SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Sunday, June 4, Home Made Theater will be hosting the ‘Showstopper 5K Run/Walk and Kids Fun Run.’ This family-friendly event will be held at the Pitney Meadows Community Farm, 223 West Avenue, Saratoga Springs, starting at 9 a.m.
Early bird registration for the 5K is $25 until May 21, after which it will be $30. There is no charge for the kids’ fun run. In addition to running/walking in the race, participants of the 5K will receive an event t-shirt.
Proceeds from the race will benefit Home Made Theater. It is Home Made Theater’s mission to enrich the cultural life of the Capital Region and beyond by offering a diverse range of locally sourced live theater, created by professionally minded artists, providing the opportunity for exciting and rewarding participation in all aspects of theater to the community.
Home Made Theater would like to recognize and thank its race sponsors: The Janack Group, Shepherd Communications, Alaant Workforce Solutions, and Bartlett, Pontiff, Stewart & Rhodes, P.C.
For more information, or to register for the race, visit Home Made Theater’s website, www.homemadetheater.org.
BALLSTON SPA — On June 3, the 4-H Scholarship Golf Classic returns for a 22nd year, helping raise money for the Saratoga County 4-H Leaders Association to provide college scholarships and other opportunities to local students. The Association is seeking corporate sponsorship as well as foursomes to come out and play in the tournament.
Money raised at the tournament goes to the Saratoga County 4-H Leaders Association, which has granted 59 scholarships of $1,000 each to students within the county since the tournament began. The tournament raises roughly $10,000 each year, said Greg Stevens, the program leader at the 4-H Program of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County. Stevens also said the tournament helps raise money for things such as leadership trips and volunteer training. This year, the tournament hopes to double its goal.
These are integral parts of the 4-H program of 44 clubs within 4-H, 160 volunteers and over 600 youth. The Saratoga 4-H program is very active all across Saratoga County, not just in one community.
The 22nd annual tournament will be held at the Fairways of Halfmoon in Mechanicville. The Fairways of Halfmoon have “been a great partner” for the tournament. Stevens said the tournament has enjoyed a strong community response, noting the generous support of the Golf Club.
Stevens also added that it is meaningful to see the strong response from participants and sponsors in the tournament each year.
“It makes me so proud and humbled that they feel we are a worthy cause to come out and support,” Stevens said. “We’re extremely happy, and we’re extremely grateful. Personally, as a 4-H Program Leader, I couldn’t be happier to have such a great fundraiser that is established year after year, still continues to grow today, and provides opportunities for our kids.”
SCHUYLERVILLE — The Schuylerville varsity girls’ lacrosse team delivered on its home turf, capturing the Section 2 Class D Championship with an 11-10 overtime win over Cohoes on Wednesday.
It is the third consecutive Section 2 Class D title for the Black Horses. The game was a rematch of last season’s championship game, which Schuylerville won 18-4.
Schuylerville senior Macey Koval scored five goals in the game, tying the score with 1:51 remaining before netting the overtime winner.
Koval scored three goals in the first half, including the game’s first two goals, as the Black Horses jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Cohoes fought back, eventually cutting the lead to 5-2, but Schuylerville used Koval’s third goal, and a goal by Emily Tavares, to take a 7-2 lead into halftime.
In the second half, the Tigers stormed back. Cohoes opened the half with an 8-1 run, with three goals by Carli O’Hara and two by Quincy Hytko helping the Tigers take a 10-8 lead with 7:34 remaining. Schuylerville’s lone goal in the stretch was scored by Peyton Delisle.
Delisle scored her third goal of the game with just over two minutes left, cutting Cohoes’ lead to one. With 1:51 remaining, Koval forced a turnover in front and scored her fourth goal to tie the game, 10-10, sending the Class D title matchup into overtime.
With 20 seconds remaining in overtime, Koval spun around a defender and beat goaltender Hannah Bullock to win the game, giving the Black Horses their third consecutive Section 2 Class D Championship.
Koval had five goals and an assist to lead Schuylerville, while Delisle scored three goals. Star Pflieger scored twice, with Tavares adding a goal and an assist. Keegan Long made nine saves in goal for the Black Horses.
Schuylerville (13-6) will host the Section 1 Class D Champion in the NYSPHSAA Sub-Regionals on May 30 at 5:30 p.m. at Schuylerville High School.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The annual Father’s Day Kids’ Fishing Derby returns to Lake Lonely this year, offering a chance for fathers and their children to bond while competing for prizes.
Held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Father’s Day, June 18, the derby is free to attend, and is for children aged 14 and under, to be accompanied by an adult guardian. Free hot dogs, chips, and beverages will be served, and prizes will be awarded.
The derby is sponsored by a variety of local organizations and businesses, including the Saratoga Basspointers Club, the Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 2586, Saratoga Springs Professional Firefighters Union No. 343, Saratoga Springs Recreation Department, Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge No. 161, D&D Marine Services, Saratoga Tackle, Wiggly Worm, and more.
Stuart Mintzer, a co-founder of the Saratoga Basspointers Club, said the club began assisting the Fraternal Order of Eagles with running the derby, and currently helps with marketing, advertising, promotion, and running the event. Bruce Jones and John Huppuch are also co-founders of the Basspointers Club.
Mintzer said the derby seems to get “bigger and bigger” each year.
“I think the last year, we had over 100 people between parents and kids in attendance,” said Mintzer. “Maybe more (this year), but certainly close to that for sure. It takes place rain or shine.”
The derby offers prizes for several categories: pike, sunfish, bass, and pickerel. Mintzer said prizes are given out by age group, with the three largest catches in each age group receiving a prize.
“It’s all catch and release, and we give prizes out for age groups for the first, second, and third-biggest fish,” Mintzer said. “We try to make sure as many kids walk away with something (as possible).”
Fathers and guardians are not allowed to fish, instead assisting their children. Mintzer said a majority of children who participate are between the ages of five and ten, saying, “They just get a thrill out of it.”
Members of the Basspointers Club volunteer to help run the derby on Father’s Day. The derby also features appearances from the Saratoga Springs Fire Department, who bring a firetruck, and the Saratoga Springs Police Department, who bring their horseback team for photos and interaction with the children.
Mintzer also mentioned that the New York State Office of Environmental Conservation has been involved in recent years, promoting the philosophy of “fishing as a sport with conservation in mind.”
“Which is why we want to do catch and release and promote catch and release. Artificial bait rather than live bait,” Mintzer said. “We just love spreading the word about fishing and conservation, and just how nice our local waters are.”
The derby offers a chance for a unique experience on Father’s Day, with Mintzer saying, “People are really looking for something different to do.”
“I mean, what better thing for a father to do than to take his kid fishing?” said Mintzer. “It kind of panned out that there’s more people than we thought that are looking for something like this. More and more came as we helped promote the event. It’s just become this event that we’re really proud to be a part of.”
The Father’s Day Kids’ Fishing Derby will be held June 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Lake Lonely, at 373 Crescent Ave in Saratoga Springs. For more information, call 518-587-3421.
Saratoga’s Jackie Cutting (#1) delivers a pitch during the Blue Streaks’ 1-0 win over Ballston Spa in the Section 2 Class AA Quarterfinals on May 18. Photo by Super Source Media Photos.
COLONIE — The Saratoga Springs varsity softball team saw its season come to an end on Tuesday, falling 4-2 to top-seeded Colonie in the Section 2 Class AA semifinals.
The Blue Streaks, who were the defending Section 2 Class AA champions, earned the #5-seed in the sectional tournament after finishing 13-7 overall and 8-5 in the Suburban Council. Saratoga beat #4-seed Ballston Spa 1-0 in the Class AA quarterfinals on May 18, setting up a matchup with #1-seed Colonie.
The Raiders struck quickly on Tuesday, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. An RBI single by Gabby Baumann scored Jenny Shafer, with a sacrifice fly from Adrianna Laraway extending the lead to two runs.
Colonie added another run in the third, with Taylor Quinn leading off the inning with a double before stealing third and scoring on an error, making it 3-0.
The Blue Streaks wouldn’t go down easily, however. With two outs in the fourth, back-to-back singles by Sarah Decker and Natalie Conroy put two runners on, and Nia Law drove home both with a double to left field, cutting Colonie’s lead to 3-2.
Saratoga was unable to scratch another run across, however, and the Raiders responded with an RBI single by Katie Parisi in the sixth, scoring Shafer to extend the lead to 4-2.
In the top of the seventh, the Blue Streaks put the first two runners on base via an error and a walk, but Laraway, Colonie’s pitcher, retired the next three batters to seal a 4-2 victory for the Raiders.
Laraway threw a complete game, earning the win while allowing two earned runs on six hits. She struck out six batters and walked two. Offensively, Quinn was 1-3 with a double, while Parisi and Baumann had RBI singles. Shafer and Kora Juliano each added base hits, while Laraway also had an RBI.
For Saratoga, Jackie Cutting threw six innings, allowing four runs, all unearned. Cutting allowed five hits, striking out two batters with no walks allowed. At the plate, Law was 1-3 with a two-run double, while Decker, Conroy, Cutting, Olivia Tetreault, and Ava Goodman all recorded singles.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — On May 10, Saratoga Springs Little League players were invited to run onto the field alongside the Saratoga varsity baseball team! Varsity players high fived and cheered the little leaguers onto the field, celebrating the future players of Saratoga.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — This Memorial Day, the Abigail Jenks Memorial Ruck Race will be held at Gavin Park, offering the opportunity to honor local service member Abigail Jenks and raise money for scholarships in her honor.
The race will take place May 29 at 9 a.m, and is in honor of Specialist 4th class Abigail Jenks, the first woman from the Capital Region to enlist as a combat paratrooper, where she was assigned to the 82nd Airborne division. Jenks passed away during a routine helicopter training mission in 2021, and the race was designed to raise money for scholarships in her honor.
Jack Trimmings, organizer of the race, said this is the first year the race will be open to the public in an effort to raise awareness and honor Jenks’ legacy.
“Last year, we set up a scholarship fund in the name of Abigail Jenks for the high school,” said Trimmings. “We completed a ruck last year, on a walkathon basis. We took GoFundMe funds, and that went toward the scholarship, and to host the event this year.”
Along with Vincent Sablich, who is now his partner in organizing the event, Trimmings and several friends completed a 22-mile ruck in honor of Jenks last year. This year, the group is opening the event to the local community members for the first time.
Funds raised will go toward two scholarships to be given to graduating seniors from Saratoga Springs High School. Trimmings said the idea is for one scholarship to go to a student committed to military service, and for the other to go to a student who is exemplary in the arts.
“Abigail was actually a very talented artist and painter,” Trimmings said. “That’s also kind of her legacy. … It will be one for the military and one for the arts every year, hopefully.”
This year’s event will take place at Gavin Park, where participants will make four loops around the park for a total of six miles.
A ruck race is walking, jogging, or running with a weighted backpack, Trimmings said. The Army standard weight is 35 pounds, and participants are asked to bring their own backpack. The SNACpack program will be accepting donations after the race, with Trimmings suggesting participants weigh their backpacks with canned goods to donate.
“My family started a SNACpack foundation,” said Trimmings. “It’s a Saratoga school district-specific foodcare service for students who don’t have enough food on the weekends, on breaks, summers, and things like that. We’re accepting some canned goods, if that’s how participants would want to pack their backpack with weight.”
Tickets to the Ruck Race are $20 for racers, and $15 for students and non-racers. Racers must be ages 15 to 65, but Trimmings said all ages are welcome to participate without a weighted backpack through a non-racer ticket.
The race will begin at 9 a.m. on Memorial Day. Trimmings said it “means a lot” to be able to honor Jenks, noting that the goal of the race is simply to “spread the message” of her life and story.
“It means a lot, knowing that now we’re hopefully going to get a community into this,” Trimmings said. “At the end of the day, our goal is to spread the message. If we can open that up to the community, then that’s one of the best ways to do it.”
To sign up for the Abigail Jenks Memorial Ruck Race, visit https://zippy-reg.com/register/jenksruckrace.
Saratoga Catholic varsity baseball coach Alphonse Lambert earned his 600th career win on Saturday as the Saints beat Schuylerville 12-1 in the championship game of the Phil Waring Memorial Tournament. Photos by Dylan McGlynn
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Longtime Saratoga Catholic varsity baseball coach Alphonse Lambert earned his 600th career win on Saturday, as the Saints beat Schuylerville 12-1 in the championship game of the Phil Waring Memorial Tournament.
The Saints’ head coach since 1988, Lambert has compiled a career record of 600-213 over 35 seasons, and has led the Saints to 15 league championships and five Section 2 Championships. He is a member of the St. Peter’s / Saratoga Central Catholic Hall of Fame, and the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame.
As Lambert himself said, “That’s a lot of baseball.”
He was quick to credit his players and fellow coaches, saying, “I just enjoy coaching these kids.”
“I’ve had some great, great young people that have played for me, and great coaches,” said Lambert. “I always said that I never threw a baseball, I never hit a baseball, and I never scored a run. It’s been all the kids, and the coaches. … The kids have bought in over the years, and that’s why our program is where it’s at.”
The Saints beat Corinth 9-2 in the opening round of the tournament on Saturday morning, setting up the championship matchup with Schuylerville, the defending Section 2 Class B Champions.
Saints’ freshman pitcher Pierce Byrne shut down the Black Horses’ offense, and Saratoga Catholic used a balanced attack at the plate to pull away in the middle innings, sealing a five-inning mercy-rule victory.
Aidan Crowther was 2-3 with a triple and four RBIs, while Ryan Gillis went 3-3 with three singles and an RBI. Ronan Rowe and Byrne each went 2-3 with a double and an RBI, while Kihl Kelly and Tyler Weygand were each 1-3 with an RBI. Carson Moser and Kameron Cox both added RBIs for the Saints.
Lambert said coaching is something he has “always wanted to do,” and emphasized how much SCC means to him.
“I work at the greatest school around, and I work with the greatest people around, and I teach the best kids around,” said Lambert. “That’s just always been my thought. If they open up my chest and they operate, they’re going to see purple and gold blood. That’s what they’re going to see.”
Lambert also said it was “very special” to earn his 600th victory with his current group of players, saying many of them began attending his baseball camps at young ages.
“I’ve had these kids since they were five, six, seven years old, a lot of these kids,” said Lambert. “They came up as young, young kids for me. To watch them develop and compete against juniors and seniors is very rewarding.”
Saints’ sophomore catcher Hunter Fales said Lambert “means a lot” to him, noting he first attended the coach’s baseball camp as a sixth-grader.
“He’s been one of the most important people in my life since I moved here,” Fales said. “I went to his camp, and that was when I first met him. I knew I was going to love playing for him ever since. … He loves this team, and we all love him, so it’s easy to function.”
“He was the reason I was on varsity for so long. He believed in me,” added freshman pitcher Pierce Byrne, who is in his third season with the varsity squad. “He means a lot to me.”
While there was some time to reflect following Saturday’s milestone victory, Lambert and the Saints quickly refocused for sectional play, which begins Friday. Saratoga Catholic finished the regular season 17-3 overall and 13-3 in the Wasaren League, earning the top seed in the Section 2 Class C Tournament.
Saratoga Catholic will host #8-seed Waterford-Halfmoon (7-13 overall, 5-11 Wasaren) in the opening round of the sectional tournament at 6 p.m. on Friday.
With the Saints riding a 10-game winning streak heading into sectionals, Fales said the team is playing with confidence as they prepare for the postseason.
“I think our whole team is very confident right now,” Fales said. “Swinging the bat, playing defense.”
Lambert said the team’s goal heading into sectionals is to simply “win each inning.”
“We’re not going to get the cart ahead of the horse,” said Lambert. “We’ve got to win each inning. That’s our goal, is to win the inning.”
Players and coaches sit on the Majors Field during the Saratoga Springs Little League opening day ceremony on May 6.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs Little League held its opening day ceremony on Saturday, kicking off yet another season at West Side Recreation Park.
The ceremony was originally scheduled for April 29, but was delayed due to weather. Players and coaches ran onto the Majors Field as each team was announced during the ceremony.
The Little League Pledge was read by Ethan Booth, and the national anthem was sung by SSHS student Abby DeGregory. The league’s 12-year-old players received jackets donated by Janet Fitzpatrick, who donates customized jackets each year to players who age out of SSLL. Fitzpatrick is sponsoring two SSLL teams this year.
SSLL president Derrick LeGall spoke, thanking those in attendance.
“I am humbled, I am honored to be here today,” said LeGall. “Thank you for coming out today. Last week just wasn’t meant to be, but today, the gods are smiling down on us. We have a beautiful day, and I want to say welcome to each and every one of you.”
LeGall thanked coaches, parents, and families, saying, “You make this possible.” He also thanked the SSLL Board of Directors for their dedication.
“One of the things that make us so great is the people that are standing behind me and around me,” LeGall said. “I had somebody text me two days ago, they used to be a coach and a parent in this league, and they said, ‘I rode by the fields, and they look amazing.’ And it’s because of these folks back here that help keep these fields playable and safe for each and every one of the kids.”
He also addressed the players, encouraging them to follow their dreams and ignore negativity.
“Each one of you have dreams, dreams that one day you will make it to the major leagues,” said LeGall. “Dreams that one day, you will become a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer, or maybe a teacher. Please know that your dreams are attainable. Don’t let anyone discourage you from reaching those goals.”
He emphasized that the league’s focus is on building character and creating memories for each kid.
“We are not trying to create major league baseball players here,” LeGall said. “We are trying to build character for good citizenship. … That’s what it’s all about. Getting along and getting together.”
LeGall also highlighted the current varsity baseball team at Saratoga Springs, saying eight players on the varsity squad played Little League at West Side Rec. Blue Streaks’ senior infielder Orion Lansing threw out the ceremonial first pitch to SSLL player Jude Miller at Saturday’s ceremony.
“So kids, continue to follow your dreams,” said LeGall. “One day, I’m hoping to see you on our varsity team.”
WATERTOWN — The Saratoga Springettes YMCA Gymnastics team attended the 2023 YMCA Gymnastics State Championships at the Jefferson Community College, hosted by the Watertown YMCA, on April 29 and 30.
Six YMCA gymnastics teams from across the state attended including the Cortland, Glens Falls, Glow, Lakewood, Oneonta, Saratoga and Watertown YMCAs. 45 athletes attended from Saratoga in Levels 2-8 competition.
In the team competition, the levels 3, 4, and 8 teams placed first. The levels 2 and 7 teams placed second overall, while the level 5 team placed third overall.
Saratoga had 10 girls place first in the all-around, taking home the State Championship, including Brooke Whitman (level 2, age 8A), Lena Orden (level 2, age 10), Avery McCrindle (level 3, age 9), Rylan Keller (level 3, age 10), Lyla Ross (level 3, age 11), Carson Cicardi (level 4, age 8-11), Rilynn Reeves (level 4, age 12-14), Elsie-Anna Williams (level 5, age 12-14), Alyssa Glaser (level 7, age 16-17), and Sydney Crombach (level 8, senior age division).
Graduating seniors were recognized for their years of gymnastics in the YMCA program. Saratoga had three graduating seniors: Annie Munn, Sarah Mosher, and Samantha Tennyson.
Team Coaches had the opportunity to nominate athletes from their team for character awards, and from Saratoga Level 4, Alexandra Crombach was chosen for the “Honesty” Character Award.
To see full individual results from those placing in the top six finishers, see saratogatodaynewspaper.com.
