Camdyn Hull with his trainer Tyrone Jackson at the 2026 Buffalo Golden Gloves earlier this month. Photo provided.
BUFFALO — Saratoga Springs High School senior Camdyn Hull captured a championship title after defeating Buffalo’s Rocco Marchione at the 2026 Buffalo Golden Gloves event on April 12.
Hull won the 16-17 year-old, 132-pound final bout by unanimous decision. The fight was a draw heading into the last round, when Hull pulled off the victory.
“It was pretty one-sided,” said Hull’s dad Billy, who witnessed the fight.
Hull’s first boxing match occurred when he was just nine years old. He trains with local boxing coach Tyrone Jackson, who has been working with Hull for the past few years.
“He’s very dedicated to the game,” Jackson told Saratoga TODAY. “That’s what makes me interested in training him. I know he’s going to put in the work. He dedicates himself to it.”
Hull’s passion for the sport, his dad said, centers around accountability.
“You can’t blame a team,” Billy said. “It’s all him.”
Next up for Hull is a King of the Ring tournament in New England, followed by another tournament in California. Once he turns 18, more options will be available to him. But until then, “we’re going to keep going and see how far he can go,” said Billy.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Phil Waring Memorial Tournament was a blessed one for the Saints, who obliterated both Fonda-Fultonville (16 to 1) and Duanesburg (11 to 1) to be crowned tournament champions for the third straight year.
Spa Catholic baseball star Carson Moser, who will play for Duke University when he graduates, was crowned tournament MVP after hitting a combined 6-6 in both games, racking up 2 homers, 5 runs, and 9 RBI. Other standout showings at the plate included Max Britten (a combined 4-5 with 4 RBI) and Jason Pescetti (4-7 with 4 RBI).
Starter Luke Dejnozka was credited with the win on the mound against Fonda, allowing just 2 hits and 0 runs. He also struck out 7 batters and forfeited no walks.
Spa Catholic won the same annual tournament last year, dispatching Duanesburg 7 to 3 in the first game and besting Fonda 10 to 0 in the second contest. In 2024, they beat Lake George 13 to 1 and edged out Schuylerville 1 to 0 to again take the tournament.
Saints Sweep Stillwater
In Wasaren League play, the Saints faced Stillwater in a double-header on Monday, defeating the Warriors in both contests.
In game one, they shut out Stillwater 11 to 0. On the mound, Saints freshman Cole Cefalu earned his first career win, allowing no runs and whiffing 6 hitters. At the plate, Moser impressed, per usual, going 3-3 with 3 RBI. Joey Lindner also helped pile on the hits, going 2-3 with a double.
In game two, Spa Catholic bested the Warriors 11 to 1. Four Saints smacked at least 2 hits apiece: Moser (2-3, 2 doubles), Pierce Byrne (3-4, double), Britten (2-3), and Sandy McDonald (2-3, double).
After the double-header, the Saints’ record stood at 6-1 on the season.
Photo near the Gate 21 entrance of the Oklahoma Training Track by Jonathon Norcross.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — All was quiet on the East Avenue front Monday morning, when the Saratoga Race Course’s Oklahoma Training Track officially opened for the season.
Until the start of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival on June 3, the public can witness the training action from the Whitney Viewing Stand, which will be open Wednesday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Pedestrians can access the viewing stand by entering the Oklahoma track through Gate 21 off East Avenue. Vehicular traffic is not allowed.
The official Belmont on Broadway 2026 poster, unveiled at Druthers Brewing in Saratoga Springs on April 16. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga’s Belmont Stakes festivities started early this year with 80-degree weather, a boisterous crowd, and flowing beer taps.
City bigwigs gathered at Druthers Brewing on Broadway last Thursday for the third and final Belmont on Broadway lineup announcement.
Before unveiling the headliners that will perform at the free concert on June 3, Marisa Flynn of Proctors Collaborative announced that, prior to the music, comedian Chelsea Handler would take the stage at Universal Preservation Hall for a special VIP experience.
Starting at 2 p.m., VIP-ers can enjoy reserved parking, “strut their stuff” on a green carpet (to match Belmont’s distinct color), get their photo taken, receive a keepsake lanyard and commemorative poster, watch the day’s races on TVs inside, and then seat themselves for Handler’s ticketed stand-up show at 4 p.m. The event is timed so that once Handler exits the stage, VIP-ers can saunter over to Broadway for the 7 p.m. concert. Once on Broadway, VIP-ers can access a tent that will be available in Ellsworth Jones Plaza near the stage.
This year’s Belmont on Broadway finale will be headlined by Fitz and the Tantrums, with Vertical Horizon appearing as their opener.
The Tantrums are an indie pop group best known for their hit singles “HandClap” (if you’ve ever attended a baseball game, you’ve probably heard this song), “Out of My League” (which has more than one billion plays on Spotify), and “The Walker.”
Horizon is an alt-rock band that scored a massive hit in 1999 with “Everything You Want.”
Tickets for the Chelsea Handler performance and VIP experience go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 24 at atuph.org or chelseahandler.com. The Belmont on Broadway concert, per usual, will be free to attend.
New this year on Broadway will be beverage and snack stations from event sponsors Coca-Cola and Market 32.
The thoroughfare will close at 5 a.m. on the day of the event.
“Saratoga knows how to party,” said Flynn at the Druthers-hosted announcement event. “This is amazing. How iconic that we are in our third and final installment of Belmont on Broadway to kick off the third and final installment of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival this year.”
Previous Belmont on Broadway headliners included Blues Traveler in 2024 and Gin Blossoms in 2025.
The Belmont Stakes will occur at the Saratoga Race Course for the final time on June 6. Starting in 2027, the Triple Crown race will return home to the newly-built Belmont Park on Long Island.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Chelsea Handler isn’t the only comedian coming to the Spa City.
Chris Kattan, a “Saturday Night Live” cast member from 1996 to 2003, will perform at The Comedy Works on May 15 and 16.
Kattan previously appeared at the Broadway venue in 2019.
The former SNL star’s prolific career includes roles in comedy films such as “A Night at the Roxbury,” “Corky Romano,” “Undercover Brother,” “Hotel Transylvania 2,” and “The Ridiculous 6” (which includes a comedic cameo ‘appearance’ by Ballston Spa native Abner Doubleday).
Tickets for both shows are available at TheComedyWorks.com.
Beer drinkers and community members gather at Back Barn Brewing on April 17. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.
BALLSTON SPA — Back Barn Brewing, located in the historic Abner Doubleday house, celebrated its grand opening last Friday.
The event included a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association, live music by Phillip Shaver, and a Fired Up Pizza food truck.
“For more than five years, the Doubleday House has served as a welcoming gathering place for this community—first as The Real McCoy and now as Back Barn Brewing Co.,” said the Ballston Spa Business Association in a social media post. “It’s where friendships have grown, milestones have been celebrated, and those traditions will carry on for years to come.”
Back Barn’s draft list included the 12-Pointer IPA, You-Da-Boss Sour Ale, Brigid Red Ale, and the KCA Amber Ale. Also on the menu: canned cocktails from Albany Distilling, Nine Pin Cider, Montezuma Winery Table Red, and the Goose Watch Pinot Grigio.
Back Barn has a handful of events scheduled for this month and next, including karaoke night on April 24, open mic poetry night on April 30, and open mic music night on May 1 (with the Fired Up Pizza truck making another appearance).
Image provided by the Saratoga Social Wellness Club.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Few things are more damaging to a person’s quality of life than lack of social connection.
According to a 2023 report by the U.S. Surgeon General, loneliness and social isolation increase the risks of premature death, anxiety, depression, and dementia. Loneliness and isolation are also associated with lower academic achievement and worse performances at work. “This represents an urgent public health concern,” the report states.
“Extensive scientific findings from a variety of disciplines, including epidemiology, neuroscience, medicine, psychology, and sociology, converge on the same conclusion: social connection is a significant predictor of longevity and better physical, cognitive, and mental health, while social isolation and loneliness are significant predictors of premature death and poor health,” says the report.
Evidence of what’s been called a loneliness epidemic in America seems to be everywhere, including local Facebook groups.
Natalli Amato—a therapist, journalist, and yoga teacher—noticed many anonymously-authored posts in the various “What’s Going on Saratoga” Facebook groups that sought friendship and connection.
“I wondered in my head if any of these people, do they connect?” Amato told Saratoga TODAY. “Is that even really a comfortable or safe option? Is that how people want to make friends?”
For some, like Erin Joy—a yoga teacher and yoga therapist-in-training—being more introverted can make the search for connection even more of a challenge.
“I know that there’s other people out there that maybe have a tendency to do things alone, but maybe in the back of their head, they’re wishing that there’s a couple other friends that they could do things with, but maybe they just don’t know how or where to find them,” Joy said.
Enter the Saratoga Social Wellness Club, which was recently soft-launched by Amato and Joy. The club is designed to “give people a platform for turning fellow Spa City neighbors into new friends by coming together to enjoy events rooted in nature, wellness, and movement.”
Since creating their Instagram account (@saratoga_socialwellnessclub) a few weeks ago, Amato and Joy have already amassed more than 400 followers. And the responses they’ve received seem to indicate that Saratogians are hungry for meaningful connections. Amato said she’s been approached by people excited about the club, and Joy said she’s received enthusiastic Instagram messages.
“It seems as though people are giving us the seal of approval,” Joy said.
Amato and Joy both arrived in Saratoga from somewhere else, giving them first-hand experience with seeking connection and socialization in the Spa City. Amato said she “moved around a bunch” before landing in Saratoga, and Joy is originally from Rochester. The duo connected at Yoga Mandali, where they both worked as teachers.
“I feel completely at home here, even though I’ve been here for a couple of years,” Joy said.
“I think we were inspired [by] great running clubs and walking clubs and cycling clubs that are built around a shared passion and this want to make friends and have fun,” said Amato. “And so, inspired by the liveliness that we already see here, we were like, ‘We could do something like that around the things that light us up.’”
The club’s first in-person social event, Wellness in the Park, will take place on Sunday, May 3 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Spa State Park. Participants can expect some icebreakers, group dialogue, a nature walk, and an outdoor yoga class. Those interested in signing up, either for the event itself or to receive future communications from the club, can fill out a form at form.jotform.com/260905687423059.
The club is also open to future collaborations with local businesses and organizations.
“We want this to not just be about us or benefit us, but really be for Saratoga,” said Amato.
Team USA softball player Kinzie Hansen and D-BAT Saratoga Springs owner Adam Britten at D-BAT on April 11. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — About 30 girls sat reverentially in a circle, awaiting instruction from one of the most talented softball players on the planet.
The scene unfolded at D-BAT Saratoga Springs, a baseball and softball training facility that opened in 2024. The academy’s guest of honor last Saturday, Kinzie Hansen, spent the day leading young softball players in catching and hitting clinics.
Hansen’s accolades are plentiful and include capturing a gold medal at the 2022 World Games, winning four-straight Women’s College World Series titles (her team was the first in college softball history to achieve this), catching for Team USA, and playing for the AUSL’s Oklahoma City Spark. Hyping her appearance, D-BAT owner Adam Britten called Hansen “one of the most successful softball players of our generation.”
Somewhere in her packed schedule (Hansen had to be in Chicago and then Oklahoma shortly after visiting the Spa City), the 24-year-old found time to train and mentor the next generation of softball players. Assisting her in this task were, among others, high schoolers Grace Schaefer from Spa Catholic and Kelsey Compositor from Saratoga Springs.
“There are only two things you can control: your attitude and your effort,” Hansen said in her opening remarks to the girls. In this clinic, Hansen focused on her specialty: catching. The position can be both physically and psychologically demanding. The entire team looks at the catcher throughout the game, and it’s the catcher’s job, Hansen said, to lead by example.
Another of Hansen’s commandments surely pleased the parents in the room. The softball star reminded the kids at her feet that “without [your parents], you probably wouldn’t be able to play the game that you love.” The circle of girls then turned towards the adults nearby and said “thank you, parents” in unison.
“It’s been really fun,” Hansen told Saratoga TODAY about her clinics at D-BAT. “A lot of the girls have been very engaged. I know that sometimes in the past clinics that I’ve done, some of the girls seem a little bit bored, but I think that today, almost every single girl that’s been here has been completely invested in what’s been going on. So that makes me very proud. We’ve had a lot of fun. I mean, I was sweating my butt off too while I was coaching them, so it’s been a really good time.”
Hansen continued, “Coming to these under-saturated areas where there’s not as many good softball training coaches, seeing the passion and the amount of girls that can show up is tremendous… The love for the game, it makes these young girls have confidence and find a purpose. I find it so interesting that a lot of young girls nowadays with social media, they can struggle sometimes with confidence and identity and things like that. But playing softball and having your sisters on your team, or a sisterhood of teammates, it can be tremendous for their development.”
As a former Oklahoma Sooner and current Oklahoma City Spark, Hansen said she was excited for the 2028 Summer Olympics, which will include softball games played in Oklahoma City. Hansen’s sport will return to Olympic competition after being snubbed at the 2024 games in Paris.
“Oklahoma is like the mecca of softball,” Hansen declared. “We can fit almost 20,000 people in that stadium. So, I’m really excited for that to be packed out for Team USA. I don’t know another site in the country that can hold that many people for a softball field. Oklahoma is like my second family, so I’m excited to see the turnout for that.”
Perhaps one day, a girl from one of Hansen’s clinics will find themselves playing at softball’s mecca, too.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Last year, two Saratoga Springs high school baseball teams won their first-ever state championships. The successful seasons were remarkable enough to warrant a downtown parade that concluded with mayoral proclamations on the steps of City Hall. This year, both teams are returning with their title-winning rosters largely intact.
For the Saratoga Catholic Saints, the season began disappointingly with a 5-0 shutout loss to Shaker. But the squad quickly rebounded with an 8-2 victory against Greenwich on April 13.
Against Shaker, outfielder Kihl Kelly had two hits and a walk and ended up being one of only three Saints to reach base. Starting pitcher Carson Moser faced 14 batters in 3 innings, striking out 8 of them while allowing 1 run.
Against Greenwich, Kelly had another standout showing, hitting 2-3 with a triple and 2 RBI. Joey Lindner also went 2-3 with a double and an RBI, while Jason Pescetti hit 2-2 and scored a run. Starter Pierce Byrne earned his first win of the season, whiffing 11 batters and allowing just one run in 5 innings of work.
The Blue Streaks, meanwhile, also lost their season opener before notching 4-straight victories, including a gobsmacking 32-2 win against Averill Park on April 8. In that extraordinary contest, Saratoga collectively netted 24 hits, with seniors Jack Rigbar and Raul Rodriguez each earning 4 hits apiece.
After five games, five Blue Streaks have batting averages above .500. Brady Mills led his team early in the year with 12 hits and 4 doubles. Rigbar led in RBI (13), triples (2) and was one of two players to hit a homer.
On the mound, Brendan Kantscheidt has allowed just one earned run in 6.2 innings while also leading the team in strikeouts (10). Also impressive in the early going: Max Sawicz has allowed one run in 6.2 innings, Shea Crotty allowed zero runs and 4 hits in 5.1 innings, and Michael Kakaty whiffed 6 batters and gave up 2 runs in 5 innings.
Horse trainer Chad Brown at the Saratoga Race Course. Photo via NYRA.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Mechanicville native Chad Brown notched his 3,000th career victory last Friday when his horse Zulu Kingdom won the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes at Keeneland.
“It was really special. I’ll always remember it,” Brown told the New York Racing Association (NYRA). “It was great to do it in a prestigious race like the Maker’s Mark and with a great horse that has been so consistent.”
According to Equibase, Brown’s career earnings total more than $334 million. He’s won five Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Trainer and has been NYRA’s top trainer nine different years (2015-2022, 2024).
“It’s an achievement shared by so many team members past and present as well as our clients, jockeys, and horses,” Brown said. “It takes a lot over 18 1/2-years now of training horses and there’s so many important people in those groups I’ve mentioned and I’m very appreciative for that.”
Brown’s interest in horse racing was sparked by childhood visits to the Saratoga Race Course, and he accrued early experience in the industry at the local harness track. While studying animal science at Cornell University, Brown spent summers in Saratoga working under Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. Brown later struck out on his own in 2007.
As of April 13, Brown’s lifetime stats included 12,117 starts; 3,001 wins; and a Win, Place, Show (WPS) percentage of 58.
Brown’s horse Emerging Market is currently ranked 8th on the 2026 Kentucky Derby leaderboard.
