More than 50 fifth and sixth graders at Pavilion Central School are getting their first exposure to musical theater with a production of Peter Pan Jr., and show director Rebecca Marczyk said the students have been doing a great job getting ready for Thursday's debut.

Tryouts were in January, with much of the preparation and rehearsal until recently in classrooms.

"I find they have improved a lot from where we first started," Marczyk said. "I've seen them grow a lot. They've never been on stage before. And we've only been on the stage here for a month."

Volunteers from Habitat for Humanity loaned their construction expertise to the Batavia Girls Fast Pitch Softball League on Saturday at Lyons Park on Edwards Street to build a new equipment shed for the Stingers.

The league supplied the building material and the Batavia Business and Professional Women's Club provided lunch for the volunteers.

Photos by Howard Owens.

Officials at Batavia Downs today announced that in preparation for the Kentucky Derby running this weekend, they will be extra staffing at all OTB Branches to help with those looking to place wagers.

Free Derby Programs will be available at Batavia Downs, All OTB Branches and all EZ Bet locations.

OTB Branches will open at 10 a.m. as Churchill Downs’ first race of the day will be at 10:30 a.m. The Kentucky Derby is at 6:57 p.m. and will be televised on NBC and Peacock. 

At Batavia Downs, guests may place wagers upstairs at the onsite ITW and inside the Park Place Room. They will be hosting a $30 lunch special which includes a $25 Free Play, $5 Wager on the Derby, Derby Program and a 1/2 Chicken BBQ Lunch from Center Street Smokehouse. Attendees can pay at the door.

The Derby Gala inside the historic Batavia Downs Clubhouse is sold out.

OTB Branches, EZ Bets, and the Batavia Downs ITW will be doing drawings for Derby Glasses and Star Wars Themed Derby shirts as the 2024 Derby falls on Star Wars Day.

Wagers can also be placed on BataviaBets.com from a phone, tablet or computer. People can also wager via the Dial-A-Bet service at 1-800-724-4000.

“This is an exciting year for us,” said Henry Wojtaszek, President and CEO of Batavia Downs. “Not only is it the 150th Kentucky Derby, but it’s also Western OTB’s 50th anniversary. Our entire team has been working tirelessly to make sure our gaming facility and branches are ready to welcome guests this Saturday. We wish everyone good luck on their bets and may the horse be with you.”

Find the OTB or EZ Bet near you by visiting https://www.westernotb.com/locations/. 

Fiscal year 2023 was one of “rebuilding” due to the loss of helicopters and the tragic death of a pilot in April 2022. However, the number of ground ambulance activity hit a high, Mercy Flight Executive Vice President Scott Wooton says.

The Batavia Blue Devils hammered Canandaigua on Friday, pounding out 20 runs in the first four innings, securing a 20-5 win.

Jakob Hutchins tossed evening innings, giving up seven hits, walking two and recording nine Ks.  

Offensively: 

• Cole Grazioplene, 4-5,  4 runs, 2 stolen bases, 3 RBIs
• Dane Dombrowski, 3-6 4 runs, a triple, 3 RBIs
• Mekhi Fortes 1-3, 2 walks, 2 RBIs, stolen base
• Jameson Motyka, 4-5, HR, 5 RBIs 2 runs, 2 stolen bases
• Sam Pies, 3-4, 3 runs, double, stolen base
• Carter Mullen, 1-4, double, 2 RBIs

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Wearing pink uniform T-shirts, the Batavia Blue Devils "Struck Out" on Friday to raise $1,900 for Genesee Cancer Assistance.

The softball team also beat Greece 8-2.

Giana Mruczek had Greece's hitters striking out plenty of times, recording nine whiffs and giving up only four hits.

Offensively:

• Hannah Carney, 2-3, 2 RBIs
• Sophia Minuto, 1-2, 2 RBIs
• Libby Grazioplene, doubled
• Drew Stevens, 1-2 
• Kyleigh Kabel had a 2 RBI double 

Submitted photos.

Notre Dame pitcher Loretta Sorochty picked up right where she left off after Thursday's no-hitter over Elba by pitching a 5-inning no-hitter against Kendall on Friday at Genesee Community College.  

Sorochty accounted for all 15 outs with 15 strike outs, only allowing three base runners via walks.  

Offensively for ND, Loretta helped her cause with 3 hits (including a double and single), 1 run scored and 4 RBIs.  Katie Landers and Sofia Falleti each had 2 hits for the Lady Irish, with Katie adding a double, 2 runs scored, 3 RBIs and a walk, and Falleti scoring 1 run and adding 3 RBIs.  Mia Treleaven and Hannah Tenney each contributed a hit, with Tenney scoring 2 runs and adding an RBI.  Amelia Sorochty drew 3 walks and came around to score each time.

Press release:

Alexander trailed 4-2 in the bottom of the third on Thursday when Emily Pietrzykowski tied the game with a 2-run homer to right center.  

Melanie Bump knocked in the go-ahead run, but the Trojans never looked back.  

Carley Shepard, Ella Felski and Faith Goodenbury lead the Trojans in the batter’s box with hits, each of them finishing the day going 3-for-4 at the plate. 

Melissa Sawyer, Ava Yax, Melanie Bump, and Brianna Neyman all finished the day with 2-hit performances.

Senior Madison Boyce pitched for Alexander, allowing 5 hits, 3 walks, and 3 earned runs with 7 strikeouts in 6 innings.

For Pembroke, Reagan Schneider, Aleena Maynard, Taylor Bischoff, Peyton Liss and Ashley Johnson all had singles on the day.

It was a picture-perfect evening to play softball, and we took advantage of it," said Alexander Coach John Goodenberry. "Jen is doing a good job coaching Pembroke, but this one just went our way today. Their catcher (Schneider) has a rifle for an arm, and if you’re not paying attention to the corners, she’s not afraid to let you know it. I like that. Madison didn’t have her best stuff today, but isn’t that how life goes?  She still tossed a good game, and our girls came through on offense, putting up 21 hits to support her."

Submitted photos.

Music Director Ric Jones promises no clouds will obscure the beauty of Genesee Chorale's spring program -- Eclipse.

The 12-song concert takes its theme from the recent total solar eclipse that passed over the United States, including Western New York, opening with "Measure Me, Sky." 

Other titles in the show include "Canticle of the Sun," "Song to the Moon," "Light Beyond Shadow, "Day of Fire and Sun," "Capture the Sun," and "You Are the New Day."

Three songs are performed in total darkness to help the concert mimic the experience of a total eclipse.

Eclipse opened Friday evening in the auditorium at Pavilion High School. Its second performance is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday at St. James Episcopal Church, 405 East Main St., Batavia.

Photos by Howard Owens