SCHUYLERVILLE — Three Schuylerville High School varsity softball players have been named to the 2024 Class B New York All-State Team. Pitcher Sophia Wahl, who graduated last month, was selected to the First Team, while infielder Gracelyn Kilburn and outfielder Riley Keefer both made the Third Team.

Wahl received a number of accolades both on and off the field in 2024. In June, she was awarded Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and was named one of Schuylerville’s top graduates. She was also the only Schuylerville softball player to participate in the inaugural 518 Futures High School Softball Classic on June 9. Wahl now plans to attend SUNY Cortland and study early childhood education.

On May 23, Schuylerville’s varsity softball team won the Section 2 Class B championship. It was their first Section 2 title in 20 years.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Coaches Corner, driven by Jason Bartlett, won the $250,000 15th annual Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace at the Saratoga Casino Hotel on Saturday night. It was the fourth-fastest mile in the venue’s history.

Backstreet Shadow finished second, Pleaseletmeknow was third, and Desperate Man placed fourth in the Gerrity. The field of eight also included back-to-back 2023/2024 MGM-Borgata winner Hellabalou, as well as local favorite Rocknroll Runa A.

Jewish War Veterans Post 36 had a community outreach booth at Saratoga Race Course’s opening day on July 11. Pictured here are Post Commander Dr. Sam Gottesman, left, Post 36 member Allan Kasin, center, and Capital District Council Commander Richard Goldenberg, right. Post 36 regularly meets at Congregation Shaara Tfille in Saratoga Springs. Photo provided by JWV Post 36.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Central Catholic School announced last week that it will merge with Stillwater to create a new football program. 17 Spa Catholic students will participate in the inaugural season beginning this fall at the modified and junior varsity levels. Varsity will start in the 2025-2026 school year. 

Stillwater’s team is the defending Class D Sectional Champions.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The 2024 Ethos Awards, which recognize individuals who advance the engagement of black and brown people in the world of equestrian sports, will be presented at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs on August 31.

This year’s recipients include:

• Mayisha Akbar, founder of the Compton Jr Posse (CJP) in 1988, which offers youth hope, connection, and success by teaming them with horses

• Dr. George & Ann Blair, who started the New York Riding Academy in 1970 in Manhattan’s Randall Island Park, making horseback riding more inclusive for everyone

• Anastasia Curwood, co-founder of Strides for Equality, an organization working in numerous ways to create equitable opportunities for BIPOC equestrians

• Caitlin Gooch, founder of Saddle Up and Read, a program that connects horses, kids, and libraries to increase literacy rates in North Carolina

• Lezlie Hiner, founder of Work to Ride, a community-based prevention program in Philadelphia that engages and empowers under-resourced urban youth through interactions with horses

• Patricia Kelly, President and CEO of Ebony Horsewomen, Inc., created in 1984 as a way to introduce the joys of riding to women in the Hartford, Connecticut area

The Ethos Award is a bi-annual event that partners with unique equine venues across the country who share the organization’s mission to change the narrative of equestrian sports.

For more information about this year’s gala, visit ethosawardequestrian.com/gala.

SAN FRANCISCO — Greg Farone, a Schenectady native, was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the seventh round of the 2024 MLB Draft on Monday. Farone is a left-handed pitcher who played for the University of Alabama in 2024.

With the Crimson Tide, Farone pitched 71.2 innings, earning a 5.02 ERA, which was the lowest among all of the team’s starting pitchers. In April, he pitched a complete game shutout against Ole Miss.

Farone previously played for the University of Louisville and Herkimer College in New York before transferring to Alabama. He attended Schenectady High School.

Thousands of runners participated in the 18th annual Firecracker4 race on Independence Day morning in downtown Saratoga Springs. Photos by Super Source Media.