The 2014 edition of the Batavia Muckdogs, at least so far, isn't a team with a lot of pop, but they've shown they can put runs on the board.

In nine games this season, the Muckdogs have scored at least five runs six times. At 7-2, they have the best record in the Pinckney Division and are tied with Brooklyn for the best record in the NYPL.

In nine games, only reserve shortstop Brian Anderson has any home runs, with two in eight at bats, but five starters are hitting over .300.

The Muckdogs lead the league in hitting with a .245 team batting average.

The hitting has made up for a subpar contribution from the hurlers so far. The staff ERA is near the bottom of the league at 3.22.

Saturday night, Batavia had its biggest offensive game yet, scoring 10 runs on 14 hits for a 10-6 victory over the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (3-6). Jorgan Cavanerio tossed six innings, giving up four runs, to notch his first win of the season.

The offensive was led by catcher Brad Haynal, a San Diego State product making his professional debut. Taken by the Miami Marlins in the 18th round of the 2014 draft, Haynal was 2-4 with a double and three RBI.

With three hits apiece were DH Carlos Duran and 2B Mason Davis. Duran, a Dominican in his fourth professional season who is hitting .320, had two RBI. Davis, the leadoff hitter, from Georgia, had a triple and his hitting .321 on the season. 

Outfielder Kevin Grove, who went to high school in Los Angeles and college in New York City (St. John's), also had two hits, with a double and RBI. An undrafted free agent, Grove is hitting .324 in his first professional season through eight starts. 

Ryan Aper, a centerfielder from Lincoln, Ill., taken in the sixth round by the Marlins in 2013, had two hits and scored two runs. Aaron Blanton, from Texas, a ninth-round pick in 2013, also had two hits. Blanton is the starting shortstop.

The Muckdogs are home again this evening against State College. Game time is 5:05 p.m. It's Irish Night, sponsored by O'Lacys. Also, the first 100 seniors 60 and over will receive a voucher for a free hot dog, soda/coffee and snack item. The Muckdogs and State College meet again at 7:05 p.m., Monday.

Stan's Harley-Davidson hosted its annual classic car and classic bike drive-in today.

Nathan and Abby Lake, of Batavia.

Hugh and Mary Ann Steves, of Strykersville.

Don McDonald, of Stafford.

Mercy Flight/Mercy EMS, with the help of local volunteer fire departments, the Sheriff's Office and State Police, hosted an open house today in the parking lot of Home Depot. The highlight might have been the flyover of Mercy Flight #5, piloted by Brian Smith.

Thousands of people from throughout WNY were at Darien Lake Theme Park today for the 2nd annual Color Me Rad 5K. The event isn't a real race, but for participants, it's obviously real fun.

Color Me Rad benefits Special Olympics.

The Ghost Riders and the Ghost Riders Drum and Bugle Corps put on a unique show Friday night on Main Street.

The bands performed right on the sidewalk next to Larry's Steakhouse (the show's sponsor) and music fans, maybe about 300 hundred of them, gathered around standing or finding seating as best they could.

The music was great, of course.

The Ghost Rider's great pedal steel player Jimmy "Steel" Duvall.

A working fire is reportedly coming from building 'B' at  20 N. Spruce St. in the city. The city's fourth platoon is called to the scene and the first platoon is called to headquarters.

UPDATE 1:30 a.m. (by Howard): At least 13 people, including young children, living in six apartments, were displaced by the fire. The fire started in a second-floor apartment occupied by a grandfather and three grandchildren. All four were home at the time and escaped unharmed. That apartment was gutted. A third-floor apartment was heavily damaged. There is smoke and water damage throughout the Group B part of the complex. The cause of the fire has not been determined. A witness said he arrived on scene seconds after the first fire crew. He saw fire burst through a window and within 45 seconds, firefighters had the fire knocked down. At this hour, city fire crews are still on scene.

A fence is reportedly on fire behind Batavia's Original Pizzeria, located at 500 E. Main St.

City fire is en route.

UPDATE 6:06 p.m.: Fire is out. City fire returning to service.

There are reportedly no injuries, but there is a pole and wires down following an accident in the area of 6591 Alleghany Road, Alabama.

Alabama fire responding.

UPDATE 5:28 p.m.: There is now a report of injuries. Also, National Grid has been notified. The roadway is blocked.

Paul Berardini, owner of Big Pauly's Pizza, donated $200 to the YWCA's domestic violence program today and presented the donation to Linsey Vallett. The donation is comprised of $2 from each large pizza Pauly's sold on Monday.

When workers from Tompkins Insurance move into their new second-floor offices at Main and Center, they will have Doug Rebmann to thank for the bit of extra sunlight spilling into their space.

Rebmann has been working this week cutting through masonry to create two new window openings as part of extensive renovations to the second floor.

Tompkins expects to move its customer service center to the location in mid-September.

Today was the day to fill the boot and a lot of people did. City firefighters, members of IAFF Local 896, were positioned on Ellicott, Main, and Court streets this morning to collect donations from passing motorists as a fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

It was another banner year for the firefighters with a new record amount of $9,635.39, according to Local President Greg Ireland.

Above, Adam Palumbo collects a donation.

Jeff Stevens collects a donation.

Firefighter Tim Stengel collects a donation.

Giovanni Louis Rosario, 21, of Conkey Avenue, Rochester, is charged with burglary, 2nd. Rosario was arrested on a warrant out of Town of Darien Court. He's accused of being involved in a burglary reported at 1 p.m., Dec. 27, on Tinkham Road, Darien. Rosario was ordered held on $10,000 bail. The suspect is currently being held in the Monroe County Jail on unrelated charges.

James Ross Sweet, 53, of Walnut Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st. Sweet allegedly initiated contact with a person he is barred from contacting by court order.

Timothy Joseph Clark, 54, of North Bergen Road, Bergen, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Clark allegedly grabbed a woman he knows. The alleged incident was reported at 2:45 p.m., Wednesday.

Mark Anthony DiManno, 56, of Ridgeview  Drive, East Rochester, is charged with criminal trespass. DiManno was arrested on a warranted and arraigned in Town of Batavia Court.

Alyssa N. Bannerman, 20, of Brockport, is charged with conspiracy, 6th, criminal possession of stolen property, 5th, and unlawful possession of marijuana; A 17-year-old from Brockport is charged with conspiracy, 6th, and criminal possession of stolen property, 5th; and, Antonio J. Goodson, 24, of Medina, is charged with conspiracy, 5th, and petit larceny. The trio was arrest by State Police in relation to an alleged larceny reported at Kmart at 3:30 p.m., Wednesday. No further details released.

Todd R. Stanton, 32, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st, and harassment, 2nd. Stanton was arrested by State Police for an alleged incident reported at 7:48 a.m., Monday. No further details released.

Reader Amy Michaels sent us this video of a black bear eating from her bird feeder on Alexander Road.

Another reader reported tonight seeing a black bear in the area of Law Street.

Le Roy fire is responding to a report of smoke coming from the second story apartment at 27 E. Main St.

A second call reports it may be coming from a grill.

Le Roy ambulance and Bergen fire also responding.

UPDATE 9:34 p.m.: Call downgraded to one engine from Le Roy only.

UPDATE 9:27 p.m.: Le Roy fire back in service.

A fully involved cab fire is reported on a tractor-trailer at 8480 Alleghany Road, near or at the Thruway on/off ramp. Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding along with mutual aid from Corfu and East Pembroke.

UPDATE 7:32 p.m.: Alabama's tanker is requested mutual aid to the scene.

UPDATE 7:57 p.m.: Pembroke command calls for a pallet of absorbent material.

UPDATE: Photo and video submitted by Amber Winters.

How far would you drive for really good BBQ? Yesterday, somebody reportedly drove 70 miles to try out Batavia's newest BBQ joint -- The Rack Shack, on Ellicott Street Road.

Open just a week and with little fanfare, the owners of the new restaurant are finding their location just a bit outside the city is well suited to the business they want to build.

"The location presented itself and we thought it was a good opportunity," said co-owner Mandee Hopkins.

The location was most recently Rosie's Diner. Rosie's nor the prior diner, Fedora's, really worked out for those owners. But Hopkins said she and her partners like the location because of the high volume of traffic on Route 63, the fact that the east side of Batavia -- with the ag park -- is growing, and they are confident good BBQ will make the restaurant a destination for smoked pork and beef aficionados.

The co-owners are her husband Jason, who has 25 years experience in the restaurant business, including working as head chef at the Hillside Inn and sous chef at the Valley Inn, and Jim and Melissa Penders. Jim is an award-winning BBQer who has worked in catering for 15 years.

"BBQ is what they love," Mandee said. "It's what they love to eat. It's what they love to cook, and it's a skill that needs to be mastered."

Mastered it, they have. The menu boasts that the pork ribs are so tender they melt off the bone. They'll never be accused of false advertising on that point.

The menu is filled with Southern flavor, from cole slaw to collard greens to cajun catfish along with WNY favorites such as salt potatoes, Pittsburgh salad, and their own version of the garbage plate, called the Shack Attack.

"We want to offer a warm, comfortable atmosphere where people can enjoy their food," Mandee said. "We believe in high standards and treating people like family."

Story by Sloane Martin, WBTA:

Howie Hawkins is running for governor for the second consecutive election on the Green Party tab.

A recent poll showed that a progressive candidate could cut significantly into the incumbent Democrat’s lead, giving that fresh option a chance.

Hawkins says he can be that candidate.

“We stand for progressive policies that benefit working people,” he said. “I think that’s what that poll says people are looking for. Those are the people who understand Cuomo’s been very conservative economically. He’s underfunded schools, he’s giving tax breaks to the rich and they’re looking for an alternative.

“Our problem is not that they don’t agree with us. It’s that they never heard of us.”

In Bergen Thursday afternoon before meeting with party members from the tri-county area, Hawkins outlined a six-point proposal to turn things around for the Empire State called the Green New Deal. It draws parallels to the Roosevelt domestic programs, but updates them for modern times seeking to bring jobs. For example, Hawkins supports giving unemployed people public jobs, similar to the WPA.

Hawkins says Cuomo’s problem is doing nothing about income inequality.

“The idea is: we give money to the rich and it trickles down; we have decades of evidence to show it doesn’t work. If we restored the progressive tax structure we had in the '70s, we’d have $30 billion more,” he said. “That’s about 21 percent more than we take in now and that would fund the Green New Deal.”

The other points as part of the Green New Deal include raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, ensuring New Yorkers can make a living wage with single-payer health insurance, working to limit segregation in schools, providing affordable housing and mass transit and cultivating renewable energy.

Hawkins also had strong words about hydrofracking. He said the job impact estimates for the controversial natural gas drilling process are greatly exaggerated.

“No one denies the environmental dangers of fracking,” he said. “What’s not being communicated well is the economic benefits of going to 100-percent clean energy by 2030 far outweighs any economic benefits we could get from fracking. The most outlandish estimates I’ve seen from pro-fracking flacks from the industry is 200,000 jobs. We’re talking about 4.5 million jobs over the next 15 years (with clean energy). A lot of those are manufacturing, a lot of those are construction; those are good paying jobs. You want an economic boom? Go with clean energy.”

At the corner of Route 262 and Batavia Byron Road in February 2008, there was a horrible auto accident. Two children were killed -- Victoria Claus, 7, and Christopher Claus, 11. Friends erected a memorial to the children near the intersection. Today, three young ladies who were classmates in second grade with Victoria decided to return to the memorial to clean it up and add flowers and stuffed animals. Pictured are Morgan Fuller, left, Julia Menzie and Catherine Bumsted.