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Drago is Player of Year and leads GR all-stars

By Brian Hillabush

Wheatland-Chili's Lauren Drago had a tremendous season and led her Wildcats to the Genesee Region League  Division II title.

W-C went 13-3-1 and Drago - a senior midfielder/forward - scored 23 goals and dished out 13 assists, scoring 59 points to earn GR Player of the Year.

She is one of three Wildcats on the Genesee Region League all-star squad, getting selected as a forward.

Chloe Smith is a junior midfielder and earned all-star props after scoring three goals with five assists. Junior defender Lindsey Hall is also an all-star, for leading the defensive unit.

Holley won the Division I title after an epic race for the championship with an 11-3-4 record, and coach Jill Mann was named Coach of the Year.

Three members of her team are named to the all-star squad.

Sophomore goalie Julie Brooks was in net for every 1,480 minutes the team played this season and made 118 saves while allowing just nine goals. That's an amazing .486 goals per game average.

Brooks got a lot of help from fellow all-league selection, junior defender Corinne VanSchoick.

Junior midfielder Emily Troup led the team in scoring with 11 goals and four assists for 26 points.

Troup battled Alexander's Hannah Wilson to a 0-0 tie in the final game of the season that determined the division winner, and Wilson was also named an all-star keeper.

Wilson allowed just 24 goals while making 161 saves, averaging 1.289 goals per game.

Two other Trojans made the team.

Senior midfielder Rachel Pettys was selected after scoring eight goals with two assists, for 18 points, and eighth-grade defender Abby Shilvock is also on the team.

Shivlock had three goals with a helper this season.

Elba had a pair of players make the team in junior midfielder Julie Marshall and senior forward Chelsi Clark.

Clark was a scoring machine, getting 24 goals with six assists for 54 points. Marshall had a goal with seven helpers.

Stacy Maskell and Todne Crowe were selected as all-stars from Byron-Bergen.

Maskell - a junior forward - scored 12 goals with three assists, for 27 points, and Crowe - a senior midfielder - added four goals and five assists.

Pembroke had a pair of all-stars in senior defender Rachel Warren and senior forward Nicole Sharick.

Sharick scored 25 times and had 11 assists, finishing with a league-high 61 points. Warren dished out three assists.

Midfielder Hillary Bates of Oakfield-Alabama makes the squad as a senior. She scored five goals this season.

Attica senior defender Christina West is an all-star after scoring six goals with an assist and Kendall sophomore forward gets the all-star nod after scoring eight goals with six helpers.

Rennard and Attica girls moving on

By Brian Hillabush

Chrissy Rennard was a rising star for the Attica girls soccer team last season as a freshman. She was the second leading scorer on the team.

But this year she has been slowed by an ankle injury and hasn't produced like she would like.

But it looks like she's back at the right time, and that's a good thing for the Blue Devils.

Attica is the No. 8 seed in the Section 5 Class BB tournament and because of Rennard's two goals and assist will be moving on to face No. 1 Hornell on Saturday because the Blue Devils topped No. 9 Dansville in the opening round 5-1.

Christina West, Kelsey Talley and Chelsea Lynch also scored and Attica improves to 2-13-4.

Oakfield-Alabama, Byron-Bergen, Alexander, Pembroke, Kendall and Lyndonville are all also playing sectional games tonight and results will be posted on the Section 5 Web site as they come in.

Oakfield-Alabama gets nine GR all-stars

By Brian Hillabush

 

 No surprise here.

The Oakfield-Alabama football rolled to a perfect 7-0 season and captured the Genesee Region League title, and nine players from that squad were named to the GR all-star team Monday night.

Coach John Dowd was named Coach of the Year as well for delivering the first undefeated regular season for the Hornets since 1986.

O-A has rushed for a whopping 2,242 yards as a team during the regular season. Week 7 counts as non-league games because the Class D teams were already in the playoffs.

That being said, two of the three running backs on the squad and three offensive lineman lead the way.

6-foot-3, 275-pound Chris Williams was a unanimous choice at guard and 6-foot-1, 275-pound center Craig Campbell also was a key on the best offensive line in the league. Both were all-state selections two years ago, with Williams making all-stars for a third-straight year.

5-foot-8, 200-pound tackle Derek Hicks also made the all-star squad.

The O-A offensive line opened many holes for Tim Smith and Brad Riner, who both earned all-star recognition as seniors.

Smith led the Hornets in rushing with 771 yards and 11 touchdowns through six games, then rested in the final game of the season against Holley. He was the offensive Player of the Week for Class C in Week 4.

Riner, a fullback, picked up 639 yards and 10 scores this season, including a three TD game in the final game of the season.

Noah Seward had 29 tackles, an interception and four sacks and Tyler Kowalczyk had 2.5 sacks, an interception and 23 tackles. Both made the all-star team as defensive linemen.

It is Seward's second all-star nod.

Linebacker John Koenig had 17 tackles and two fumble recoveries and is joined by A.J. Kehlenbeck - one of only two juniors - on the all-star squad. Kehlenbeck had three interceptions and 17 tackles.

The Hornets are ranked No. 10 in the state for Class C and open up the Section 5 playoffs with a home game against Dansville Friday night.

 

 

 

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Pembroke ended the year one point away from the league title after its only loss came to Oakfield-Alabama, 25-24, in Week 6.

Quarterback David Kleckler had a stellar year and leads the group of seven Dragons to make the team.

Kleckler completed 30-of-56 attempts for 651 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions this season. He also rushed for 301 yards and two touchdowns.

Andrew Wright made the team as a wide receiver, but could have been selected as a running back. He gained 774 yards on the ground and got into the end zone 10 times, while catching 13 passes for 340 yards and three TDs.

He also had a 99-yard kickoff return for a TD, a 58-yard punt return for a score and returned a fumble for a touchdown.

Tight end Ken Babcock caught 15 passes for 275 yards with five touchdowns and made the team because of his big-play ability in the red zone. He is a two-time all-star.

Graham Jensen is 5-foot-11, 210-pounds and made the team as a guard while 6-foot-2, 235-pound Matt Klotzbach is an all-star defensive lineman.

Jensen had 42 tackles on defense and Klotzbach had 45 stops with a sack.

Josh Hanel - a 5-foot-10, 200-pounder - was selected as a linebacker and safety Mike Dibble was selected as a defensive back.

Hanel had 45 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery and Dibble made 62 tackles. Dibble also rushed for 522 yards and eight touchdowns.

It is the second all-star appearance for both Babcock and Jensen.

Pembroke opens up the Class C playoffs with Bishop Kearney on Saturday.

 

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Notre Dame gets four all-star selections after going 4-2 in the regular season. The Fighting Irish are 5-2 and playing Perry on Saturday at East Rochester in the Class D semifinals.

Kevin Francis made the squad for the second straight year as a wide receiver. He caught 27 passes for 337 yards with five touchdowns in six regular season games.

Francis returned five kickoffs for 145 yards and nine punts for 142 yards and a touchdown.

Craig Houseknecht is a 6-foot-2, 235-pound senior and made the team as a guard while Rick Lair makes it as a linebacker.

Lair had 41 tackles and 34 assists with two forced fumbles and eight tackles for a loss.

Matt Thompson is only a junior but garners all-star recognition for the second time as a kicker/punter.

Thompson converted on 26-of-30 extra point attempts and had a season-long 35-yard field goal. He averaged 43.5 yards on kickoffs with 10 touchbacks while averaging 40.4 yards per punt, including four inside the 20.

 

 

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Attica went 4-3 during the regular season and gets three all-stars.

Andy Ruddock earned offensive Player of the Week for Class B in Week 3 and is an all-star for the second time. He rushed for 936 yards with 10 touchdowns and caught 10 passes for 127 yards and a score.

Shawn Dupuis had 29 tackles with a fumble recovery and makes the team as a defensive back. He was the leading receiver for the Blue Devils, catching 26 passes for 530 yards and six touchdowns.

Kevin Gallinger was the defensive Player of the Week in Week 6 and had a huge year at linebacker. Gallinger had 54 tackles and an interception.

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Barker went 1-5 and nearly shocked top-seed Clyde-Savannah in the Class D playoffs last week.

Defensive lineman Ray Paul makes the all-star squad with 33 tackles and a sack.

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Honorable mentions: 

Alexander - Joe Aurrichio, Lucas Czechowski, Steve George, Jordan Leitten, Ryan Piechocki, Ryan Wilson.

Attica - Luke Pariso, Brandon Rollins.

Barker - Cody Blackley, Greg Brown, Rob Johnson, Josh Sonberg.

Elba/Byron-Bergen - Brent Crawford, Zach Green, Brandon Shuknecht, Cody Torpey.

Holley - Cory Blood, Guy Hills.

Notre Dame - Greg Barr, Nick Bochicchio, Eric Houseknecht, Kevin Schildwaster, Cam McDonald.

Oakfield-Alabama - Josh Athoe, Jon Fisher.

Pembroke - MIke Wells.

Pembroke beats Attica in offensive show

By Brian Hillabush

The game counts as a non-leaguer because the Class D playoffs are underway, but Genesee Region League powers Attica and Pembroke still put on a show Saturday.

Both squads had big games moving the football, but it was the Dragons that defended their home turf, 38-15, and wrapped up the No. 3 seed in the Class C playoffs next weekend.

Pembroke started the game with an 80-yard drive, but missed a field goal. The Blue Devils had a long drive of their own and were able to capitalize when Andy Ruddock finished off an 80-yard drive with a  5-yard TD run.

Pembroke drove again and this time got points as Andrew Wright had a 2-yard scoring run early in the second quarter.

After a stop, the Dragons added seven more points when David Kleckler tossed a 33-yard touchdown pass to Ken Babcock.

Attica had a golden chance to score to start the third quarter when the team marched all the way down to Pembroke's 3-yard line, but then fumbled the ball away. Pembroke drove 98 yards and Kleckler scored on an 8-yard keeper.

Kleckler had officially taken over at this point.

He intercepted a pass and returned it 31-yards for a score on Attica's next drive and then put an end to the following Blue Devil possession with another pick.

Wright took the ball 71 yards for a touchdown to wrap up Pembroke's scoring.

Attica had a late touchdown run.

Wright finished the game with 14 carries for 151 yards and two touchdowns and Mike Dibble added 90 yards on 17 attempts.

Kleckler completed 5-of-6 attempts for 51 yards and also rushed for 52 yards on nine carries.

J.P. Phillips had 48 yards on seven rushes.

The Blue Devils fall to 4-3 and will be at East Rochester/Gananda (not Bath) in the opening round of the Class B tournament next weekend while Pembroke improves to 6-1 and will host Bishop Kearney.

Week 7 Attica at Pembroke prevew

By Brian Hillabush

 Attica (4-2) at Pembroke (5-1)

1:30 p.m. Saturday

Even though this game counts as a non-league contest, it is a big game between two top Genesee Region League squads that are still playing for a lot.

Pembroke lost out on the GR title with a loss to Oakfield-Alabama last week, but is playing for the No. 3 seed in the Class C playoffs. The Dragons would get the third seed with a victory and could drop to as far as No. 5, which would mean they lose that first round home game.

 Attica suffered two losses during the earlier part of the season and is going to be using this game to prepare for the Class B playoffs. The Blue Devils typically do not do well in sectionals but want momentum heading into the tournament.

Attica is coming off a 50-15 drubbing of Holley and is firing on all cylinders offensively.

Andy Ruddock leads the squad in rushing, picking up 847 yards with nine touchdowns on 87 carries. Nate Berry follows with 20 attempts for 225 yards and four scores. Luke Pariso has 143 yards and four TDs.

The passing game has really come into its own.

Brandon Rollins had his best week of the year last week and threw for 205 yards and three touchdowns. He has completed 45-of-70 attempts for 675 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions this year.

His big target is Shawn Dupuis, who caught seven passes for 137 yards and two TDs last week. Dupuis now has 23 receptions for 485 yards and six scores.

Pembroke's defense will have its hands full with this crew. But the Blue Devils also have a big challenge.

Andrew Wright and the Pembroke offense has been amazing this season. Even last week when Oakfield-Alabama was able to hold Wright in check, quarterback David Kleckler stepped up and nearly delivered his team a win with some amazing passes.

Kleckler now has completed 25-of-50 passes for 600 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions. He has 259 yards rushing, with a pair of scores as well.

Wright has huge numbers. He has ran the ball 51 times for 623 yards and eight touchdowns, has caught 13 passes for 340 yards and three scores and has returned two kicks for TDs.

Mike Dibble has rushed for 433 yards and eight touchdowns on 77 carries and J.P. Phillips has added 271 yards and six scores.

Ken Babcock has 11 receptions for 230 yards and four TDs.

Both teams will kick off the playoffs next weekend.

 

Attica's Gallinger Player of the Week

By Brian Hillabush

 Attica senior linebacker Kevin Gallinger is the second player from his squad to earn a Player of the Week in Class B.

Running back Andy Ruddock won the Offensive Player of the Week in Week 3 and Gallinger earned the honor on the defensive side of the ball this week.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder had  eight solo tackles and six assists in Attica's 50-15 win over Holley Friday night.

Attica is 4-2 and will be playing Pembroke (5-1) this Saturday.

 

Video: Attica Prison Rebellion

By Philip Anselmo

Poking around YouTube this afternoon—doing some research on Alexander and Attica in anticipation of the next two parts of The Batavian's migration—I stumbled across this video about the Attica Prison Rebellion of 1971. In this video, the prisoners talk about what it was like on the inside leading up to the takeover and the infamous Bloody Monday massacre that resulted in the retaking of the prison by the authorities.

How to post Attica news

By Howard B. Owens

If you have news about Attica to share, tag your post "Attica" and it will appear on this page. More help here.

Attica blasts Holley 50-15

By Brian Hillabush

Andy Ruddock only needed 14 carries to rack up 123 yards with a touchdown to lead Attica to a 50-15 win over visiting Holley.

 Quarterback Brandon Rollins had a huge game, connecting on 11-of-13 passes for 205 yards and three scores. He tossed two of those touchdowns to Shawn Dupuis, who had 137 receiving yards on seven carries.

Nate Berry also had a big game and rushed for 105 yards with two scores.

Kevin Gallinger had 12 tackles to lead the Blue Devil (4-2) defense.

Holley falls to 0-6.

 

Week 6 Holley at Attica preview

By Brian Hillabush

 Holley (0-5) at Attica (3-2)

7 p.m. Friday

The Blue Devils are looking to bounce back after a tough loss against Oakfield-Alabama last week.

Attica is currently the No. 7 seed in Class B and will probably need to win its final two games to secure a playoff berth.

Holley has really struggled this season and Attica should be able to roll in this one, but will have Pembroke in the final week of the season.

Expect a heavy dose of Andy Ruddock in this game, at least the first half.

Ruddock has rushed for 724 yards on eight touchdowns on 73 attempts this season and will probably gain over 100 yards in the first half of this game.

He is a featured back and the Hawks struggle against the run. Notre Dame had two runners get over 100 yards each last week in a 34-14 win and Pembroke had 300 yards running the previous week.

Nate Berry has 120 yards and Luke Pariso has 124 this season, so those two runners could also get plenty of work.

Brandon Rollins and Shawn Dupuis are a solid passing duo as Rollins has completed 34-of-57 attempts for 460 yards and eight touchdowns and five interceptions. Dupuis has a great chance of making the GR all-star team as a receiver as he has hauled in 16 passes for 348 yards and four touchdowns.

Attica's defense is also solid, led by Pariso's 45 tackles. Kevin Gallinger (35), Kyler Dabolt (31) and Dave Jennings (30) are all over 30 tackles on the season.

Holley is really struggling to move the football.
 
The Hawks have a total of just 186 yards of offense combined in the last two games.

Roast beef dinner in Attica

By Howard B. Owens

Joachim and Anne Parish will host a roast beef dinner Sunday, Oct. 12 from 11 to 4 p.m. in the St. Vincent's Auditorium, 72 East Ave., Attica.

Oakfield-Alabama overcomes illness and turnovers

By Brian Hillabush

 The Oakfield-Alabama football team didn't start a lot of the usual names because of a flu that kept several players out of practice this week.

They also didn't do a very good job of keeping the ball from hitting the ground.

But the Hornets did just enough to beat host Attica 35-20 Friday night.

It was senior night for the Blue Devils and a couple of seniors gave the squad a very quick lead. Andy Ruddock busted off a 21-yard run and Nate Berry hauled in an 18-yard touchdown pass from junior Brandon Rollins to get things going, just 1 1/2 minutes into the contest.

O-A blocked the extra point.

The Hornets didn't take very long to answer as Tim Smith returned the kickoff 34 yards and Josh Athoe made his mark.

Athoe hasn't played in any high school game since getting injured at the start of last baseball season, but got the start at fullback in this game.

The 6-foot-2, 185 pound junior busted off an 11-yard run that set up his 12-yard touchdown run, with the Jon Fisher giving Oakfield-Alabama a lead that would never go away.

Ruddock ripped off a 30-yarder on Attica's next drive, but Chris Williams sacked Rollins to kill a drive and force a punt.

The Blue Devil defense did its job by stopping the Hornets on a fourth-and-2, but the offense fumbled the ball away on the first play of the next drive.

Athoe kicked off the second quarter with a 9-yard TD run, giving O-A a 14-6 advantage.

The Hornets got the ball back after an Attica punt and moved the ball through the air, with A.J. Kehlenbeck hooking up with Noah Seward and Tyler Tamblin on passes before finding Brad Riner with a 4-yard touchdown pass with just 17 seconds left in the half.

Tim Smith - who finished with 162 rushing yards on 20 carries - started the second half scoring with a 20-yard TD run.

Attica then started making a comeback.

Rollins hooked up with Shawn Dupuis on a 44-yard pass that moved the ball all the way down to the O-A 1, where Rollins scored on a keeper. The conversion pass failed and Oakfield-Alabama led 28-12.

Just seconds ticked off the clock before Kyler Dabolt popped the ball out of an O-A runners hands and Berry picked it up, scampering 62 yards for a score. Rollins ran in the conversion and Attica had cut O-A's lead to 28-20 near the end of the third period.

And then Smith stepped up again. Last week he earned Class C Offensive Player of the Week in a win over Notre Dame, and he stepped up with the big play this week.

The senior busted through the line and busted off a 52-yard run. He scored a couple of plays later from eight yards out.

As Attica tried to drive, Kehlenbeck had a big interception to kill a much-needed opportunity. 

The Hornets fumbled the ball away again, and had a couple of penalties that put the Blue Devils into great position to score.

On a third-and-goal from the Oakfield-Alabama 11, Seward picked off a pass to wrap up the victory.

Athoe rushed for 83 yards on 16 attempts and Riner gained 110 yards on 24 carries. Kehlenbeck completed 5-of-6 pass attempts for 50 yards.

 Attica falls to 3-2 while O-A improves to 5-0 and will be hosting currently unbeaten Pembroke next Friday night.

 

Week 5 Oakfield-Alabama at Attica preview

By Brian Hillabush

Oakfield-Alabama (4-0) at Attica (3-1)

7 p.m. Friday

It doesn't get much bigger than this one as Attica must win to have a shot at a tie for the Genesee Region League title and the Hornets need a win to make next week's game against Pembroke basically give the winner a shot at being an individual champion.

The battle on the line is going to determine the winner as both teams have had big years running the football, with O-A's line being led by Craig Campbell and Chris Williams.

The game is Attica's homecoming so the Blue Devils will have some extra motivation.

Andy Ruddock is going to get the ball a bunch of times for Attica - and why not - he's been one of the top performers in the league thus far.

The senior has gained 608 yards with eight touchdowns on 62 carries and works as a featured back in coach  Jeff Cusmano's offense.

The Blue Devils will pound the ball with Ruddock, hoping he can pop off a couple of big runs.

If O-A's defense can manage to hold him in check, Brandon Rollins is going to put the ball in the air.

He's gone 22-of-37 for 385 yards and six touchdowns this season.

The top target in the passing offense is Shawn Dupuis, who has hauled in 12 balls for 214 yards and four scores.

Williams and Brad Riner lead the defense with 20 tackles and their unit will be trying to force Rollins to beat them. Both Derek Hicks and Evan Kotarski have 19 tackles apiece with Noah Seward pitching in 18 tackles with four sacks.

Oakfield-Alabama's offense is going to continue to pound the football and Attica knows what is coming - like every other team - but will have to work to stop it.

Smith won Class C Offensive Player of the Week this week after a huge performance and now has 489 rushing yards with seven touchdowns.

He got the bulk of the carries last week, but coach John Dowd will give the ball to Riner (301), Jason Stanley (199) and Joe Natalizia (221) as well.

Attica's defense will be led by Luke Pariso and his 28 tackles. Dave Jennings has 22.

O=A moved up to 11th in the state.

Ruddock has another big game for Attica

By Brian Hillabush

Andy Ruddock won Class B Offensive Player of the Week last week, and he  might have a shot at it again this week.

The senior running back rushed for 246 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries to lead his Attica football team to a 44-27 win over Barker Saturday.

Ruddock had touchdown runs of 71, 22 and 8 yards.

Luke Pariso gained 42 yards and had a pair of scores on nine carries and Brandon Rollins pitched in 77 yards passing with a TD.

Pariso and Levi Comfort had nine tackles apiece to go with Kevin GAllinger's 11.

Greg Brown had a touchdown run and returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown for the Raiders (1-3).

Jim Porter threw a touchdown pass and rushed for a score.

Attica improves to 3-1.

Byron-Bergen smokes Attica

By Brian Hillabush

 Curtis Fannon and Justin Barrett had a goal and an assist each in leading Byron-Bergen to an 8-1 win over Attica.

Casey Longhini and Bryan White each scored twice for the Bees (5-5-2).

Attica scores first and gets first league win

By Brian Hillabush

 The Attica boys soccer team had not won a Genesee Region League match, until Tuesday night.

The Blue Devils scored first then held on to beat visiting Lyndonville 3-0.

"We've been behind in almost every game and we were on a six game losing streak," Attica coach John Dickhut said. "It was nice to get one early on somebody."

Brandon Reiner scored eight minutes in on a header, off a pass by Andy Hagen to get the ball rolling.

Matt Sheffield then scored an unassisted goal eight minutes later.

"We have quite a few guys that can score," Dickhut said. "We had relied on Andy Hagen a lot early on, but just about anybody can put it in. A couple of games ago I changed my strategy and added another forward to boost the offense a bit."

Joe Wolak added an insurance goal late in the second half off a pass by Reiner to cap off the victory and give Attica a 1-5 league and 4-6 overall record.

Goalie Jacob Seiferth made 10 saves.

"We haven't helped him out too much this year," Dickhut said. "This was his first shutout of the year and he didn't have to work super-hard to get it. The defense really helped him out today."

Lyndonville falls to 2-4, 3-5-1.

Attica's Ruddock Player of the Week

By Brian Hillabush

 Well, it took three weeks but a local football player was finally named Section 5 Player of the Week.

Attica's Andy Ruddock rushed for 193 yards on 18 carries as the Blue Devils beat Elba/Byron-Bergen 40-6 Friday night and he earned the offensive honor for Class B.

Ruddock also had a 2-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Attica is 2-1 and will be playing at Barker this Saturday.

News roundup: A queen, a rodeo, a barbecue and a birthday

By Philip Anselmo

There was no lack of entertainment in Genesee County this past weekend. And it seems that Daily News reporter Roger Muehlig got a little taste of it all. Muehlig was in Attica Sunday for the 51st annual Attica Rodeo that drew more than 7,000 spectators over the weekend. Says Waterport resident Carl Miller of the rodeo: "We like it."

Muehlig was also at the Elba Onion Festival Saturday for the crowning of the Onion Queen. Seventeen-year-old Nicole Heffle received the honor. "It's always (been) like my dream to be Onion Queen," she said.

As if those two grand events weren't enough for one tireless reporter, Muehlig got over to the Toys for Kids chicken barbecue fundraiser Saturday outside T-Shirts Inc.'s new location at 438 East Main St. All proceeds from the barbecue will benefit Don Carroll's Toys for Kids campaign for Christmas.

I hope Muehlig is home taking a day off today.

The one place Muehlig wasn't to be found this weekend was at the town of Murray's bicentennial celebration. No matter, Tom Rivers was on hand to cover the festivities that culminated in a bocce tournament Sunday.

For more on these and other stories, pick up a copy of the Daily News. Or, better yet, subscribe at BataviaNews.com.

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