In a close game last evening the Batavia girls basketball squad beat last season’s sectional champions Honeoye Falls Lima by a narrow 53-52 margin.

HFL came out of the gate up by four points after the first quarter 14-10 led by seniors Taryn Wilson and Paige Smith. Batavia was playing catchup through the first half and not making defensive plays, but sparked right near the end of the half to come within one point of HFL’s lead 26-25.

After the first half, Batavia needed a much stronger quarter and played better defense to take the lead 40-34 after three quarters. Batavia continued the streak to lead at one point by 10 points in the fourth but then got into foul trouble.

Taryn Wilson hit 13 out of 15 free throws, and with 9 seconds left on the clock, Kara Oatman who was 7 for 8 missed her eighth free throw and Batavia finished winning by one at regulation.

Junior Ryann Stefaniak led the team with 18 points, Sophmore Emma Krolczyk finished with 15 points and freshman Bryn Wormley tallied 11 points.  

HFL Senior Taryn Wilson scored 25 points, Paige Smith had 13 points and Kara Oatman finished with 8 points.

Batavia remains undefeated with a 5-0 record in class A2 and HFL drops to 2-4.

Next game for Batavia is home this Monday vs. Greece Athena.

For more game pictures to go: http://steveognibenephotography.zenfolio.com/p789755086

The Pembroke Lady Dragons Varsity Softball Team dropped its home opener to the visiting Alexander Trojans 6-2 on Monday night.

Leading scorers for Alexander were Hannah Paolucci and Lindsay Czechowski, with two runs each. 

Photos provided by Destin Danser Photography. To view complete album and purchase prints, click here. 

Ten teams from the Genesee Region, including six from Genesee County gathered at Alexander High School Saturday for their annual championship competition. 

Representing Genesee County were teams from Alexander, Byron-Bergen, Elba, Notre Dame, Oakfield-Alabama, and Pembroke. Results listed below. 

Ronald-McDonald Individual Competition:

1. Madeline Rowley -- Holley (pictured below)
2. Kelsey Daniels -- Holley

Team Competition Division I:

1. Holley
2. Attica
3. Byron-Bergen

Team Competition Division II:

1. Kendall
2. Elba
3. Notre-Dame

Photos by Destin Danser. Click here to view or purchase photos.

Pembroke's varsity boys defeated Alexander 54-37.

Photos by Destin Danser. Click here to purchase photos.

The Genesee Ice Devils travelled to Rochester Saturday to take on the Gates-Chili Spartans. Genesee defeated the Spartans 5-0 in a dominating performance. 

Photos by Destin Danser. Click here to view more and purchase prints. 

Despite the 15-point differential in the final score, this game was a nail-biter through the first three quarters. Pembroke lead by 2 at half time; however, Elba's defense came up big, holding the Dragons to just 11 points in the second half.

Leading scorers for Elba were Emily Reynolds with 21 points and 15 rebounds, and Madison Howard with nine points.

Elba has now won 14 games in a row.

Photos by Destin Danser. Click Here to view more and purchase prints.

With this post, we catch up with a couple of sports-related submissions that we hadn't gotten to yet.

Above, the Batavia JV softball team after its victory in the Pembroke JV softball tournament. The team beat Notre Dame 8-4 and Pembroke 10-6.

The team: Liz Piedmont, Emma Dunn, Nataleigh Rivera Ellis, Alexis Merriam, Maiya Reinhart, Gabz Havens, Assistant Coach Rick Smith, Stephanie Hoy, Courtney Biegasiewicz, Cheyenne Richardson, Shelby Weis, Katie Ange, Coach Jim Fazio, and Stephanie Shultz. Also on the team are Jasmine Barber and Nashalie Vasquez-Vega.

Submitted by Jim Fazio.

Earlier this week, Jeff Redband advanced to the boys varsity tennis state qualifier tournament in singles for the fourth consecutive year by finishing third in the Class B sectionals. Also Samir Jain and Jon McMaster (not pictured) advanced by finishing third in the doubles tournament.

Submitted by Scott Lawniczak.

Batavia beat Notre Dame 3-2 in the championship game of the Rotary Tournament.

Batavia scored the winning run on a 2-out Quentin Weis single. Pitchers Greg Mruzek and Tyler Prospero both went the distance. 

Photos are from one inning of the Batavia vs. Oakfield-Alabama game and the championship game.

To purchase prints, click here.

The upgraded softball field at Batavia High School will be dedicated Friday to honor Ed Anderson, a former coach and teacher with the school district.

Anderson taught sixth grade from 1965 until his retirement in 1998. He was the first varsity girls softball and girls soccer coach for the Blue Devils.

"He was known as an excellent teacher and is most famous for his annual weeklong sixth-grade camping trips to Allegheny State Park that he led for 30 years, said Sue Medley, who has been helping organize the dedication ceremony, which starts at 3:30 p.m., Friday, rain or shine.

Anderson coached junior high bowling from 1977 to 1987, softball from 1979 to 1998, soccer from 1978 to 1998 and girls basketball from 1988 to 1991.

The girls won their first sectional title in softball in 1982.

"Coach Ed Anderson left his mark on generations of Batavia Middle and High School students while serving the Batavia City School system for more than 30 years. He was a role model to all," said Athletic Director Mike Bromley. "He was a source of support and an example of calmness, determination and generosity for the athletes he coached. He fought tirelessly for equality and opportunity in girls’ sports."

While school officials had recognized the need to upgrade the softball facilities, it was only after a group of players and their parents filed a Title IX lawsuit demanding facilities more on par with what the boys baseball team enjoys by playing its games at Dwyer Stadium that a settlement was reached. That led to new bleachers, dugouts, infield, outfield fence, scoreboard and batting cage.

The team is scheduled to play Greece Arcadia at 4:30 p.m. Following the game there will be a celebration reception in the high school's atrium at 6:30 p.m.

The dedication committee is still seeking financial support. The committee has currently raised $3,400 with a goal of $10,000. Funds will be used for field signage, a permanent memorial, dedication ceremony and contribution to the Ed Anderson Outdoor Education Campership Fund on behalf of the community. To contribute, visit http://www.gofundme.com/coachedanderson.

Batavia's Jeff Redband (file photo from the 2014-15 basketball season) tops the field of Genesee County student-athletes to receive All Genesee Region honors for winter sports, as published today by the Democrat and Chronicle.

Redband was Monroe County Division IV Player of the Year, a Section V Class A2 All-Tournament Team player. He averaged 27 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots per game this season and led Batavia (18-3) to division title. He surpassed 1,000 varsity points, including a  51-point game (a school record) vs. Irondequoit. He made 40 percent of 3-pointers and 88 percent of free throws. Academically, he carries 94 average.

Later today, Redband will sign a letter of intent to attend Daemen College on a basketball scholarship.

Also honored:

• Nick Egeling, Le Roy, Livingston County Division II, basketball
• Ryan Cansdale, Pembroke, Genesee Region, basketball
• Ryan Emery, Oakfield-Alabama, Genesee Region, basketball
• John Hochmuth, Elba, basketball
• Josh Johnson, Notre Dame, Genesee Region, basketball
• Caleb Nellis, Notre Dame, Genesee Region, basketball
• Hayden Ewell, Pavilion, Livingston County Division III, basketball
• Tiara Filbert, Batavia, second team, basketball
• Abbie Kelly, Byron-Bergen, second team, basketball
• Lindsay Lovett, Byron-Bergen, Genesee Region, basketball
• Shea Norton, Notre Dame, Genesee Region, basketball
• Emma Francis, Notre Dame, Genesee Region, basketball
• Rebecca Krenzer, Notre Dame, Genesee Region, basketball
• Haley Brown, Elba, Genesee Region, basketball
• Alex Reigle, Elba, Genesee Region, basketball
• Kylie Schlagenhau, Oakfield-Alabama, Genesee Region, basketball
• Sydney Breton, Alexander, Genesee Region, basketball
• Aralyse Johnson, Pembroke, Genesee Region, basketball
• Kayla Heimlich, Le Roy, Livingstone County Division II, basketball
• Madison McCulley, Batavia, Monroe County, basketball
• Kelsey Milligan, Pavilion, Livingston County Division III, basketball
• Devon Koepp, Batavia, first team, indoor track
• Ryan McQuillen, Le Roy, first team, indoor track
• Nate Richardson, Alexander, Genesee Region, swimming
• Tom Slenker, Alexander, Genesee Region, swimming
• Kyle Zimmerman, Alexander, Genesee Region, swimming
• Ben Vacanti, Alexander, Genesee Region, swimming
• Brandon Brown, Alexander, Genesee Region, swimming
• Jake Rada, Byron-Bergen/LeRoy, Genesee Region, swimming
• John Lee, Notre Dame, Genesee Region, swimming 
• Chris Lemley, Notre Dame, Genesee Region, swimming
• Dennis Bleier, Notre Dame, Genesee Region, swimming
• Nate DiSalvo, Oakfield-Alabama/Elba, Genesee Region, swimming
• Ryan Dunlap, Oakfield-Alabama/Elba, Genesee Region, swimming
• Trent Stack, Oakfield-Alabama/Elba, Genesee Region, swimming
• Corde Smart, Oakfield-Alabama/Elba, Genesee Region, swimming
• Michaela Austin, Byron-Bergen, Rochester Winter Track League, indoor track
• Marissa Dispenza, Batavia, Rochester Winter Track League, indoor track
• Kaylee Cassidy, Batavia, Rochester Winter Track League, indoor track
• Joe Allegue, Batavia, Monroe County Division III, wrestling
• Noah Dobbertin, Batavia, Monroe County Division III, wrestling
• Reese Morrow, Batavia, Monroe County Division III, wrestling
• Trevor Rittersback, Batavia, Monroe County Division III, wrestling
• Tristan Aldinger, Alexander, Genesee Region, wrestling
• Matthew Gaiser, Alexander, Genesee Region, wrestling
• Dan Khomitch, Byron-Bergen, Genesee Region, wrestling
• Hunter Taylor, Byron-Bergen, Genesee Region, wrestling
• Chad Toal, Byron-Bergen, Genesee Region, wrestling
• Adam Walter, Byron-Bergen, Genesee Region, wrestling
• Alan White, Byron-Bergen, Genesee Region, wrestling
• Nick Young, Alexander, Genesee Region, wrestling
• John Lauricella, Le Roy, Livingston County, wrestling
• Thatcher Mowry, Le Roy, Livingston County, wrestling
• Ben Piazza, Le Roy, Livingston County, wrestling
• Dane Heberlein, Alexander, Division II, Wrestler of the Year*
• Nick Gaiser, Alexander, first team, wrestling