The Batavia Blue Devils boys soccer team won its first-round sectional game in Class B on Tuesday, beating Geneva 2-0.
Batavia came into the game as the #9 seed and Geneva was the #8 seed.
Goals were scored by Alex Bartz, assisted by Owen Halpin, and by Quintin Cummings, unassisted.
Submitted photo.
Next up: #1 seeded Hornell at Hornell on Saturday. Game time is 6:30 p.m.
The Batavia Blue Devils girls volleyball team beat Eastridge for the second time this season Tuesday evening, with scores of 25-11, 25-22, 25-23.
Olivia Shell led the Devils with nine kills, seven digs, and four aces.
Ella Bromsted had two kills, 18 assists, and three aces.
Clara Wood had two kills, six digs, and two aces.
Emma Bigsby had four kills, four digs and two aces.
Ava Anderson had six kills, seven digs and four aces.
"This team has taken the necessary steps to improve overall as a program and has been competitive all year," said Coach James Patric. "Our seniors and returning players set the goals for the team at the start of the season to compete for a Class B sectional championship. We have been playing well in our recent games and have been peaking at the right time heading into sectionals.
The Blue Devils play their final regular season game tonight at home against HFL. Game time is 6:30 p.m. The game includes a first-ever teacher appreciation night.
To view or purchase photos, click here.
Photos by Steve Ognibene
After a 35-20 win on the road against Honeoye Falls-Lima on Friday night, the Batavia Blue Devils, at 7-0, are a lock on first place in the Class B division of Section V football for 2022.
Late in the first quarter, HFL pulled within a touchdown of Batavia but the Blue Devils tacked on one last score at the close of the game on a 43-yard pass from Ja'vin McFollins to Cole Grazioplene.
The scoring started with McFollins dashing into the end zone on a 3-yard run. Batavia scored again on a McFollins pass of 64 yards to Vincent Arroyo, and then Aiden Anderson scored on a 2-yard run late in the second quarter for 21 unanswered posts at the half for the Blue Devils.
HFL scored twice in the third quarter, then Batavia increased its lead on a short run by Aiden Anderson.
McFollins was 6-8 passing or 95 yards and two TDs. Anderson rushed for 124 yards and two TDs on 29 carries. Grazioplene caught three passes, including the TD, for 61 yards.
Avion Bethel had seven tackles to lead the Batavia defense.
HFL is now 5-2 on the season.
To view or purchase photos, click here.
Photos by Steve Ognibene
From the start, the Batavia Blue Devils easily handled another opponent, cruising to a 41-20 win over Dansville/Wayland-Cohocton on Friday night.
Carter McFollins opened the scoring with a 90-yard kickoff return.
Batavia scored again on the first quarter on a 19-yard pass from Ja'vin McFollins to Cole Grazioplene.
In the second quarter, Aiden Anderson on runs of 3 yards and 8 yards.
In the second half, Mekhi Fortes scored on an 8-yard run, and Zay Griffin scored on a 65-yard run.
Wayland scored three times in the second-half.
For Batavia, Julia Petry connected on five of six point-after attempts.
For the game, Anderson ran for 109 yards on 14 attempts and Griffin 82 yards on three attempts.
Ja'vin McFollins was 7-11 passing for 121 yards.
Carter McFollins had two receptions for 55 yards.
On defense, Garret Schmidt had 10 tackles.
Press release:
Three Batavia City School District students have earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs. These National Recognition Programs grant underrepresented students with academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications and connect students with universities across the country to stand out during the admissions process. Only 62,000 students across the country have received this recognition.
- Jack Pickard, Senior: National Rural and Small Town Award
- Lauren Reimer, Senior: National Rural and Small Town Award
- Nathan Canale, Senior: National Rural and Small Town Award
“We couldn’t be more proud of Jack, Lauren, and Nathan for receiving this tremendous honor,” said Superintendent Jason Smith. “Their hard work throughout their time at BCSD has certainly paid off. I know this recognition will help bolster their college applications and make them truly stand out.”
“Bravo to these three exceptional BHS students,” said to Batavia High School Principal Paul Kesler. “Jack, Lauren, and Nathan exemplify the values and work ethic that we strive for at BHS, and we congratulate them on this wonderful achievement.”
Eligible students have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and have excelled on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10, or earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP Exams. Award categories include: National African American Recognition Program, National Hispanic Recognition Program, National Indigenous Recognition Program, and National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program.
Students are invited to apply during their sophomore or junior year and, after determining eligibility, will be awarded at the beginning of the next school year. Students will receive their awards in time to include them on their college and scholarship applications.
Batavia High School honored some of its outstanding Blue Devils of athletic seasons past at the Athletic Department's annual Hall of Fame induction dinner, held this year at Batavia Downs.
Inducted were:
Photos by Howard Owens. Top photo: Sandy (Semiec) Reeg, Rick Saunders, back, Michael Chmielowiec, front Benny Martino, Kritstie (DeRei) DeFreze, Jermaine Henderson, Paul Blossom.
The 2005 Boys basketball team: Dan Kines, Justin Williams, Adam Brasky, Michael Chmielowiec, Kevin Saunders, Ballard Maye, Jon Tretter, Buddy Brasky.
The Blue Devils scored six unanswered touchdowns on their way to a 42-0 rout of Pal-Mac at home on Friday night.
Vincent Arroyo scored three times and Cam McClinic, twice -- Arroyo on receptions of 12 and 58 yards and a 79-yard kickoff return and McClinic on runs of seven and three yards.
QB Javin McFollins was 7-11 passing for 134 yards, two TDs and one interception.
McClinic rushed 14 times for 92 yards. Arroyo had three receptions for 86 yards.
On defense, Garrett Schmidt had 11 tackles, Meki Fortes, six, and Cooper Fix and Carrier McFollins, five each, with both Fix and McFollins snagging pickoffs.
To view or purchase photos, click here.
Photos by Steve Ognibene
Members of the 2022 batavia Athletic Hall of Fame Class will be inducted tonight and was recognized at halftime
The Senior Class of 2023 won the Homecoming Spirit stick award
Game report from Coach Graham Halpin:
Batavia Boys Varsity Soccer lost a close game to Greece Olympia, 2-0, at VanDetta stadium last night. There was no score in the game until well into the second half when Olympia scored on a lucky breakaway followed soon after with a PK. The Batavia players played hard all game in the rainy conditions and had some good opportunities but were unable to score.
Batavia Boys Varsity Soccer lost 5-3 at HFL on Friday night.
Batavia was ahead 2-1 for most of the game but gave up late goals.
Owen Halpin (#2) had 2 goals (PK and an assist by Alex Bartz #15) and Andrew Childs (#22) had one goal (assisted by Dima Havens (#18)). Goalkeeper Jack Pickard (#16) had another outstanding performance with 13 saves.
Submitted by Coach Graham Halpin
Javin McFolins completed nine of 11 pass attempts for 206 yards and two TDs to lead Batavia to a 49-20 win over Bishop Kearney on Saturday afternoon.
McFollins also gained 43 yards on the ground on four attempts and scored a touchdown.
Aavion Bethel ran nine times for 41 yards and a TD and Cam McClinic gained 43 yards on five carries.
Vincent Arroyo caught four passes for 107 yards and a TD.
On defense, Cooper Fix had seven tackles.
The Batavia Blue Devils improved to 3-0 on the 2022 season with a 28-6 win at home on Thursday night against Monroe.
Javin McFollins was 7-10 behind center for 88 yards and a TD.
Cole Grazioplane made that 27-yard TD reception.
Cam McClinic scored once on 10 carries for 73 yards.
Garret Schmidt had 10 tackles.
To view or purchase prints, click here.
Photos by Steve Ognibene
The Batavia Boys soccer team fell to 2-2 on the season with a 1-0 loss on Tuesday to Greece Odyssey.
Greece Odyssey scored the winning goal with two minutes left in the contest.
Goalkeeper Jack Pickard had 15 saves.
The Byron-Bergen Bees beat the Batavia Blue Devils at Van Detta Stadium in boys soccer on Saturday, 4-2.
Goals for Byron-Bergen:
Goals for Batavia:
Photos by Kristin Smith. For more, click here.
Batavia dominated long-time rival Livonia in their home opener at Van Detta Stadium on Friday night, beating the Bulldogs 42-6.
The Blue Devils are now 2-0 in the young season.
Batavia scored midway through the first quarter on Javin McFollins' quarterback sneak.
The score was 14-0 at the end of the opening quarter after Carter McFollins snagged a touchdown pass tossed by Javin McFollins
Just before the half, Livonia made it 14-6 on a Kyle Wetterings run (the two-point conversion attempt failed).
After the kickoff by Livonia to start the second half, Carter McFollins took the ball on the first play from scrimmage and dashed 65 yards to score the Blue Devils third touchdown.
Minutes later, Javin McFoolins hits Cole Grazioplene for a 31-yard TD. The half ends 28-6
Late in the third quarter Mehki Fortes made an interception to give the ball back to Batavia with three minutes left in the quarter. Cam McCliniic scored on a 9-yard run to increase the lead 35-6.
on a 4-yard run, Aavion Bethel scores Batavia’s sixth touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.
Julia Petry was 6 for 6 on extra point coversions.
Javin McFollins was 5-6 passing for 118 yards and two TDS Cam McClinic rushed for 62 yards and a TD on seven Carrie's Carter NcFollins gained 73 yards and scored on three carries. He also had 63 yards and a TD on two receptions. Aiden Anderson gained 72 yards on five carries.
in addition to the interception, Mekhi Fortes had seven tackles.
Batavia's next game is home against Monroe next Thursday night at VanDetta, with kickoff 6 p.m.
Photos by Steve Ognibene
To view or purchase photos, click here.
The Batavia boys soccer team improved to 2-0 on the season with a 5-0 win on Wednesday over East/LAFYM/SWN/NE N Douglass.
Owen Halpin led the way with a hat trick with Alex Bartz and Dima Havens also scoring.
Both of Batavia's wins have been shutouts led by goalkeeper Jack Pickard and the defensive line of Ryan Dillon, Hunter Mileham, Rashawd Christie, and Trevor Tryon.
Photo and info submitted by Graham Halpin, Batavia Boys Soccer Varsity Coach
The Batavia Boys Varsity Soccer team beat Holley in their first game of the season.
Goals were scored by Dima Havens, with an assist from Owen Halpin, and Matthew Wittmeyer, assisted by Dima Havens.
"A fantastic performance by the defense led by Ryan Dillon while with Jack Pickard earned a shutout," said Head Coach Graham Halpin.
On Thursday, August 25, 2022, the Batavia City School District will host the official dedication ceremony for the Frank E. Owen Auditorium at Batavia High School.
The ceremony will begin at 7:00 pm in the auditorium and will include an official ribbon cutting, and performances by Batavia High School music students, alumni, staff, and community members.
The evening will feature remarks from Superintendent Jason Smith, Batavia High School Principal Paul Kesler, and Batavia High School Music Department Chair Jane Haggett. The ceremony will also include an appearance by Frank E. Owen’s son, Jim Owen.
On May 5, 2022, the Batavia City School District Board of Education officially approved the renaming of the Batavia High School auditorium to the “Frank E. Owen Auditorium.”
Frank E. Owen started his career with the Batavia City School District in 1927, where he directed the orchestra and was appointed the head of the music department. Owen was responsible for many musical “firsts” across the district: the first BCSD band was formed in 1930, and he founded the Batavia High School Choristers in 1935. He directed the first school musical in 1937 and formed the first jazz/swing choir in the 1960s. Owen retired in 1964, completing a career that spanned 37 years of dedication to the students of Batavia. He passed away on July 9, 1978, in Batavia, and shortly after, a scholarship was set up in his name and is awarded each year to a student pursuing a career in music education.
For anyone who is interested in joining the performance in celebration of Frank E. Owen, more information can be found here.
Admission to the event is free. The Frank E. Auditorium is located at Batavia High School, 260 State Street, Batavia, New York.
Press release:
The Batavia Blue Devil Athletic Hall of Fame Committee is proud to announce the recently selected 19th Hall of Fame class. The 2022 Hall of Fame Inductees will be introduced at halftime of the Batavia vs Pal-Mac homecoming football game on Friday, Sept. 30. Game time is 7 p.m.
On Saturday, Oct. 1, the committee will host the Hall of Fame Dinner at the Batavia Downs Banquet Facility. A social hour will begin at 5 p.m. with dinner served at 6 p.m. and the ceremony immediately following dinner.
The 2022 Inductees:
- Benjamin Martino, 1959 --Football, Wrestling
- Paul Blossom, 1968 -- Football, Swimming, Track & Field
- Richard Saunders, 1971 -- Athlete: Swimming, Football, Baseball, Bowling; Coach: Swimming, Wrestling, Baseball
- Sandy (Samiec) Reeg, 1979 -- Tennis
- Kristie (DuRei) DeFreze, 2005 -- Gymnastics, Cheerleading, Track & Field
- Michael Chmielowiec, 2005 -- Basketball
- Boys Basketball Team, 2005 -- State Semi-Finalist
- Jermaine Henderson, 2006 -- Football, Track & Field
If community members would like to attend the event, they can purchase Hall of Fame tickets in the Athletic Office at Batavia High School or send a check payable to The Batavia Coaches Association at the address above. The cost of the Hall of Fame tickets is $40.00 per adult and $20.00 for children under 10. Tickets must be purchased by Friday, September 23rd. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Athletic Director’s office, at (585) 343-2480 x: 2003.
Some of the best young basketball players in the region -- about 70 of them -- are participating in an annual five-week basketball camp at Batavia High School hosted by Coach Buddy Brasky.
The program runs from July 5 to August 8.
Brasky said most basketball camps during the summer last for only one week. He favors five weeks because that gives the players more time to work on their skills.
"Repetition is the mother of learning," Brasky said.
Numbers are good in camp, he said, with 70+ kids. It’s about average compared to other years.
He's been hosting the camp for 25 years.
"I wanted to help raise the level of basketball in the glow region," Brasky said. "Plus I wanted a place where the best players in the area had a place to compete against each other throughout the summer. I expect the players that come to camp to significantly raise their skill level by the end of the camp, and to also raise their competitive spirit."
Assisting Brasky this summer are Matt Shay, boys Varsity coach at Pembroke HS, Billy Truitt, former Division 1 and professional basketball player, Tim Sullivan, well-respected skills instructor, and Tim Stevens, boys Varsity assistant coach at BHS.
Photos by Howard Owens
It's more than just fun in the sun each of the last five summers when James Fazio has hosted his annual softball summer skills camp at Batavia High School.
It's about putting in the reps to learn the skills that leads to winning games.
The camp is open to softball players from throughout the region, not just Batavia students, and the girls work on the fundamentals of the game including hitting, throwing, fielding, base running, and pitching.
Fazio was assisted at this year's camp by Athletes Edge Coach Brian Mruczek, Batavia Varsity Assistant Coach Mike Almekinder, Batavia JV Coach Jamie Masters and Batavia Stingers Coach Stan Kaus.
"I like to open the camp up to girls from the whole area, not just Batavia girls, just so we promote the game," Fazio said. "If I can help them with their skills in any way possible, that's my main objective. Obviously, I'd like to have a lot of my Batavia girls attend, which we do have a good amount this year, and I have my varsity girls who are helping and they've done a tremendous job all week long. I'm just trying to promote the game in our area, which is very popular anyways."
Photos by Howard Owens.
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