SARATOGA SPRINGS — It’s only January but baseball activity has already begun in Saratoga Springs.

Skidmore College’s pitchers and catchers reported for duty on Monday, just a day before the team’s 2025 captains were announced. First Baseman Sam Kornet, Catcher/Infielder Trey Bourque, and Pitcher Peter Martin have been named this year’s leaders. All three players are seniors.

The 6’6” Kornet had a slash line of .308/.448/.567 last season in 104 at-bats. Bourque hit .310/.395/.507 last year in 142 at-bats. He was also selected to the American Baseball Coaches Association Region 3 All-Defensive Team. Martin had a career-best 4.26 ERA in 2024, striking out 13 batters in 19 innings.

Skidmore’s first game of the season is on Feb. 23, when they take on SUNY Old Westbury in the first of 13 straight away games that include 8 games at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Florida. Their first home game, in which they are expected to play at their brand-new $3.4 million turf baseball field on Daniels Road, is against Vassar College on Mar. 21. 

The Thoroughbreds have won 4 Liberty League championships, their most recent being in 2012. In 2023, Catcher Jackson Hornung became the first Skidmore athlete to be drafted by a professional team when he was selected in the 16th round (484th pick) by the Toronto Blue Jays. Hornung was named to the Northwest League All-Star Team last year after completing his first full season with the Vancouver Canadians, Toronto’s High-A affiliate.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Central Catholic varsity boys basketball team won again last Friday, defeating Hoosic Valley 57 to 39. The Saints were led by Tyler Hicks with 18 points, while Ryan Gillis added an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double.

The victory was the 11th straight for Spa Catholic, which hasn’t lost a game since December 8. Their record now stands at 13-1 overall on the season, and an undefeated 8-0 in the Wasaren League. 

The win against Hoosic (which was the second time the Saints have beaten the Hawks this season) further cemented the Saint’s #1 spot in Wasaren, dropping Hoosic to third place and elevating the 6-2 Mechanicville to second place.

On Friday, January 24, Mechanicville will face the Saints for the first time this season.

BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa girls varsity basketball team visited the Electric City earlier this month, shattering Schenectady like a broken light bulb, 70 to 14. All ten dawgs contributed to the scoreboard, highlighting the team’s unselfish ball movement and playmaking.

The team fared less well three days later, however, falling to Niskayuna in a close contest at home, 47 to 43. In that game, B-Spa was behind by a dozen heading into the fourth quarter, before battling their way back to a 4-point loss.

Following the win and loss, Ballston Spa’s record stood at 8-4 on the season overall and 3-4 in the Section 2 Suburban Council. Their next game arrives on January 28 at home versus Guilderland.

ALBANY — The Ballston Spa varsity boys and girls basketball teams will compete at MVP Arena in Albany next month in a two-day high school basketball skills challenge. The Scotties will be able to strut their stuff on the same court that hosts Siena College and NCAA games.

The schedule for the event is as follows:
Friday, February 7:
    Albany vs. Ballston Spa –
    5 p.m. (girls)
    Albany vs. Ballston Spa –
    6:30 p.m. (boys)
Saturday, February 8:
    Voorheesville vs.
    Ichabod Crane – 5 p.m.
    Lansingburgh vs. Troy –
    6:30 p.m.

Tickets are currently on sale via the venue’s website.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Local American Basketball Association (ABA) teams the Saratoga Racers and 518 Ballers crowned Ike Sheppard “King of the Court” after he won a 1v1 tournament held in Albany on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Keith Edmonds Jr., a member of the Ballers, was named runner-up in the contest. 

The tournament showcased some of the Capital Region’s top players, including Saratoga Racers Zach Radz (a former Tracy McGrady Ones Basketball League New York Regional champion and national finalist), Tyjon Gilmore, and Todd Spotswood.

Racers owner Keith Harrington said that 100% of the tournament’s proceeds will go towards the Racers and 518 Ballers.

“It was a blessing that we were brought together to promote our teams, the ABA, and Capital Region basketball,” Harrington said in a statement.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Skidmore College has completed construction of its new McCaffery-Wagman Tennis and Wellness Center, which officially opened its doors at the start of the spring semester on Tuesday.

Built alongside the existing Williamson Sports Center, the new facility features spacious cardio and weight rooms with a range of modern equipment; dedicated spaces for exercise and wellness programming such as yoga, meditation, group fitness, martial arts, and spin; four indoor tennis courts; locker rooms; and team meeting rooms.

The center is also the new home of Skidmore’s Health Services, Counseling Center, and Department of Health Promotion, which together follow an integrated care approach to support students’ health and well-being.

The project was supported by a lead gift from Kim Wachenheim Wagman, Amy Wachenheim McCaffery, and their families.

“This extraordinary milestone, made possible by a transformative gift from the McCaffery-Wagman-Wachenheim families, embodies Skidmore’s deep commitment to holistic health and wellness for our entire community,” said President Marc C. Conner in a statement. “This long-awaited project reflects Skidmore’s commitment to the well-being of our campus community, a dynamic residential experience for our students, and sustainability.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Central Catholic boys varsity basketball team won its tenth straight game on Tuesday, defeating Waterford-Halfmoon 78 to 42. The victory improved Spa Catholic’s season record to 12-1, with an undefeated 7-0 record in the Wasaren League. As of press time, the Saints were first in their league standings, with the 5-2 Hoosic Valley in second.

Against Waterford-Halfmoon, Ryan Gillis led the Saints with 12 points, while Tyler Hicks added 11. Last Friday, Hicks led Spa Catholic with 19 points in a 54 to 39 victory against Tamarac. Gillis contributed 9 points and 13 rebounds in the contest.

Saratoga’s only loss thus far came on December 8, when they fell to Berne-Knox-Westerlo, 55 to 49. Since then, their ten-game win streak has seen them beat Hoosic Valley, Greenwich, Schuylerville, Stillwater, and Corinth. Their two most dominant victories came against Berlin/New Lebanon (71 to 17) and Hadley Luzerne (81 to 32).

The Saints will have a home rematch against Hoosic Valley on Friday, January 17 at 7:30 p.m.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS — Schuylerville High School’s Meaghan Lynch broke two school records at the Beantown Winter Classic in Boston last month, recording a 7.48 in the varsity girls 55-meter dash (6th place overall) and a 35-03.25 in the triple jump (4th overall).

Last year, Lynch was a Section 2 Division III individual champion in the 55 meter and the long jump. 

Additional Black Horses with strong showings in Boston included Campbell Bailey (7th in the girls high jump), Adeline Ballou (14th in the girls 1,000-meter run), and Willem Foster (18th in the boys high jump).