Barker captured the championship at its annual high school softball tournament Saturday, edging Oakfield-Alabama in a tight final. 

The tournament featured strong pitching, explosive offense, and several late-inning rallies as Oakfield-Alabama, Lyndonville, and Elba joined the host Bulldogs for a full Spring day of softball.

Oakfield-Alabama opens with league win over Lyndonville
Oakfield-Alabama started the tournament with a 6-1 victory over Lyndonville in a game that counted toward league standings. Savannah Durham delivered a strong performance in the circle, tossing a complete game two-hitter with seven strikeouts. Piper Hyde sparked the Hornets’ offense, going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Allison Harkness added two hits and an RBI, while Chloe Lamb contributed a sacrifice fly.

“It was just a great high school softball game. Definitely had a Sectional Final feel to it,” said Hornet's coach Jeff Schlagenhauf. “Lyndonville is an excellent softball team, and Coach Moore does a fantastic job year in and year out with his teams. Total respect for him and his program. Our kids played incredibly well defensively. We got some big hits when we needed them and capitalized on our opportunities.”

Barker Holds Off Elba’s rally
Barker advanced to the championship with a 7-5 win over Elba. The Bulldogs built a seven-run lead by the fourth inning, taking advantage of a hit batter and an error in the second that led to four runs. Elba responded with four runs in the fourth, fueled by singles and patience at the plate, but could not complete the comeback.

Elba outhit Barker 6-4, with Lauren Hawkins leading the Lancers with two hits. Brea Smith started for Elba, pitching six innings and striking out four. At the plate, Smith drove in two runs, while Maddie Hall and Madison Marks each drew two walks. Barker’s Mady Flint drove in two runs, and Peyton Bradley pitched a complete game, striking out four.

Lyndonville outslugs Elba in consolation game
Lyndonville topped Elba 17-11 in a high-scoring consolation matchup. Elba took an early lead, but Lyndonville answered with five runs in the first and pulled away with a five-run sixth inning. Addison Dillenbeck led Lyndonville, going 4-for-5 with a double, two triples, and five RBIs. Arnie Sturtevant added three hits, including a home run and a double, and Alexa Robinson and Braelynn Dillenbeck each had multiple hits.

Elba’s Bri Totten drove in five runs with two hits, including a triple. Brea Smith collected three hits, and Madalyn Marks reached base three times on walks. Elba rallied for five runs in the seventh but could not close the gap.

Barker tops Oakfield-Alabama in championship
In the final, Barker edged Oakfield-Alabama 5-3. The Hornets erased an early deficit with a two-run homer from Rylee Denny in the fifth inning, tying the game. Defensive miscues in the sixth allowed Barker to regain the lead. Oakfield-Alabama threatened in the seventh, putting the tying runs in scoring position, but Barker held on for the win.

Emma Moeller pitched six innings for Oakfield-Alabama, allowing five hits and two earned runs. Hyde doubled, and Raine Denny, Allie Williams, and Jess Sosnowski each added hits. Piper Hyde was named to the all-tournament team for her efforts.

“We dug ourselves a hole early, but Rylee Denny’s two-run HR over the fence tied it. A couple of miscues defensively in the sixth hurt us, but we battled back in the seventh and had the tying runs on second and third to give ourselves a chance. A great day for us to get two good games in preparation for sectionals,” Schlagenhauf said.

Piper Hyde was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Oakfield-Alabama finishes the regular season at 14-2.

Photos by Kristin Smith

Perry's supplied ice cream on Saturday to the Mercy Flight ground and air base on Call Parkway in Batavia in celebration of EMS Week.

Photos submitted by Wesley Rehwaldt.

Churches often draft mission statements that encompass far-reaching goals across the country and throughout the world; however, there’s also something to be said for extending a kind hand to someone right next door to you, Jo-Ann Bestine says.

As a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Batavia, she knows the extensive hard work that’s been done in the name of outreach, she said.

“We’ve done outreach for years, internationally and nationally. We’re making an attempt to do outreach on Main Street, Batavia. And why it’s perfect, this is the Presbyterian Church. We’re both on Main Street, we’re both in Batavia, we both want to do outreach; it just fits the bill,” Bestine said Saturday outside of First Presbyterian Church at East Main and Liberty streets. “Get to know our neighbors, they don’t have to come into our church to be our neighbors. So let’s be a good community, just get everyone to know your neighbors in this local community.”

The churches invite everyone to stop by, grab lunch, mingle, play a lawn game and get to know fellow residents. The event is free and will be held from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church, 300 E. Main St., Batavia.

Besides the common denominator of food — who doesn’t like creamy toasted cheese sandwiches or peanut butter and jelly? — now might be a perfect time to take moments for relaxation and socializing, Bestine said.

“Actually, right now, people are a little bit upset with things going on internationally and nationally, and are frustrated that they can’t fix what they think is broken. I can’t fix what’s overseas, I can’t fix what’s in the nation, but maybe if I focus on my community, on Main Street, Batavia, it’ll help me, it’ll help us,” she said. “That’s something we can do. We can’t fix the world, but maybe we can make a difference right here in Batavia. It does satisfy, it’s the frustration with what’s going on nationally and internationally that we can’t fix, but we can do this. This is achievable. One grilled cheese sandwich at a time.”

The Rev. Roula Alkhouri of First Presbyterian added that it’s “the fun of coming together as a community.” The goal is to build community and connect people through a fun and simple event, she said, where people may bring a lawn chair and sit and enjoy a time of conversation and fun with others.

Action doesn’t have to be major to be effective, she said.

“We don’t have to be divided on anything. We just love each other and enjoy a good time. I think that’s always the challenge, is for people to remember that you don’t have to do big things in order to change the world, you could just be together and change how you see others,” Alkhouri said. “It’s going to be a great event, I think, no matter where we end up doing it, inside or outside, but we’ll have fun. And I think it’s a great way for them to share their gifts, teach them more by service and caring for the community.”

Both women agreed that this isn’t any type of recruiting event for the churches, even though folks might just find that what’s behind the walls of each less intimidating than what they may have previously thought.

“No, it’s just we’re part of the community, so let’s look like it, get out from behind the walls,” Bestine said. “The idea of having it, if weather permits, having it on the lawn, perhaps one is a little bit intimidated with coming through the big stone walls at St. James. I mean, they call it the castle on the hill. It’s just not an inviting structure, so we’ll meet you on the front lawn.”

Genesee County's Master Gardeners held the group's annual Spring Gala plant sale at the Cornell Cooperative Extension, 420 E. Main St., Batavia, on Saturday.

Photos by Howard Owens

Elba won its second game in a row on Friday, but more significantly, broke an eight-game losing streak against Oakfield-Alabama with a 7-3 win.

Alex Rascoe led the offense, going 4-4 with five RBIs. 

Mason Vigiano got the win, going six innings, giving up eight hits but only one run (earned), while striking out seven.

The Lancers improve to 7-5, and the Hornets, who have lost four of their last five games, drop to 6-8.

Photos by Jordyn Tobolski

Pembroke, now 11-2 on the season, racked up its highest run total of the season on Friday, leading to a 17-3 win over Attica.

UPDATE: Game story submitted by Allison Lang.

Behind a commanding performance from ace Brayden Lang, the Pembroke Varsity Dragons cruised to a 17–3 win over Attica on Friday in a five-inning blowout.

Lang was electric on the mound, striking out 13 while surrendering just four hits and three runs. The right-hander walked one and shut down Attica’s offense over five strong innings.

Offensively, Pembroke wasted no time. Anthony Abbatiello got the Dragons rolling with an RBI single in the top of the first. They exploded for eight runs in the second, capitalizing on a combination of errors and timely hitting. Joshua Von Kramer and Landon Santini each drove in runs, with Abbatiello adding an RBI double. Jarrett Lewter brought home another after being hit by a pitch, and Von Kramer capped the inning with a two-run single.

The onslaught continued in the third as Pembroke plated six more. Jayden Bridge laced a two-run double, Lewter and Lang each added RBIs, and Owen Shultz chipped in with an RBI groundout.

Santini led the Dragons’ offense, going 3-for-4 with three singles and two stolen bases. Pembroke collected 14 hits in total, with multiple contributions throughout the lineup. Von Kramer, Abbatiello, Bridge, and Lewter all drove in two runs apiece. Lang and Shultz also recorded multi-hit games.

Pembroke’s patience at the plate paid off with nine walks, including two each from Trey Newton, Jacob Johnson, and Abbatiello.

Attica’s starter, Wild, struggled to find rhythm, giving up 10 hits and 14 runs—just five of them earned—across two innings. Stockweather and Kilian each drove in a run for Attica.

Pembroke improves its momentum to 11-3 heading into Monday’s road matchup at Newfane.

Photos by Kristin Smith.

About 40 people braved the thunder and raindrops early Saturday afternoon to take a stand for various humanitarian issues along downtown Main Street.

Sarah Wolcott, who first rallied for a Hands Off! Protest in April as part of a national event, organized it again. She said this gathering came together more quickly with less publicity.

“This has been in the works for about two weeks. This was through the women’s march. So the main protest is women’s rights and rights of the marginalized, so Black Lives Matter, immigration rights, due process, or lack thereof,” Wolcott said just outside of City Hall. “I’m here rain or shine, whoever wants to be here with me. I didn’t expect a huge April 5 turnout or anything like that.”

The April 5 protest drew an estimated 300 people who formed two lines, one on each side of Main Street near City Hall. The event's focus was broader, ranging from education and social security to healthcare and anti-Donald Trump and anti-Elon Musk sentiments.

A visit to the back portion of the Harvester Center, 56 Harvester Ave., Batavia, in the daylight of a Friday afternoon reveals that the old factory buildings are in as bad a shape as the collapse of a wall of one of the buildings suggested on Thursday night.

The city of Batavia has cited six buildings in the complex for code violations, and the owners are under court order to submit an action plan for addressing the code violations.

City Manager Rachael Tabelski has recommended that City Council submit a $1 million Restore NY grant application to fund an extensive demolition project at the Harvester campus.

The city’s plan, developed in cooperation with Amerinac Holding Corp., proposes demolishing the severely deteriorated buildings to open space for parking, lighting, and green areas, while supporting redevelopment of the remaining structures.

Amerinac Holding Corp. is a company based in Ohio led by John F. Wachter III and John F. Wachter Jr. 

The complex spans 29 acres, contains approximately 1 million square feet of former industrial use.

Tabelski described the project as “phase one of the redevelopment of the campus,” to transform the site into a mixed-use destination similar to Buffalo’s Larkinville district. The total cost for demolition and redevelopment is estimated between $8 and $12 million, with the Restore NY grant covering a portion of that amount.

The Harvester Center, originally the Massey-Harris-Ferguson plant, closed in 1958, causing a sharp rise in local unemployment. The Mancuso family purchased the complex and, in 1959, pioneered the business incubator model by dividing the space for use by small businesses. Over the past six decades, more than 3,000 businesses have operated within its walls. The property was sold to Amerinac Holding Corp. in 2021.

Photos by Howard Owens.

Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes said Friday that a newly approved tax reduction for the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. will directly benefit OTB employees and communities across Western New York.

Speaking at a press conference at Batavia Downs, Peoples-Stokes said, “I assure you, both the elected representatives as well as the board members, that in Albany, we paid attention to what you asked for.” 

She called the $4.5 million annual tax cut, signed last week by Gov. Kathy Hochul, the result of persistent local advocacy and a commitment to workers.

“It’s really challenging when you’re working on a budget the size of the one that New York works on,” Peoples-Stokes said. “You can get right to the last day, and some things that you think were in there could come out because something else found its way in. That did not happen with this issue.”

Peoples-Stokes said the tax reduction will help Batavia Downs provide better wages and benefits for employees, improve entertainment for guests and increase distributions to the 17 member municipalities.

“I want to give God all the glory, because clearly that’s how I take my lead, and it’s been working for me my entire life,” she said.

She also credited Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie for supporting the measure, saying she personally lobbied him to keep the provision in the budget for Western New York. 

“The idea came from Western New York. So the idea should actually happen for Western New York in this budget,” Peoples-Stokes said.

About 50 Batavia Downs employees stood behind the speakers during the press conference, holding signs thanking the political leaders who helped secure the tax cut in the state budget.

Byron Brown, president and CEO of Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp., said the tax cut will allow Batavia Downs to do “even more for all of you and our host communities,” estimating the change will provide $25 million over five years.

“Our dedicated employees and the 2.7 million residents in our 17 member municipalities will be the beneficiaries,” Brown said.

Dennis Bassett, chair of the board, said the measure is a step forward, but more work remains in Albany.

“There are issues that need to be addressed in Albany that haven’t been addressed until now, issues that must be addressed if Batavia Downs and the OTB are going to increase revenue and profits for the municipalities,” Bassett said. “We know that we can’t grow this business and be successful if we don’t look at how we can go into different ventures, and we can’t do the same things we’ve been doing tomorrow that we’re doing today and be successful.”

Rochelle Stein, chairwoman of the Genesee County Legislature and a board member, said the partnership between management and the board was critical to achieving the tax reduction.

“This is what happens when everyone pulls in the same direction for the good of our region,” Stein said. “It’s not just about Batavia Downs -- it’s about every community that benefits.”

Mo Sumbundu, Western New York regional director for Gov. Hochul’s office, praised the collaboration in order to benefit the municipalities and OTB employees.

“The tax rate reduction also allows Western New York Off Track betting employees, who are standing here with us today, to receive much-deserved pay raises, reducing costs for their families and also reducing their health care insurance costs,” Sumbundu said.

Antonella Rotilio, a representative of the United Public Service Employees Union, said the tax reduction is a win for the staff.

“Our members work hard every day to make Batavia Downs a success,” Rotilio said in a statement. “This tax relief means our voices were heard, and it will help us continue to provide for our families and support our communities. We appreciate the leadership that made this possible.”

Peoples-Stokes closed by urging Batavia Downs to “keep doing that great job of entertaining " and congratulating the board and staff on their work in securing the tax cut.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley has opened a new district office in Batavia, aiming to make state government more accessible for Genesee and Monroe county residents.

The office is located inside the Cornell Cooperative Extension building at 420 East Main St. in Batavia. Hawley said the move brings his staff closer to constituents who previously had to travel to Albion, the site of his official district office in Orleans County.

“We just decided that it was about time,” Hawley said. “I had talked to Jocelyn Sikorski, the coordinator and director here, about maybe having a space on the first floor for handicapped accessibility. She said, ‘We’ve got just the right space for you.’”

Hawley said his staff will be available at the Batavia office at least once a week, every Wednesday from noon to 5 p.m., with more hours added if needed.

“We need to be visible and accessible,” he said.

Hawley noted that his team has always offered outreach hours in Genesee County, previously operating out of Genesee Community College, and in all four Monroe County towns in his district. The new Batavia office, he said, is a practical step to better serve the community.

“It’ll also be a little closer for folks from Scottsville and Monroe County, up in Sweden too, rather than going over to Orleans County,” Hawley said.

He emphasized that the new location comes at no additional cost to taxpayers.

“No, none whatsoever,” Hawley said. “Spending taxpayer money to have an office -- one office is plenty to pay money for. But when they came forward and said, ‘We’ve got a spot for you,’ it just made sense.”

Hawley represents the 139th Assembly District, which covers parts of Genesee, Orleans, and Monroe counties.

This coming week will be a time to reflect on those first responders that provide vital medical services and lifesaving care 24 hours a day throughout the community, Genesee County legislators say.

The Legislature presented a proclamation Wednesday in advance of Emergency Medical Services Week, May 18 to 24, to thank those service men and women and offer recognition for what they do each day and night, seven days a week.

The proclamation continues:

WHEREAS, access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury, and

WHEREAS, emergency medical services has grown to fill a gap by providing important, out of hospital care, including preventative medicine, follow-up care, and access to telemedicine, and

WHEREAS, the emergency medical services system consists of first responders, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, emergency medical dispatchers, firefighters, police officers, educators, administrators, pre-hospital nurses, emergency nurses, emergency physicians, trained members of the public, and other out of hospital medical care providers, and

WHEREAS, members of emergency medical services teams, whether professional or volunteer, dedicate thousands of hours every year to specialized training and ongoing education to improve lifesaving abilities and skills, and

WHEREAS, it is fitting to acknowledge all contributions and achievements of our community’s Emergency Medical Services providers by celebrating Emergency Medical Services Week. Now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, in recognition of Emergency Medical Services Week the Genesee County Legislature does hereby acknowledge the EMS Strong theme: ‘We Care’ and encourages the community to show gratitude to our EMS staff for all their hard work and dedication.

As part of their ongoing effort to recognize and make some noise about causes that matter, Genesee County legislators presented a proclamation to members of the mental health field during this week's Legislature meeting.

In honor of National Mental Health Awareness Week, Legislator Gordon Dibble read the creed stating that mental health involves "our emotional, psychological and social well-being, therefore it is crucial for the community to acquire knowledge that mental health affects the way we think, feel and act." 

The remaining portion of the proclamation states:

WHEREAS, there is stigma associated with mental health and getting help, often associated with weakness. This can be attributed to a misunderstanding regarding mental health, along with generational cultural differences, and

WHEREAS, mental health is our wealth, as we are able to forgive and be generous to ourselves in times of struggle. We are able to go “back to basics,” where it’s never too late to start again, and

WHEREAS, it is vital to provide comprehensive, coordinated, and effective mental health services for individuals and families at the community level in order to address the needs of our community, and

WHEREAS, this year’s theme is “Turn Awareness Into Action” allowing us to share knowledge and information about mental health services available to the community and what to do if mental health wellness becomes a concern, and

WHEREAS, Genesee County Mental Health is committed to ensuring that people living with mental health conditions are treated with compassion, respect and understanding and is working to ensure citizens have access to affordable, quality, evidence-based mental health care. Now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, the Genesee County Legislature wishes to acknowledge the outstanding work carried out by mental health professionals throughout Genesee County and hereby declares May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month in Genesee County.

There will be a free "stigma-ending" mental health awareness event with service providers, wellness activities, pizza, a ticket with entry for a self-care wellness basket drawing, and shared stories at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 28 at First Presbyterian Church, 300 E. Main St., Batavia.

Faith Goodenbury and Emily Pietrzykowski powered Alexander to a 12-7 win over Attica on Friday.

Goodenbury went 3-for-5 with a double, triple and three RBIs. Pietrzykowski finished 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.

“We needed this kind of team effort after a tough, close loss yesterday to Pembroke,” Alexander coach John Goodenbury said.

Alexander jumped ahead in the first with a Goodenbury double. Attica answered with three runs in the bottom half, including a two-RBI single from Haley Mills.

The Trojans responded with six runs in the second, highlighted by Pietrzykowski’s two-RBI double.

“We’re focused on staying sharp and getting ourselves ready for sectionals,” Goodenbury said.

Alexander collected 11 hits. Goodenbury and Pietrzykowski had three each. Ava Yax, Melissa Sawyer, Melanie Bump, Lilly Szymkowiak and Paige Morton each added a hit.

Paige Morton started and allowed four hits and five unearned runs over three innings. Pietrzykowski earned the win in relief, tossing four innings with one hit, three strikeouts and one earned run.

Mills pitched all seven innings for Attica, striking out six and walking four. She also went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Cius, Jackson and Scripp each had a hit for the Blue Devils.

Alexander plays Batavia on Saturday at the Chris Martin Field of Dreams. First pitch is 2 p.m.

Photos by Kristin Smith.

Pavilion/York scored early and held off a late rally to defeat Notre Dame, 5-4, on Friday.

The team plated two runs in the first inning and two more in the third. Landen Stoddard, Evan Kingdon, and Ryan Brady each tripled, with Kingdon and Brady collecting an RBI apiece. Hayven Cordes went 1-for-3 with a single and two RBIs. Liam Ezard added an RBI single.

“We jumped on them early, scoring two in the first and two in the third,” Pavilion/York coach Tim Kingdon said.

Stoddard started on the mound, recording six strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings. Mason Parsons finished the game in relief.

“In the fifth, we had some uncharacteristic miscues on defense, which gave them all of their runs,” Kingdon said. “We knew going into tonight’s game that it was going to be a tough one, as Notre Dame has been playing great baseball of late. But our boys were ready to play and did what it took to walk away with the win.”

Photos by Kristin Smith

Elba avenged an early-season loss to Oakfield-Alabama, riding strong pitching from Mason Vigiano and a breakout night from freshman Alex Rascoe to a 7-1 victory Friday.

Vigiano worked six innings, scattering eight hits and striking out seven. Ryan Marsceill came on in relief and recorded the save.

“Mason was absolutely dealing tonight,” Elba coach Andrew Boyce said. “Anytime we needed a ground ball or a can-of-corn fly ball, he delivered on the mound. The work he puts in year-round is really showing.”

Rascoe sparked the offense, finishing 4-for-4 with two doubles, five RBIs and a run scored. Nicholas Scott went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a walk.

Mark Caparco added a double, scored three runs and walked once.

“In a game my boys had marked on the schedule since our first loss of the season came to Oakfield, they really wanted this one bad and came out and executed to perfection against one of the best-coached ball clubs in Section V,” Boyce said.

Elba improved to 11-4 and continues a busy stretch with games at Lyndonville on Saturday, Notre Dame on Monday and Pembroke on Tuesday.

“The boys are buzzing and we are getting key contributions from all 13 guys on the roster,” Boyce said. “There’s still a lot of work left to do.”

Photos by Kristin Smith.

Oakfield-Alabama’s offense sets the tone early and never lets up, powering the Lady Hornets to a 17-3 win over Notre Dame on Thursday.

The Lady Hornets score four runs in the first and six in the second, building a commanding lead. Oakfield-Alabama collects 13 hits, with seven players driving in runs.

Rylee Denny leads the way, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Piper Hyde finishes 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs. Raine Denny adds two hits and two RBIs.

Chloe Lamb chips in two hits and an RBI. Emma Moeller drives in three. Olivia Wescott and Allie Williams each add an RBI, while Ysa Schrauger goes 1-for-3.

Allison Harkness starts in the circle, allowing three hits and one earned run over four innings, striking out four. Savannah Durham closes it out, tossing three scoreless innings with two strikeouts.

Oakfield-Alabama improves to 13-1 on the season.

Photos by Kristin Smith

   Batavia’s bats broke loose in the sixth inning, powering a 24-2 victory over Attica on Senior Night, Thursday night, at Dwyer Stadium.

The Blue Devils sent 19 batters to the plate in the sixth, racking up 15 runs on 13 hits. They finished with 24 runs on 23 hits overall, with every starter collecting at least one hit and scoring a run.

“We’ve been struggling to get big hits with runners in scoring position, but tonight it clicked,” Batavia coach Michael Sputore said. “We scored 12 runs with two outs and had 11 hits with two outs.”

Jameson Motyka led the charge, going 4-for-4 with four runs, a double and an RBI. Lakoda Mruczek finished 4-for-5 with three runs, two doubles and four RBI. Brady Mazur, who also earned the win on the mound, went 3-for-4 and drove in five runs.

“Brady threw very well for us tonight, keeping the Attica hitters off balance and challenging them,” Sputore said.

Maggio Buchholz added a triple among his three hits, scoring three times and driving in three. Carter Mullen and Bronx Buchholz each had two hits, combining for five runs and four RBI.

Attica scored in the top of the first, but Mazur settled in, tossing six innings and allowing just three hits, striking out four and giving up one earned run.

“Proud of the boys tonight,” Sputore said. “It was a nice way to bounce back after a challenging week for us.”

Batavia improved to 9-8 overall and 5-3 in league play. The Blue Devils close out the regular season at Brockport on Friday at 5 p.m.

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Byron-Bergen defeated Alexander 3-2 in tennis on Thursday.

• 1st singles Riley Shallenberger (BB) defeated Kendrick Ochoa (Alex) 6-3, 6-0
• 2nd singles Erron Kimble (BB) defeated Adam Dolph (Alex) due to withdrawal
• 3rd singles Simon Fuller (Alex) defeated Josiah Hiscutt (BB) 7-5, 0-6
• 1st doubles Ela Bodnarskyj/Carli Koch (Alex) defeated Sara Bishop/Addy Cumings (BB) 7-6(7-4), 6-2
• 2 doubles Noah Clare/Craig DiQuattro (BB) defeated Merrick Eisele/Mary Grimes (Alex) 6-1, 7-5

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A 33-year-old Batavia man who was on the Batavia PD wanted list for more than a year before being captured by U.S. Marshals in December appeared in Genesee County Court on Friday morning and turned down a plea offer.

The details of the plea offer were not discussed in court.

Nathan L. Royse was arrested in December and charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, stemming from an incident on April 15, 2023, in Williams Park, where he allegedly attempted to stab another person during a fight during a basketball game.

On June 2, 2023, Batavia City Court issued a warrant for his arrest on a criminal possession of a weapon charge. No information is available on the status of that charge. The police issued a "wanted" press release for the first time in September 2023.

His attorney, Fred Rarick, informed Judge Melissa Lightcap Cianfrini that Royce turned down the plea offer because there was no guarantee that his time for the charge could be served concurrently with any other charge.

At the time of the search, Royse was also on parole for burglary in the second degree and had an active parole warrant.

NOTE: This story has been modified to correct the timeline of events and location of the incident.