softball

Members of the Batavia High School softball team, along with parents and coaches and parents, were at the basketball tournament on Wednesday night selling snacks and drinks.

The concession booth is a fundraiser to help the team pay for a trip to a softball camp in Myrtle Beach, S.C., in March. The camp will allow the team to start practices and see game action, helping them prepare for the season, while most of the team's spring competition is still stuck in frigid WNY.

Photos by Jim Burns.

Write up by Mike Jamil:

A beautiful night finally for softball at Kibbe Park.

Number 6 seed TF Brown's Commissioner's Crew three-peats, pulling off the upset, defeating #4 seeded home team Fava Brothers Lawn Care 14-11.

Fava Brothers Lawn Care had won the two prior matchups (both regular season) but choked away the championship honors in the third contest.

The losing team did receive a participation trophy that states "Congratulations On Another Failed Season," since we're not so worried about soft feelings in The New Batavia Softball League. At least I'm personally not. Play better or you're eliminated. No hedge/handicap here.

The gag gift participation trophy wasn't all they got. They got two complimentary cans of corn as well, which was a symbol representing their crunch time hitting. So they did not go home empty-handed.

Very worthy opponents and lots of absolutely great people on that Fava Brothers team.

Lots of friendly bragging rights needed.

Everybody contributed and played their role for the winning team. Everybody was important and needed.

Members of the championship team TF Brown's Commissioner's Crew are Captain Mike Jamil, Keith Oklevitch, Austin Oklevitch, Chris Densmore, Alex Jarvela, Justin Cooper, Dan Dioguardi, Stefan Krna, Keith Hammond, and Koko Irvin. Ronnie Sumeriski, the normal left fielder, and Michael Greene the normal right fielder, were unable to make it to the big game but were assets all season long as well as the first night of the playoffs.

Forced the commissioner to play defense which can be a very bad idea at times. Very gritty, clutch bunch.

That concludes the 2017 Thursday Batavia Men's Spring/Summer Softball League. Was a great group of people from the teams top to bottom. Very evenly matched. We don't care to be like other leagues. We're Batavia Softball. Signing off.

T.F. Brown's Blind Squirrels beat Wii Not Fit 12-11 last night to take the Co-Ed Softball Championship at Kibbe Park.

Mike Jamil provided the game summary:

Eddie Davis' big game was not enough as Wii Not Fit loses in the bottom of the seventh inning by one, as Lee hits walk-off opposite field single.

Everybody contributed for the T.F. Brown's Blind Squirrels, that's for certain.

Fava gets his first ever title in any league anywhere, breaking his mush curse.

Jamil finally breaks his coed curse.

Wii Not Fit, though they always look like they're overmatched and the underdogs, keep that grit, which got them to a #2 seed regular season although preseason picked to be no higher than the #5 seed.

An evenly matched game throughout with a muckyish outfield -- left by the flood at Kibbe Park not even a week prior -- wasn't keeping these two teams filled with non-prima donnas off the field.

Davis burned Jamil badly in the first, which led to his immediate benching, costing the team with pathetic fielding. Safe to say he redeemed himself at the plate, returning the favor by not being dead weight, thank God. (Corny third-person talk since I'm the one writing this.)

Over 10 hours of HAND rolling and almost 72 hours of sun made this night possible.

Couldn't believe the number of spectators tonight even.

Members of the winning team are Ronnie Sumeriski, Mike Jamil, Pat Fava, Jackie Janes, Jarad Lee, Heidi Dempsey, Mike Badami, Chester Harrington, Ariel Ford, Chelsey Ruzewski, Lacy Leto, as well as Kirsten Rowland and Jerry Dykstra, who were unable to participate in the title game but were vital cogs all season long for the T.F. Brown's Blind Squirrels. 

For more pics go to: Visit Steve Ognibene's photography site.

Batavia's two girls 12U fast-pitch softball teams got to play for the first time yesterday on the field at Genesee Community College, which Coach Matt Landers said was a real treat for the girls.

Sophia Papponetti got the win on the mound for the Batavia Black squad, with Emma Bigsby taking the loss Batavia Yellow. Landers said it was a close game until the sixth when Batavia Black broke open the game to secure a 19-11 win.

Submitted photos and information.

After running teams for a couple of years in Byron-Bergen, Stan Kaus and Matt Landers got to talking last year about getting more girls involved in fastpitch softball and bringing the teams back to Batavia.

"After last year we decided there are more girls in Batavia who want to play softball, so we kind of looked at each other and said, ‘Are you sure you want to go bigger?’ and we said, ‘as long as the parents step up and help,' " Kaus said.

The response, Kaus said, "has been phenomenal."

The new Batavia Girls Fastpitch is incorporating as a nonprofit with an eight-person board. There are eight new coaches, 17 sponsors and so far 35 girls signed up.

There are two 12-and-under teams and for the first time a 10-U team. Next Tuesday, they will host a meeting to form at least one, and maybe two, 15-U teams, which will add another 12 to maybe more than 20 more girls participating.

"I think the word will get out," Kaus said. "I think a lot of girls felt their only choice for playing ball was Little League. I think if they can come out and watch softball and see fastpitch, I think it will be great."

The Stingers, as the teams are known, also have new uniforms.

"The fact that it's back and we're breathing new life into fastpitch softball is kind of exciting," Kaus said.

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. 

Press release:

Whether you are just learning or have some experience on the mound, this camp is designed to take you to take the individual pitcher to the next level of performance. From beginner to advanced, camp members will be be able to refine their mechanics and gain new drills for individual pitches. Cost is $50.

Each pitcher must supply their own catcher.

For more information or to register, please contact Coach Kevin Walkowski at 716-983-5809.

WHAT: Blue Devil Softball Pitching Camp
WHEN: Aug. 10th - 12th from 9 a.m. - noon each day
WHERE: Batavia High School Softball Field, 260 State St., Batavia

Batavia High School's softball team lost 14-4 today to Geneseo in a Class A2 title game played at Brockport HS.

These pictures are from the final inning and a half.

With a 7-6 win over Lyndonville in the Section V Class D2 championship softball game yesterday, the Fighting Irish became Notre Dame's 80th girls team across all sports to win a sectional title.

Notre Dame took a 6-1 lead into the sixth, but Lyndonville put together a rally to tie the game. The Irish won on a walk to Jessica Bukowski with the bases loaded, bringing Callie McCulley in to score.

Photo submitted by Kathy Antinore.

In the Class C2 softball final played at GCC, Oakfield-Alabama lost 9-1 yesterday to Caledonia-Mumford.

The No.1 seed Red Raiders were led by tournament MVP Emily MacDonald, who pitched a four-hitter and K'd 10 Hornets.