Batavia Girls Softball

A disappointed Batavia bench overlooks the final moments ending their season and chance of a sectional crown, losing to class A2 rivals Pittsford Sutherland 12-3 at SUNY Brockport yesterday afternoon. This is the second time the Knights have beat the lady Devils in back-to-back seasons.

After the first inning game tied 1-1, Sutherland took the lead in the bottom of the third 4-1, which left Batavia craving for some runs early on.

Top of the fourth inning, Batavia looking to tie the game, in scoring position with bases loaded and only one out. Sutherland sophomore pitcher Grace Fanset came up big getting the next two outs.

Pitcher Fancet (pictured below) hit a three-run home run with other teammates scoring. Score after four innings: 11-1 Sutherland. Lady Devils scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning, then stranded the bases loaded. Batavia left 12 runners on base for the game.

Final 12-3. First year Head Coach James Fazio commented after the game:

"The Batavia High School Softball Team just finished their season falling to Pittsford Sutherland in the Class A2 Sectional Finals. Batavia began their season down in Myrtle Beach (S.C.) and played a very difficult schedule to get ready for sectional play.

"Batavia started off their season at 3-5, but then won eight out of their next 10 games and were playing their best softball of the season heading into sectionals. Batavia won the Pembroke tournament recently and was named Co-champions of Monroe County Division 4 with a 7-1 record with their only loss coming to HFL, who then they would beat in the first round of sectionals.

"Batavia then defeated #1 seed SOTA in the semifinals before losing to Sutherland. The team graduates seniors Kaitlin Ange, Alaina Bowman, Bri Janes, and Taylor Stefaniak and those players will be greatly missed. The team has a number of returning players and players up from Junior Varsity that will form a very competitive team next season."

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Class A2 tournament all stars from Batavia and Pittsford Sutherland

Batavia Lady Blue Devils delivered 17 hits to lead them to victory yesterday afternoon and defeat host Honeoye Falls-Lima 10-5 in the class A2 quarter final matchup.

Batavia jumped out to a big 6-0 lead before the Cougars scored four runs of their own to make it a two-run lead for the Lady Devils through four innings, 6-4.

Batavia answered with four big runs in the fifth inning to take control of the game. Combined pitching efforts carried Batavia to victory. Katie Ange pitched the first three innings and Irelyn Curry the final four innings to close out the game for the Lady Devils. 

Ryann Stefaniak went four for five including an RBI, while Taylor Stefaniak (double, RBI), Bri Janes, and Bryn Wormley each stroked three hits. Janes also knocked in three runs as well, and Ryann Stefaniak scored three times. Maiya Reinhart singled in a run for Batavia. 

Lady Devils will play School of the Arts in the class A2 semi-finals at SUNY Brockport College at 4 p.m. this Friday.

Sophomore Irelyn Curry (pictured above) tossed a complete game, scattering eight hits, while striking out five on the mound to pick up her first varsity win as Batavia defeated Greece Athena 8-4. 

Maiya Reinhart and Alaina Bowman each were 2 for 4 at the plate. Bottom of the first was the turning point in the game as senior Bri Janes and freshman Mackenzie Reigle both doubled and drove in two runs for the Devils. Natalie Rogers also singled and doubled for Batavia. Taylor Stefaniak was 1-3 at the plate and led a strong defensive effort for Batavia. Batavia improves their record to 2-2. 

Head Coach Jim Fazio summarized the win after the game, "Very proud of how our team responded after Athena put four runs on the board in the first inning to take an early lead.

"Irelyn was outstanding in the circle and the girls rallied behind her defensively. We answered their early offensive explosion with seven runs of our own. Our pitching and defense carried us the rest of the game."

Batavia’s slo-pitch softball “renaissance man” was back in front of City Council on Monday night, this time with a group of players and fans from his league at Kibbe Park as well as representatives of the Batavia Girls Softball League at Lions Park. Both organizations are seeking funds to improve their respective fields.

“I’ve finally rounded up a bunch of players,” Michael Jamil said during the public comments of the meeting. “We have a wide demographic – age 18 to 60s … and it seems like everything is heading in the right direction. In time, (working) hand in hand, we will have a solution.”

Just two weeks ago, Jamil addressed Council as part of his continuing quest to have the City provide a sand/clay mix to keep the Kibbe Park diamond from flooding after it rains and to fix the lights.

Two league members spoke of their time in the New Batavia Softball League – Aaron Osterman of Wyoming, who says he comes back to Batavia after working a full day here three times a week “just to play softball,” and Andrew Ernst of Batavia, who said he used to play softball in Pavilion and Brockport before joining the Batavia league and having an “awesome experience the past three seasons with these guys.”

Osterman said he has observed Jamil working many hours on the field to get it in good enough shape for games to be played there, and running an extension cord from the park pavilion to power a scoreboard that Jamil paid for out of his own pocket.

Ernst pointed out the field’s problems, stating that the “infield sometimes can be terrifying (with all of its ruts and holes).”

“I’ve witnessed Mike Jamil working from dusk to game time to make the field playable, barely playable,” he said. “I believe the City is looking into upgrades to the field. Anything will be put to use and will be appreciated.”

Both men said the league, which has around 33 teams, attracts many fans and provides an economic boost to the City.

Before those three had their time at the microphone, Stan Kaus of Batavia, coach of the Batavia Stingers 12-and-under girls’ softball team, spoke on behalf of the Batavia Girls Softball League at Lions Park on Edward Street.

Kaus, who has been affiliated with the league for 23 years, said about 75 girls participate in the summer recreational program that has “no tryouts, no cuts and where no one is turned away if they can’t pay.”

He thanked the City for cutting the grass and picking up the trash, but said additional help is needed with the backstop, outfield fence (there is none), smoothing the outfield and improving the infield.

“We need clay topping on the field; regular dirt doesn’t work, it turns to mud,” he said. “The clay acts like a shield. The water will pond, but eventually dry.”

Following their pleas, City Council President Eugene Jankowski said that the board, at Interim Manager Matt Worth’s urging, has agreed “to find the money (in this year’s budget) to buy dirt and get the fields as best as we can.”

He then mentioned a city parks’ “master plan” that is being prioritized for consideration in the 2019 budget.

“Thank you to Michael for bringing this to our attention and it has steamrolled into helping girls’ softball as well,” Jankowski said.

While there is no money in this year’s budget for fences, he said, it will be discussed – looking at the pros and cons of having outfield fences.