Saratoga Central Catholic v. Mechanicville Girls’ Varsity Basketball: Mechanicville Girls’ Varsity Basketball beat Saratoga Central Catholic, 64-33, in Saturday’s (Feb. 27) game. The leading scorer for Mechanicville was Chloe Goverski with 20 points. Amy Disiena contributed 13 points, and Sara Fitzgerald also contributed with 12 points. Leading scorer for Saratoga Central Catholic was Ryleigh Dempsey with 14 of the team’ points.

Saratoga Central Catholic v. Galway Girls’ Varsity Basketball: Saratoga Central Catholic Varsity Girls’ Basketball Team won Tuesday’s away game against Galway, 53-29. The leading scorer for the Saints was Ryleigh Dempsey with 20 points. Ashley Upson had 12 points. The leading scorer for the Golden Eagles was Ryan Ripepi with 14 points.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Six racehorses, three trainers, and one jockey account for the 10 finalists that will comprise the National Museum of Racing’s 2021 Hall of Fame ballot, as chosen by the Museum’s Hall of Fame Nominating Committee. 

The finalists are racehorses American Pharoah (first year of eligibility), Blind Luck, Game On Dude, Havre de Grace, Kona Gold, and Rags to Riches; trainers Christophe Clement, Doug O’Neill, and Todd Pletcher (first year of eligibility); and jockey Corey Nakatani. 

Hall of Fame voters may select as many or as few candidates as they believe are worthy of induction to the Hall of Fame. All candidates that receive 50 percent plus one vote (majority approval) from the voting panel will be elected to the Hall of Fame. All of the finalists were required to receive support from two-thirds of the 15-member Nominating Committee to qualify for the ballot. 

Ballots will be mailed to the Hall of Fame voting panel the first week in March. The results of the voting on the contemporary candidates will be announced on Wednesday, May 5. That announcement will also include this year’s selections by the Museum’s Steeplechase Review Committee, which meets once every four years. 

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony — which will honor both the 2020 and 2021 inductees — is tentatively scheduled for Friday, Aug. 6, at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, at 10:30 a.m. Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many details relating to the induction ceremony are still to be determined. 

To be eligible for the Hall of Fame, trainers must be licensed for 25 years, while jockeys must be licensed for 20 years. Thoroughbreds are required to be retired for five calendar years. All candidates must have been active within the past 25 years. The 20- and 25-year requirements for jockeys and trainers, respectively, may be waived at the discretion of the Museum’s Executive Committee. Candidates not active within the past 25 years are eligible through the Historic Review process.

For more information about the Museum, including special events and program offerings, please call 518-584-0400 or visit our website at www.racingmuseum.org. 

Saratoga Springs — Saratoga Springs students ages 4 to 13-years-old, can now sign up for the Spring 2021 season of Saratoga Springs Little League (SSLL).

Little League games will be played twice a week from late April through early June at West Side Recreation in Saratoga Springs. 

SSLL is also looking for volunteer field assistants, coaches, and managers. No experience necessary. A background check is required.

Registration is open until March 20. Sign up by Feb. 28 and save $10 (offer does not apply to T-ball).

To register your child or to sign-up as a volunteer, go to saratogaspringslittleleague.org

CLIFTON PARK — Congratulations to 11-year-old Leyanna Klotz from Cartwheels gymnastics who placed 1st overall this past weekend at the 2021 Rochester Classic. She placed 1st in both bars, beam and floor. This was her first time competing since February 2020 prior to the shutdown.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has announced the stakes schedule for the 40-day summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course. Opening day is Thursday, July 15. Following the four-day opening weekend, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, with the exception of the final week of racing. The final week of racing will conclude on Labor Day, Monday, September 6.

The 40-day meet will feature 76 stakes worth $21.5 million in total purses. The 2021 summer meet, which will offer at least one stakes race every live racing day, will be highlighted by the 152nd renewal of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on August 28 and the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 7, the anchors of two of the most prestigious racing days in North America.

The Saratoga meet will also include the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Grade 1, $600,000 Flower Bowl, both previously run during the fall meet at Belmont Park.

All attendees must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of the event and adhere to health and safety requirements, including mandatory facial coverings and social distancing. 

Additional details on fan attendance and tickets for the 2021 summer meet will be provided as information becomes available. To view the complete stakes schedule for the 2021 summer meet, visit nyra.com/stakes.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs Recreation Department is resuming open gyms after developing new COVID safe protocols for activities. Registration is required, and will be for a one-hour slot that can be made up to seven days in advance. The current schedule is Monday – Friday, 2:30–3:30 p.m. and 3:45–4:45 p.m.

For City residents open gym is $4, and for Non-City residents the price is $5. Payment is due at the time of registration and is nonrefundable. All participants must also have a valid City or Non-City Rec Card, which is free and valid for two years. Children 10 and under must be accompanied by a person 16 years or older. 

Masks must be worn at all times while in the facilities, and walk-ins will not be allowed. Enter through the parking lot side of the Rec Center and check in at the front desk, but do not enter earlier than 15 minutes before your session. Come dressed to play with shoes to change into, and bring your own basketball. These sessions are designed to work on drills and shoot hoops, no games allowed. 

Visit www.saratogarec.com to register, and for up-to-date schedules (days/times subject to change). Email questions to recreservations@saratoga-springs.org.

NEW YORK — Discovery Bicycle Tours has just announced their new Empire State Trail Bike Tour on the recently completed Empire State Trail. The Discovery route is a six day, 200-mile tour on the Hudson Valley Greenway section, starting in New York City and ending in Albany. The gentle ride on mostly paved trails, passes through historic villages and has scenic views of the Hudson River, the Catskill Mountains, and more. 

The tour is being offered on five different dates from June through October 2021. A small group of 13 riders will be accompanied by two leaders, and the trip includes most meals and five-star hotel lodging. As well, Discovery Bicycle Tours provides free parking at the starting point, detailed directions, and a helmet. You can bring your own bike, or they will provide one. The price for double occupancy is $2,495 per person.

For those interested in this tour, visit discoverybicycletours.com or call 800-257-2226.

BOYS:

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Varsity Boys’ Basketball Team at Saratoga Central Catholic School is adjusting to a new coach and playing basketball during a pandemic. 

Bill Haskell, Head Coach of the Varsity Boys’ Basketball Team at Saratoga Central Catholic School, has been coaching for 41 years, with most of his career spent as head coach at SUNY Adirondack. When he retired, he was asked to come help the program, and this is his first year as head coach at Saratoga Central Catholic School. According to Coach Haskell, this season has been the most difficult in all of his 41 seasons. However, his assistant coach, Bill Luciano, and the JV boys’ coach, Daniel Kumlander, along with the boys on the team, have made the transition and COVID adjustments easier to handle. 

The team’s season started Feb. 1 after getting clearance from the Saratoga County Department of Health, and within six days they had their first game. They have a 14-game schedule within the makeshift league formed by Saratoga County, and are finished playing by March 13. They play Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Coming up this weekend (Friday, Feb. 26 and Saturday, Feb. 27) is a tough series with Mechanicville, one of the top teams on their schedule.

The team is fairly young, but has varsity experience, with three seniors, one sophomore, and some juniors who played on varsity last year as sophomores. The team’s leading scorers are senior forward Hayden Day (#14), junior guard Robbie Bolen III (#3), and junior guard Anthony Barile (#5). Day, who is also the team’s leading rebounder, and senior forward Aiden Lambert (#24), a rebounder and 3-point shooter, are team captains who contribute greatly and keep the team’s spirits high in their leadership positions. 

Versatility is the team’s greatest advantage, as they have players skilled at multiple positions and their offensive skills are spread out amongst the team. As well, based on percentages, their 3-point shooting is strong. The team is working on Coach Haskell’s slower style of play and how to overcome being outmatched physically.

“The formula we try to follow is our shooting percentage, offensively, and defensively, to rebound and have fewer turnovers than the other team,” said Coach Haskell. “That overcomes the discrepancy in size.” 

Other new challenges for the coach and the team include: being able to hear each other from opposite sides of the court through their masks, drawing up plays on the whiteboard while being socially distant at time outs, dealing with mental and physical fatigue from back-to-back games, and also the lack of fans in the bleachers.

“I tell my guys, you have to create your own energy, because the way that you warm up and the way that you prepare for the game makes up for the lack of fans,” said Coach Haskell. “I think they are just so thrilled to be out there playing that it doesn’t matter if there are people watching or not.”

However, he does believe that these games are providing a sense of normalcy during the pandemic. And, although there are no sectional or state championships at the end of the season, he still expects his team to put in the effort and enthusiasm. 

“I never talk to our team about winning,” said Coach Haskell. “I always feel that if you execute offensively, play together, communicate, really work hard on defense, battle on the boards, and do all the right things, then you have a chance at the end of the game [to win].”

You can check out the team’s website for their schedule, record and stats, player profiles, and more at www.sccbasketball.com.

GIRLS:

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Central Catholic School Varsity Girls’ Basketball Team is proving that they can adapt to this season’s adverse conditions.

The team’s season started on Feb.12 and ends on March 13, with only a week of full-contact practice before they had their first game. They have a 14-game schedule, and are playing three games a week – Tuesdays and back-to-back home and away games on Friday and Saturday. The Varsity Girls’ Basketball Coach, Regan McFerran, believes that their biggest challenge so far this year has been the limited time frame to prepare for games. 

The girls’ program has also seen some limitations with numbers, and they have no JV team this year. 

Their roster includes six varsity returners (four seniors and two juniors), as well as three more juniors, sophomore, and freshmen. They have six strong starters, and strong players coming off the bench. Junior guard Ashley Upson (#4) is their leading scorer, and senior forward Molly O’Reilly (#30) brings great defensive energy. As a team, their strengths are defense, and something else you can’t necessarily teach in practice. 

“Our greatest strength with these girls is their resilience,” said Coach McFerran. “They are a group that is highly motivated, and their work ethic is unbelievable.”

Per a decision made by Section 2, there are no spectators allowed at the game, resulting in an unfamiliar gym atmosphere that might be hard to overcome for some teams – but not for these varsity girls.

“With a sport like basketball, energy in the gym is something you look forward to, something that can play a role in a close and competitive game,” said Coach McFerran. “The girls have done a great job of providing their own energy and understanding that they have to bring it every single day for themselves and their teammates.”

Even with no sectional or state championships this year either, the team is still looking on the brighter side of this season. 

“These girls are happy to be here and to be playing a season they were not sure they were going to get,” said Coach McFerran. “So, my biggest expectation for them, and our biggest emphasis has been, don’t take these games for granted…leave it all out on the court and get better every day.”

Meet the Team: Varsity Basketball Seniors

Escape the ordinary, get connected, and join the next generation of fitness. 

My 12-year-old son worked up a serious sweat and woke-up sore the next day after playing Rec Room on his Oculous Quest 2 – the virtual reality headset that was on the top of all his friends Christmas lists a couple of months ago. 

After a year spent mostly at home because of the pandemic, I’ve learned that there are only so many YouTube video workouts and walks around the neighborhood that one can do. 

It’s time to get out of the workout rut with the mental stimulation that technology provides. 

ALWAYS INTERESTING
I’m the type of person that gets bored easily and am always trying out new activities and fitness ideas. 

When I saw my son take off his VR headset, smiling, exhilarated, and his forehead drenched in sweat, I knew it was my turn to try the virtual reality workout for myself. 

In VR, your body becomes the controller. There are a number of different brands of headsets available, but after some research, we decided on the Oculous Quest 2. 

You’re sure to find something that interests you because there are loads of games and workouts available through the Oculus app, as well as both free and paid VR compatible games through online platforms like STEAM. 

VR gaming has come a long way in the last few years but the first step to having a good VR experience is a high-quality gaming computer to plug it into. An open area 6 1/2’ in diameter is recommended to play in, and gamers must remember to be careful of getting tangled in the cord. 

For these reasons and more, I recommend playing VR with someone else nearby at first to help guide you. Playing VR games is an opportunity for the younger generation to teach the older – a refreshing and empowering role reversal.

EXERCISE BY ACCIDENT
Besides being fun, one of the real benefits of the VR workout is that you forget you’re working out. 

Entering the VR world is like being taken somewhere else. It’s an immersive escape where you can completely block out the sights and sounds of what’s actually around you. It’s relatively easy to get the hang of it, convenient and private. 

A simple, free game like Rec Room includes the Stunt Runner obstacle course, bowling, rock-climbing, basketball, dodge ball, disc golf, and more. 

Because you can link up with others the online community, VR gaming is a fun way to connect with your friends while staying socially-distanced. 

After 45 minutes playing Rec Room, my shoulders are definitely feeling it, but I barely felt like time was passing at all – a far cry from watching the clock and counting down the seconds while planking. 

Will VR workouts completely replace other fitness activities for me? No, but adding more VR experiences into my life is definitely something I’m looking forward to.