IRVINE, CA — The Adirondack Northstars 14U AA girls hockey team traveled west last week, and returned home as national champions.

The Northstars beat Team Colorado 2-1 in the championship game of the 2023 Chipotle-USA Hockey Girls Tier II 14U 1A National Championship, the first national title won by the program. Head coach Ben Marcantonio said the win was “surreal.”

“Honestly, it still feels surreal,” said Marcantonio. “The past week has been a whirlwind.”

The team played six games in total from March 30 to the championship on April 3, winning all six. The Northstars defeated teams from Wyoming, Texas, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Tennessee prior to the championship victory over Colorado.

Marcantonio said entering the tournament, he told the team to simply “play their game.”

“They’ve been playing great all year long, and I didn’t want to put any added pressure on them to feel like they had to perform,” Marcantonio said. “So they just went out there and played their style of play, and force what we know and what we do best on other teams.”

Marcantonio said the team plays a very similar style to the Adirondack United varsity girls high school team, who are coached by Northstars 16U head coach Jeff Willis. 11 of 18 players on the 14U team were members of the United squad this winter, Marcantonio said.

“(Jeff) and I kind of have the same philosophy. We don’t really stop playing offense,” said Marcantonio. “The best defense is a good offense. We pressure other teams to make mistakes when they’re in their defensive zone and capitalize on those. When we are in our own zone, we don’t give the team time and space to actually make a play or make a decision.”

In the title game, Queensbury’s Emily MacAuley scored both goals for the Northstars, initially giving Adirondack a 1-0 lead in the first period before making it 2-0 early in the second. 

Team Colorado responded with a strong third period, and cut it to 2-1 with 3:36 remaining, but the Northstars held strong defensively in the final minutes to lock up the national championship. Marcantonio said the win was “a total team effort.”

“Emily was the goal scorer for both of our goals in that championship game, but our team really rallied around each other and made a commitment to each other to finish out the game as strong as we started,” said Marcantonio. 

Marcantonio said Adirondack’s ability to buckle down defensively in the final moments “says a ton” about the character of the team.

“We have seventh-graders, eighth-graders, and ninth-graders on the team,” Marcantonio said. “Their ability to adapt to adverse situations, it just shows me how much heart (they have) and how much they wanted this for each and every one of those girls on that team.”

The team was recently honored at Cool Insuring Arena during the Adirondack Thunder’s 4-1 win over the Maine Mariners on April 7. Marcantonio said the championship is “very special” for the squad.

“It’s a special group of girls. They worked hard all year long,” Marcantonio said. “They constantly came to work. … They definitely were all-in when it came down to the commitment to the game and to each other.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Central Catholic varsity softball team enters 2023 on a mission. The Saints did not field a varsity team last season, but have their eyes set on a sectional appearance this year.

“It’s a young group, but I think a very talented group,” said head coach John Dowd. “We’re up in the varsity waters, so we’ll see what happens. But I’m expecting good things.”

The Saints are led by junior catcher and team captain Ryan McDonald, who homered in a season-opening loss to Tamarac on April 5. Dowd also said the team will feature a strong pitching trio of Grace Schaefer, Hailey Ogniewski, and Paige Bujno.

“Our pitching, although it’s young, we have three very good pitchers,” Dowd said. “All travel pitchers.”

“I think the team is definitely really young, but I think we’re strong,” said McDonald. “Coming up, I think we’re going to be pretty good this year.”

Dowd said that while the team has a very young lineup, with no seniors on the roster, he feels the offense will “come to fruition” as the season progresses.

“We lost a couple players from last year, but I’m expecting the offense to pick up as the season goes along,” said Dowd.

“We’re just trying to grow a lot as a team,” added Ogniewski, a sophomore. “I think, by the end of the season, we’re going to be pretty good.”

The Saints’ goal this season is to reach sectionals and “make some noise,” Dowd said. While many of the current varsity squad spent last season at the JV level, that team lost only two games in 2022.

“We had a couple girls that had to play varsity the year before, that came back down to play JV, which is obviously a huge ask for them,” said Dowd. “I told them that if they made that commitment, that our goal was to get to sectionals. Our goal is not only to get to sectionals, but to get to sectionals and make some noise.”

GLENS FALLS/IRVINE, CA — The Adirondack Northstars 14U AA girls hockey team captured the 2023 Chipotle-USA Hockey Girls Tier II 14U national championship in Irvine, CA, on Monday, April 3. The Northstars beat Team Colorado 2-1 in the championship game.

Adirondack was 6-0 overall in the tournament, defeating teams from Wyoming, Texas, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Tennessee before the title matchup with Team Colorado.

Hall of fame trainer John Veitch passed away on the 14th of February. He was 77 years old. Recently I asked his cousin, Saratoga’s resident horse racing writer and historian Michael Veitch to share some of his thoughts and recollections of him with our readers at Saratoga Today. He will take it from here.

“John Veitch was born to be in thoroughbred racing. His grandfather Silas Veitch was a very accomplished horseman who trained jumpers and flat horses in Canada and the United States for leading owners of his time such as Joseph Seagram, George Hendrie and Walter Salmon. His father, Sylvester Veitch, son of Silas, is a Hall of Fame trainer who developed five national champions for owners C.V. Whitney and George D. Widener. I have strong memories of them getting together after training hours on many mornings during the Saratoga meetings of the 1970s and 80s. It was Alydar who put John on the national scene in 1977 and 1978 with his gallant performances against the great Triple Crown winner Affirmed. Alydar was owned by Calumet Farm. John hoped he could play a role in restoring the famed establishment to its former glory. He did, by developing champions Our Mims and Before Dawn, along with Alydar.

One of my favorite memories of John concerned the dilemma he faced during the 1977 Saratoga meet. Our Mims was going to run in the Alabama Stakes on August 13, the same day Alydar was slated for the rich Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park. So John asked his father to saddle Our Mims for him at Saratoga while he would saddle Alydar in the Sapling. He won them both. Later in his career he trained for Darby Dan Farm and guided Sunshine Forever to a national title as champion turf horse. As did his father, John preferred training for a private stable, and I believe he was happiest in that role. He had deep respect for the history and tradition of thoroughbred racing, and he did his best to honor it with sportsmanship.”

Edward Bowen, former editor of Bloodhorse magazine and past President of the Grayson Foundation, was John’s great friend. He has also agreed to share some reminisces of him with our readers.

“John Veitch was a product of a former era which he revered, but he was also a horseman for his own day. I first got to know John in the spring of 1972, when he came to Kentucky with Key to the Mint, Paul Mellon’s Kentucky Derby Prospect. John was assistant to Elliott Burch. There was John, the son of a highly acclaimed trainer Sylvester Veitch and he was working for the son of another great trainer, Preston Burch.

In that situation, John thought that it was not appropriate to call his boss “Elliott,” but somehow Mr. Burch didn’t seem comfortable either. So, when speaking of Burch, John referred to him as the “The Man.” Talked to the Man this morning. The Man will be here soon, etc.”

Five years later, Alydar came into the picture. Veitch was on his own and had managed to land a job that harkened back to the old days for an owner who stressed sportsmanship and wanted a private trainer. This was Calumet Farm, the former powerhouse under Warren Wright Sr. that was now run by Wright’s widow. Calumet had fallen in lean times and Veitch’s first year as head trainer brought little success. Mrs. Markey was patient and understood that she had not turned over a lot of talent to the young man.

Then Alydar entered his rivalry with Affirmed. What seemed a key moment in the series came in the Champagne Stakes. Racing a mile for the first time, Alydar laid off the pace and came running in the stretch to win by 1¼ lengths. The suggestion that Alydar would have the edge as the distances got longer was proven to be false. Still, the impression held for some time.

I was always impressed by the way John handled those close, grinding losses to Affirmed. Even the morning after the Belmont Stakes, there he was in the Belmont backstretch sitting on the fender of his Jaguar eating a fudgesicle and in his friendly manner saying, “I still think I can beat Affirmed.”

Once while participating on a panel, John went so far as to say he would sometimes just look at Alydar and remark to himself about how God had given that horse the powers that he had. Certainly, in one way the career of Alydar was a repetition of grim stanzas. He was cast in a role of the “ almost horse” time after time against Affirmed. Then out from under that martinet, Alydar would win the Bluegrass by 13 lengths, the Arlington Classic by 13 and beat older horses in the Whitney by 10!”

Thanks to Mike and Ed for sharing their personal accounts and memories of John.

Now, let’s take a look at the extraordinary rivalry between two great racehorses that made the sporting world hold its breath forty-five years ago.

Alydar’s duels with Affirmed are the stuff of legends. On ten occasions from June of 1977 to the following August, the two thrilled racing fans across the country with one superb display of talent after another.

Putting this into perspective, recently crowned Horse of the Year Flightline’s entire career spanned just six races. Unfortunately, the star of Alydar never quite matched that of his nemesis. In their ten confrontations, Affirmed got the best of the Calumet runner seven times.

Their storied duels in the Triple Crown Series of 1978 stand high in the lore of the sport. On the first Saturday in May they met in the Kentucky Derby. Affirmed got this one by 1½ lengths. Two weeks later they were at each other’s throats at the Preakness. Affirmed was best again by just a neck. Then came “The Test of Champions,” once around Belmont Park’s one- and one-half mile oval. This one more than lived up to all the hype surrounding it. Affirmed and Alydar hooked up in a duel that materialized near the halfway point of the race. From there on to the finish line they raced as one. At the wire it was Affirmed by a head. The brilliant colt had again denied Alydar the winner’s circle.

Affirmed was named the tenth Triple Crown Champion. Alydar, with his gutsy performances in defeat had gained the respect of horse racing fans everywhere.

There would be one more chapter in the Affirmed vs Alydar series. Both parties pointed their colts for the Travers Stakes here at Saratoga. It was time to settle old scores. Where better than the Historic Spa for the race to take place. Veitch chose the Whitney Stakes for Alydar’s Travers prep.

He responded with an easy ten length romp.

Affirmed’s camp entered him in the Jim Dandy a few days later. He got the job done in a tougher than expected outing. Both were fit and ready for the showdown. This Travers had all the earmarks to be one for the ages.

A massive crowd of over 50,000 racing fans converged on the grounds to witness the event. At 5:45 in the afternoon, the horses entered the starting gate. Affirmed, despite his mastery over Alydar was only a slight favorite. The bell rang and both horses were off to a good start. The race began to materialize on the backstretch. Affirmed took the lead on the outside of Alydar. With powerful strides Alydar closed the gap on his opponent. Lafite Pincay Jr. aboard Affirmed chose to shift closer to the rail at the exact moment that Alydar was gaining ground on that path. The mishap caused Alydar to hit the rail and drop back a good six lengths behind his foe. He was able to compose himself and miraculously get within two lengths of Affirmed at the finish line.

The blinking lights went up immediately after the race. Affirmed’s number was taken down and Alydar was named the winner. What should have been John Veitch’s shining moment had become a bittersweet day. The rivalry was over. The two would never meet again.

John Veitch got that shining moment in 2007. He joined his late father Sylvester and his star  pupil Alydar as a newly elected member of horse racing’s Hall of Fame here on Union Avenue. A master of his trade, he will long be remembered for his part in the Alydar vs Affirmed rivalry, and as a champion in his own right.

SCHUYLERVILLE — The Schuylerville varsity softball team enters 2023 with a strong group of returning players, and strong team chemistry as they look to compete in the Foothills Council.

The Black Horses return seven starters from last year’s team and enter this season without any seniors on the roster. Head coach Katie Bottisti said she is “excited for this year, and this group.”

Despite graduating six seniors from 2022, junior Sophia Wahl said the team’s chemistry has been “really good already.”

“We all just have a lot of fun together,” said Wahl. “I love them all, and I feel like they all feel the same. It’s kind of like family that way.”

Bottisti said Wahl and sophomore Kenna Hart will be the Black Horses’ main pitchers this season and will be backstopped by the catching duo of sophomore Taylor Dennis and junior Cat Carpenter. Bottisti said the team is full of “athletes who are going to make plays,” and emphasized the team’s chemistry.

“They want to be here, they’re really good friends,” said Bottisti. “Just the team chemistry is going to be great. Our bats are hitting the ball like crazy already, so I’m excited to see them pull it all together.”

Junior Gracelyn Kilburn also said the team is “like a family,” saying she is excited for the season to begin.

“There’s a lot of us who have played together throughout modified up to now,” Kilburn said. “We have a really great group of girls here, so I hope we go far in sectionals.”

Bottisti said the Foothills Council is “anybody’s this year,” saying the Black Horses have the ability to “go far” in the postseason.

“We play a lot of really good teams, so the competition’s always going to be difficult,” said Wahl. “If we can keep working together the way we have been, and play our best each day, I really think we can do well.”

“I think that we’re going to give everybody a good run on any given day,” said Bottisti. “I keep it simple for them, I say, ‘Have fun. Pitchers throw strikes. Fielders make plays. Hitters make good contact, and good things will happen.’”

SCHUYLERVILLE — The Schuylerville varsity baseball team enters 2023 with both high hopes and high expectations, coming off an appearance in the Class B state championship game last year.

The Black Horses won 20 games in 2022, defeating Ichabod Crane for the Section 2 Class B Championship before advancing to their second state championship since 2019. Head coach Darrin Renner said the deep postseason runs can act as a “program builder” for the team.

“Any time you can take a team that far, it’s really a program builder,” said Renner. “Which is basically what we saw in 2019. A lot of these guys were young and watched that. The hunger was there last year, we were able to pull the team together and go and have that success again.”

Senior outfielder Ashton Morris said it was “unbelievable” to experience last year’s playoff run. 

“This team has come together so much,” said Morris. “Everyone pushes each other to their limits and look where it got us.”

Brenden Steinberg, a junior pitcher, said he felt the team gained valuable experience during last season’s run.

“It was an amazing experience,” Steinberg said. “I think as a whole team, we learned a lot, and we’re ready to come back this year.”

Now, the Black Horses enter 2023 having graduated only three players from last year’s squad. While Renner acknowledged the three were “some valuable guys,” he said the team still has “a lot of guys who have gone through a successful season.”

“So far, the work ethic and leadership has been really spot-on of what we were hoping for and expecting,” said Renner.

Renner said Steinberg and Luke Sherman, along with Trevor French, will be key pieces of the Black Horses’ pitching staff this season. He also named senior first baseman Anthony Luzadis, junior third baseman Griffin Brophy, and Morris, the centerfielder, as other key players.

Renner said the team’s goal every season is simple: qualify for sectionals, and go from there.

“Last year, we had back a team that was 6-10 and ended up going all the way to the state championship game,” said Renner. “I think it also adds a nice element to the program, that the guys saw that we had so much success after a season where we were down. I think their expectations of themselves become higher. I think that’s a good thing.

“But as we go into this, we’ll think about sectionals first. Once we get there, we’ll take the next goal into consideration.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Central Catholic varsity baseball team enters 2023 with a unique combination of youth and experience, looking to improve on its 2022 campaign.

Head coach Alphonse Lambert, entering his 35th season leading the Saints, said the team did not have any seniors last year, with nearly the entire team returning this season. Many of the Saints’ players have already spent multiple years at the varsity level, despite still being underclassmen.

“Some of these guys are entering their third year, even though they started in seventh or eighth grade, which is kind of amazing,” said Lambert. “A lot of these guys are kind of seasoned veterans in their sophomore year, because they’ve been playing since eighth grade.”

Lambert said he believes the team can compete in the Wasaren League this season, bolstered by strong pitching and defense. The Saints enter the season with a planned three-man pitching rotation of sophomores Ronan Rowe, Tyler Weygand, and freshman Pierce Byrne.

Ryan Gillis, Aidan Crowther, Kihl Kelly, Carson Moser, and Chris Lockwood will also be factors on the mound, Lambert said. The Saints’ head coach said the team’s defense should be another strength, backstopped by sophomore Hunter Fales, entering his third season as the team’s catcher.

“I think Hunter will be an asset behind the plate,” Lambert said. “I like our middle infield play, with (Ryan) Gillis and Tyler Weygand.”

Rowe said the team “learned a lot” in the 2022 season and is looking to build on their growth.

“It was definitely a build-off type of year,” said Rowe. “I think we’ll have more momentum coming into this year.”

“We’re just looking for improvement,” added Byrne. “We had a pretty good year last year, but there’s still a lot more we can improve.”

Lambert acknowledged the team will need to bring intensity every day, saying the Wasaren League is “no joke.”

“We have a goal this year, to take it one inning at a time,” said Lambert. “Here at Saratoga Catholic, our goal is always to be in the mix of things for a league championship.”

GLENS FALLS — The Adirondack Thunder will “Stick it to Cancer” with its annual fundraiser for the C.R. Wood Cancer Center on Friday, March 24 and Saturday, March 25. The Capital Region’s professional hockey team will host a series of events supporting those impacted by the disease as they take on the Worcester Railers at the Cool Insuring Arena. The puck drops for both games at 7 p.m.

Since its inception in 2015, the Thunder’s “Stick it to Cancer” program has raised awareness and tens of thousands of dollars for local cancer programs. Through contributions from last year’s event alone, the team donated more than $31,000 to the Glens Falls Hospital’s cancer treatment facility.

“We’re proud to support the vital work of the C.R. Wood Cancer Center with these events,” said Adirondack Thunder President Jeff Mead. “Together with our incredible fans, we hope to top last year’s record fundraising total while honoring the lives and legacies of our neighbors and loved ones. The competition on the ice will be as fierce as ever, but this weekend is about much more than hockey as we gather as a community to stand up to this disease.”

Following Friday’s game, the Thunder invites fans to Paint the Ice Night, presented by Colorize. With a $10 donation to the C.R. Wood Cancer Center, guests can write a personal message or the name of a loved one affected by cancer on the ice. The messages will be sealed into the surface for Saturday evening’s contest.

At Saturday’s game, the first 1,000 fans will receive an exclusive Adirondack Thunder “Stick it to Cancer” t-shirt.

The Thunder will wear special purple “Stick it to Cancer” awareness jerseys throughout the weekend. After Saturday’s match-up, fans will have the opportunity to bid on the jerseys during a live auction, with all proceeds benefiting the C.R. Wood Cancer Center. Thunder players will be accompanied on the ice by local cancer survivors during this event.

 Cancer prevention, support and fundraising activities will take place throughout the weekend, beginning in the Cool Insuring Arena lobby prior to both games as the New York State Dental Association offers free oral cancer screenings. Fans who participate in a screening will be automatically entered into a raffle to win special Adirondack Thunder merchandise.

Tickets for “Stick it to Cancer” weekend or future home games can be purchased at ECHLthunder.com.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has announced the stakes schedule for the 2023 summer meet at the historic Saratoga Race Course, which will include 71 stakes worth $20.8 million in total purses.

Highlighted by the 154th renewal of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on August 26 and the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 5, the 40-day summer meet will open on Thursday, July 13 and continue through Monday, Sept. 4.

Following the four-day opening weekend, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, apart from closing week, when the 2023 summer meet will conclude on Labor Day.

Saratoga Live, the acclaimed television show produced by NYRA in partnership with FOX Sports, will return for its eighth season to provide expansive on-site daily coverage of the summer meet to a nationwide audience on the networks of FOX Sports. 

Opening Day, Thursday, July 13, kicks off the season with the Grade 3, $175,000 Schuylerville for 2-year-old fillies with the following day to feature the $135,000 Wilton for sophomore fillies to be contested out of the Wilson Chute and the $150,000 Coronation Cup, a turf sprint for sophomore fillies.

Opening Weekend is highlighted by the first Grade 1 of the Saratoga season in the $500,000 Diana for turf fillies and mares on July 15. That day’s card will include the Grade 3, $175,000 Sanford for juveniles on dirt; and the Grade 3, $175,000 Kelso, formerly the Forbidden Apple, at one mile on turf for older horses.

Whitney Day on Saturday, August 5, provides a trio of Grade 1 events, led by the Whitney at 1 1/8 miles for older horses offering an automatic berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 4 at Santa Anita.

Completing the Grade 1s on Whitney Day will be the seven-furlong $500,000 Test for sophomore fillies and the $600,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational, at 1 3/16-miles on turf for sophomores. Whitney Day will also include the Grade 3, $300,000 Troy for older turf sprinters, and the restricted $135,000 Lure at 1 1/16-miles on turf for older horses.

The Travers Festival, which offers nine stakes including six Grade 1s from Wednesday, August 23 through Saturday, August 26, is headlined by the 154th edition of the 1 1/4-mile Travers on Saturday, August 26. 

The lucrative Travers Day card features five Grade 1 stakes and an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup to the winner of the Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer [Turf] and Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina Handicap [Filly and Mare Sprint.]

The complete stakes schedule for the 2023 summer meet is available at www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/stakes-schedule.