Sports

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations:

The 69th live racing season at Batavia Downs wrapped up last Saturday (Dec. 12) much the same way it kicked off back in July; with a packed house of fans watching the best racing in Upstate New York.

The stellar calendar of stake races provided those in attendance a great opportunity to see some of the best horses in New York State and a fair number of Grand Circuit players as well.

The New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) produced three record performances. The first was on Sunday (Aug. 30) when 3-year-old pacing colt Betting Exchange (Bettor’s Delight-Cheeky Hanover) tied the track record of 1:51.2 for sex and gait in winning his division of the $120,400 NYSS event. This was the fastest pacing mile of the meet.

Then on Wednesday (Sept. 16), Dime A Dance (Roll With Joe-Hat Dance Hanover) took advantage of a lightning-fast track and 80 degree temperatures to set a new world’s record of 1:52.4 for 2-year-old pacing fillies in winning her division of the $109,000 NYSS race. It (obviously) was also a new track record for Batavia Downs, smashing the old standard of 1:54.2.

The 13th renewal of Batavia Downs signature event, the $50,000 Robert J. Kane Memorial Pace, took place on Saturday (Oct. 3) and one of the winningest horses in North America added his name to the roster of champions of that race. Seventeen-time winner in 2015, Atta Boy Dan (Western Terror-Dropitlikeitshot), paced his last quarter in :27.4 and pulled away to an easy win in 1:52.1.

The all-time pacing track record of 1:51.1 was not broken in that race, however track trotting history was made instead in the $12,500 Brian Schroeder Memorial the same night.

Top local trotting star Lutetium destroyed the field, at one point opening up a gap of as much as 15 lengths, before scooting home to a six-length victory in 1:55.2. The winning time broke the existing track record of 1:56 for aged trotting geldings set in 2014. This race was also the fastest trotting mile of the meet.

Kevin Cummings easily defended his driving title at the Downs by winning 134 times during the meet, far ahead of the rest of his competition. Those rounding oIut the top five included Dave McNeight III with 89 wins, Shawn McDonough with 82 wins, Jack Flanigen with 81 wins and Drew Monti with 73 wins.

JD Perrin also defended his training title by sending 57 horses to the Purple Haze Winner’s Circle. The competition behind him was decidedly closer and included James Clouser Jr. with 45 wins, Dave McNeight Jr. with 41 wins, Maria Rice with 34 wins and Kirk Desmond with 32 wins.

Cobble Beach (Artiscape-Mirmattculous 1:51.2 $176,867) was named pacer of the meet with six Open wins, $42,270 in earnings and a seasonal mark of 1:52.4.

Lutetium (Credit Winner-Luby 1:52.4 $356,617) was the trotter of the meet with six Open wins, $37,750 in earnings and a new track record of 1:55.2.

Memumsnotnice (Jereme’s Jet-Bunny Town 1:51.4 $308,343) was named distaff performer of the meet with four Mares Open wins, $32,942 in earnings and a personal season's mark of 1:55.

The top three winningest post positions for the meet were post 1 with 230 wins, post 2 with 131 wins and post 4 with 129 wins.

In 2015, the on-track handle took a dip of 5.4 percent, or $1263 a night. But the export handle was up a substantial 21.2 percent, or $13,220 per night. Combined, the total handle was up a healthy 9.6 percent, or $10,250 per night.

Batavia Downs paid out $5,438,400 in purses this year, up $208,400 over 2014.

There was no shortage of promotions for Batavia Downs customers this year as something special was going on during 31 nights of the season. Giveaways, contests and food specials dotted the schedule but the year featured four major happenings.

In August the Downs hosted the annual wiener dog races, to the delight of thousands who gathered at the rail to see them. September included the Drew Monti bobblehead night, the annual Labor Day driver’s bike race and a special fund raiser for the family of Brad Hanners.

Then on Sunday (Nov. 15), Batavia Downs hosted the USTA District 8 membership meeting, Director election and New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) year-end awards banquet, sponsored by the New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund.

"We couldn't be happier with the way things went this year" said Todd Haight, GM/director of Live Racing at Batavia Downs. "We had outstanding weather the whole year; not one flake of snow. That facilitated many opportunities for our live crowd to come out and that they did.

"The product on the track was as good as it's ever been and the export numbers confirm that. A lot of people were betting the action at Batavia Downs at all the simulcast facilities that took our signal. The meet ended very strong."

To watch video highlights of the 2015 racing season, click on this link: (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B54kiFXcdsHxM0kxcmQ1dVNxbGM/view?pli=1 )

Live racing will resume at Batavia Downs in July; dates pending approval of the New York State Gaming Commission.

Submitted photo of Pembroke High School Girls Basketball Team.

Press release:

During the last four seasons, the Pembroke High School Girls’ Basketball Team has focused on winning—not just league games, but the battle against breast cancer. They will host their fifth annual "Shooting For A Cure!" game at 7 p.m. on Jan. 5 in support of funding breast cancer research at Roswell Park.

To date, the Pembroke team has raised more than $30,000 for the cause and hopes to raise more than $10,000 in one night on Jan. 5.

It’s a cause that is personal to the team and their school district because of the number of faculty and family members who have been affected by the disease.

Yet according to senior captain Aralyse Johnson, this year’s fundraiseris particularly important, as it marks the final season this group of six seniors will be able to play in the event.

“I was only an eighth-grade when my older sister Breanna and her teammates came up with the idea to host the first 'Shooting For A Cure!' basketball game in support of Toni Funke’s battle with breast cancer,” Aralyse said.

The team spent that season seeking support from the community and local businesses in hopes of funding research efforts at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) in honor of Mrs. Funke.

“Impressive Marks donated pink uniforms and Walt Disney World donated park passes," Johnson said. "The support was overwhelming. That original team laid the foundation to what has become an annual event that we look forward to before the season even starts.

"This fundraiser means so much to our team and our community; we are all dedicated to supporting those in our community battling cancer and using our event to help fund research. This game has become the identity of Pembroke Girls’ Basketball and we take great pride in that."

The 2016 "Shooting For A Cure!" donors list numbers more than 80 merchants and individuals such as the Buffalo Bisons, Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bandits, GLOW YMCA of Batavia, Carly’s Club, Chestnut Hill Country Club, Darien Lake, Dry Creek Group, Fava Brothers Lawn Care, Insty-Prints, Kendall's Impressive Marks, Meinke Agency, Party City, Target, and Save-A-Lot to name a few.

Many of the product donations will become game night auction baskets and raffle prizes. Monies will also be raised from food and ticket sales with the generous support of local pizzerias and vending companies. Additionally, online donations are being accepted at the team’s online fundraising page: (https://www.crowdrise.com/shooting4acure).

The team hopes "Shooting For A Cure!" will continue its tradition of topping the previous years’ fundraising total. According to senior team member Emma Patterson, the event succeeds because of the format.

“Every penny that we raise goes to Roswell Park Cancer Institute to help fund cancer research,” Emma said. “It’s truly about service over self. As athletes we always put our team first. This game has the same guiding principle on a much larger scale.

"To think that this will be our team’s fifth 'Shooting For A Cure!' game is unbelievable to me. I can remember every single game vividly since I was in eighth grade, and it’s an honor to be a part of it. Each year our small community comes together to support this event, and it becomes more meaningful each season.”

RPCI has officially sanctioned "Shooting For A Cure!" as a Team Cure fundraiser and as a valuable example of the way that young people can make a difference.

“We continue to be impressed by the Pembroke Girls’ Basketball Team as they push themselves, not only on the court, but off the court as well," said Julia Harvey, Team Cure coordinator. "It’s inspirational to have a group of teens who are so passionate about raising critically needed funds for cancer research at Roswell Park. These girls continue to demonstrate an incredible amount of compassion.

"This team is special and their community is amazing. Although the players may change each season, 'Shooting For A Cure!' has remained constant, with the girls leading the charge, for five consecutive seasons. To me, it’s just remarkable.”

For more information go to the Shooting or A Cure Web site, Twitter, Pinterest

ABOUT PEMBROKE HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS’ VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM: The Pembroke High School Girls’ Varsity Basketball Team is comprised of 11 outstanding girls, ages 15 to 18. Their 2015-2016 captains are Aralyse Johnson and Mandy-Jean Skeet. They are coached by Ron Funke. Team colors are green and black and their nickname is The Dragons. The team’s motto is Family-Hustle-Winning. The team began "Shooting For A Cure!" as an annual event in 2012 and they are committed to the hard work and dedication it will take to win the battle against breast cancer.

ABOUT ROSWELL PARK CANCER INSTITUTE: RPCI is among the first and only upstate New York facility to hold the National Cancer Institute designation of "comprehensive cancer center" and to serve as a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Many RPCI faculty serve on the NCCN panels that create the Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology™ — the internationally recognized standards for clinical policy in oncology, and the most comprehensive, most frequently updated clinical practice guidelines available in any area of medicine.

The RCPI campus spans 25 acres in Downtown Buffalo and consists of 15 buildings with about 1.6 million square feet of space. A new hospital building, completed in 1998, houses a comprehensive diagnostic and treatment center. In addition, the Institute built a new medical research complex and renovated existing education and research space to support its future growth and expansion.www.roswellpark.org

Melissa MacCowan, an eighth-grader at Byron-Bergen, won her division of the Buffalo Bills region for the NFL Punt, Pass and Kick Championship on Dec. 6 at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

MacCowan participates in varsity soccer, swimming and track at Byron-Bergen.

She was provided with hotel accommodations for the weekend, lunch in the Buffalo Bills cafeteria, tickets to the game, certificate, jersey, hat, football gloves, participated in opening ceremony/National Anthem on the field during the Dec. 6th game, and announcement of the winners on the Jumbotron as well as watching the game from the Bills' suite.

To reach the finals in Buffalo, MacCowan had to win a sectional tournament in Rochester. This year marked her third-straight year of posting a win at that event.

She is pictured with Aaron Williams of the Buffalo Bills.

Info and photo provided by Diane MacCowan.

Le Roy's basketball team ran into a talented and disciplined Perry team Tuesday night, resulting in a 71-47 loss.

Perry's Autin Croll led all scorers with 25 points, missing only two field goal attempts all night and hitting a trio of threes in the first half.

For Le Roy, Tom Dunn scored 12, Canyon Roster, nine, Holden Bonnell, eight, and Jason Doomling, six.

Also in double digits for Perry were Zach Lowery, 14, and Tyler Cowie, 10.

To purchase prints, click here.

Batavia/Alexander scored the first goal and the game looked like it would be a goal-trading shoot-out at the end of the first period, but Notre Dame pulled away for an 8-2 win to move to 5-0 on the season.

Notre Dame's Henrik Tolvianinen notched a hat trick.

Notre Dame had 35 shots on goal to 24 for the Ice Devils, but saves went to Batavia 27-22.

Scoring:

• Batavia, Cameron Els, with assists for Josh Hylken and Bryce D'Alba, at 14:38, period 1
• Notre Dame, Bryan Moscicki, assists Ryan Antinore and Ryan Webster, at 10:15, period 1
• Batavia, Bryce Polito, assists Jake Kasmarek, 10:02, period 1
• ND, Cameron Clark, name of player with assist not available, 8:38, period 1
• ND, Henrik Tolvianinen, assists Webster and Clark, 0:52, period 1
• ND, Clark, assists Moscicki, 4:52, period 2
• ND Hayden Chamberlin, assists Tolvianinen and Webster, 4:00, period 2
• ND, Tolvianinen, assists Webster and Clark, 11:05, period 3
• ND, Tolvianinen, assists Clark and Webster, 5:55, period 3
• ND Cole Hudson, assists Ethan Hutchins and Devin Grimshaw, 1:44, period 3

To purchase prints, click here.

The Batavia Blue Devils faced Charter School for Applied Tech (CSAT) Eagles Friday night at home to a gym filled with enthusiastic fans.

The first quarter was back and forth with CSAT out rebounding Batavia and landing a 3 to start the scoring. Coach Buddy Brasky straightened out the Blue Devils for the second quarter. From then on they controlled the ball well and out scored CSAT leading by as many as 20.

Three-point shots dropped well for both teams all night. Batavia had a hard time scoring in the paint but little problem shooting from the perimeter, defeating CSAT’s defense with good ball movement.

Ryan Hogan led the night with 21, T Sean Ayala had 10, Malachi Chenault and Jake Schrider both finished the night with eight.

The final score was Batavia 73 CSAT 56.

To see more photos, or purchase photos, of the game follow this link. 

Press release:

Notre Dame High School congratulates varsity hockey Coach Marc Staley on setting a new all-time wins record of 73 with a win over Rush Henrietta on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2015.

Notre Dame High School varsity hockey team hosts Batavia High School today (Dec. 12) at Faletti Ice Arena. Puck drops at 3 p.m. and there will be a quick presentation prior to present Coach Staley with a plaque commemorating his achievement.

After the ’14 – ’15 season, Coach Staley had 69 overall wins since starting his coaching career at Notre Dame in 2008. The previous record of 72 was held by legendary Coach Jack Porter. So far this season the hockey team has won all three games, which gave Staley the record.

Marc attended Batavia High School and played varsity hockey there from 1988 – 1991 and was named captain in 1991. He went on to play college hockey at RIT in ’92 – ’93 and then played professionally overseas for two seasons in Italy and Switzerland. He began his coaching career at his alma mater RIT Tigers in 1999. He coached at SUNY Geneseo from 1999 to 2003 when he became an Assistant Coach at Notre Dame High School until 2006.

Marc started on this journey to the all time wins record for hockey at Notre Dame when he became the head coach in 2008 and has accomplished that record now in his eighth season. Marc lives in Batavia with his wife, Erin, daughter Helaina and son Luke.

“It has been a lot of years getting up very early and it has paid off. I love coaching at Notre Dame and it has truly enriched my life,” Staley said. “I also coach the Junior A Roc City Royals in Rochester and the Beginner Program here in Batavia and I have coached in the Genesee Amateur Hockey Association for over 15 years now!”

“We look forward to many more years of having Marc coach our varsity hockey program,” said Athletic Director Mike Rapone. “Marc has done an outstanding job of not only teaching our students how to play hockey, he has also guided them on how to be successful at the game of life. He had been an outstanding representative of both our school and its hockey program."

Notre Dame Principal Wade Bianco added “Coach Staley brings to life the Notre Dame mission statement in his work with our student athletes. Their families come first. They are expected to work to their potential in the classroom and conduct themselves in a dignified and respectful manner. As a result his players are strongly positioned for long term success in all phases of their lives."

With size on the inside and guards who can hit from the perimeter, the Elba Lancers demonstrated some of what they might be able to accomplish in boys basketball in 2015-16.

The Lancers dominated archrival Notre Dame on Thursday, winning 52-40.

"The last time we came in here and beat these guys, I was a senior in high school," said new Elba's new head coach, Ciaci Zambito. "That was 10 years ago, so it means a lot to these kids. I think they've all kind of bought into the basketball program."

That program is one that uses a pressure defense to help create points on transition.

Anchored at center by 6'4", 225-pound senior Jack Hocmuth, the Lancers can dominate against most Class D teams in the paint. Scoring comes from Hocmuth, who 13 last night, and Henry Pflaumer, a junior point guard who scored 14. Senior guard Dakota Dillon added six on a pair of threes and Shane O'Halloran had seven.

"They made everything in the first quarter," said Mike Rapone, Notre Dame's head coach. "They're a good shooting team when they get their looks."

The Lancers were up 20-5 at the end of the first quarter and Notre Dame was in the midst of an 11-minute scoring drought that started when John Sutherland knocked out of the game with an ankle injury. He did not return and he's questionable over at least the next few games.

The Fighting Irish came out in the second half playing with a little more intensity and at a faster pace. They were able to pick up points in transition by getting to the basket before Elba could set its defense. That attack was slowed with C.J. Suozzi fouling out with five minutes left in the third quarter. That put the burden of being the big man leader on the floor on Nico Zambito.

"Nico did a great job, but physically he is just not as tall or as strong as John," Rapone said.

Even with the lopsided loss, there are several positives for his team, Rapone said. The team's season will depend on making shots, Rapone said. He believes the scoring will come, but Thursday's game was an example of what can happen to the Irish when the baskets don't fall.

"We just couldn't make a shot," Rapone said. "Some of these guys are pretty good perimeter shooters, but they weren't hitting tonight. Maybe it was their defense, or maybe it wasn't our night. I'm just proud how they competed for the whole game. Down 20-5, you could just pack it in, but they never did."

Zambito and Tyler Prospero each had six points for Notre Dame, with Casey Midwick and Evan Bender adding five more apiece.

Rapone describes his team this year as athletic, but small. They've got to shoot to win, getting points in transition, which will be harder if Sutherland is out for any length of time. The Irish have a team bench, with eight seniors and eight juniors on the squad.

To purchase prints, click here.

Submitted photo of Ken Ball.

By Tim Bojarski, president, UNY-USHWA

Scores of horsemen and women have come and gone over the years at Batavia Downs, but the ever changing look of the local driving colony has had a single, steady constant in its midst that still sends horses postward after 49 years in the business. His name is Ken Ball.

Ball got started in harness racing in 1966 as a second trainer for Eldon Harner. But it wasn’t long before he departed to start his own stable.

The first and probably best owners he ever had were Morris and Betty Miller. They bred and raced a string of horses that bore the “Whiz” name. These horses were stalwarts of his stable for thirty years.

During his time in the business, his most successful horse was Missile T (1:57.2 $313,644). The Master of Style colt was one of the best 2- and 3-year-old male trotters in New York State in 2006 and 2007. The largest purse Ball ever won was the $100,000 Elitist Cup at the Syracuse Mile with Brass Target Sam ($1:56.2 $74,793) in 1990. And the fastest race he ever drove was a 1:56.2 mile with his good Open trotter, Derby Tex Whiz (1:56.2 $125,941), also at the Syracuse Mile.

But the hits didn’t stop there. Ball was also responsible for the careers of Major T Collins (1:59.2 $221,804), PJ Whiz (2:00.2 $161,696), Super Whiz (1:59.4 $142,879), Crescent T Collins (2:02.2 $94,178), Gantry T (1:57.2 $69,923), Tempest Lobell (2:03.2 $63,411), BJ Grattan (2:02.4 $60,035), Chip Rebel (2:02.3 $58,474) and of course, the local legend Mr. Tizwhiz (1:59.3 $48,633).

For his career, Ken Ball drove 1,143 winners that accounted for $3.1 million in purses. On the training side, Ball started 2,337 horses posting 263 wins, 311 seconds and 324 thirds (40 percent in the money) and earned another $1.1 million for those starts.

Ball is still actively training today, but limits his driving to county fairs and an occasional qualifying race. He defers the pari-mutuel lines to his son, Keith, who is continuing the family tradition. Keith Ball is also a Monroe County Sheriff.

Ken Ball still lives in Batavia with his longtime companion Patricia Arnold. But he’s more likely to be found shipping his horses to the track or a fair than at his house. But that’s the only way one could ever put together such an impressive body of work.

Ken Ball will receive his award in the Purple Haze Winner’s Circle at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Dec. 12) during UNY-USHWA’s Night of Distinction.

After making runs at sectional titles each of the past four years, the three girls who helped make those teams contenders -- Tiara Filbert, Sam Cecere and Maddie McCulley -- are all seniors, and if they are going to turn 2015-16 into a championship season, Head Coach Marty Hein knows they can't turn it alone.

That's where sisters Taylor Stefaniak, a sophomore, and Ryann Stefanik, a freshman, come in. They're young for starters, but Taylor brings confidence and maturity gleaned from half-season as a starter last year, and Ryann is simply fearless.

"The seniors have those girls' backs," Hein said. "We know that if we want to make a deep run this year that those two sisters are a big key to it."

The Lady Devils are 2-1 on the young season after a 56-36 win over Brighton at home Tuesday night. McCulley led the way with 17 points, including sinking a trio of threes, Cecere had 15 and Filbert scored 14. Ryann Stefaniak added eight.

Any championship trail probably runs through Mendon, and it was in Mendon that Batavia suffered its lone defeat last year 50-63. There, Hein said, the team showed it still has some work to do coming together as a unit.

Ryann's youth showed a bit, he said, but that's no different than what it was for Taylor early last year and McCulley when she was a freshman.  

"It's a building process, so hopefully we'll get in the right spot by the end of the year," Hein said.

Ryann won a starting job coming out of preseason because that fearlessness is what enables her to compete at this level.

"That's why she's here," Hein said. "She's a ninth-grader. She can handle the ball. She can shoot the ball. She's not afraid to go up, so this was a huge game for her to bounce back from the Mendon game."

Still, what makes this team is that very special trio of seniors, whom Hein has coached since they were young girls. Even at this point of the year, Hein admits to getting a little misty-eyed realizing this is the last run he'll have with Filbert, Cecere and McCulley.

"I've had them for so many games through summer, spring, the regular season, the whole cohesiveness between them and the rest of the girls, they're the glue," Hein said. "They hold it all together."

Filbert plays at a whole other level, with skill and basketball IQ to create scoring opportunities and disrupt the offensive flow of opponents, and as Hein noted, "she's a highlight reel at any given point."

Filbert, Cecere, McCulley and the two Stefanik sisters -- five girls in Batavia who are likely to make the 2015-16 pretty entertaining.

The next play at home at 7 p.m. tomorrow.

In photos: Ryan, #3; Filbert, #22; Taylor #23; Cecere, #30; McCulley, #42.

To purchase prints of photos, click here.

The season opener for the Notre Dame Girls Basketball Team didn't exactly go the way Dave Pero Sr. would have liked, with a tough loss to Gates Chili, 42-33, but Pero couldn't have been prouder of his son.

Dave Perio Jr., was appointed the Gates Chili coach during the off-season, and after three years as an assistant to his father at Notre Dame, the younger Pero gets his first opportunity to run his own program.

"I've been happy for him since the day he got the job," said Pero Sr. "It's a great opportunity for him. It's his second win. He's 2-0. He's got a nice road ahead of him. Let's hope he keeps building and great things are going to happen."

Always intense on the sidelines, Pero Jr. was perhaps even a little more animated making his first appearance as a head coach in a gym where he played high school ball and helped the Lady Irish to a couple of championship seasons.

"Coming in here, seeing my brother on the other bench and my family here, and I've coached these girls on Notre Dame's team for three years, so I know every single one of them," Pero Jr. said. "I know they wanted to beat me as much as I wanted to win. I'm trying to build a program at Gates Chili, so a win at Gates is just as big for my program. I loved my time here, but unfortunately, I had to move on and I'm trying to do the best I can where I am now."

He said the win was bittersweet because he hates seeing his father lose, but he needed his girls to play winning basketball.

"My father is my mentor, one of my best friends," Pero Jr. said. "It was tough coaching against him."

Both coaches said the game was like watching twin teams battle on the hardwood.

"I teach the same things he does," Pero Jr. said. "Hard work, boxing out, diving on the floor for loose balls. Everything I know, I learned from him."

Both coaches are optimistic about their teams' prospects for 2015-16, even though they both have young teams. Pero Sr. said the loss was just a small setback. It doesn't derail the season.

"My expectations are high, even after a loss tonight," Pero Sr. said. 

One roster change that makes Notre Dame a bit younger than expected this season is the departure of Shea Norton, a 6' 2" senior who was one of the area's dominant girls basketball players last season, who decided she would rather be a cheerleader than a hoops star. It's a change of heart Pero Sr. didn't want to discuss other than to say, "We're moving on."

To purchase prints of photos, click here.

By Tim Bojarski, Batavia Downs Media Relations

Racing fans may want to take a break from their holiday Black Friday shopping to check out tonight's Batavia Downs live racing program.

The 12-race card features very healthy carryover pools in both the Pick-5 and Pick-6 wagers.

The Pick-5 that runs from race five to race nine begins with a carryover pool of $864. And the elusive Pick-6, that starts with race seven and runs through race 12, has a carryover pool of $2,137.

First race post time is 6:15 tonight. Racing at America’s oldest lighted harness track continues three nights a week through Dec. 12.