THE BRONX — East Greenbush native Kevin Smith was promoted to the New York Yankees’ major league roster last weekend after infielder Jon Berti was placed on the 10-day injured list. Smith wore number 74. He had previously been assigned to the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders before being called up. 

Smith made his Yankees debut in the tenth inning of game two of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians, pinch running for Giancarlo Stanton.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Central Catholic varsity baseball team annihilated Tamarac High School on April 9 by a score of 13 to 1. Nine Saints players had hits in the game, and their two pitchers commanded the mound.

At the plate, Ronan Rowe went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and 2 doubles. Hunter Fales and Ryan Gillis each went 2 for 4 with a double. Tyler Weygand, Pierce Byrne, and Carson Moser also chipped in with 2 hits apiece.

Pitcher Aidan Crowther, a senior, allowed no runs and four hits in five innings of work. He also struck out five Tamarac Bengals.

The Saints followed up the lopsided win with a shutout victory against Stillwater on April 10, 2 to 0.

Heading into an April 16 rematch against Stillwater, the Saints were undefeated thus far on the season with a 4-0 record. They previously defeated Tamarac 7 to 1 on April 8, and also beat Broadalbin-Perth 5 to 1 on April 7. 

SCOTIA — Athletes from the Jason Morris Judo Center in Scotia participated in both the Garden State Classic in Wayne, New Jersey, as well as the New York Open, which was held at the historic New York Athletic Club.

Ari Berliner competed for Team USA at the New York Open in 66kg and helped them earn a bronze medal, tying Germany and beating Poland and Canada. 

Ramon Hernandez, Melissa Myers, and Kyle Tran all won gold medals at the 14th Annual Garden State Classic. Hernandez and Myers also won “Most Outstanding Player” awards. Tran won gold in the 66kg U21 division, while Hernandez won the elite 81kg category. Myers also captured the 78kg title.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — This week, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced the purse schedule for the upcoming Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Racecourse, which will take place from Thursday, June 6 until Sunday, June 9.

“The 2024 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will offer purse levels commensurate with the stature and importance of this historic event,” said Andrew Offerman, NYRA Senior Vice President of Racing and Operations, in a statement.

• Open maiden special weights will feature a purse increase of $10,000 to $100,000

• New York-bred maiden special weights will enjoy a $10,000 increase to offer a purse of $85,000

• The open non-winners of two categories will be increased by $13,000 to offer a purse of $115,000

• The non-winners of one category will be upped by $10,000 for a purse of $110,000 

• The New York-bred non-winners of one category will be boosted by $10,000 to $90,000

For the complete purse schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/horsemen/.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Shredders, a non-profit that promotes youth cycling and outdoor activities in Saratoga Springs, built and donated 30 bikes to the city’s school district this week as part of a new Bikes in Schools program.

The bikes, along with helmets, are for use in grades 2-5. Financial support for the donation was provided by Saratoga County Supervisors Tara Gaston and Matthew Veitch.
The Bikes in Schools program is designed to enhance the physical education curriculum by integrating cycling into the daily activities of students across the district’s six elementary schools. Additional program initiatives include:

• Professional Development: The district’s physical education teachers have undergone specialized training, developed by Saratoga Shredders, to teach and manage the cycling program.

• Rotating Fleet: A fleet of bikes will rotate among the six elementary schools in the district, ensuring equitable access.

• Curriculum Integration: The program includes a curriculum that covers basic cycling skills, safety rules, and the health benefits of cycling, tailored to meet the needs of young learners.

The Bikes in Schools program will roll out this spring, with full implementation expected across all elementary schools by the end of the academic year.

“We are thrilled to partner with Saratoga Springs City School District to bring this exciting program to life,” said Anna Laloë, Executive Director of Saratoga Shredders, in a statement. “Our goal is to not only teach kids how to ride but also to instill a passion for the outdoors and physical fitness that will last a lifetime.”

The program was kicked off with a collaborative event on April 15. Saratoga Shredders and the district’s physical education staff joined forces to assemble the donated bikes.

Saratoga Shredders is nearing its fundraising goal for the next phase of the Bikes in Schools program at Maple Avenue Middle School. These programs promise to make a lasting impact on the students and the broader Saratoga Springs community by promoting physical activity and accessibility to cycling for all.

To learn more about the Bikes in Schools program, or to support the next phase of the program at Maple Avenue Middle School, visit https://saratogashredders.com/bikes-in-schools.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs Professional Firefighters hockey team will play the Troy Firefighters IAFF Local 86 in a benefit hockey game to raise funds to help repair, renovate, and expand the Farm Toy Show Building at the Washington County Fair in Greenwich. The game will be held on Monday, April 22 at the Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls at 6 p.m. Admission is free for the game, with donations being collected at the door.

The Washington County Fair Toy Show allows people of all ages to express their love and knowledge of agriculture through the creation of exhibits that tell a variety of stories. These exhibits allow for the preservation of farm toys and related memorabilia. Estimated construction costs for the renovations have been quoted at around $16,000.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Around 70 kids participated in a three-day Double Dutch event last week that culminated in a competition on Thursday afternoon at the Chris Daley Gym in Gavin Park. Participants were judged on their speed and technique. Certificates and medals were awarded to the “hoppy” youngsters

The competition was run by nationally recognized trainers Ms. K and her Swagga Jumpers. Due to the success of this year’s event, the Saratoga County Department of Aging and Youth Services plans to hold another Double Dutch competition next year as part of its Youth Month activities.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Catholic varsity baseball team has returned from a trip to Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida. The annual, week-long event allows ballplayers to participate in scrimmages and practices with teams from across the nation.

“Thank you to the parents who made this trip possible,” wrote baseball Coach Alphonse Lambert in an X post. “A great tradition.”

Disney’s spring training event for baseball and softball teams runs from March 16 to April 20. According to Disney’s website, the experience includes “high-impact performance clinics, professional-caliber facilities, and a proven training ground built for pros and aspiring pros alike to raise their game.”

GLENVILLE — Seven Athletes from the Jason Morris Judo Center (JMJC) in Glenville have qualified to compete for the USA Team in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on April 26-27 at the Pan American Judo Championships.

The Pan Ams allow athletes to earn points on the world rankings toward qualifying for the Paris Olympics. JMJC also had seven athletes qualify for the event last year, with Hannah Martin and Nate Keeve winning bronze medals.

Martin will make her eighth appearance at the Pan Ams at 63kg, with her best results being bronze medals in 2013, 2017, 2019, and 2023. Keeve will head to his fifth Pan Ams at 100kg, with his best results being bronzes in 2021 and 2023. Nicole Stout will also be competing in her fifth Pan Ams at 78kg. Ari Berliner will compete for the fourth time, having previously won a bronze at 66kg in 2022. Kell Berliner, Alex Knauf, and Melissa Myers will all make their second appearances.

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canadians, High-A minor league affiliates of the Toronto Blue Jays, announced last week that former Skidmore College baseball player Jackson Hornung has made their opening day roster. Last Season, Hornung, a catcher, played with the Low-A Dunedin Blue Jays in Florida.

In 2023, Hornung had 62 plate appearances for Dunedin. He finished with a .442 OPS, hitting two doubles and one dinger. He also had a 1.000 fielding percentage.

Hornung was selected in the 16th round (484th pick) of the 2023 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. He was the first Skidmore alum to be drafted by a professional team.