Two longtime rivals, the teams representing "Genesee Hardware" and "Pino Vincenzo" returned to annual "Snow Ball" battle Saturday in Williams Park.
The two teams started a tradition of playing a winter softball game as youths, and didn't play a match for about 20 years before returning to the park last year.
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On Saturday the Tonawanda Valley Youth Ladies Fastpitch Softball League (TVYLFSL) hosted a Junior Division small ball softball tournament to benefit Crossroads House.
Four teams of 10-12-year-old girls participated, representing Batavia, Le Roy and Byron-Bergen.
Participants and their families were asked to bring donations from the Crossroad House wish list.
http://www.crossroadshouse.com/
"Crossroads House is a comfort care home for those who have a terminal illness and have been medically determined to be in the last three months of life. Crossroads House is an alternative to a hospital or nursing home when care can no longer be provided in the patient's own home."
Le Roy 2 coached by Micky Hyde won the tournament. Tied in points going into the last game with Le Roy 1, Hyde's team scored a run in the last inning to pull off the win.
More pictures from the games can be found here.
The Notre Dame girls softball team got a homecoming befitting state champions Saturday night with a police and fire escort from the Thruway, down Oak Street, east, then west on Main Street and finally down Woodward to the parking lot of their school.
The girls swept two games in Queensbury Saturday to become the state's Class D champions.
It's the third straight year the softball team had a chance at a title and it turned out truly to be a case of the third time's the charm.
"It took a lot of heart and dedication, waking up super early, getting to practice before games, hitting, throwing, the whole thing," Kaylin Young said. "It was definitely worth it."
In the semi-final game, the Fighting Irish beat Hamilton 9-2, but the championship game was much tighter with Notre Dame (19-7) taking a 1-0 victory over Deposit.
"We were the visiting team so I was the lead-off hitter and I got two early strikes," Laurie Call said. "I'm thinking, 'oh, my gosh,' and then I got a single. Then I just remember each time something bad happened, I just had to tell my adrenaline to go back down and make sure I'm focused on the game and not to worry about the state title. It's just another game."
It's the first state title in softball for Notre Dame.
"It means an awful lot to the Notre Dame community and the family that is Notre Dame," Coach Rick Mancuso said. "We're very proud of the girls and we would like to thank the community for coming out tonight, welcoming us as the newest state champions."
The newest state champions were greeted at the Thruway exit by Engine 12 and Ladder 15 of the Batavia Fire Department and three Batavia patrol cars. With lights and sirens, the caravan of players, parents and fans paraded through the city with dozens and dozens of people turning out along Main Street to cheer for the team.
Laurie said the city's greeting was really overwhelming.
"It’s really, finally like all that weightlifting you've been doing, all those pitches you’ve taken in the legs, like everything finally means something and you just kind of want to stop and cry," Laurie said.
In the final game of the modified softball season Alexander rallied to within 1 of Pembroke.
The final game was held in Pembroke on a beautiful spring day.
The final was Pembroke 17, Alexander 16.
More pictures can be found here: Alexander - Pembroke modified softball
The Notre Dame Girls Softball Team won the Far West Regional Championship today after defeating Forestville Central High School, 7-2.
Carly Pike fanned 10 and surrendered only five hits.
The team is now 19-7 on the season.
Notre Dame now moves on to the state semi-finals.
Photo submitted by Scott Grefrath.
Behind the four-hit performances of Laurie Call and Kendra Wall, the Notre Dame Girls Softball Team powered its way to an 11-1 win over DeSales in the quarter final game of the state Class D tournament.
The Fighting Irish, hungry for a state championship, will face Forestville at Monroe Community Colleg on Tuesday. Game time is 5 p.m.
The Notre Dame baseball team didn't fair as well, dropping a Class DD sectional title game to Arkport, 3-2, on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Batavia Blue Devils took a swing at a third-straight attempt to win a Class A Section V title, but dropped the Saturday game (a make-up for a rainout on Friday) to Honeoye Falls-Lima, 7-1.
The Notre Dame Girls Softball Team won the Class D1 Section V championship tonight in Keshequa by beating Arkport 17-14.
Photo submitted by Linda Bartlett.
The Genesee Community College softball team dropped a pair of games to #3 Tompkins-Cortland Community College on Sunday afternoon, falling 4-0 in game one and 11-0 in game two.
The Lady Cougars only managed four hits in game one, all of which were singles. Chelsea Lynch (Attica, NY) was 2-3 in the game with two infield singles. Miki Kawaguchi (Japan) was 1-3 and Abbey Rocque was 1-3.
Alishia Foss (Medina, NY) pitched well, allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits and struck out one.
(#6 Alishia Foss pitched both games in Sunday's afternoon double header against Tompkins-Cortland Community College)
In game two, Tompkins-Cortland built a 3-0 lead early and then blew the game open with an eight-run fifth inning to win via the mercy rule.
Genesee managed only three hits in the second game as Lynch delivered a double and was 1-2. Kawaguchi was 1-2 as well and Alex Miller (Attica, NY) added a single and was 1-2.
GCC finishes the regular season 12-18 and will wait until seedings are announced to see if they advance to the Region III tournament.
The Genesee Community College softball team split a double-header with Erie Community College on Monday afternoon, winning game one 7-1 and dropping game two 10-2.
In game one the Lady Cougars scored three times in the second inning and added four in the sixth behind a strong outing from starting pitcher Alishia Foss. Foss threw a complete-game, allowing one un-earned run on five hits while striking out four. She also added an RBI triple at the plate.
Chelsea Lynch was 2-3 at the dish and scored two runs. Jennifer Merle went 2-3 with two doubles, two runs batted in and two runs scored. Alex Miller was 2-4 with an inside the park homerun.
#2 Chelsea Lynch drops down a bunt single in GCC's first game against Erie Community College
In game two, Genesee was doomed by a rough second inning. Erie CC scored nine runs in the second frame on four hits, a hit by pitch, a walk and five errors.
The Lady Kats added a run in the fifth inning to take a 10-0 lead. GCC scored twice in the bottom of the fifth, but were unable to close the gap further, falling via the eight-run mercy rule.
Lynch went 2-3 with a run scored and Sabrina Wilhoite was 1-2 with a run scored. Foss pitched game two as well, throwing five innings and striking out four.
With the split, Genesee is now 10-10 on the season and 3-1 in Western New York Athletic Conference play. They will travel to Jefferson Community College on Thursday at 3pm for their next game.
The Genesee Community College softball team opened Western New York Athletic Conference play on Thursday afternoon with a two-game sweep of visiting Alfred State College.
Alishia Foss pitched well in game one, allowing five runs while striking out three in a complete game effort. Her offense built an early lead, scoring twice in the bottom of the first inning, including an RBI triple from Miki Kawaguchi. The Lady Cougars led 8-5 in the fifth inning and won via the eight run mercy rule after putting together a five-run fifth. They sent all nine batters to the plate and got a two-run single from Kawaguchi and a sacrifice fly from Amanda McGowan. Genesee won game one 13-5.
Kawaguchi finished the game 2-4 with 3 RBI’s, Alex Miller went 2-3 with four runs scored and Sabrina Wilhoite went 3-3 with three runs scored.
Alex Miller delivers a hit against Alfred State College
In game two, Genesee answered a top of the first inning run from Alfred State with a three-run home half of the inning, highlighted by an RBI single from McGowan, to take the early lead. The Lady Cougars were a run away from another mercy rule victory, leading 11-4 in the 6th inning before Alfred State scored seven times to tie the game at 11. GCC went quietly in the sixth and the seventh innings, and the game went into extra frames.
Both teams exchanged a run in the eight inning. Alfred State kept the pressure on with a run in the ninth and put two runners on base with a chance to extend the lead. GCC pitcher Abbey Rocque kept the Lady Cougars in the game by striking out the next three hitters, keeping it a one-run game. Genesee quickly tied the game in the ninth on an RBI single from Foss and then won the game when Wilhoite hit a line drive to center that was dropped, scoring Foss. GCC won game two 14-13.
Members of the GCC softball team celebrate #8 Sabrina Wilhoite's game-winning hit
Rocque pitched the entire game and also delivered a two-run double. Lindsay Chatt was 2-5 in game two, scoring twice and driving in a run. Kawaguchi was 2-5 with two runs scored and Chelsea Lynch was 2-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.
With the wins, Genesee is now 2-0 in conference play and 9-9 overall. They will play again on Tuesday when they host Erie Community College at 3:30pm.
The Genesee Community College softball team took two from visiting Finger Lakes Community College on Tuesday afternoon to improve to 7-9 on the season.
In game one the Lady Cougars fell behind early after Finger Lakes CC scored twice in the first inning and then nine times in the third inning to take an 11-0 lead. Genesee began their comeback in the bottom of the third, scoring three times on four walks and an RBI single from Miki Kawaguchi. They then sent 13 hitters to the plate and scored eight times in the fourth inning to tie the game at 11. Finger Lakes CC regained the lead with three runs in the fifth and three runs in the sixth and held a 17-11 lead going into the bottom of the seventh. Down to their final three outs, Genesee put together a seven run inning including a two-run base hit from Alishia Foss and won the game on a walk-off single by Kawaguchi.
Genesee celebrates Miki Kawaguchi's walk-off single in game one against Finger Lakes Community College
Kawaguchi finished the game 3-4 with three runs batted in. Amanda McGowan added two hits and two runs batted in and also scored twice. Sabrina Wilhoite scored three runs.
Abbey Rocque pitched all seven innings and struck out two en-route to the win.
In game two, Genesee grabbed the early lead when they scored three times in the bottom of the first inning including an RBI single from Chelsea Lynch. Finger Lakes CC responded with four runs in the second inning to take a 4-3 lead. The lead did not last long as Lynch reached base in the third inning after being hit by a pitch, stole second and then scored on an error to tie the game at four. After retiring the Lady Lakers in order in the fourth, Genesee took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning when Wilhoite reached on an error and then scored on an error with two outs. Genesee added a run in the fifth and a run in the sixth and held on for a 7-5 victory.
Foss was the winner on the mound in game two, pitching all seven innings allowing eight hits and struck out two.
Kawaguchi again went 3-4 at the plate, Lynch delivered a run batted in and scored twice and Jennifer Merle went 3-3 with a run batted in.
Genesee will play on Thursday afternoon at 3pm when they host Alfred State for a double header.
The Genesee Community College softball team hosted Corning Community College on Thursday afternoon and split the two-game double header with the visiting Red Barons.
Corning jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning in game one. The Lady Cougars responded when Chelsea Lynch delivered an RBI single that scored Alex Miller to cut the lead to one. Genesee took the lead in the third inning after Miki Kawaguchi tied the game with an RBI single and then came around to score on a Lindsay Chatt hit. GCC led 4-3 in the fifth inning before the Red Barons scored six runs to take the lead for good. Genesee added a run in the seventh but could not come back further.
Kawaguchi finished game one going 3 for 4 with a run scored and a run batted in. Chatt and Lynch each went 1 for 4 with a run batted in. Abbey Rocque pitched seven innings and allowed nine runs (four earned) and struck out one.
In game two, Genesee fell behind early once again. Corning scored three runs in the top of the first inning to take the lead. The Lady Cougars cut into the lead with two runs in the second on RBI singles from Sabrina Wilhoite and Kawaguchi. The Red Barons added a run in the sixth and the seventh to take a 5-2 lead into the final frame. Down to their final two outs, GCC put together four straight hits including a three-run double by Alishia Foss, tying the game at five and sending it to extra innings. In the eight, Corning took a 6-5 lead with a run on a hit and a sacrifice fly. The Lady Cougars responded scoring twice in the bottom of the eighth, winning the game 7-6 on a walk-off single from Miller.
The GCC Softball team celebrates Alex Miller's walk-off single in game two against Corning CC on Thursday afternoon
Mallory Frew scored two runs in game two, Chatt went 2 for 4 with a run scored and Rocque went 2 for 4 with two runs scored. Foss picked up the win on the mound going eight innings allowing six runs and sruck out three.
Genesee moves to 5-9 on the season and will host Finger Lakes Community College on Tuesday at 3pm.
For a long time, teams representing Genesee Hardware and Pino Vincenzo have been rivals on the softball diamond, but it's been nearly 20 years since they played their once-annual "Snow Ball" match at Williams Park. That tradition was revived Saturday when the two teams braved the cold and the snow-covered field to once again prove which team has what it takes to be called "champion."
The video is of Marissa Diescher, pitcher for Livingston Manor, a Gatorade Player of the Year with a full-ride scholarship to Penn State.
Her fastball can clock at 67 mph, which she mixes with a change up, rise and drop.
After taking a semi-finals game 16-0 earlier today against a pitcher who threw 15 to 20 mph slower, Notre Dame Coach Rick Mancuso said his Fighting Irish team was a little out of rhythm to start the game.
He also he made a mistake in the first inning, calling the wrong pitch, which led to a home run for Livingston Manor and a 2-0 deficit.
It was all up hill from there, with Notre Dame only getting two base runners on no hits and dropping the final 8-0.
"It was a great trip and I couldn't be prouder of the girls," Mancuso said. "We had a great time down here. It was awesome."
He said even in being no hit, the Notre Dame girls were pleased to get a chance to compete against a player of Diescher's caliber.
The Notre Dame girls softball team won its semi-final championship game in Glens Falls today by a score of 16-0.
The team will begin a game within the hour to decide the state champion in its class.
The Notre Dame girls softball team has a chance to play for the state championship this saturday and students and faculty gathered in the school's gym this morning to give the girls a rousing send-off.
The team plays in a state championship semi-finals game at 11:30 a.m. in Glens Falls on Saturday. If they win that game, they'll play in the finals at 4:30 p.m.
The team is coached by Rick Mancuso.
It might have been a rainy day and a ball field with more mud and puddles than grass and clay, but I can say with certainty that the first ever Oakfield Alabama Alumni Softball Game was a success -- I was there.
Yep, I proudly put on my blue and gold colors and --- although my cleats have been misplaced over the years -- my good old softball glove to play against the other 25 or so OA grads who bravely turned out for the rainy game.
While us “even graduation years” ended up beating the “odds,” everyone had fun stepping up to the plate one more time. I already can’t wait for next year!
Varsity baseball coach and organizer of the event, James Patric said he hopes for next year’s turnout to be better so a tournament can be arranged with more than two teams.
“We’re looking to improve from here, I’ve asked all the players what they’d like to see done differently and now that we have the first game to learn from, I’m hoping for a bigger crowd,” Patric said.
Retired OA athletic director Fred Francis agreed.
“What a great start we had, but you can tell everyone in the area that didn’t make it for some reason or other that I’d better see them on the field next year,” he said.
So as a personal challenge to all of those who couldn’t make it (especially the ones who still live in the area -- you know who you are) why not make next year the first of many alumni games to come? Hornet Pride Runs Deep… so prove it!
As a softball team alumna of Oakfield-Alabama High School, I can say with certainty that I'm quite excited to get a chance to play on the same fields I ran around on "back in the day."
But, I'm not the only one who's ready to relive my time as a high school athlete. Registration forms for the tournament are starting to come in, according to James Patric, currently a physical education teacher and baseball coach at O-A.
"More and more people are calling about the game and details so I hope we have a good turnout," he said.
Patric hopes more enthusiastic alumni turn in their registration forms so the tournament can be a "real hit" in its first year.The deadline to turn in the forms and money has been extended to Wednesday, May 4, just in case some more people decide to join in the fun.
In an attempt to gauge interest in an activity like this, a Facebook event page was put together asking Oakfield graduates to pass the link around. About 50 positive responses poured in so planning began and a date was set for the first Oakfield-Alabama Alumni Softball/Baseball Tournament.
It will take place at the softball/baseball fields at the school from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 14. Registration costs $40 and will include a chicken barbeque dinner, a T-shirt to commemorate the day, Gatorade during the game and a chance to "hit the one you missed" or just to enjoy the sport with some old comrades.
"It should be a really fun day for everyone involved," Patric said.
Since it's likely the reunited teammates might want to mingle after the games, an adult reception is scheduled at the Caryville Inn on Main Street in the Village of Oakfield.
For more information or for last minute registration, contact James Patric at 716-560-3438 or e-mail him at jpatric@oahornet.org.
While I was up at GCC for the Eco-Fest, I noticed both the women's softball team and men's baseball team had games going.
This post contains a few shots from the softball games and I'll have a post later with the baseball photos along with more information about the 2011 men's team.
The Cougars split their double-header with Hudson Valley CC 2-5 and 10-5. The women's team is 4-9 overall on the season and 3-0 in its conference.
More pictures after the jump:
The Pembroke Lady Dragons JV softball team defeated the visiting Kendall Eagles 8-6 tonight in a fairly close game. Julia Baker went the distance on the mound for the Dragons striking out 9 batters, and allowing 4 hits and 7 walks. Baker also went 2 for 4 at bat. Ashlee Gilchrist went 2 for 3 with a double, and Breanna Johnson went 3 for 4, also getting a double. Kellie Mroz went 2 for 3 with a clutch 2 run single in the 6th inning to help secure the win. Kayla Streit and Randi DellaPenta also had hits. Both teams played a great game!!
More pictures after the jump:
Above: Julia Baker Delivers another great pitch
A Kendall player hits a line drive
A Pembroke player up to bat
Sliding home. She was safe
Sliding into 3rd base. Once again, she was safe
Believe it or not, she was safe!!
Great Job Ladies!!!
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