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Muckdogs fall to Geneva in 10th inning 5-4

By Steve Ognibene

After an early 1-0 lead by Geneva, the Muckdogs Gavin Schrader scores from an RBI single from Levis Aguila to tie the game at one in the bottom of the sixth inning. 

Bottom of the seventh, Schrader sends a ball just fair of third base line deep into the corner on a two-run RBI, of which Jerry Reinhart (pictured above) slid into home to give the Dogs a 3-1 lead.

Geneva ties the game in the bottom of the ninth inning to add an extra inning and score two more in the top of the tenth.  Schrader helped cut the lead to one but the Muckdogs fell 5-4.

The Knights of Columbus #325 council sponsored a bicycle raffle.  The girls bike was won by 5-year-old Brooklyn Burns and Mark Whitehair won the boys bike for his grandson.  All the proceeds were given to local organization All Babies Cherished in Batavia.

Post game fireworks were celebrated after the game in honor of Independence Day.

The Muckdogs travel away to Niagara today for a 1 p.m. start, and back home on Wednesday for $1.00 hotdog weenie night at Dwyer Stadium. Game time is 7 p.m.

Photos by Steve Ognibene

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Class B, first round: Batavia at Geneva

By Brian Hillabush

 Batavia (3-4) at Geneva (6-1)

7 p.m. Friday

Those Batavia football players that didn't believe they had a chance to beat Geneva before last week's regular season finale, now are believing the upset is possible.

It may sound funny, but that is because of the second half effort of a 40-12 loss. Now the eighth-seeded Batavia squad will try to upset the top-seed.

The Blue Devils found something in the Panther defense that coach Dan Geiger believes they can exploit. Geneva is a powerhouse and is ranked No. 3 in the state in Class B.

But it was clear after the homecoming loss last Friday, Batavia's players believe a victory is possible.

Oh yeah, a healthy Rob Williams will help.

Williams injured his hip in Week 6 and was initially not expected to play last week, but saw very limited action in the first Geneva game. And he didn't do much.

But he's close to 100-percent and will make a big difference rushing the football, returning kicks and covering the super-athletic Geneva receivers.

Williams will probably go over 1,000 yards rushing for the year in this game, which would be the second Batavia back to do so.

Anthony D'Aurizio had 24 carries for 183 yards last week and now has 1,009 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season.

The key to this game will be to obviously run the football, which the Blue did with success in the second half last week.

Batavia will also have to slow down the passing attack of Geneva as the Panthers receivers were wide open last week.

DeAnze Williams, Junior Collins and Derrious Thomas were all separating from the coverage with ease last week and quarterback Bobby Martin had no problem finding them at-will.

The secondary has to stick with those guys.

A victory in this game would be HUGE for the Batavia program and could set up the Blue Devils for a shot to shock the world and win a sectional title.

Geneva spoils Batavia's homecoming

By Brian Hillabush

 The Batavia football team will try to mimic what Geneva does all week in practice, in preparation for the Section 5 Class B Tournament next week.

But they got better looks than they will get all week Friday night in a 40-12 loss. The blowout spoiled the Batavia homecoming, but will hopefully give the team some ideas how to pull the upset next week as the Blue Devils will be the No. 8 seed, going up against No. 1 Geneva for the second straight week.

The Panthers are the No. 4 ranked team in the state and looked like it right off the bat, taking control of the game in the first quarter.

Quarterback Bobby Martin hooked up with DeAnze Williams and Junior Collins on passes before finding Derrious Thomas in the end zone on a 25-yard pass.

Batavia went three-and-out and Martin went right back to work.

There was a 21-yard strike to Collins before Martin scored on a 15-yard keeper, making the score 13-0 after a period of play.

The Blue Devils came out in the second quarter and Rob Williams entered the game at tailback. Williams injured his hip last week and was not expected to play, but was looked at by doctors just hours before the game and allowed to play, with limited duties.

He moved the ball five yards on that carry, but Batavia was pushed back on the next play and wound up in a fourth-and-6 situation.

QB Joe Canzoneri found a receiver, but he was two yards short of getting the first down.

The Blue Devils finally made a stop on defense, but a pass interference call helped prolong the Geneva drive. Martin found Collins after that and moved his squad down to the 15-yard line.

A short run and two incomplete passes set up a fourth-and-9. The Panthers knew where to go with the ball as Martin lofted a ball up into the end zone and Thomas skied above the defender and pulled down his second score of the game, giving Geneva a 21-0 advantage.

Thomas then made a play on defense, intercepting a Canzoneri pass and returning it deep into Batavia territory. But a personal foul and unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Geneva pushed the ball all the way back to midfield.

Williams had a 38-yard touchdown run shortly after that.

Batavia had a shot to score late in the first half when Vinny Pedro ripped off a 25-yard run and Canzoneri found a receiver on an 11-yard pass with one second left. But the final pass of the half fell incomplete.

The Batavia coaching staff found something at the half and made some good adjustments, allowing the home squad to finally start moving the football.

Anthony D'Aurizio broke off a 31-yard run and eventually scored on a 3-yarder. Geneva did answer right back with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Williams.

D'Aurizio and the Batavia offense again marched the football down the field, but a fumble gave the Panthers the ball back and killed all momentum.

Williams scored the final Geneva points in the fourth quarter on a 14-yard run. D'Aurizio scored another touchdown in the closing seconds on a 4-yard run.

Geneva improves to 6-1 while Batavia falls to 3-4. The two squads will play again next Friday night in the opening round of the playoffs, in Geneva.

 

Week 7 Geneva at Batavia preview

By Brian Hillabush

 Geneva (5-1) at Batavia (3-3)

7 p.m. Friday

Rob Williams is out, so the Blue Devils are going to have to change things up quite a bit.

Williams has been a monster this season but suffered a hip injury in last week's 34-14 loss to East Rochester/Gananda. But he was shut down, gaining only 26 yards on 15 carries, and left in the third quarter with the injury.

The senior with 904 yards rushing will be missing this week but should be back for the Class B playoffs the following week.

This means drastic changes in how Batavia will run its offense, takes away the biggest playmaker on special teams and means the defensive secondary will be severely limited.

But the Blue Devils have a plan; give the ball to Anthony D'Aurizio as much as possible, play the field position game and try to control the tempo of the game.

D'Aurizio has carried the ball 83 times for 826 yards and eight touchdowns and has been the thunder to Williams' lightning. An experienced athlete, D'Aurizio is going to have to put the team on his shoulders and carry them this week.

"He's going to have to have a monster game, no doubt about it," coach Dan Geiger said. 

As good as D'Aurizio is, Geneva will be focusing on him and the Blue Devils are going to need to do other things.

Vinny Pedro has done some good work as the third back and would help his team a bunch if he could make a big play or two with the ball in his hands. Fullback Todd Logsdon could also see increased carries this week.

And it is time for quarterback Joe Canzoneri to step up.

The junior has not had to do much with his arm because of Batavia's strong running game, but expect him to be put in the position to make plays that could determine the outcome of the game.

Canzoneri is a skilled quarterback that will have to get the ball to receivers like Pedro, Devonte Rolle and Joe Schlossel. 

Batavia has been on the road for the last three weeks and returns home for homecoming and a game with a Geneva squad that is the top seed in Class B. The Blue Devils have clinched a playoff berth and will probably end up at No. 7 or 8.

Geneva has a stud quarterback in Bobby Martin and has won two consecutive sectional championships. The Panthers are ranked fourth in the state in Class B.

Martin is surrounded by good athletes and is going to be hungry after a 14-13 loss to Canandaigua last week, in a battle of unbeaten squads.

 

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