Image via Saratoga Central Catholic Saints Athletics.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Central Catholic varsity baseball team won the 36th annual Phil Waring Memorial Tournament last Saturday, defeating Duanesburg 7 to 3 in the first game and besting Fonda 10 to 0 in the second contest.
Hunter Fales was crowned Tournament MVP. Fales and Ronan Rowe both notched their 100th career hits in the game against Duanesburg.
In the first game, reliever Brian Selif pitched 3 scoreless innings for the Saints, striking out a whopping 8 batters. At the plate, Fales went 3-for-4 with 2 doubles, while Kihl Kelly was 2-for-2 with a triple.
In the second game, Luke Dejnozka took the mound for 5 innings, allowing only 2 hits and whiffing 6 batters. Fales, Kelly, and Jason Pescetti also smacked doubles at the plate.
Heading into two games this week against Hoosick Falls, the Saints were an undefeated 7-0 on the season and 4-0 in the Wasaren League standings.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — “A Star is Born” has been adapted for the screen four times, most recently in 2018 with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. The fifth adaptation might have to be set here in Saratoga Springs, where native daughter Katie Davis has solidified herself as a bona fide leading lady, thanks to the new Netflix documentary series “Race for the Crown,” which premiered on Tuesday.
The show, which chronicles the lead up to the Kentucky Derby, the Derby itself, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, explores both the downtown and iconic racecourse of Saratoga through the eyes of Davis, a female jockey who tosses out memorable one-liners such as: “If I didn’t become a jockey, I would’ve liked to have been on a SWAT team just to knock doors down.”
The fifth episode of the six-episode series introduces viewers to Davis while she plays with her kids at a family home in Saratoga. Throughout the penultimate and final episodes of “Race for the Crown,” Davis gushes about her hometown.
“I grew up here in Saratoga,” Davis proudly states. “It’s such a special place. My daddy bought this [house] in 1995. We all just come for the summer and camp out.”
Although Davis comes from a family of jockeys, the show spotlights her unique status as a woman in a male-dominated sport.
“There’s not many women that ride Saratoga, so when the fans see a woman, they’re all like ‘yeah, this is awesome!,’” Davis says. “My arms are bigger than most men, but I’ve learned that it’s not about how strong you are, it’s more about finesse and connecting with horses.”
A montage of clips showing Davis riding at Saratoga is followed by scenes that demonstrate the everyday challenges of being a female jockey, such as when a parking attendant at the Pimlico Race Course won’t allow her to enter a jockeys-only parking lot.
Davis, with tears in her eyes, also speaks about being told by a former agent that she wouldn’t be able to make it as a jockey. Of course, that didn’t stop her from doing it anyway.
“If somebody says I can’t do something, watch me,” she says.
After an unsuccessful attempt to win the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico, Davis returns home to ride Union Trail during a race at the 2024 Belmont Stakes Festival. She wins in a runaway, prompting cheers from spectators as she enters the Saratoga winner’s circle.
“Man, just like riding in Saratoga alone, it’s like going to Yankee Stadium,” Davis says after the victory.
The show also follows Davis as she strolls downtown with her husband and kids during the Belmont on Broadway event.
“Saratoga, it’s such a family environment,” Davis says. “People are always friendly. So when I rode the first year here, I wanted to connect with the fans because that’s what’s important to me because they are our livelihood. They are going to keep us going in this industry.”
Netflix viewers are treated to shots of a crowded downtown, where Davis chats with and embraces friends and fans. A few b-roll shots show a Saratoga mounted police officer, the Adirondack Trust building, green Belmont banners affixed to lamp posts, and local shops like Uncommon Grounds and James and Sons Tobacconists.
“There are just a handful of towns in the world where their charm derives from the fact they are racing towns,” says racing broadcaster Nick Luck. “Newmarket in England, Deauville and Chantilly in France. In the United States, Lexington, Kentucky, and, of course, Saratoga. Even though the Belmont Stakes is not at its spiritual home, it is at a very important venue and one which will never give you a free pass.”
Almost the entire sixth episode is set in Saratoga, with particular focus on Jayson Werth, a former MLB star and co-owner of ‘24 Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch. Werth’s unexpected, Cinderella-story win at Belmont serves as the final emotional crescendo of the series.
Saratoga makes a couple cameo appearances in earlier episodes of the show as well. In episode one, trainer Todd Pletcher is seen at the Oklahoma Training Track, and billionaire horse owner Mike Repole chats with the Netflix crew as he walks around barns and offices in the backstretch.
All in all, “Race for the Crown” serves as a flattering advertisement for the Spa City.
A sign in Saratoga Springs celebrates the many achievements of the Blue Streaks’ cross country program during the Kranicks’ tenure. Photos via the Saratoga Springs City School District.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Art and Linda Kranick, the head coaches of the Saratoga Springs girls track and field program, retired last week, according to a statement released by the district.
“It is with a profound mixture of gratitude and sadness that I announce the retirement of our esteemed coaches, Art and Linda Kranick, who have dedicated their lives to the success and development of our distance running program since 1985,” the statement said. “Their impact on our athletics and the larger realm of cross-country and track and field is unparalleled, and their departure marks the end of an extraordinary era in our school’s history. As stated previously, this is due to a private medical situation, and we ask for your grace and empathy during this difficult time for Art and Linda.”
“As we celebrate their storied careers,” the statement continued, “we recognize the countless lives they have touched through their dedication, passion, and unwavering support. Art and Linda’s commitment to fostering teamwork, resilience, and a love for the sport will have a lasting influence on all who have had the privilege of learning from them. Since the inception of their coaching careers, Art and Linda have molded our distance program into the most successful in state history.”
In their nearly 40-year career, the husband-wife coaching duo garnered almost too many accolades to count.
The Blue Streaks girls cross country team was crowned state champions dozens of times throughout the Kranicks’ tenure, beginning in 1987 and culminating with another state title in 2023. For two years in a row (2020 and 2021), they were ranked the best team in the entire country. In 2004, the squad won the inaugural Nike Cross Nationals Team Championship. That ‘04 team, said MileSplit NY, is often considered one of the best cross country teams ever.
In 2005, the boys team also won the Nike Cross Nationals, making Saratoga the first-ever team to win the title in both genders. As recently as 2022, the Kranicks were named the National High School Cross Country Coaches of the Year. Notable Blue Streak cross country stars in years past have included two-time Foot Locker National Champion Erin Davis and 2018 NCAA First Team All-American Aidan Tooker.
In recent years, the Kranicks had come under scrutiny for alleged instances of abusive coaching, which were detailed in a legal complaint filed in October 2023. In that document, 1989 graduate Kristen (Gecewicz) Gunning said that the running program was “a toxic culture of control and abuse of middle and high school girls all in the name of winning.” 1999 graduate Lauren Hogan said that some aspects of the Kranicks’ program “caused immense damage to me both mentally and physically.” An updated version of the legal complaint also included more than a dozen witnesses who made various claims against the cross-country and track program. The claims spanned from the 1980s to 2022.
Art and Linda Kranick pose alongside student-athletes after being named the 2022 National High School Cross Country Coaches of the Year.
Despite the allegations, the Kranicks never lost the support of the Saratoga Springs School District, which rehired them even after the abusive coaching claims. Many runners, students, parents, and other members of the community also defended the Kranicks following the legal complaint.
At a school board meeting in March 2024, standout varsity runner Emily Bush said, “As much as I love this sport, I can tell you all confidently that I would not be doing it if I felt like I was in an abusive environment. The skills I’ve gained are invaluable and I can’t stress that enough.”
At that meeting, five parents of current or former Saratoga runners also expressed support for the Kranicks’ program. One of them criticized local media outlets for only highlighting negative aspects of the program. Another, Carl Strock, said he sympathized “with those who thought the program was extreme. I thought it was too. You don’t get to be national champions by taking it easy, by having a lot of days off. You get to be national champions by pushing yourself and by others pushing you.”
In August 2024, Superintendent Dr. Michael Patton told Saratoga TODAY that he did not have any concerns about the Kranicks moving forward. “I’ve been here for seven years and have gotten to know the Kranicks very well,” Patton said. He added that, in the past year, the Kranicks had met all of the athletic department’s expectations.
A report published in March 2024 by the Harris Beach law firm seemed to question the district’s decision to rehire the Kranicks. But the report also noted that there were a number of people who praised the Kranicks “for their successes and positive contributions.”
Following a national title victory in 2022, then-senior runner McKinley Wheeler said that “it really meant a lot” to be a part of the Blue Streaks team. “All the effort and work Mr. and Mrs. Kranick put into this program, and our training, and our success, is just really moving,” she said. “They’re really great coaches, and just overall great people. Going through these years, and being able to go to these meets and experience what we did, I’m just really grateful.”
The Kranicks have been tentatively replaced by Tom Reilly as the girls head coach, with Shane Cassidy acting as his assistant.
Kim Ng of the Athletes Unlimited Softball League presents Ballston Spa native Ana Gold with a “golden ticket” for the league’s upcoming inaugural draft on May 3. Photo via the Duke University softball team.
BALLSTON SPA — Ana Gold, a Ballston Spa native and senior infielder on the Duke University softball team, recently earned a “golden ticket” from the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL), a new professional organization launching in June.
The golden tickets are being awarded to some of the top college players in the country prior to the inaugural AUSL College Draft, which will air on Saturday, May 3 at 9 p.m. on ESPNU.
The AUSL will feature four teams playing a 24-game season in a traditional format. The league’s advisors include Kim Ng, the former general manager of the Miami Marlins and a former assistant general manager for the New York Yankees.
Gold’s college career at Duke has been wildly successful. As of Monday, her career slash line was .309/.412/.610. She’s smacked 49 homers, 7 triples, and 28 doubles for the Blue Devils since her freshman year in 2022. She’s also stolen 50 bases and totaled nearly 200 hits in a little more than 600 at bats.
Last season, she set a number of Duke softball records, including smashing two grand slams in one game and knocking in 8 runs in a single game. She also set the program’s all-time career home run record.
At Ballston Spa High School, she was ranked the No. 39 prospect in the country (according to Extra Innings Softball), was named three times to the Suburban Council’s First Team, and was a two-time Second Team All-Stater. She batted .411 with 12 home runs and 33 RBI as a freshman before improving to .418 with nine home runs and 34 RBI as a sophomore.
Gold’s older brother Luke was an All-ACC baseball infielder at Boston College before being selected in the fifth round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers.
US Representative Elise Stefanik’s official 115th Congressional portrait via her website.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, whose district includes parts of Saratoga County, wrote a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon on Monday calling for a federal probe of the Saratoga Springs School District over its alleged “direct violation” of President Trump’s executive order banning trans athletes from competing in girls’ sports.
A copy of the letter, which was first obtained by the New York Post, said that the district’s recent “Affirming Our Support for Every Student” resolution also violated Title IX of federal education law, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools and programs that receive federal funding.
“Allowing biological males into girls’ sports and locker rooms is in direct violation of President Trump’s executive order,” Stefanik stated in the letter. “Our daughters should not be forced to compete against biological men in competitive sports or share a locker room with biological men. Under Title IX and articulated in President Trump’s Executive Order 14201, educational institutions that receive federal funding must be in compliance with Title IX’s requirements to protect opportunities for women and girls to compete in safe and fair sports. I join President Trump in his commitment to protect our nation’s girls and daughters. This Far Left woke ideology has no place in our communities.”
Stefanik’s letter comes in the wake of increasing national scrutiny of the Saratoga school board’s resolution, which didn’t change any of the district’s existing policies, but did push back against the Trump administration’s stances on both transgender students and DEI policies.
On April 10, the Riley Gaines Center sent its Ambassador Kaitlynn Wheeler to a Saratoga school board meeting. Wheeler, who advocates for “fairness and the protection of female athletes,” said in a press release that the board had departed from federal protections designed to ensure fairness in women’s sports.
At that same meeting, Dr. Emanuel Cirenza, the district’s physician advisor, said that he could think of only one example of a trans athlete in the district during the last 28 years. “To a large extent, this is very much a manufactured controversy,” Cirenza said.
Critics of the resolution often say that the district’s federal funding could be threatened by the resolution, although Board Vice President Tony Krackeler has said that the $3.1 million in federal funds received by the district are only amendable by an act of Congress.
Stefanik is reportedly considering a run for governor after her nomination for UN ambassador was withdrawn last month.
Photo via the New York State Department of Transportation.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York State Department of Transportation recently shared photos detailing construction progress on the Saratoga County Airport, which is getting a new terminal building, restaurant, 20,000-square-foot hangar, and various interior spaces for concessions and rental car facilities.
The images revealed a horse racing statue outside the terminal, as well as a cavernous, window-filled space inside the terminal with a large staircase.
“Once complete, the upgraded airport will offer a better experience for travelers, support local businesses, and strengthen the region’s economy,” the Department of Transportation said. “We’re proud to help bring this project to life and keep Saratoga County moving forward.”
As previously reported by Saratoga TODAY, a public hearing is set to take place on May 13 regarding a proposed lease agreement with Alexi’s at the Airport, Inc. for the exclusive operation of a restaurant space in the airport.
The restaurant would be located inside the terminal, which includes a newly constructed commercial-grade kitchen, bar, dining area, back-of-house storage, and catering area.
If the agreement is approved, Alexi’s at the Airport Inc. would be the airport’s exclusive provider of food services.
ALBANY — Uncommon Grounds, a local coffee shop chain that first opened in Saratoga Springs in 1992, celebrated the grand opening of its newest location at the Albany Airport last week.
The new shop, which is located just past security, will be open daily from 4 a.m. until 2 p.m.
“[Uncommon Grounds’] coffee and bagels have been a community favorite for years, and now they’re bringing that same warmth, quality, and energy to our travelers,” said Albany County Executive Dan McCoy in a statement.
Uncommon’s original location is at 402 Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs. It has two additional shops in Albany, and another in Clifton Park.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA — Lucille Murphy, a Saratoga Springs High School grad and district treasurer, was crowned a women’s weightlifting champion at the 2025 Masters National Championships in Atlanta, Georgia last weekend.
Murphy earned a silver medal in the 72kg snatch, and she won a gold medal in the 89kg clean and jerk. Her total of 161kg earned her the title of 76kg 40-44 age group national champion.
Murphy was previously district treasurer for the Galway Central School District. For 11 years, she was also a youth rowing coach for the Saratoga Rowing Association.
MALTA — The Albany-Saratoga Speedway is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a season-opening Super DIRTcar Series event on Friday, April 18.
Drivers will duke it out over 60 laps with $7,500 to win. Pits open at 3 p.m., the grandstands open at 5, hot laps start at 6 p.m., and the race itself will follow soon after.
“The best drivers in the Northeast will meet a stout group of Albany-Saratoga regulars for a battle that will likely take all 60 laps to decide,” said Super DIRTcar Series Announcer Mike Warren in a Q&A on the series’ website. “There is no place in the Capital Region where you’ll see better racing, and it’s normal to see a driver win from outside the top 10 every week.”
In addition to celebrating 60 years in business, this season is an especially notable one for the speedway. Late last year, plans to replace the racetrack with a 700-unit residential development were derailed by the Malta Town Board. The speedway’s current owner, Howard Commander, said via a real estate agent who spoke at a December town board meeting on his behalf, that he “fully” supported the proposed project. Commander decided to try to sell the speedway due, in part, to the financial challenges of maintaining and operating the track.
The speedway sits on valuable real estate: a 50-acre parcel along Route 9 North. The track originally opened in 1965 and features racing on Friday nights from April through September. The track’s future after the 2025 season is uncertain.
Riley Gaines Center Ambassador Kaitlynn Wheeler speaks at the April 10 Saratoga Springs School District board meeting. Photo via the district’s livestream.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs High School auditorium was packed last Thursday night with a divided crowd of attendees that debated a recent resolution passed by the school board that reaffirmed the district’s support for, among other things, transgender students’ ability to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity.
The resolution did not change any of the district’s existing policies, but it did attract the attention of many locals and even national political activists such as the conservative X account “Libs of TikTok,” which accused the Saratoga Springs School District of supporting “radical gender ideology” in a post that garnered hundreds of thousands of views.
It also attracted the attention of the Riley Gaines Center, which sent its Ambassador Kaitlynn Wheeler to the April 10 Saratoga school board meeting. Wheeler, who advocates for “fairness and the protection of female athletes,” said in a press release that the board had departed from federal protections designed to ensure fairness in women’s sports.
“As someone who has experienced firsthand the importance of fair competition, I am deeply concerned about policies that undermine opportunities for female athletes,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and a former member of the women’s swim team alongside Riley Gaines. According to Wheeler, she was “violated” when a transgender athlete was allowed to undress with her and her teammates at the 2022 NCAA championships. The incident was partly what inspired Wheeler to become “a fierce advocate for upholding our freedoms and rights to privacy, safety, and equal opportunity.”
Wheeler’s visit caused community members on both sides of the trans athletes debate to attend the April 10 meeting, where they offered their often passionate opinions during public comment periods.
“Boys do not belong in girls’ bathrooms, locker rooms, or sports, period,” Wheeler said at the meeting. “No resolution, no board has the right to rewrite federal law. No state is absolved from following federal law.”
Wheeler continued speaking after her allotted time, causing the auditorium to erupt in commotion as School Board President Anjeanette Emeka repeatedly told Wheeler that her time had expired. Many attendees cheered when Wheeler concluded her remarks.
Saratoga Springs High School student Sarah Pipino thanked the board for passing the resolution.
“There are a lot of people who are very scared to speak at meetings and I’m friends with a lot of those people and we’ve been talking a lot and they feel more safe and accepted and loved in the community and they are so grateful, so I am saying ‘thank you’ from all of them who have talked to me,” Pipino said to a round of applause.
Dr. Emanuel Cirenza, the district’s physician advisor, said that “to a large extent, this is very much a manufactured controversy…I’ve been here for coming up on 28 years and this issue has come up one time to my knowledge. I did a little investigating, and it was a track athlete essentially trying to get onto a team where nobody was pushed out and nobody was made to feel uncomfortable. These issues have always been handled, I can reassure everybody in this room, with the greatest amount of sensitivity to everybody’s needs.”
The controversial resolution at the center of the debate, titled “Affirming Our Support for Every Student,” states, among other things, that the Board of Education would:
reaffirm its support for the district’s policy and regulation 0105 titled “Equity, Inclusivity, and Diversity in Education”
uphold New York State laws safeguarding vulnerable populations and not comply with directives that violate civil rights protections;
affirm that every student has a right to an education regardless of immigration status, and that law enforcement officers may not question students on school property except under very specific conditions;
respect students’ chosen names and pronouns while also ensuring their right to use facilities and participate in activities and sports consistent with their gender identity.
The resolution appeared to be a clear attempt to combat several Trump administration policies that threaten to rescind federal funds from educational institutions that don’t comply with the president’s orders. According to Board Vice President Tony Krackeler, $3.1 million of the district’s 2024-25 budget came from the federal government. All of those funds, Krackeler said, are only amendable by an act of Congress.
