Sports

Don Santini, a Section V football coaching legend who coached the Le Roy Oatkan Knights early in his career, died Wednesday.

He was 85.

Santini was the head coach in Le Roy from 1966 through 1974 before returning to his alma mater, Fairport High School (1957). 

He led the Knights to the program's first-ever undefeated season (8-0) in 1966. The team won four league championships with Santini at the helm.

He was the first coach in Section V history with 200 wins, finishing his career with 2004, which now ranks fourth on the all-time list.

He compiled a 57-15 -2 record at Le Roy.

Santini started his coaching career in 1963 in Morrisville.

After returning to Fairport, Santini became rooted in the community and led the Red Raiders to seven Section V titles. His Fairport teams also won two state titles.

Even though Santini spent only eight years in Le Roy more than five decades ago, he is fondly remembered by Le Roy's football faithful.

Ed Henry wrote on social media, "Don Santini stressed his athletes to stay focused on game day as they were playing for pride and tradition. He was the ultimate motivator who inspired excellence in his teams. He was enthusiastic, excitable, fiery, and had a work ethic with no equal."

Jim Bonaquisti, who started his playing career a year after Santini returned to Fairport, said the former Knight's coach was still a coach he and other Le Roy players wanted to impress.

"We scrimmaged Fairport my junior and senior season," Bonaquisti wrote on social media. "I know I played a little bit harder because even though he wasn't my coach, I didn't want to let him down. Coach always showered you with praise for the great effort."

Santini was inducted into the Section V Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

Pembroke's season in Girls Basketball came to a close on Wednesday with a second-round loss in Section V Class C1 to Cuba-Rushford, 49-42.

Scoring for the Lady Dragons:

• Jayden Bridge, 16 points, 11 rebounds
• Addison Heidrick, 17 points

Photos by Kristin Smith. 

In the quest to go to the Section V hockey finals two years in row is not an easy task.  #2 seed BND United did this last evening at The McCarthy by a score of 5-3 over #3 seed Webster Schroeder.

Batavia Notre Dame United beat Webster Schroeder 5-3 on Saturday in the Section V hockey semifinals.

United, the #2 seed in the tournament, scored three goals in the first five minutes.

Chase Cummings scored on the power play; then Chase added another goal after Sam Pies shot one near the faceoff dot deep in Webster Schroeder's zone.

Webster Schroeder scored two quick goals before the period ended.  

Both teams battled back and forth in the second period, and United caught themselves on a penalty with two minutes left in the second.

Down by one man, Jameson Motyka found himself on a breakaway to score a short-handed goal past goalie Connelly Springer to lift United ahead 4-2 after 2.

In the last period, United’s Chase Cummings scored his third goal for a hat trick at 20 seconds in to extend the lead by three, 5-2. Schroeder answered to score four minutes later to make it 5-3.

The win gives United a shot at winning back-to-back Section V titles, which Coach Marc Staley said has been the goal since the first face-off of the season.

"It's hard to go back to back. It's hard to coach a team the year after you win everything," Staley said. "And you know, we went through some months. We went through some learning curves earlier this year. We had to realize you don't have the (Ivan) Milovidov off on the bench and the (Joe) DiRisio on the bench and (Noah) Whitcomb and all those great players, right? So it's like, we got other guys who can step up. It took us some time, but you can see right now, I think, seven, zero and one over our last eight games. We're moving in peak, and I think, at the right time. So it's exciting, I mean, to be back with a chance to bring home another championship."

Point totals for BND United:

• Chase Cummings, 3 goals
• Jameson Motyka, 1 goal, 2 assists
• Sam Pies 1 goal, 1 assist
• Brady Johnson, 2 assists
• Jake Hutchins, 1 assist
• Rhys Tanner stopped 40 of 43 shots on net

#2 seed BND United plays #1 Victor at RIT on Monday March 3^rd at 730pm for the Section V Class B Championship

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Oakfield-Alabama had little trouble overcoming Honeoye Falls/Lima in their sectional Class C2 first-round game on Wednesday.

The Hornets won 74-18.

Scoring:

• Alea Groff, 19 points
• Allison Harkness, 12 points, 5 rebounds
• Piper Hyde, 11 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals
• Allie Williams, 7 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals
• Jess Sosnowski, 5 points
• Raine Denny, 5 points,
• Alexa Clark, 4 points, 8 reb, 3 steals
• Aimee Demmer, 4 points, 3 rebounds
• Journey Ohlson, 4 points
• Emma Moeller, 3 points

"A nice way to start sectionals," said Coach Jeff Schlagenhauf. "The girls got off to a great start and never looked back. All 13 players got involved and played well."

 The Hornets, the #5 seed, take on #4 Arkport-Canaseraga at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Canaseraga for the quarterfinal game.

Photos by Jordyn Tobolski.

Pavilion beat HAC in Girls Basketball in the Class C2 first-round sectional playoff game on Wednesday, 68-31.

Scoring for Pavilion:

• Ella Tillotson, 29 points
• Kylie Conway, 12 points
• Lexi Rogers, 4 points
• Emma Tillotson, 15 points
• Mia Gilkes, 6 points

Pavilion, the #8 seed, faces #1 seed Keshequa in the Class C2 quarterfinal on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Keshequa.

Photos by Kristin Smith. 

Sofia Falleti set a new school record for Notre Dame on Wednesday night, scoring 46 points against Hinsdale as the Lady Irish picked up a first-round sectional win 88-12.

She also had 11 rebounds.

Ali Haitz set the previous record in 2001 with 42 points in a game.'

 Shirley Thompson scored 14 points and had 11 steals. Gianna Falleti scored 8 points, and Harper Ferris, 8 points. 

Submitted photos.

Elba beat Hinsdale in Boys Basketball on Tuesday 58-31.

The Lancers, ranked #8, advance to the quarterfinals of Class D and will play #1 ranked Filmore on Friday at Filmore.

Scoring for Elba:

• Bing Zuber scored 19 points
• Ryan Marsceill, 17 points
• Nick Scott, 14 points.

Photos by Debra Reilly

Oakfield-Alabama beat Genesee Valley/Belfast 63-57 in the first round of the Class C2 Boys Basketball sectional at home on Tuesday.

The Hornets, ranked #6, advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face #3 ranked Notre Dame at Notre Dame at 7 p.m. on Friday.

Scoring for O-A:

• Avery Watterson, 30 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
• Gavin Armbrewster, 16 points, 3 steals
• Gabe Smith, 6 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists
• Carson Warner, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals

Photos by  Jordyn Tobolski

The Blue Devils, ranked #4 in Class A in Boys Basketball, picked up a first round sectional win at home on Tuesday, beating #12 ranked School of the Arts 51-45.

Scoring for Batavia:

• Gavin White, 25 points
• Isaac Varland, 10 points
• Brady Mazur, 5 points
• Casey Mazur, 5 points

Batavia faces #5 ranked Pittsford-Sutherland at home at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Byron-Bergen, the #10 seed in Boys Basketball Class C1, won its opening round sectional playoff game on Tuesday against #7 seed Cal-Mum 59-39.

The Bees will face #2 seed Alexander in Alexander at 7 p.m. on Friday.

Scoring:

• Andrea White, 14 points
• Cody Carlson, 13 points
• Cole DiQuattro, 11 points
• Noah Clare, 10 points.
• Craig DiQuattro, 9 points

Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro

By Connor Beagle

This past weekend saw Roberts Wesleyan University Senior Zachary Hall defend his East Coast Conference title in the 5000 meter run with a time of 15:54.00. Hall would go on to earn 1st-Team All-Conference honors in the 5000 meter run, and 2nd-Team All-Conference honors for his 4th place finish in the 3000 meter run. 

Despite battling injuries earlier in the season Hall was prepared to take on any challenge he needed to for his team who ended up placing 2nd overall at the conference championships. Prior to the East Coast Conference Indoor Championships in Staten Island, New York Hall had only raced three times throughout the indoor season, following a successful final cross-country season, in which he won the East Coast Conference Championships. Hall opened his season at Grand Valley State University with a sub 15 min 5000 meter run (14:59.41) before heading into the holiday break.

It wouldn’t be until January 30 until Hall would return to action for the Redhawks. At the RIT Thursday Invitational Hall would win the mile with a time of 4:36.21. The following week Hall would race at the Brockport Multi Invitational and take 7th in the mile, running 4:29.87 in preparation for a busy weekend at the Ocean Breeze Complex where the indoor conference championships would be held.

Last season Hall won the 5000 meter run and placed 2nd in the 3000 meter run at the indoor conference championships. Hall also won the 5000 meter run and placed 2nd in the 1500 meter run during the outdoor season.

With the goal of winning a team conference title this indoor season, Hall’s speed would be needed on the track for the Redhawks. Hall would follow behind John Ray of Queens College (NY) for most of the 5000 meter run, before overtaking him in the final 100 meter of the race to defend his title and earn 10 points for the Redhawks. 

Next up for Hall was the 3000 meter run, where again he would finish ahead of John Ray of Queens College (N.Y.) and behind fellow Redhawks Trevor Heitkamp (2nd place) and Owen White who would end up winning the event. Despite Hall’s 14 points, the Redhawks would finish 2nd overall behind Holy Family University.

Hall will look to take his successful Senior season into the outdoor season and hope to lead his team to a third straight outdoor conference title. Hall and his co-stars on the Redhawks distance squad have managed to be nationally ranked in the top 25 of the 5000 meter run event squad rankings that USTFCCCA puts out each week, coming in at the #25 spot this past week. 

This season the Redhawks have been ranked as high as 14th in the 5000 meter event squad rankings. Hall has also been recognized this season by the East Coast Conference, being named to the ECC Honor Roll earlier in the season.

Hall and the Redhawks will look to finish out their season at Houghton University on February 22 and Boston University on March 2 before the NCAA DII Indoor Championships in mid March.

Both the Boys Indoor Track Team and the Girls Indoor Track Team on Thursday put in dominating performances to win sectional titles.

It was the 19th sectional title for the girls' team and the 12th for the boys.

The girls scored 209 points. In second place, Wayne Central scored 72 points. The boys scored 184 points. Livonia-Avon-Geneseo came in second with 82 points.

"This was an incredible performance by the Blue Devils as we were able to win 18 out of 33 events contested," said Coach Nicholas Burk. "We had solid contributions across the board in our throwing, distance, sprinting, hurdles, and jumping events.  Our Blue Devil athletes were very committed to continuing the tradition of Batavia Track and Field and representing our school and community with the tough reputation we've earned through many years of success."

Boys Results:

• 1st place: Cameron Garofalo - 3200m (10:28.25)
• 1st place: Cameron Garofalo - 1000m (2:46.44)
• 1st place: Cameron Garofalo - 1600m (4:55.04)
• 1st place: Sheldon Siverling - Shot Put (59-7.25)
• 1st place: Sheldon Siverling - Weight Throw (63-9.25)
• 1st place: Cooper Konieczny - 55 Hurdles (8.31)
• 1st place: Cooper Konieczny - Pole Vault (13-6)
• 2nd place: Isaac Varland - Weight Throw (52-4.25)
• 2nd place: Karvel Marino - Shot Put (50-5.5)
• 3rd place: Grant Gahagan - 600m (1:29.76)
• 3rd place: Grant Gahagan - High Jump (5-10)
• 3rd place: Madden Legler - Weight Throw (48-2.75)
• 3rd place: E'Nhazje Carter - 1000m (2:49.57)
• 3rd place: Greyson Betances - Pole Vault (10-0)
• 4th place: Nate Kinsey - 3200m (10:42.16)
• 4th place: Zailen Griffin - 55m (6.88)
• 4th place: Zailen Griffin - Long Jump (19-5.75)
• 4th place: Kareem Jackson - 55 Hurdles (9.73)
• 4th place: Anthony Naegely - High Jump (5-6)
• 5th place: Tyler Wittcop - Shot Put (39-8.5)
• 5th place: Brock Bigsby - Weight Throw (46-7)
• 5th place: Keagan Calmes - Long Jump (18-6.75)
• 5th place: Josh Barone - Pole Vault (9-6)
• 5th place: Da'Von Gallo-Williams - Triple Jump (37-9.5)
• 6th place: Da'Von Gallo-Williams - Long Jump (18-6)
• 6th place: Grady Moore - 55 Hurdles (10.42)
• 6th place: Mason Bellamy - 1000m (2:53.35)
• 6th place: Jamari Irivin - 600m (1:33.24)
• 6th place: Karvel Martino - Weight Throw (45-3.25)
• 6th place: Finn Halpin - Pole Vault (9-6)
• 1st place: 4x800 Relay - E'Nhazje Carter, Jamari Irvin, Nate Kinsey, Grant Gahagan (8:49.92)
• 2nd place: 4x400 Relay - Cooper Konieczny, Da'Von Gallo Williams, Connor Wolff, Isaac Varland (3:48.09)
• 3rd place: 4x200 Relay - Zailen Griffin, Brandon Currier, Lakoda Mruczek, Trevor Tryon (1:39.57)

• 1st place: Campbell Riley - 1000m (3:14.71)
• 1st place: Campbell Riley - 1500m ( 5:16.16)
• 1st place: Ava Wierda - Shot Put (34-5.5)
• 1st place: Ava Wierda - Weight Throw (45-9.75)
• 1st place: Ella Shamp - High Jump (5-1)
• 1st place: Ella Shamp - Long Jump (16-7)
• 1st place: Mady Smith - 55 Hurdles (8.59)
• 1st place: Mallory Boyce - 600m (1:45.48)
• 1st place: Karizma Wescott - 300m (42.80)
• 2nd place: Bella Moore - 1500m Racewalk (9:25.52)
• 2nd place: Drew Stevens - Weight Throw (39-11.25)
• 2nd place: Libby Grazioplene - Shot Put (29-10.5)
• 2nd place: Ava Anderson - 600m (1:45.8)
• 3rd place: Ava Anderson - 55 Hurdles (9.42)
• 3rd place: Amelia Tripp - 1000m (3:24.76)
• 3rd place: Ady O'Donnell - 300m (43.56)
• 3rd place: Ady O'Donnell - Long Jump (16-1.25)
• 3rd place: Jaimin MacDonald - Shot Put (29-9.5)
• 3rd place: Jainin MacDonald - Weight Throw (38-5.5)
• 3rd place: Karizma Wescott - Triple Jump (32-6.5)
• 3rd place: Mallory Boyce - 3000m (11:30.74)
• 4th place: Jenna Higgins - 600m (1:48.32)
• 4th place: Miah Jones - Triple Jump (31-4.5)
• 5th place: Miah Jones - 55 Hurdles (10.14)
• 5th place: Sophia Lawrence - 600m 1:48.86)
• 5th place: Libby Grazioplene - Weight Throw (33-11)
• 5th place: Madeline Bellamy - 1500m (5:43.59)
• 5th place: Jessa Stewart - 55m (7.64)
• 6th place: Drew Stevens - Shot Put (28-9.5)
• 6th place: Mady Smith - Triple Jump (30-7)
• 1st place: 4x400 Relay - Ava Anderson, Karizma Wescott, Sophia Lawrence, Ady O'Donnell (4:17.52)
• 2nd place: 4x800 Relay - Jenna Higgins, Mallory Boyce, Amelia Tripp, Campbell Riley (10:23.26)
• 6th place: 4x200 Relay - Jessa Stewart, Mady Smith, Trishelle Gibson, Miah Jones (1:58.75)

Alexander beat Pembroke in Boys Basketball on Thursday 60-43.

The win pushed the Trojan's record to 16-4, and the program clinched its first Genesee Region title in Division I since 2019.  

The Trojans are the #2 seed heading into the Section V C1 tournament.

• Dylan Pohl, 30 points, 13 rebounds
• Austin Wakefield, 11 points, 5 assists
• Kingston Woods, 6 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists 

For Pembroke:

• Jayden Bridge, 13 points
• Nolan Peterson, 8 points
• Caleb Felski, 8 points

Photos by Melissa Brooks.

A packed house on Thursday for the Section V Class B quarterfinal in hockey had plenty of reasons to cheer as Batavia Notre Dame United dominated Churchville-Chili for an 8-1 win.

United outshot CC 38-17.

Jameson Motyka scored 5 goals, a hat-trick, coming within in the first eight minutes.

"In the first couple minutes, we started off kind of slow, but once we put the first one in, they just started coming real quick," Motyka said. "In the second period, we kind of took a step back, and then we went back at it in the third. It was a good period to end on going into the next game."

Churchville-Chili’s lone goal was in the second period on a shot by Anthony Indiano.

Point totals for BND United:

• Jameson Motyka – 5 goals, 2 assists
• Brady Johnson – 1 goal, 3 assists
• Jake Hutchins – 1 goal, 1 assists
• Sam Pies – 3 assists
• Cadan Shamp - 1 goal
• Chase Cummings - 1 assist
• Will Stevens - 1 assist
• Maggie Buchholz - 1 assist
• Luke Staley - 1 assist
• Goalie- Rhys Tanner - 1 assist, stopped 16 shots in net

BND United, seeded second in the tournament, plays this Wednesday at home vs #3 seed Webster Schroder at 6 p.m.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

As a result of the ongoing extreme winter weather that has impacted all of western New York over the past week, Batavia Downs management has canceled the live card of harness racing scheduled for Thursday (Feb. 20) in an abundance of caution for the safety and welfare of all the participants.

Live racing will resume on Monday (Feb. 24) at 3 p.m., which will be the last card of the winter meet.

Elba finished out its regular season in Girls Basketball on Wednesday with a 60-44 win over Lyndonville.

It was the 19th win for the Lancers. Elba is the only undefeated team in all classes of Girls Basketball in Section V.

Scoring:

• Sydney Reilly, 21 points
• Brea Smith, 16 points
• Mariah Ognibene, 13 points

Photos by Debra Reilly