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Schuylerville Girls Track and Field Team Wins Third-Straight Sectional Title

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Sports.

The Schuylerville varsity girls track and field team celebrates its third-straight sectional title at Broadalbin-Perth High School last week. Photo by John Schmitz.

BROADALBIN — The Schuylerville varsity girls track and field team captured its third-straight Section 2, Division 3 championship last week at Broadalbin-Perth High School, accumulating 122 total points.

Keira Rogan had a spectacular outing, winning the 800m, 1500m, 3000m, and the 2000m steeplechase. Nikki Stark won the 100m hurdles, setting a school record with a time of 15.24. Stark also took first place in the 400m hurdles.

Other strong performances at Broadalbin included Meaghan Lynch (3rd in the 100m and 200m, 2nd in the long jump and triple jump), Adeline Ballou (2nd in 1500m and 3rd in the 3000m), Ryan Stark (2nd in pole vault), Campbell Bailey (4th in the pentathlon long jump and shot put) and Taylor Brown (5th in the 800m). The girls 4×800 relay team also finished third.

The girls are scheduled to compete at the Section 2 state qualifier on May 30 and 31 at Guilderland High School. 

The Black Horses boys team finished seventh at sectionals, with a number of strong individual outings including James Lynch (2nd in 3000m steeplechase, 3rd in 1600m, 3rd in pole vault),

Levi Michaud (2nd in high jump), Tristan Stallone (4th in the 1500m), and Gavin Winacott (4th in 3200m).

Kellen Dean Q&A

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Sports.

Photo of Kellen Dean provided.

Saratoga Springs High School senior Kellen Dean advanced out of the U.S. Open local qualifier earlier this month at the Albany Country Club in Voorheesville. 

He finished second among all competitors, shooting a 2-under 70 to become one of five players that moved on to final qualifying. He’ll continue his journey to this year’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club on June 13-16.

Saratoga TODAY asked Dean about his performance in the local qualifier, as well as his future plans.

Q: How did you feel about your performance in the qualifier on May 13? Did you meet or exceed your expectations?

A: I was very happy with my performance at Albany Country Club. I was very happy with how I battled back after a double bogey on hole three. Going into the event my expectations were to qualify so I definitely met my expectations.

Q:  What parts of your game do you think are the strongest, and what areas are you working on?

A: I believe my strongest part of my game is my short game and wedging. I always feel like I have an advantage on the field when I am chipping or have a wedge in my hand. You can always work on your putting because it can always be better, but lately I have been working on hitting more fairways off the tee with my driver.

Q:  What are your goals for the future?

A: I have a lot of summer tournaments this year I still have to qualify for but my biggest goals going into this year is to qualify for the US Jr Championship and PGA Jr Championship this summer. Another goal for this year was for my golf game to be sharp heading into my freshman year in college at Xavier University, and to be able to make an instant impact for the team.

5 Spa Catholic Ballplayers Named First Team All Stars

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Sports.

The Wasaren League 2024 Baseball Awards were announced last weekend, and five players from Saratoga Central Catholic were named first-team All Stars: sophomore Pierce Bryne (pitcher), junior Hunter Fales (catcher), junior Ryan Gillis (shortstop/pitcher), sophomore Kihl Kelly (outfielder), and junior Tyler Weygand (pitcher/second base).

The complete list of award winners is below.

Player of the Year: Will Coreno (Mechanicville) 

Coach of the Year: Gary Pitcheralle (Mechanicville)

First Team All Stars

Scott Lynch – SS – Mechanicville 

Chris Couser – P – Mechanicville 

Pierce Bryne – P – Spa Catholic 

Hunter Fales – C – Spa Catholic 

Ryan Ingber – SS/P – Greenwich 

Ryan Gillis – SS/P – Spa Catholic 

Andrew Sparks – SS/2B – Hoosick Falls 

Joe Devito – 1B – Mechanicville 

Ronan Rowe – 3B – Mechanicville 

Ryan Sparks – 3B/P – Hoosick Falls

Brody Burdo – 3B/P – Stillwater

Kihl Kelly – LF – Spa Catholic 

Tyler Weygand – P/2B – Spa Catholic 

Shea Brown – P/OF – Stillwater 

Owen Brockway – C – Greenwich 

Jack Gilbert – P/3B – Waterford-Halfmoon

 

Second Team All Stars

Cooper Skiff – P – Greenwich 

Mark Pingelski – 2B – Mechanicville 

Carter Wichelns – SS/P – Stillwater 

Luke Nicholas – P/OF – Hoosick Falls 

Connor King – P/SS – Hoosic Valley 

John Fedorowicz – OF/P – Mechanicville 

Cruz Goverski – OF – Mechanicville 

Calvin Curtis – P/1B – Greenwich 

Werkie Hayes – P/SS/3B – Waterford/Halfmoon

Underdog Blue Streaks Win Softball Sectionals

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Featured, Sports.

The Saratoga Springs varsity softball team poses after capturing the Section 2 Class AAA championship. Photo via Saratoga Athletics social media accounts.

MALTA — Against all odds, the underdog Saratoga Springs varsity softball team won the Section 2 Class AAA title last Thursday against Guilderland, 11 to 4. The victory came despite the Blue Streaks finishing with a 6-11 record on the season.

Saratoga began the month with a string of losses against Shaker, Vestal, and Camden. But a refusal to give up resulted in a pair of shutout victories against Colonie Central and Shenendehowa on May 16 and 21, respectively. Then on May 23, the Blue Streaks defied the odds against Guilderland, who had a 18-4 record on the year.

Coach Geoffrey Loiacono attributed the postseason success to a couple impactful seniors returning from injuries. “Olivia Tetreault and Sarah Decker, both seniors, were out for some time,” Loiacono told Saratoga TODAY. “Both of those players are big roles not only on defense but also offense and leadership.”

 

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In the game against Guilderland, Tetreault had 4 hits and 4 RBI. 

This year’s section title is the second the Blue Streaks have earned in the last three seasons. Their last Section 2 championship was in 2022. 

The Blue Streaks anticipated a tough year, thanks to their new AAA classification. “Our league,” Loiacono told Saratoga TODAY at the start of the season, “is a grind, day in and day out. There are no guaranteed games across the board.”

Saratoga’s next game, sure to be another challenge, will be a regional title game on Saturday, June 1 at 5 p.m.

Six Blue Streaks Ballplayers Named to All-Star Teams

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Sports.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Suburban Scholastic Council Baseball League named six Saratoga Springs players to its All-Star teams this week. Five additional players received honorable mention.

First Team

Camden Rhude – catcher

Michael Mack – pitcher

Second Team

Jack Rigbar – utility

Louis Betit – outfielder

Third Team

Christian Mello – pitcher

Patrick McKinley – first base

Honorable Mention

Raul Rodriguez – shortstop

Brady Mills – outfield

Charlie Greiner – pitcher

Richard Rossi – pitcher

Colin Mack – pitcher

Yoga in Spa State Park Begins Summer Classes

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Sports.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Sunlight reflecting off the water. The scent of pine trees. A light breeze carrying with it the rehearsals of a live orchestra. The most zen place in all of Saratoga Springs might be the Spa State Park, where summer yoga classes will be held June through August.

“When you’re outside, it’s this really beautiful alchemy of everything working all together, the way it should be, the way it was originally meant to be,” said Amy DeLuca, the founder and teacher coordinator of Yoga in Spa State Park. “One of the things that yoga does is it helps to get you into that parasympathetic nervous system where it’s more restful, and you need that. We need that right now.”

Yoga in Spa State Park launched in 2013, offering classes on the lawn in front of the reflecting pool. Years later, when the pandemic hit and yoga studios suddenly closed, the program grew rapidly. “It was a huge plus for everybody during a very challenging time,” DeLuca said.

The program now includes year-round classes held in the Roosevelt II Pavillion during the colder months. Summer classes take place under the brick arches of the Administration Building behind the Spa Little Theater. The classes are donation-based, with a suggested contribution of $15, but participants can pay what they wish. DeLuca said nobody is ever turned away. The only thing necessary for taking a class is a yoga mat. 

DeLuca has six teachers at the moment, some of whom are teaching three classes per week. They’re all “highly certified,” DeLuca said, with some having twenty years of experience. “What makes us unique is that these teachers, including myself, have a clear focus about what we feel yoga can be, the benefits that it offers.”

Beginners are more than welcome. “We as teachers, because we’re experienced, know how to do variations and modifications so that anybody, any size, in any condition can really benefit from the first class,” DeLuca said.

The program’s summer schedule begins on June 1, with at least one class occurring every day of the week. Classes include “Foundations of Flow,” “Intuitive Yoga Flow,” “Gentle Yoga,” and “Vinyasa Yoga.” No pre-registration is required. For more information, visit the Yoga in Spa State Park Facebook page at www.facebook.com/YogaInSpaStatePark.

Ballston Spa Baseball Team Falls in Playoff Semifinals

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Sports.

TROY — The No. 3 Ballston Spa varsity baseball team entered the Section 2 Class AA playoffs with a bang on Saturday, defeating No. 6 Columbia 8 to 2. 

The win sent the Dawgs to the semifinals at the Joseph L. Bruno Stadium in Troy, home of the Tri-City ValleyCats. But faced with a tough game on Monday against No. 2 Bethlehem Central, BSpa fell short, 4 to 0. It was a rough game for the Dawgs, who finished with zero hits and two errors.

Despite the loss, the team finished with a strong 13-7 record on the season and has a large group of returning players next year. This year’s graduating seniors include Tyler Corry, Conner Garrant, Nate Gurwitz, Jake Nagengast, and Blaine Zoller.

Skidmore Baseball and Softball Players Named to All-Liberty League Teams

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Sports.

 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Five members of the Skidmore College baseball team and three members of the Skidmore softball team were voted to All-Liberty League teams.

Junior Zachary Leiderman was voted to the first team, and senior Ameer Hasan was selected for the second team. Senior Christian Giresi, junior Trey Bourque, and freshman Owen Roy all received honorable mention.

Leiderman was named to the first team as a designated hitter. His batting average for the season was .388. Among all Liberty League players, he was fifth in total hits (52) and tenth in slugging percentage (.560). Hasan, a southpaw pitcher, finished third in the league with a 3.28 ERA. He was also ninth in strikeouts with 44. 

For softball, senior Grace O’Connell was named to the first team, while senior Bernie Berner made the second team. Sophomore Elle Harrison received honorable mention.

O’Connell, an outfielder, was an offensive juggernaut this season. Among all Liberty League players, she was first in stolen bases (30), second in batting average (.454) and hits (54), third in OPS (1.047), and fourth in runs (29) and on-base percentage (.484). Berner, a utility player, posted a .950 fielding percentage for the year. She also finished with a .355 battering average and .456 on-base percentage.

Belmont Post Times Announced

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Sports.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has announced post times for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which will be held at the Saratoga Race Course from Thursday, June 6 through Sunday, June 9.

Post time for the 10-race program on June 6 is 12:50 p.m. Admission gates will open to the public at 11 a.m.

Post time for the 12-race program on June 7 is 12:20 p.m. Admission gates will open to the public at 10:30 a.m.

Post time for the 14-race Belmont Stakes Day program on June 8 is 10:45 a.m. Admission gates will open to the public at 9 a.m.

Post time for the 10-race New York Showcase Day program on June 9 is 12:50 p.m. Admission gates will open to the public at 11 a.m.

More Trophies for the Ballston Spa Girls Track and Field Team

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Sports.

SCHENECTADY — The Ballston Spa girls track and field team impressed once again on Saturday at the William F. Eddy Jr. Meet in Schenectady.

The relay team won both the 4×100 and the 4×400. Gabrielle Bozeth won the 200 meter dash, and teammate Harriety Healey won the 400 meter. In the 100 meter dash, Gabrielle Bozeth finished second, and Petrina Zborovszky wasn’t far behind in third.