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Pembroke's 70-30 win gives team another Section V title

By Howard B. Owens
pembroke section v champs

For the second season in a row, the Pembroke Dragons are the Section 8-Man Football champions.

On Friday, the Dragons beat Bolivar-Richburg 70-30.

Pembroke topped 500 yards in total offense, with the line of Ben Steinberg, Jayden Mast, Jayden Bridge, Madden Perry, JJ Gabbey, Octavius Martin and Hayden Williams giving running room to Tyson Totten, who gained 394 yards and scored eight touchdowns. 

Fullback Caleb Felski had 97 yards rushing and a touchdown to go over 1000 yards rushing on the season. Felski also had an 80-yard kick return for a touchdown

Defensively the Dragons were led by Nose Tackle Jayden Mast with 16 tackles. Tyson Totten had 14 tackles, while Caleb Felski chipped in 10 tackles. Octavius Martin, Hayden Williams, Sean Pustulka, Madden Perry, Jeremy Gabbey and Jayden Bridge each added five or more tackles. Pustulka had two interceptions and was 6 for 6 on extra points.

In the Far West Regional on Friday, Pembroke will face Section VI champs, Frewsburg Bears.

Submitted photos and info.

pembroke dragons football
pembroke dragons football
pembroke dragons football
pembroke dragons football
Pembroke's seniors.

Le Roy and Attica/Alexander advance to Class C championship game

By Howard B. Owens

Le Roy beat East Rochester/Gananda 37-6 to win the Section V Class C semifinal at Hartwood Park on Friday.

With Attica/Alexander's win, 42-0, over Letchworth/Warsaw/Perry, it sets up a championship game between the #1 seed Le Roy against the #2 seed Attica/Alexander on Saturday at 5 p.m. and SUNY Brockport.

For Le Roy, Tony Piazza rushed for 122 yards and a TD on 23 carries, and Drew Strollo rushed for 112 yards and a TD on 22 carries.

On defense, Peter Clark had three tackles, a sack, and three pass breakups. Luke Lathan also had a sack, and Connor Hegeman had five tackles.

Attica/Alexander's lone loss on the season came against Le Roy on Sept. 29, 44-27.

Elba and Alexander to face each other in crossover game after winning Class D titles

By Howard B. Owens
elba volleyball section v champs

The Elba Lancers entered the Section V Class D2 volleyball tournament as the #3 seed and ends it as champions.

On Friday, the Lancers beat #1 seed Avoca-Prattsburgh 3-1 at Wayland-Cohocton.

The three set scores:

  • 25-21
  • 25-11
  • 25-23

This is Elba's first volleyball title since 1983.

Stats:

  • Halie Scouten 10 kills 3 blocks 7 digs
  • Alexa Ocampo 5 kills 6 digs 6 aces
  • Mariah Ognibene 4 kills 2 blocks 3 aces
  • Kennedy Augello 12 assists

All-Tournament Team:

  • Halie Scouten
  • Mariah Ognibene

Tournament MVP: Alexa Ocampo

Also, winning championships on Friday:

Alexander, #1 seed in Class D1, beating #6 seed York 3-0.  

Alexander and Elba will play the Class C crossover game on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Avon.

Le Roy lost its Class C1 championship game to Attica, 3-1.

Photos by Debra Reilly.

elba volleyball section v champs
elba volleyball section v champs
elba volleyball section v champs

Byron-Bergen heading to soccer Final Four with 2-1 over Wilson

By Howard B. Owens
byron bergen soccer
Jack Farner with the header to score Byron-Bergen's first goal.
Photo by Jennifer DiQuattro

The Byron-Bergen Bees are Far West Regional champions after beating Section VI's Wilson 2-1 in Boys Soccer on Friday in West Seneca.

The Bees advance to the Final Four of the state championship tournament in Class C. Their first game is at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Goshen High School (about 4 1/2 hours from Batavia). They will play either Fabius or Seton Catholic in the semifinal.  Seton Catholic is the #1 ranked Class C team in the state.

On Friday, Jack Farner scored the first goal with an assist from Colin Martin.

Colin Rea, who missed nearly all of the regular season with an injury, scored the second goal with 16 minutes left in the game.  It was his first goal of the season.

The Bees enter the state tournament with an 18-2-1 record.

Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro

byron bergen soccer
byron bergen soccer
byron bergen soccer
byron bergen soccer

 

byron bergen soccer
byron bergen soccer
byron bergen soccer
byron bergen soccer

Blue Devils suffer heartbreaking loss in Class B semifinal

By Howard B. Owens
Batavia vs .HFL Section V Class B semifinal 2023
Zailen Griffen inched the ball over the goalline for one of his three touchdowns while senior lineman Alex Merica begins the celebration.
Photo by Howard Owens.

Heartbreaking is the best way to describe the Batavia Blue Devil's 26-20 loss to the Honeoye Falls/Lima Cougars in the Class B football semifinal on Friday night.

The boys' varsity squad was by no means guaranteed the win when the defense made a costly mistake late in the fourth quarter.

But the mistake gave the Cougars' offense new life after the defense had snuffed an apparent scoring drive in the red zone.

First-year head coach Alex Veltz took responsibility for the mental error, saying he hadn't properly prepared his team for a rare circumstance in a high school football game: a blocked field goal attempt.

The defense, apparently unaware that, unlike a point-after attempt, the ball is still live when the kick is blocked, didn't immediately scramble to obtain possession of the ball, and HFL lingered a couple of seconds, too.  When a Batavia player did pick up the ball, he tossed it away, making it a fumble, and at least one HFL player had the situational awareness to pounce on it, giving the Cougars a new set of downs and another chance to score. That TD became the difference in an otherwise evenly-matched game. 

The Blue Devils got the ball back with less than 1:30 left on the clock and couldn't mount a quick-strike drive.

"You don't see many high school field goals," Veltz said in an on-field interview with The Batavian after the game. "It's just not a situation you encounter very much. It was something we didn't prep for, so my message to the team was I took ownership of it because it was a situation we didn't prepare for, a blocked field goal, reacting to a live ball, knowing that is different and the guys weren't ready for it."

It was a big game for junior running back Zailen Griffen, who scored all three of Batavia's TDs on 20 carries for 160 yards.

Cole Grazioplene had three receptions for 25 yards, and one carry for 37 yards.

On defense, Maggio Buchholz had 13.5 tackles; Lakoda Mruczek, 8.5 tackles; and Carter Mullen, one interception.

Veltz took over a young team, and while he will lose three of his senior captains to graduation, he expects good things from the Blue Devils in 2024.

For more photos and to purchase prints, click here.

Batavia vs .HFL Section V Class B semifinal 2023
Bronx Bucholz with a pass attempt under pressure in the second half.
Photo by Howard Owens
Batavia vs .HFL Section V Class B semifinal 2023
HFL QB Matthew Meacham under pressure in the second half.
Photo by Howard Owens
Batavia vs .HFL Section V Class B semifinal 2023
Cole Grazioplene during the first half with one of his three receptions.
Photo by Howard Owens
Batavia vs .HFL Section V Class B semifinal 2023
Zailen Griffin eludes his final obstacle on his way to a more than 50-yard TD run. It was a clear and open field after he broke the tackle attempt.
Photo by Howard Owens
Batavia vs .HFL Section V Class B semifinal 2023
Photo by Howard Owens
Batavia vs .HFL Section V Class B semifinal 2023
Zailen Griffin
Photo by Howard Owens
Batavia vs .HFL Section V Class B semifinal 2023
Bronx Buchholz on a QB keeper behind lineman Karvel Martino, who as a sophomore is 6' 2", 350 pounds.
Photo by Howard Owens
Batavia vs .HFL Section V Class B semifinal 2023
The field goal attempt would be blocked and prove to be the decisive moment in the game.
Photo by Howard Owens

Mcnatural L, A Black Diamond take Batavia features

By Tim Bojarski
mcnatural-l-1.jpg
Photo of Mcnatural L courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery.

There was a pair of $11,500 upper-lever condition races for pacing fillies and mares carded on Wednesday night (Nov. 1) at Batavia Downs and one winner got her first victory at the Downs while the other continued her streak.

The first split went to Mcnatural L (John Cummings Jr.) who sat fifth while the leading Imprincessgemma (Brett Beckwith) was being run by Isla Seelster (Dave McNeight III) in :28.1 and 57 flat. As the duel proceeded up the backstretch Isla Seelster tired, forcing Bad Rossa (Jim Morrill Jr.) three-wide and Mcnatural L followed right behind her. By the top of the stretch, Mcnatural L had drawn even with Imprincessgemma A before bolting home to a 6-¼ length win in 1:55.4.

It was the first win at Batavia but seventh overall this year for Mcnatural L ($17.80) who is owned by El Dorado Stables and trained by Mandy Arrigenna.

In the next group, A Black Diamond (Dave McNeight III) got away third and followed the lead of Louie The Lilac (John Cummings Jr.) until the second circuit. McNeight made a first-over move approaching three-quarters with A Black Diamond and then matched strides with Louie The Lilac into the last turn. By the top of the stretch, A Black Diamond took the lead and scooted home to a 2-¾ length win in 1:55.1.

It was the third straight win and 11th of the year for A Black Diamond ($10.60) who is owned by Lav Racing Stable. Russell Bratt trains the winner.

Brett Beckwith led all drivers at Batavia on Wednesday after he scored a grand slam in the bike.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Friday (Nov. 3) at 6:00 p.m. and there will be a $234 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race 13.

Free full past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.

a-black-diamond-1.jpg
Photo of A Black Diamond courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery.

Byron-Bergen's Farner scores four goals as Bees blanks Cuba-Rushford in soccer crossover

By Howard B. Owens
byron bergen boys score Class C crossover

Byron-Bergen beat Cuba-Rushford/Hinsdale 4-0 on Wednesday night at Geneseo in the Class C crossover game.

The Bees now advance to the Far West Regional to take on Wilson, the Section VI Class C champ, in the Far West Championship at 5 p.m. on Friday at West Seneca Senior High School.

All four goals for the Bees were scored by Jack Farner (#8).  Assists went to Colin Martin, Noah Clare, Braedyn Chambry and Cody Carlson. 

Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro.

byron bergen boys score Class C crossover
byron bergen boys score Class C crossover
byron bergen boys score Class C crossover
byron bergen boys score Class C crossover
byron bergen boys score Class C crossover
byron bergen boys score Class C crossover
byron bergen boys score Class C crossover
byron bergen boys score Class C crossover
byron bergen boys score Class C crossover

Byron-Bergen loses Class C crossover to Holley

By Howard B. Owens
Byron Bergen v Holley Class C Crossover Socccer 2023
Byron-Bergen's Victoria Rogoyski fouled early in the first half.
Photo by Howard Owens

With each of the first two goals the Holley Hawks scored, the Byron-Bergen Bees had an answer to tie the game, but in overtime, the Hawk's third overtime goal ended the game and ended the Bees' hope of advancing further this postseason.

Byron-Byron Bergen lost the Class C crossover game at Geneseo High School and the right to play in the Western Regional Championship to Holly 3-2.

For more photos and to purchase prints, click here.

Byron Bergen v Holley Class C Crossover Socccer 2023
Keeper Novalee Pocock with a saver in the first half.
Photo by Howard Owens
Byron Bergen v Holley Class C Crossover Socccer 2023
MacKenzie Hagen
Photo by Howard Owens
Byron Bergen v Holley Class C Crossover Socccer 2023
The Holly Hawks score their first goal in the first half.
Photo by Howard Owens
Byron Bergen v Holley Class C Crossover Socccer 2023
Mia Gray after a successful steal in the first half.
Photo by Howard Owens
Byron Bergen v Holley Class C Crossover Socccer 2023
Ava Goff
Photo by Howard Owens
Byron Bergen v Holley Class C Crossover Socccer 2023
Megan Zwerka-Synder
Photo by Howard Owens
Byron Bergen v Holley Class C Crossover Socccer 2023
A Byron-Bergen scoring attempt blocked in the second half.
Photo by Howard Owens
Byron Bergen v Holley Class C Crossover Socccer 2023
Riley Shallenberger
Photo by Howard Owens

Buff Rice Basketball League results for Week #4

By Staff Writer
buff rice basketball league notre dame
Jason Rapone and Denny Crowley of the Tar Heels battling Jackson Therrien and Colden Stewart of the Orange for a rebound as shooter Charlie Rapone looks on.
Submitted Photo.

Submitted by Michael Rapone:

Buff Rice Week 4 Results:

5th & 6th Grade: Week number four saw the continued domination of the Warriors and the return of Jack Hilchey for the C’s.

Warriors 35 vs Lakers 20
The Lakers led 14-10 at the half of this one as they tried to play spoilers to the Warriors' unblemished record. Noah DeLong had 6 of his 8 points in the first half. Vin LaBarbara (5pts) and Liam McAlister (6pts) each had 4 in the first frame. But the second half was all about the Warriors and Drew Schultz, who pumped in a team-high 13 points, of which 9 came in the 2nd half. The Warriors ended with a 25-point 2nd half to close out the win. Sawyer George and Teigen Porter had 8 points and 6 points, respectively, while also dolling out 4 assists each. Vinny DiLaura put in two shots for 4 points.

Celtics 25 vs Heat 13
The Celtics welcomed back Jack Hilchey and stopped their two-game skid. Hilchey scored 15 in his first game back since breaking his hand. Noah Radam scored 8 points, and Jaxon Smith was the unsung hero with 11 rebounds. Patrick Casey put in 7 points for the Heat, and Levi Mayban competed hard under the glass with Smith, posting 7 rebounds to go with his 4 points.

3rd & 4th Grade:

Carolina 31 vs Syracuse 25
Carolina got solid efforts from Luke Hungerford (17pts), Amaeus Largeroy (8pts) and Denny Crowley (4pts). Crowley was dominant under the glass for the Tar Heels finishing with 7 boards, and Benny DiLaura played shutdown defense again for Carolina. Jackson Therrien tried his best to keep Syracuse in the game scoring a game-high 21 points. Charlie and Sammy Rapone each pitched in 2 points for the Orange.

Carolina 30 vs Duke 21
Carolina was able to continue the unbeaten streak for the season by getting pass the Blue Devils. Luke Hungerford led the Tar Heels once again with 18 points. The Tar Heels, though, finished with 5 players in the scoring column. Jason Rapone was the team's second-leading scorer with two buckets for 4 points, Amaeus Largeroy and Denny Crowley had 3 points each, and Benny DiLaura had 2. Jax Arroyo had 5 rebounds for the Heels. Duke's Barrett Jones had 10 points and 10 boards for a double-double. Alex Tomidy had 5 points, Mateo Spink and Gino Fava had 2 each.

buff rice basketball league notre dame
Jackson Therrien pouring in 1 of his 21 points.
Submited Photo.
buff rice basketball league notre dame
Jack Hilchey in his return to the court hitting a free throw for the C’s.
Submitted photo
buff rice basketball league notre dame
Sawyer George driving the bucket in the second half, helping keep the Warriors undefeated.
Submitted Photo.
buff rice basketball league notre dame
Leading scorer Luke Hungerford driving through the lane for the Tar Heels.
Submitted photo
buff rice basketball league notre dame
Patrick Casey converting a free throw to help the Heat keep pace with the Celtics.
Submitted Photo
buff rice basketball league notre dame
Barrett Jones with a putback, part of his 10/10 double-double.
Submitted Photo

Lancers to take shot at Class D2 title in volleyball

By Howard B. Owens
elba girls volleyball

Elba has a shot at a sectional title in volleyball after the Lancers beat Houghton Academy three sets to zero.

  • 1st game 25 to 18
  • 2nd game 25 to 23

Player stats:

  • Kennedy Augello 14 assists, 2 kills
  • Alexa Ocampo 7 kills, 5 digs
  • Halie Scouten 7 kills, 4 digs 

The Lancers will play for the Section V D2 crown at 5 p.m. on Friday at Wayland Cohocton. The match will pit the #6 Lancers against the #1 ranked Avoca-Prattsburgh.

At 7 p.m. on Friday at Wayland Cohocton, in Class D1, #1 seed Alexander players #6 York.  Alexander beat Bolivar-Richburg 3-1 on Tuesday.

In Class C1, #2 Le Roy plays #1 Attica at Avon on Friday at 7 p.m. for the title.

 Photos by Debra Reilly.
elba girls volleyball
elba girls volleyball

Batavia High's Walsh and Hume honored by Section V

By Howard B. Owens
isabella walsh batavia soccer
Isabella Walsh
Photo by Howard Owens

Isabella Walsh: Section V Class A Player of the Year
Isabella Walsh, #11 on the Batavia Blue Devils Girls Soccer team, loves playing defense. She always has.

"I've played defense since I was little," Walsh said. "I like the one-on-one battles and making big saves. I enjoy it."

She's also the team's primary direct-kick specialist (taking kicks following a penalty from outside the penalty box).

These two contributions to Batavia's 14-win season are a big part of why she was named Section V Class A Player of the Year for Girls Soccer.

"I'm really honored to be singled out for this award," Walsh said. "There are so many great players on my team and the teams we compete against. To be a defensive player and to win this type of award is really a great recognition, but this is truly a team award because it's my teammates around me every day in practice and games that make me better and make me want to play harder for them and our team's success."

Batavia's head coach, Roger Hume, said Walsh, now a senior, is a four-year starter at center back, and he doesn't believe she's missed a start in her career.

"She's like the center of our entire defense at this point," Hume said. "She is gonna be a big loss for us."

On the field, Walsh directs the defense when the opposing team has a direct kick or corner kick, and that had a lot to do with Batavia's success in 2023.

"We were at the lowest goal-against total we've had in the last 15 years that I've been here," Hume said. "We had 12 goals against."

roger hume batavia girls soccer
Roger Hume
Photo by Howard Owens

Roger Hume: Section V Class A Girls Soccer Coach of the Year
Fifteen years ago, Roger Hume took over a soccer team that needed new direction.  That first year as coach was rough -- no league wins and only a 4-12-1 record on the year.  The team scored only 12 goals and gave up 50.

In 2023, he coached the team to a 14-2-1 record, with a team that gave up only 12 goals and scored 73 (The team's previous record for fewest goals against was 17 in 2020 (when the team scored only 15 goals, and the highest goal total was 45 in 2022).

After such a successful season, Hume has been named the Section V Class A Girls Soccer Coach of the Year.

The award isn't just a credit to him, Hume said. It's the entire group of people involved in Batavia Girls Soccer.

"Well, for me, I think it's a combination of all the parents and players that have put the time in, and all of the volunteer coaches and assistant coaches I've had through the years," Hume said. "There's a multitude of parents that had their daughters come up through who helped me from modified all the way up to Varsity. It kind of justifies that we did all that hard work, you know, and it took a while. I mean, 15 years before we had the team -- this has been one of the best teams that we've had, you know, record-wise and group-wise and just the way they are a team together."

Hume now has 111 career wins as a varsity coach.

His soccer career started with his oldest daughter getting involved with soccer when she was four. She's now 32. He became a coach in Batavia Youth Soccer, became a board member, and after a few years, then Athletic Director Mike Bromley asked him if he would coach girls modified soccer for Batavia.  After a few years, he moved up to junior varsity and then, 15 years ago, varsity. 

The team's biggest improvements have come since the opening of the new Van Detta Stadium with the artificial turf on Woodward Field.

Playing on grass meant playing a slower game, but it also meant, despite all the hard work of the grounds crew, playing on a field that could be a bit uneven.

"When it gets into October, it's tough because it's raining out all the time or it's snowing out all the time," Hume said. "Being able to get on the turf as much as possible has helped to speed up our game a lot. We've really been able to ratchet up."

The proof is the past three years of play against a top Class A team, Pal-Mac.  Two years ago, Batavia lost 6-1.  Last year, 4-0.  This year, in the Class A semifinal, 2-0.  That's a measure of progress, even if the Blue Devils haven't yet cleared the hump of beating Pal-Mac.

And the progress doesn't seem to have peaked, Hume indicated.

"We have a great JV group that came up, and I had girls that were freshmen and sophomores that could have been on varsity and would have been on varsity previous years, like five, six years ago, but we didn't have the room for them," Hume said.  "They would be playing and I don't want them to sit on the bench if there's no value to it at that point."

Hume acknowledged that as much as it might recognize the success of the program in 2023, it also recognizes the progress of the program.

"I think it is a recognition of what we can do and that we are competitive," Hume said. "We can compete now several teams in our group. Aquinas is in our group, and Pal-Mac is our Class A. Like I said, we did Class A for nine years, and we won four games all the time, or five games all the time, so, you know, I think we're proving we can compete."

Program at YMCA helps Batavia soccer players hone their skills during the winter

By Howard B. Owens
batavia indoor soccer

The indoor winter soccer program started on Monday at the YMCA in Batavia, coached by Batavia girls Varsity coach Roger Hume.

He calls the program "club soccer."

It is open to soccer players from third grade through 12th, and it's never too late for a parent to get a child started in the program.  Hume said as long as a class has room, the class is open at any time of the winter, November through March, and there is an open registration time again in January.

JV and Varsity players practice and train on Mondays, junior high on Wednesdays, and elementary school kids on Thursdays.  On Saturdays, all grade levels participate at different times of the day.

Since many of the JV and Varsity players often play other winter sports, the Monday classes tend to thin out once those seasons start, Hume said.

The session starts with some warm-ups followed by skill work, ball handling.

"We want to do a lot of group stuff, too," Hume said. "Then they'll do some scrimmaging at the end. We try to work on teamwork, try to work on passing, receiving. Indoors is good for more skill work and then some passing, the physicality of the game. But you know, you can't mimic what you're doing outside. I mean, I wish we had turf. Yeah, I always say I wish we had turf, but we don't have turf. So we take advantage of what we have."

In February and March, club players typically participate in tournaments. Batavia, Attica, Keshequa, and Byron-Bergen are among the locations of indoor tournaments.

Photos by Howard Owens

batavia indoor soccer
batavia indoor soccer
batavia indoor soccer
batavia indoor soccer
batavia indoor soccer
batavia indoor soccer
batavia indoor soccer
batavia indoor soccer

Rochester Softball Association inducts veteran player-manager Sal Oddo into Hall of Fame

By Mike Pettinella
Sal Oddo
Sal Oddo displays the Rochester Softball Association Hall of Fame plaque as he wears the RSA HOF polo shirt and ring he received over the weekend. Photo by Mike Pettinella.

For Batavia native and longtime Elba resident Sal Oddo, his induction into the Rochester Softball Association Hall of Fame extends far beyond an individual award.

“First off, you don’t think you’re ever going to make it with so many good ballplayers out there. But now that I have been honored, if I could split my plaque a couple hundred different ways – with all the players I played with and those I played against – I would do it because they’re all hall of famers to me,” said Oddo, during an interview with The Batavian on Monday afternoon.

Oddo, in his 58th year of slow-pitch softball (he started as a teenager on Kibbe Park and Woodward Field diamonds in the city), was enshrined into the RSA Hall of Fame as a Senior Manager on Friday night at a ceremony at the Italian American Community Center in Rochester.

Thirteen of his family members and friends were on hand to witness the induction, including his wife, Debbie; children, Tara and Jonathan, and their spouses, Adam Higgins and Ivy Durr Oddo; parents, Joe and Fran; sister and brother-in-law, Marianne and Rich Anderson, and cousin, Dan DiMartino.

His other son, Jason, lives in Virginia Beach with his wife, Bobbi, and was unable to attend. Sal and Debbie have nine grandkids – three from each of their children.

Oddo made his mark as an elite pitcher while playing primarily in Batavia and Oakfield, leading teams to numerous league and tournament titles, while garnering most valuable player trophies along the way.

In 2003, he set his sights on the senior softball circuit in Rochester – looking to see how he stacked up against some of the elite players in the Lilac City area.

“I started with the John Warren Foundation team and really wanted to be on a travel team,” he said. “At the time, there was no room, so I was put on a B (level) team in the Rochester Senior Softball Traveling League. We went undefeated and I won the MVP of the league. That was a pretty big highlight for me. And after that, I started pitching a lot for the John Warren Foundation top team.”

Oddo, who said he has pitched several one-hitters (not an easy feat in slow-pitch softball), led his Warren Foundation squad to the International Senior Softball Association World Championship in 2005 in Manassas, Va., and three years later, went unbeaten as a pitcher as the team captured the World Championships in Las Vegas.

In 2015, Oddo was player-manager on the RocCity 55 team that won the Tournament of Champions in Winter Haven, Fla., and in 2017, he managed the Building Innovation Group club to national and TOC crowns.

All told, between 2014-2017, Oddo’s teams won six national titles along with the two Senior Softball USA Tournament of Champion national championships in Winter Haven.

He said he considers it a privilege to compete with the “younger seniors.”

“Even as I got older, I always played in the 50 or 55 age division leagues,” said Oddo, noting that Rochester is a hotbed of softball activity for players right into their 70’s and 80’s. “When I think of all the players I’ve seen across the nation, I consider Rochester softball by far the strongest group because we have so many outstanding players and teams.”

Oddo said he is “blessed” to have been able to play so long – overcoming serious illness in 2002 and a back injury in 2014 – and to be able to travel throughout the U.S. to compete in tournaments.

“When I was younger, I didn’t have a chance to travel because I was the main provider for the family,” he said, mentioning a 45-year career with the U.S. Postal Service (these days, you can find him at the Stafford Post Office) and 15 years as a paddock judge at Batavia Downs. “When I lost my racetrack job, I said I wanted to see if I could play with the big boys and, it has turned out very well.”

He said he gives thanks to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the support of his wife and family for all that he’s accomplished in softball.

“I’ve played in so many places and I’ve made so many friends, and they’re like family,” he said. “I’ve been blessed for some reason where my teams have won a lot. Even as a manager, it seemed that I had a knack to pick the right guys – not always the best players but the players who best fit the team and were nice people. Strong individuals that could play softball.”

Oddo continues to shine on the local scene, as well, pitching and coaching a new generation of softball players to titles this past season in the Batavia-Oakfield summer league and the Cobbs Hill (Rochester) A Division fall league.

Kevin Cummings cops both Batavia features

By Kara Richenberg
out-on-bail-1.jpg
Photo of Out On Bail courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery.

Batavia Downs leading driver Kevin Cummings added a couple more wins to his total for the meet after taking the top two contests at the Genesee County oval on Saturday night (Oct. 28).

After moving up the class ladder with successive wins over the past two weeks with Cummings in the bike, Out On Bail moved into the $13,000 Open II Handicap pace and made it a three-peat for his connections.

Cummings put Out On Bail on the point off the gate and played catch-me-if-you-can from there. After opening up a two-length advantage, Out On Bail stopped the timer quarterly at :27.3, :57.2 and 1:25.2 while increasing his lead to four lengths at that third station. Out On Bail was up by five at the top of the stretch and from there, cruised home to an easy 1:54 victory that established his seasonal mark.

It was the seventh win of the year for Out On Bail ($8.20) who is owned by Mike Torcello and trained by Sam Smith. Smith finished the night with two training wins.

Then in the $12,500 upper-level conditioned pace, Cummings was also able to assist Stranger Things to his seventh win of the year by making an early move on a runaway leader.

Stranger Things got away fifth as Odds On Delray (Aaron Byron) was busy opening up an eight-length lead at the half. As the race moved into turn three, Cummings was already out and rolling with Stranger Things, who was making up a massive amount of ground on Odds On Delray, who had begun to falter. Stranger Things took the lead and crossed over to the pegs at three-quarters and Cummings rocked him all the way around the far turn. Then at the top of the stretch, Cummings kept Stranger Things on task with moderate urging to the wire where he won by 1-¾ lengths in 1:53.3.

Stranger Things ($2.60) is owned by Kathey Schoeffel, Virginia Schoeffel, and James Reuther and trained by Angel Nappo.

Jim McNeight Jr., Jim Morrill Jr., Drew Monti, and Austin Sorrie all joined Kevin Cummings by winning two races during the card.

The litany of longshots at Batavia Downs continued in race 11 on Saturday after 82-1 Silverhill Blaze (Austin Sorrie) followed fast fractions from fifth of :26.3 and :54.4 set by Mighty Santana N (Jim Morrill Jr.) before finding open road in the passing lane to upset at the wire in 1:55 and pay $167.00 for a $2 win bet.

Another big payout came when the Jackpot Hi-5 pentafecta was hit in race 13 as a single unique combination of 1-5-9-7-6- returned $1,929.30 for a 20-cent wager.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Nov. 1) at 6 p.m.

Free full past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.

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Photo of Stranger Things courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery.

Makadushin N Cheez wins Batavia feature trot

By Tim Bojarski
makadushin-n-cheez.jpg
Photo of Makadushin N Cheez courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery.

After making his last three starts without a win at Saratoga Raceway, Makadushin N Cheez found his way back to western New York and picked up where he left off, winning the $15,000 Open I Handicap trot at Batavia Downs on Friday (Oct. 27).

Right after the front-running, Mugshots Bro (Jim McNeight Jr.) torched a :27.4 quarter, Makadushin N Cheez (Kevin Cummings) pulled from fifth and flushed I Got The Looks (Dan Yetman) and then followed his cover all the way to three-quarters. As they trotted into turn four, Cummings tipped Makadushin N Cheez three wide and cleared the front by the top of the stretch. As he motored down the lane, Makadushin N Cheez was all wrapped up on his way to a 2-¼ length win in 1:57.1.

The seventh win of 2023 for Makadushin N Cheez ($3.40) pushed his earnings for the year to $102,242 for owners Joe D'Agostino, Molly D'Agostino, Phil Kadushin and Dave Dewhurst, who also trains the winner.

In the secondary featured $13,000 Open II Handicap trot, E Street (Jim Morrill Jr.) sat second behind Showme Some Muscle (Justin Huckabone) through very even quarters of :29, :59.1 and 1:29, that last station where Golden Kronos (Drew Monti) got into the mix. After circling the final turn, Morrill shook loose with E Street and trotted by Showme Some Muscle while fending off Golden Kronos to win by two lengths in 1:58.

It was the second straight win for E Street ($3.80) who is owned and trained by Rachelle Mungillo.

Although both features were won by prohibitive favorites, bettors were treated to a magnificent payoff in the fifth race on Friday. Cash N Chrome (Ray Fisher Jr.) was overlooked from post eight but he overcame the wide start to win in 1:59.1 and return $173.00 for a $2 win wager.

Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Oct. 28) at 6:00 p.m. and there will be a $1,011 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race 13.

Free full past performance programs for every live card of racing at Batavia can always be downloaded at the Downs’ website (bataviadownsgaming.com) under the “Live Racing” tab and all the racing action can be viewed as it happens for free at the Batavia Downs Live Facebook page.

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Photo of E Street courtesy of Wendy J. Lowery.

Genesee Region USBC tournament schedule gets rolling in mid-November; Mancuso's to host Senior Masters

By Press Release

Press release:

The Genesee Region USBC has released its tournament schedule for the 2023-24 season, commencing with the Gladys Ford Senior Women's event in mid-November and culminating with the Association Team/Doubles & Singles tourney in April.

Nine tournaments, including three for youth bowlers, are on the schedule. StrikeForce Lanes in Oakfield, recently reopened under new ownership, is slated to host the Youth Doubles competition on Dec. 9-10.

The complete schedule is as follows:

Gladys Ford Senior Women – Nov. 11-12 – Medina Lanes

Senior Masters – Nov. 25 – Mancuso Bowling Center, Batavia

Youth Doubles – Dec. 9-10 – StrikeForce Lanes, Oakfield

Scratch Memorial – Jan. 6-7 – Mount Morris Lanes

Adult-Junior – Jan. 13 – Perry Bowling Center

Youth Team – Feb. 3-4 – Rose Garden Bowl, Bergen

No-Tap Doubles – Feb. 17-18 – Le Roy Legion Lanes

No-Tap Triples – March 23 – Letchworth Pines

Association (Team & D/S) – 4/5-7, 12-14 – Oak Orchard Bowl, Albion

For tournament entry forms, go to www.bowlgr.com.

HIGH LEAGUE SCORES FOR THE WEEK

In GRUSBC league action this week:

-- At Mancuso's, Geoff Harloff, Mike Pettinella and Rick Underhill topped the 700 mark. Harloff posted 267--722 in the County Line Stone Friday Trios, Pettinella finished with 278 for 715 in the Brighton Securities Tuesday Triples and Underhill rolled 702 in the Toyota of Batavia Thursday 4-Man.

-- At Medina Lanes, four bowlers posted 700 series in the Sunday Rolloffs League -- John Ross 279--759, Scott Gibson 267--714, Hayden Allis 242--707 and Buddy Foss 259--706.

Byron-Bergen wins second soccer title of the weekend, as boys beat ER 1-0

By Howard B. Owens
byron-bergen vs. east rochester soccer

Byron-Bergen soccer fans are now celebrating two sectional championships in the same weekend after the boys team defeated #1 seed East Rochester 1-0 for the Class C2 crown.

The lone goal was fired in by forward Jack Farner, with an assist from Colin Martin, in the third minute of the game. Martin MacConnell, along with the Bees defense, held the Bombers scoreless the rest of the match.

On Friday, the girls' team beat Keshequa 4-3 in overtime to the Class C2 title.

Coach Ken Rogoyski said, "The last time that the boys and girls teams were sectional champions in the same year was 2002 (21 years ago).  They also both won in 2001. And before that, in 1981 (21 years prior to the 2002 win).  Coincidentally, the girls tied their match on Friday, sending them into overtime with 21 seconds left in the game."

The Bees, now 16-2-1, will face Cuba-Rushford/Hinsdale on Wednesday night, location TBD.

Photos by Jennifer DiQuattro

byron-bergen vs. east rochester soccer
byron-bergen vs. east rochester soccer
byron-bergen vs. east rochester soccer
byron-bergen vs. east rochester soccer
byron-bergen vs. east rochester soccer
byron-bergen vs. east rochester soccer
byron-bergen vs. east rochester soccer
byron-bergen vs. east rochester soccer

 

 

 

Photos: Batavia cheerleaders at sectionals tournament

By Howard B. Owens
batavia high cheerleading

Batavia High School cheerleaders participated in the Class D2 small school sectional tournament on Saturday.

The team did not score enough points to advance to the next round.

Photos by Debra Reilly.

batavia high cheerleading
batavia high cheerleading

Notre Dame wins close Class D quaterfinal against OAE

By Howard B. Owens
notre dame oae football

Jay Antinore had 240 yards passing for Notre Dame on Saturday to help lead the Fighting Irish to a 20-14 win over Oakfield-Alabama in the Class D Section V quarterfinal.

Antinore completed 11 passes in 15 attempts and connected on TD passes to Jaden Sherwood and Chase Antinore, which was 79 yards in the fourth quarter for the game-winner.

On the ground, Antinore gained 33 yards on 10 carries. He scored one touchdown on the ground.

Chase Antinore had three receptions for 110 yards, and Sherwood had four catches for 73 yards. 

On defense, Gabe Castro had 13 tackles, and Scotty McWilliams had 9 1/2.

For the Aggies: 

  • Senior QB/DL Austin Pangrazio - 19 carries, 113 yards, 5-14 passing, 54 yards, one TD
  • Junior RB/LB Avery Watterson - 19 carries, 50 yards, one TD.
  • Senior LB Ashton Bezon - 10 tackles, two forced fumbles, one blocked point-after attempt
  • Junior WR Jack Cianfrini - 15-Yard Receiving TD

Aggie head coach Tyler Winter said,  "With everything this team has had to endure this season, I couldn't be more proud of the way they fought to the very last minute.  You could write a book on the adversity they were dealt this fall.  They handled themselves with class and integrity amidst it all.  The sting of defeat hurts right now, but they will be better young men in the long haul because of it all." 

Notre Dame, seeded #5, next faces #1 seed York/Pavilion, time and date to be determined.

notre dame oae football
notre dame oae football
notre dame oae football
notre dame oae football
notre dame oae football
notre dame oae football

Batavia cruises past Geneva in opening sectional round, 44-6

By Staff Writer
Batavia Senior Cole Grazioplene on his way to endzone in opening quarter.  Photo by Steve Ognibene
Batavia Senior Cole Grazioplene on his way to the endzone in the opening quarter.  
Photo by Steve Ognibene

Coming in as the #3 seed, the Batavia Blue Devils dominated #2 seed Geneva in the Class B semifinals on Friday night, earning the right to play for a sectional seminfinal next week with a 44-6 win.

Cole Grazioplene had four receptions for 100 yards and two TDs, plus an 88-yard kick return score.  He also scored on a two-point conversion.

QB  Bronx Buchholz was 8-14 passing for 144 yards. He tossed three touchdowns and was picked off twice.

On defense, Mekhi Fortes had four tackles and two touchdowns. On offense, he had four receptions for 44 yards and TD. 

Zailen Griffin rushed for 63 yards and a touchdown. Brock Warran also scored a TD on the ground.

Also on Friday night:

  • Pembroke crushes Red Jacket in sectional semifinal, 66-20
  • Le Roy beat Penn Yan/Dundee, 33-22. Tony Piazza ran 20 times for 163 yards and three touchdowns. He had four tackles on defense and broke up two passes. Jackson Fix, seven rushes, 39 yards, a TD, plus two receptions for 46 yards and a TD. He also had seven tackles and a forced fumble. Tommy Condidorio was 4-9 passing for 68 yards and a TD.
  • Attica/Alexander beat Livonia 34-7.

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Photos by Steve Ognibene

Zailen Griffin #24 for Batavia gaining yards on Geneva's defense.  Photo by Steve Ognibene
Zailen Griffin #24 for Batavia gaining yards on Geneva's defense.  
Photo by Steve Ognibene
Batavia #5 Greyson Fix stops Geneva from a first down.  Photo by Steve Ognibene
Batavia #5 Greyson Fix stops Geneva from a first down.  
Photo by Steve Ognibene
Batavia Quarterback #9 Bronx Buchholz hitting his target down field.  Photo by Steve Ognibene
Batavia Quarterback #9 Bronx Buchholz hitting his target downfield.  
Photo by Steve Ognibene
Geneva Senior quarterback Rey Dejesus feeling pressure from Batavia senior Mekhi Fortes.  Photo by Steve Ognibene
Geneva Senior quarterback Rey Dejesus feeling pressure from Batavia senior Mekhi Fortes.  
Photo by Steve Ognibene

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