds. Emma Sisson scored seven points and had 17 rebounds. For the Blue Devils, Isabella Walsh scored 15 points.
In the nightcap, Batavia beat Notre Dame 53-49. Carter Mullen led the Blue Devils with 17 points. Casey Mazur scored 12 points and Gavin White and Justin Smith each scored eight. For the Irish, Jaden Sherwood scored 20 points.
Le Roy's Merritt Holly is surrounded by his team as the new all-time leading point scorer. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Merritt Holly became Le Roy's all-time leading scorer in a home game against Avon on Friday night.
Holly scored 21 points on the night, moving him to 1,575 career points. The record was previously held by Brendan Fulmer, at 1,559 points, set in 2003.
"It's a great accomplishment," Holly said. "I'm really happy we got it. I got it, and we got it. It's not just a personal goal. It's really a team goal. I would like to thank all my prior teammates, too. It's great for Le Roy. This hasn't been broken in like 20 years, so it's right to finally break it."
The record-breaking goal did come, however, in a 61-46 loss to #1 ranked Avon.
Besides the 21 points, Holly had 10 rebounds. Adam Woodworth, seven points, Jake Higgins, seven points, and Jean Agosto, four points and six rebounds.
Elba trailed Oakfield-Alabama through more than three-quarters of Girls Basketball on Friday, and one point falling behind by 13 points, only to come roaring back in the fourth quarter with 21 points to secure a 44 to 39 win.
Sydney Reilly scored 19 points for the Lancers, and Lydia Ross scored 14. Mariah Ognibene scored seven.
Photo of Way Too Sweet courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery.
Photo of Brett Beckwith courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery.
Brett Beckwith, who ended the 2023 season as the seventh winningest driver in North America, is rolling again in 2024 and strutted his stuff at Batavia Downs on Thursday afternoon (Jan. 25) by winning five races on the card. “Brett The Jet” won with Why Tomorrow Ray (1:56.1, $2.80), Rosey Time (1:56.3, $4.40), One Night Fury (2:02.1, $9.40), Rock A Honey (1:58, $25.80) and Silver Buckeye (2:04, $6.40). Beckwith also scored three seconds and two-thirds during the card, giving him a .524 UDR for the session.
Thursday’s card had a triple feature on the track as a $15,000 Open Handicap for fillies and mares, trotters, and male pacers were all held over a sloppy track amid heavy fog as a January thaw was in full effect.
The distaff pace was won by Way Too Sweet (Jim Morrill Jr.) who sat second behind A Black Diamond (Kevin Cummings) until the top of the final turn. There, Morrill tipped the mare three-deep around Mcnatural L (Dave Mcneight III) and thundered down the center of lane to win by a length in 1:58.4.
Way Too Sweet ($3.50), who was a six-time winner last year, got her first victory of 2024 for owners George Tackley and Wendy Storrier. The mare is trained by Andy Gardner.
The top trot went to Special Prosecutor (Kevin Cummings) who led the field to the quarter in :28.4 before watching Esa (Jim Morrill Jr.) brush from third to take control in turn two. Special Prosecutor then sat chilly in the garden spot through the second circuit until the top of the stretch, where he tipped and ran down the leader to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.1.
It was the first win in three 2024 tries for Special Prosecutor ($10.80) who is owned by Philip Hale and David Dewhurst, who also trains the gelding.
Then in the Open pace, Sounds Good (Billy Dobson) was sent off at 40-1 and got away seventh, as Better Take It (Kevin Cummings) and Rock N Roll Runa A (Larry Stalbaum) traded leads to the half. At that station, Twin B Tuffenuff (Brett Beckwith) pulled first-over to engage the leader, and Sounds Good followed right behind with his cover. Rock N Roll Runa A held a clear lead heading into the final bend, but the field bunched at the top of the lane with Sounds Good widest of all. Dobson rocked and knocked Sounds Good all the way to the wire and was the best by a neck in a four-horse photo, stopping the clock in 1:56.1.
Sounds Good ($82.00) is owned by Michael Sergi and Sam Sergi and was the second training win for Andy Gardner.
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Monday (Jan. 29) at 3 p.m. and will feature the second round of the Western New York Trackmaster Series for pacers.
Free full past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.
Photo of Special Prosecutor courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery.
Many former student-athletes and coaches came out for Coach Stewart's last home match in Batavia. Photo by Steve Ognibene
After 25 years of dedication to the sport of wrestling, head coach Rick Stewart of Attica-Batavia has said Tuesday's meet was his last home match.
Despite a 36-31 loss on Tuesday to Webster Thomas in wrestling, there was still a celebratory aura on senior night at Batavia High School.
The seniors were recognized, but it was also a night to recognize the accomplishments of Coach Rick Stewart, who is retiring after 25 years of coaching.
Senior night was his last home match.
His son, Casper Stewart, along with five other seniors, were recognized prior to the start of the match.
There are a lot of memorable moments and people from his long career, Stewart said, but Tuesday evening was itself something special.
"The big thing is, like today, you get all your former wrestlers texting you and calling you saying what an impact I was on them and how they love wrestling," Stewart said. "Lifelong relationships were built."
Highlights of Coach Stewart's coaching career:
Career Coaching Record 253-164 as of Jan. 11
Three-time Monroe County D3 Coach of the Year
Two-time Class BBB Team Sectional Champions
Two-time Monroe County D3 Team Championships
Six NYS Ranked Teams
Seven Monroe County Champions
32 Individual Sectional Champions
10 NY State Qualifiers
One Eastern States Champion
Two NHSCA High School All-Americans
Stewart said there is no one thing that has kept him going and driven him toward success, but "just to name one thing ... it's your alma mater. You want to see it be successful. You want to see it grow. You want to see championships, and you want to see kids that come after you continue to be able to do what you did."
A military veteran, Stewart said it's not unusual for wrestlers to be attracted to military service.
"You have to be disciplined and focused in wrestling," Stewart said. "It's a very demanding sport. In the military, it's the same thing. It's demanding, and you have to be disciplined. I think they go hand in hand. And that's why you see a lot of ex-wrestlers, former wrestlers, go into the military service when they're done."
Pictured left to right are Coach Charlie Voorhees, Andrew Child, Nate Heusinger, Tymothey Murrel, Wyatt Bryman, Casper Stewart, Coach Rick Stewart Photo by Steve Ognibene
Casper Stewart setting up for a pin. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Tymothey Murrel taking his opponent down. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Nate Heusinger sets up for a pin in the closing seconds of the third round of his match. Photo by Steve Ognibene
Casper Stewart and Coach Rick Stewart guiding a team member in his match. guidedPhoto by Steve Ognibene
Seniors recognized with their parents on last home match in Batavia. Photo by Steve Ognibene
