The Saratoga Springs varsity boys distance runners captured several state titles this year in cross-country, indoor relay, and outdoor relay events. Photo provided by Shane Zanetti.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs varsity boys runners won the “triple crown” of distance running this year, a feat that Coach Shane Zanetti said may have never happened before in New York State history. 

In November, they won the New York State Class A Cross-Country Championship. In March, they were state champs in the 4×800 indoor relay. Then, earlier this month, they won another state title in the 4×800 outdoor relay.

Coach Zanetti said that many of his runners have been talking about winning races, capturing titles, and setting records since they were in 7th grade. When the moment finally came to realize their ambitions, they were ready.

“A lot of these guys have been at it together for many years,” Zanetti said. “I think they build a lot of trust in each other and a lot of accountability towards each other.”

“When we’re going for these team championships, you know that everybody takes it seriously and it’s kind of just like pushing each other to see how far we can take it,” said Charlie Dybala, one of the outdoor 4×800 state champions.

“Being on a team like this,” said cross-country champ Hudson Shaw, “gives you the skills that you’re going to need after high school because you know how to persevere through a lot of hard work that I think is unique to distance running in particular.”

The long road to the “triple crown” began at the cross-country state championships in November, which the Saratoga crew won in a sixth-man tiebreaker. The first runner was only 25 seconds apart from the sixth, reinforcing Zanetti’s belief that his teams are filled with players who are near-equals in both talent and contribution. 

“I was the third runner that day and I just thought it was really cool as a team to run in such a tight pack,” said Darren Pasek. “That day, we all were as close as we were the whole year and that’s how we won. It was all about teamwork.”

The second leg of the “triple crown” was the indoor state championships in March, where Saratoga’s near-equal relay team had no apparent weak spots.

“We could’ve alternated or changed our order completely around and it would’ve come out to really the same result,” Zanetti said.

That strategy also worked for the outdoor relay team earlier this month when they secured the third leg of their “triple crown.”

“We had a bunch of guys who could be interchangeable that took whatever spot they were in really seriously on that given day,” Zanetti said.

When Saratoga Springs High School held its commencement ceremony on Wednesday morning, five Saratoga runners bid farewell to their teammates. Despite this loss of talent, sights are still set high for next year. On the distance running crew’s to-do list: repeating all of their state title victories, and making it to nationals. 

“We definitely are coming back with a vengeance,” said Darren Pasek. 

Cross-Country State Champions

Thomas Isenovski

Owen Blaisdell

Darren Pasek

Luke Dacey

Cooper Brandriss

Jacob Bernd

Hudson Shaw

Indoor Track 4×800 State Champions 

Jacob Bernd

Luke Dacey

Owen Blaisdell

Thomas Isenovski

Outdoor Track 4×800 State Champions

Jacob Bernd

Luke Dacey

Owen Blaisdell

Charlie Dybala

Ramon Hernandez Jr., from the Jason Morris Judo Center, took home a silver medal in the 81kg final at the Peruvian Open in Lima on June 23. It was the second career medal at a Pan Am open for Hernandez, who won bronze in Chile last month. The second-place finish in Peru allowed Hernandez to jump 85 spots on the World Ranking List up to a career-high #179. Photo provided by Jason Morris.

Photo via Saratoga Central Catholic Athletics

MECHANICVILLE — Three members of the Saratoga Central Catholic varsity softball team were crowned tournament champions at the Electric City Bombers Upstate City Classic 18u event earlier this month in Mechanicville. 

Grace Schaefer, Paige Bujno, and Allison Fuller were members of the winning Saratoga Thunder team, which went 7-0 during the two-day tournament. 

MECHANICVILLE — Three members of the Saratoga Central Catholic varsity softball team were crowned tournament champions at the Electric City Bombers Upstate City Classic 18u event earlier this month in Mechanicville. 

Grace Schaefer, Paige Bujno, and Allison Fuller were members of the winning Saratoga Thunder team, which went 7-0 during the two-day tournament. 

Image via the Adirondack Thunder website.

GLENS FALLS —The Adirondack Thunder announced last week that the team has extended its affiliation with the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and the AHL’s Utica Comets through the 2025-26 season.

“We are coming off our best season yet, both on and off the ice. With the help and support from New Jersey and Utica, we are looking forward to putting another winning team on the ice this season while also developing prospects,” said Adirondack Thunder President Jeff Mead in a statement.

This past season, the ECHL’s Thunder won their third regular-season North Division title, finished first in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, and advanced to the Eastern Conference Final, where they lost to Florida in six games. The team also set an attendance record with 17 sellouts.

Glens Falls Dragons logo via the team’s website.

GLENS FALLS — The Glens Falls Dragons, a collegiate baseball team with a number of players from Saratoga County, has had a rough start to the 2024 season. As of June 19, their record stood at 3-10-1. Despite this, a number of players have stood out for their individual performances.

Justin Gouveia, a sophomore outfielder, is hitting .313 with 4 doubles and a triple in 11 games. Cody Meier, also a sophomore, is batting .300 with 5 stolen bases. 

On the mound, southpaw starter Alfonso Lombardi has a 2.57 ERA across 14 innings, tallying 11 strikeouts and only 2 walks. Senior Orlando Leon has also impressed, with a 3.17 ERA in 11.1 innings.

Where the Dragons really seem to shine is on defense, where they have two players who rank within the top six league leaders in fielding percentage. Caden Bernardo, from Glenmont, New York, and Zowen Collins, from Cobleskill, both have a 1.000 fielding percentage on the year. Bernardo also has 46 putouts in 45 innings of play.

Elsewhere across the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL), East Greenbush native Zach Eldred has been doing his best Shohei Ohtani impression, hitting .367 and maintaining a 1.84 ERA in 3 starts. Reliever Jesse Kuzmich, from Greenwich, has a perfect 0.00 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 12 innings. And Troy’s Jacob Lapham has a 1.63 ERA and 16 K’s in 11 innings.

Another PGCBL team, the Amsterdam Mohawks, who were league champions in both 2023 and 2022, also feature a number players from the Saratoga region, including Zach Eldred (East Greenbush), Parker Aikens (Niskayuna), Manny Santos (Amsterdam), James Redick (Clifton Park), Mason Veronezi (Burnt Hills), and Ben Huckans (Amsterdam).

The Mohawks and Dragons will face off on Friday, June 21 at the East Field in Glens Falls at 7 p.m., and again on Saturday, June 29 at the Rao Family Stadium in Amsterdam at 6:35 p.m.

The Catie Hoch Foundation’s Teeing Off On Cancer Golf Classic will take place at the McGregor Links Country Club. Photos via the foundation’s website.

WILTON — When nine-year-old Catie Hoch was alive, she wanted other kids battling cancer to find ways to have fun. Shortly before she passed away, she made a list of her favorite “fun” places that other kids could go to. It was this list that led to the creation of the Catie Hoch Foundation, which for decades has been raising money for kids with cancer, in part via events like the upcoming Teeing Off On Cancer Golf Classic. 

“It’s a great day,” said Gina Peca, Catie’s mom and a co-founder of the foundation. “It’s just so much fun, and you can see the golfers’ commitment to our cause.”     

Nearly 200 people attended last year’s event, which typically raises between $85,000 and $100,000 annually. The funds are sent to families with children being treated for cancer, in the form of cash or gift cards for basic necessities such as gas, groceries, and shopping.

“Our golfers know that they’re truly making a difference,” Peca said. “This money isn’t going to go into the atmosphere. It’s directly helping the kids and their families.”

In keeping with Catie’s desire to have fun, the tournament includes prizes for closest to the pin, longest drive, and best foursome. There’s also a putting contest and a golf ball launcher.

The action all takes place at the McGregor Links Country Club in Wilton, which shuts down the entire course for the event. A morning flight begins at 7:30 a.m. and an afternoon flight starts at 1 p.m.

Launched more than two decades ago, the Catie Hoch Foundation has attracted nationwide attention, thanks in part to a 2003 “Time” magazine cover story about the Harry Potter book series, and its author J.K. Rowling.

“A friend of mine somehow got in touch with [Rowling] and she and Catie emailed back and forth,” Peca said. When Rowling heard that Catie had about two weeks left to live, she called and read to her from “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” which at the time hadn’t yet been published. A year later, Peca said, Rowling donated $100,000 to the foundation. 

“It was just amazing,” Peca said. “This [foundation] is a way to keep Catie’s memory alive and to really make a difference for these poor families. Having been there, we know what they’re facing.”

The Teeing Off On Cancer Golf Classic will take place at the McGregor Links Country Club in Wilton on Saturday, September 7. For more information or to register, visit www.teeingoffoncancer.org. Those not interested in playing golf can also contribute by being a sponsor, sending a gift, or donating funds.