American Legion Baseball 

Join the Saratoga Recreation Department and American Legion Baseball for this co-sponsored clinic. Learn the sport alongside Legion Players!

The clinic is for ages 5-14, and runs June 28 to July 2 from 8:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at East Side Rec (226 Lake Ave). Fees are $80 for City residents and $90 for Non-City residents. After June 21, fees increase to $105 for City residents and $115 for Non-City residents. 

Players need to come prepared with their own mask, water, cleats/sneakers, and glove. Coordinator is Paul Mound, Union College Head Coach, Saratoga Stampede. 

Boys Basketball 

Spend the week working on drills and scrimmages in preparation for the Championship Friday Awards Ceremony! Choose from two action packed weeks or plan to attend both!

This camp is for ages 5-14. Session 1 runs from July 5 to July 9, and Session 2 runs from August 9 to August 13. Both sessions will be held at East Side Rec (226 Lake Ave) from 8:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Fees are $80 for City residents and $ 90 for Non-City residents. After June 28 (for Session 1) and August 2 (for Session 2) fees increase to $105 for City residents and $115 for Non-City residents. 

Players need to come prepared with a mask, water, and sneakers. Coordinator is Tony DeVizzio, SSHS Basketball Coach. 

Boxing

This is a non-contact camp to learn proper boxing technique and conditioning. Light contact is available for those wishing to take it to the next level. Full safety equipment and coach’s approval required. 

This camp is for ages 8-15, and runs August 9 to August 13 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Youth Boxing Gym, Weibel Ice Rink (30 Weibel Ave). Fees are $80 for City residents and $90 for Non-City residents. After August 2, fees increase to $105 for City residents and $115 for Non-City residents. 

Participants need to bring a mask, sneakers, and towel. Coordinator is the Saratoga Youth Boxing Association. 

Field Hockey 

This clinic will introduce participants to the game as well as develop the skills needed to be ready for our Fall league. 

This clinic is for ages 8-14, and runs July 5 to July 9 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Rec Center Field (15 Vanderbilt Ave). Fees are $80 for City residents and $90 for Non-City residents. After June 28, fees increase to $105 for City residents and $115 for Non-City residents.

Participants need to bring their own mask, stick, shin guards, mouth guard, and water. Coordinator is Jenna Capezzuti. 

Contact the Recreation Department at 518-587-3550 x2300 or recreservations@saratoga-springs.org with questions. Early bird registration period ends one week before camp starts! Fees increase $25 after.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga City Ballet (SCB) has provided education in the art of dance for young children through adults in Saratoga Springs for many years. With the closures due to COVID, Saratoga City Ballet seamlessly provided opportunities for their students to continue to train and connect with their peers and teachers with live classes online. In order to provide opportunities to learn and prepare pieces for performance, artistic director Beth Fecteau choreographed variations from her full-length ballet Sleepless Beauty. Students will perform these variations which will be shared with families and friends via video. 

Saratoga City Ballet is now offering summer programming for dancers ages 3 to 18, including beginner and advanced classes in Broadway Jazz, Ballet, Storybook “Swan Lake,” and Master Classes with Professional NYCB dances in conjunction with Ballet in the City. Refer to www.saratogacityballet.com for program details and registration.

In addition, with theaters opening this year, Saratoga City Ballet and Nacre have announced they will hold auditions for ages 5-adult in September 2021 for the annual full-length Nutcracker to be held at the Egg Theater in Albany. Refer to www.saratogacityballet.com for information later this summer. 

Congrats to this week’s Athlete of the Week – Sophia Damiano!

Sophia finished her gymnastics career on the varsity team at Saratoga Springs High School in February, after being Co-Captain for the last two years. She just recently finished her USA Gymnastics (USAG) season at the Eastern Nationals. She has done competitive gymnastics since the fourth grade. She also competes with Cartwheels Gym in Clifton Park. 

Sophia has an impressive list of stats for her high school gymnastics career. As a freshman, she placed 2nd in the All Around Sectional Tournament (2017-2018) and advanced to the State Meet. As a sophomore she placed 3rd in the All Around Sectional Tournament (2018-2019) and advanced to the State Meet. Her junior year she claimed the title of Sectional Tournament Champion (2019-2020) and set tournament records in the Beam (9.425) and Vault (9.45). She had the second best All Around score at the tournament since 2006 with a 37.35. She medaled on vault in 5th place, tying the Section 2 Vault record with a 9.475 at the NYSPHAA State Meet on Long Island. 

This year, her senior year at Toga, Sophia broke her own records. She had a career high All Around score of 37.45, she had a personal best on Floor with a 9.575, she captured the Section 2 vault record with a 9.65 her first meet of the year, and she broke Vault records for a 3rd time at a later meet and established the Section 2 record with a 9.75. This past season Toga won 7 out of 9 meets in the Suburban Council. 

Her senior year at USAG States, she took 1st in Vault, 2nd in Bars, and 2nd in All Around. At USAG Regionals in Massachusetts, she took 2nd in Vault and 4th in Beam. She then advanced and traveled to Eastern Nationals with Region 6 in Georgia, where she competed against 226 senior level gymnasts. She medaled on Vault with a 6th place finish with a score of 9.6. 

Sophia has been a High Honor Roll student for all four years at Saratoga Springs High School. She balances her AP and Honors course loads with a 20+ hours a week training schedule. She has been a member of SALT Club and Spanish National Honor Society. She has volunteered for SNACpack, Helping Hoops, and Ryan’s Run over the last few years. 

Several NCAA collegiate gymnastics teams were recruiting Sophia, and she is thrilled to be continuing her career at Rhode Island College with Coach Monica Nassi, a former Spanish National Olympic Team member. She will be a Specialist in Vault, Beam, and Floor during her freshman year, while studying Registered Nursing to further pursue a Nurse Practitioner degree. 

Sophia has a positive outlook on her athletic and academic experiences. She is reflective and grateful for everyone that has helped her reach her potential. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — This fun family-friendly walking tour invites guests to enjoy the scenic beauty of a neighborhood historically known at Brandtville. The nearly 1-mile loop encourages participants to look for the oldest homes in the neighborhood and identify other interesting remnants that remain in Brandtville. This historically African American rural farming community dates back to the 1800’s. Located at the southeastern edge of Saratoga Springs, NY, Brandtville is situated south of the Southside Recreation Center across Crescent Street onto Doten Avenue. Between the dog park and Racino, this quiet neighborhood is a veritably verdant extension of The Spa State Park. 

Carol Daggs, Author of Saratoga Soul Brandtville Blues is a descendant of the original Brandtville residents. This summer Daggs is offering guided walking tours on Monday mornings at 10 a.m. The approximately 1-mile loop is a comfortable stroll starting on Doten Avenue. North to Penn Street, the course turns left at Penn Street and meets Joshua Road. Left onto Joshua takes the course south toward Shaw Drive. From Shaw, turn left onto East Broadway, continue straight all the way to Jefferson Street and arrive at the west edge of the Racino. Take a left onto Jefferson and walk north to Taylor Street, turn left onto Taylor. Continue straight past the mailboxes to Doten Avenue. Turn right, walk down to the starting/ending point at 29 Doten. Congratulations, you’ve successfully completed The Brandtville Boogie!

Tickets with variable price options available on website: saratogasoulbook.com. Participation is open to adults, $25, students & seniors, $15. Children ages twelve and under are free and must be accompanied by their parent. Guests agree to observe CDC guidelines, wear a mask as needed, and maintain appropriate social distance. No pets permitted. Closest public restrooms located at the Southside Rec Center, 15 Vanderbilt Avenue. Plan your needs accordingly! Boogie on down to Brandtville to participate in the inaugural season of Monday walking tours this summer! RAIN OR SHINE tour dates are as follows. June – 7, 14, 21, 28. July 5, 12, 19, 26. August – 16, 23, 30. 

Questions may be directed to Carol R. Daggs, Author & Brandtville Boogie Tour Guide at 530-562-7556 or saratogasoul2020@gmail.com. 

BASEBALL

SCC v. Cambridge 

Saratoga Central Catholic swept Cambridge in a double-header on Thursday, May 27. An early 9-0 lead in game one seemed to foreshadow how the games would go for the Saints, winning game one 10-4 and game two 21-4. 

At the plate, SCC senior Ryan McCaroll went 3 for 3 in game one and 4 for 4 in game two. McCaroll recorded four singles, two doubles, a triple, and six RBIs between both games. 

In game one, Ronan Rowe had a two-run single. Tyler Weygand also had 2 RBIs, and one more in the second game. In game two, Pierce Byrne and Dylan Mulholland recorded doubles. Aidan Crowther had 5 RBIs, Hunter Fales had 3, and Mulholland had 2. 

Cambridge’s Eli Danio had 2 triples, one in the first game and one in the second. He had 3 RBIs between both games. Hunter Thomas had 2 RBIs in game one. 

Young pitchers got the job done on the mound for the Saints in the first game. Rowe, an eighth grader, got the win. Rowe pitched 5 innings, allowed 2 earned runs, five hits, four walks, and had 6 strikeouts. Seventh grader Pierce Byrne took the mound in the sixth inning to finish out the game and allowed 2 earned runs, 2 hits, and a walk. 

Freshman pitcher Crowther got the win for game two. Crowther pitched four innings, gave up 4 earned runs, 5 hits, a walk, and struck out 4 batters. 

SCC v. Greenwich 

Saratoga Central Catholic got the 3-2 win in a close league game against Greenwich on Monday, June 1.

Winning pitcher Ryan McCarroll was on the mound all 7 innings. McCarroll gave up 2 earned earns, walked 2, and struck out 16. At the plate, he went 2 for 3 with 2 runs. 

Also for the Saints, Dylan Mulholland went 2 for 3 with a double, a single, and 2 RBIs. Anthony Barile went 1 for 3 with a double. 

Greenwich’s Aidan McPhail recorded a double. 

SCC’s league record improves to 7-5 and their overall record improves to 10-6. Greenwich’s league record falls to 9-2 and their overall record falls to 10-2. 

SOFTBALL

SCC v. Warrensburg

Warrensburg had a 9-2 win on the road against Saratoga Central Catholic on Tuesday, May 25. 

Winning pitcher K. Bacon was on the mound the entire game. Bacon gave up 5 hits, 2 earned runs, and struck out 9 batters. SCC’s pitcher, M. O’Reilly, was on the mound for 4 innings. O’Reilly gave up 3 hits, 1 earned run, and struck out 6. 

Warrensburg’s Sherman was 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs. Langworthy and Olden both recorded doubles. 

The Saints league record is now 6-2, while their overall record is now 7-4.

SCC v. Cambridge 

Saratoga Central Catholic celebrated senior day by winning both games of their double-header against Cambridge on Thursday, May 27. Game one, a one-hitter shutout, had a final score of 7-0. SCC mercied Cambridge in game two, and the final score was 16-4. 

Senior Molly O’Reilly had great games on the mound and at the plate. As the winning pitcher in game one, she struck out 16 batters. As a relief pitcher in game two, she struck out 18, allowed one hit, and didn’t give up any walks. In game one, O’Reilly went 3 for 4 with a home run, a 3-run triple, 4 RBIs, and she scored twice. In game two, she had a two-run double. 

Freshman pitcher Rylee Cornell recorded the win for game two. Cornell pitched 4.1 innings, gave up 4 earned runs, 5 hits, 6 walks, and struck out 2. 

Also at the plate for the Saints, Megan Cornell went 4 for 4 with 2 doubles and 6 RBIs in game two. Calleigh Sisk had a solo home run in game one and a double in game two. Ryan McDonald and Emma Brown each had two-hit games. 

The Saints overall record improves to 9-4. 

Summer Sports Camps Registration 

Registration for Summer Sports Camps with the Saratoga Springs Recreation Department is still open. 

Various camps will be offered throughout the summer including baseball, basketball, boxing, field hockey, ice skating lessons, running, skateboarding, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball. 

Visit www.SaratogaRec.com and click Programs, Summer Sports Camps for complete information and to register. 

Open Gym is Back 

The Saratoga Springs Recreation Department is offering Open Gyms Monday – Friday at the Recreation Center at 15 Vanderbilt Avenue. 

Participants must register and pre-pay online. Reservations can be made up to 7 days in advance, and closes within one hour of the session start time. Visit www.SaratogaRec.com and click the blue “Online Registration” button to create an account or to register. 

Fees are $4 for city residents and $5 for non-city residents. No refunds will be given. No walk-ins allowed. 

For safety and social distancing purposes participation is limited to groups of 10 per court; participants must wear a mask at all times. 

Visit www.SaratogaRec.com and click Programs, “Rec Center Drop In Sessions” for complete information. 

Drop-in Pickleball

Drop-in pickleball sessions at the Saratoga Springs Recreation Center are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings (excluding holidays) from 9-11 a.m.

Fees are $4 for City residents with a verified Community Pass account, and $5 for all others. Participants must create an account and register for a Rec Card prior to coming. Participation is on a first come, first serve basis. For safety and social distancing purposes participation is limited to 50. 

Participants must bring a paddle and appropriate footwear, and must wear a mask at all times. 

Days/times are subject to change. Visit www.SaratogaRec.com and click Programs, Rec Center Drop in Sessions for additional information and to set up an account. 

Racquetball Court Rentals

Reservations for court times can be made through Community Pass. Fees are $5 for City residents with a verified Community Pass account, and $8 for all others. Reservations and fees are per person/per hour. 

Participants must create an account and register for a Rec Card prior to coming. For safety and social distancing purposes, participation is limited to groups of 3. Participants must also bring a mask, racquet, racquetballs, and appropriate footwear. A mask must be worn at all times. 

Visit www.SaratogaRec.com and click Programs, Rec Center Drop in Sessions for additional information and to reserve a court.   

Contact the Recreation Department at 518-587-3550 x2300 or recreservations@saratoga-springs.org with questions. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — University of Pennsylvania grad (’16) aims to build a community of athletes with a focus on fun. 

Amy Darlington has played sports her entire life. She was a member of the University of Pennsylvania’s cross country and track teams where she served as the team captain for two years. She attended Arizona State University for grad school and was on their varsity triathlon team that won the 2016 NCAA Women’s Triathlon National Championships. As a high-level athlete she noticed that some people took competing too seriously and forgot to look at the big picture. Ultimately, more often than not, she saw this actually hurt their times and performance instead of enhancing them. She always wanted to coach and create a club where the focus was on enjoying the process and having fun, not just on times and results. By doing this, she believes the times will come. 

Amy recently launched her new team and coaching services: Just Chill Endurance (JCE). JCE offers private coaching, group run programs, and an annual team membership. The team membership comes with multiple benefits such as: monthly long runs, a weekly newsletter with workouts, free run program access, industry discounts (Nuun, ROKA, Picky Bars), monthly Zoom calls with professionals in the industry, and more. 

Amy hopes to build a community of athletes in the Saratoga Springs and surrounding areas. If you’re looking for a group to help push you to reach your athletic goals, or simply meet new people and exercise while doing so, Just Chill Endurance is for you. You can visit their website at justchillendurance.com. Their first run program starts this summer on June 10, and will meet at Saratoga Spa State Park. The club is free for team members or $50 for everyone else. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs Youth Ballet (SSYB) will be holding a three-week Children’s Summer Program for ages 7-10 years old from July 26 to August 13. Dancers will be instructed in Ballet, Modern, and choreography. The program will be held Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

SSYB’s Children’s Summer Program is in person only and class size is limited. All up-to-date CDC, state, and local COVID-19 prevention guidelines will be followed. The cost is $510 for three weeks, $380 for two weeks, and $200 for a week. 

For more information and registration please visit www.saratogaspringsyouthballet.org or call 518-306-4037. SSYB is located at 418 Geyser Road, Suite 5 Ballston Spa. 

Congrats to this week’s Athlete of the Week – Lois Waddell!

Lois, 17, is a competitive cheerleader. She been cheering since the age of 4. After moving to Saratoga Springs from Scotland in 2011, she trained with Cheer Intensity in Albany for 8 years. 

She moved to North Carolina about a year ago to compete on an all-girls cheer team while continuing her education online at Saratoga High School. While living away from home, she still managed to continue her roles as President of the Women’s Empowerment Club and Public Relations Officer for Student Council. 

The weekend of May 7/May 8, her cheer team won gold at the Allstar Cheerleading Championships at Disney in Florida. This prestigious competition was the ending to their season – they won every competition, including the Triple Crown. Lois is the first local Allstar Cheerleading World Champion. 

Shortly after winning the championships, Lois received a call that she had made the Penn State Cheer Team. She is now back home after her very successful cheer season. 

Congrats to this week’s Athlete of the Week – Lillian Bergbom! 

Lillian is a sophomore at Saratoga Springs High School. She began skating at age 6, and trains all year round. She has been competing on a Synchronized Skating Team for 9 years. In addition, she trains in freestyle and ice dancing. Lily recently became a US Figure Skating triple gold medalist, earning this distinction in Moves in the Field, Ice Dance, and Solo Free Dance. This achievement is accomplished by a very small number of skaters nationally each year. Having now earned the highest levels in US figure skating, Lily is working on her International Dances and Canadian Gold Medal in Ice Dancing. 

When Lily isn’t on the ice, she is rowing with the Saratoga Rowing Association. Last year, she joined the rowing team and has begun competing in regattas. 

She has been on the high honor roll every semester. Last year she received the High School Respect Award. Lily has aspirations to continue her athletic career in college.