The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Sports Outdoors

St. Mary’s Soccer Splits With New Lebanon

By

 

The St. Mary’s Academy Girls Soccer Team.
The St. Mary’s Academy Girls Soccer Team.

SMA Girls Capture Second Soccer Win 

The St. Mary’s Academy girls soccer team has started off the season 2-0.  Their first win was against Mt. Anthony in which the Eagles outscored the Patriots 7-0.  On Wednesday, September 17, St. Mary’s again held their opponent, New Lebanon, scoreless, winning 4-0.  In that contest, seventh grade goalie Olivia Schneider had 10 saves in recording the shut out. SMA goals were scored by Alice Hayden, Ashley St. Onge, Grace Delurey and Casey Legg. Mary Peters, Julia Baker,  Anna Restino and Erin Murdock shut down the Tigers offense all day long. Mauve McAuliffe and Maggie Murdock made their first starts at midfield and performed very well.

On September 17 the Eagles’ Boys team also traveled down Rt. 22 to play at New Lebanon. This first road trip resulted in a loss for the boys. The Eagles fought to a 1-1 tie at the half, but the undermanned Eagles seemed to lose their legs at the beginning of the second half. They gave up three unanswered goals in the first few minutes of the  half. They rebounded gamely over the last 15 minutes scoring another goal and only giving up a very late goal near the end of the game. 

Drew Phillips had an assist and a goal while Alex LeBarge netted another goal to bring his season total to two in two games. Ryan Toto and Evan Phillips played another awesome game in the fullback slots. Justin Lynch, Nate Winchester and Anthony Chapones tried to control the midfield under the constant pressure of the Tigers. Keenan Morioraty recorded 13 saves in front of a very busy goal.

Hoosick Falls Youth Football – Irish Romp Again

By

 

Behind some great line blocking, Jake Bakaitis bursts through the Vermont Vipers defense for some big yards. Photo by Steve Bradley.
Behind some great line blocking, Jake Bakaitis bursts through the Vermont Vipers defense for some big yards. Photo by Steve Bradley.

The Hoosick Fighting Irish opened up a 30 point lead in the first quarter and coasted to a big win over the Vermont Vipers of Poultney, VT. The 3 – 0 Irish have now outscored their opponents 143 – 6. Next Sunday the team travels to Schuylerville with a 1 pm start at the Schuylerville High School.

Panther Football Team Outlasts Stillwater

By

 

Mike Brewster (#12) and the HF defense made sure there was no gain on the first play of the second quarter against Stillwater last Friday. (Bea Peterson photo)
Mike Brewster (#12) and the HF defense made sure there was no gain on the first play of the second quarter against Stillwater last Friday. (Bea Peterson photo)

 

 

by Gary Danforth

Last Friday evening, September 19, the Hoosick Falls Central School Panther football team used a stingy defense to thwart a Stillwater Central School eleven which tried its best to run right over HFCS in the Panthers’ 19-7 win. Stillwater ran the ball the first five plays it had the ball to open period one and kept up its ground attack all night. But its efforts against the Panther defense was done one better by an improving Panther running game. Time and time again Hoosick Falls got big runs from several different backs and did enough on the ground and in the air to push their Class C, North division record to 2-1.

Both teams stalled on their initial drives with the visiting Warriors being contained at their 40 yard line and HFCS coming up short at their 38 yard line. Stillwater fumbled the ball back to HFCS on their next possession, and HFCS gave it back to the visitors via an interception. HFCS bottled Stillwater up at their own 35 yard line on the Warriors third possession. The Panther offense was stopped on their third possession on a fourth and one situation at the HFCS 43 yard line.

A hard hitting Panther defense stopped the Warriors at their own 38 yard line on their fourth possession. Stillwater had passed the ball just twice in its first twenty plays, completing the pass once for 17 yards. HFCS was getting a heavy dose of the Warrior running game.

HFCS would strike first. The Panthers scored on a five play, 65 yard drive. Senior running back Dan Okerman ripped off a 44 yard run. Then Okerman got four more yards on a run. Senior Panther quarterback Kevin Woods got eight yards on an option run to the left. Junior running back Alex Hansen went the final nine yards on two more Panther running plays, covering the final five yards for the game’s initial score with 8:12 left in period two. Junior Hutton Rasmus booted the point after touchdown to give HFCS a 7-0 lead.

HFCS forced the Warriors into a fourth and seven situation at midfield on their next possession. Then the Panther’s Logan O’Brien made a big play, returning the ensuing Warrior punt all the way to the Stillwater eleven yard line. On the next play, Woods ran an option play into the end zone. Rasmus’s PAT boot was wide left with 5:22 remaining in the first half to keep HFCS ahead, 13-0.

Stillwater came right back at Hoosick Falls, scoring on a six play, 60 yard drive. Stillwater completed their second pass of the evening during the drive with Warrior junior quarterback Dan Palmieri running around the right side of the Panther defense from 22 yards out for the TD. Aaron Tanner’s PAT boot got Stillwater to 13-7 with 2:52 left in the opening half.

A running play and two Panther incompletions gave the ball back to Stillwater, who was unable to score again before the first half ended.

O’Brien made another big special teams play to start off the Panther second half. This time he took the Warrior kickoff and galloped all the way to the Stillwater one yard line. The Warrior defense stiffened with two incomplete passes sandwiched around a stuffed run leaving HFCS with a fourth and goal at the Stillwater seven yard line. But Woods rolled right and found Jordan Brogue with the TD pass. A two-point conversion pass failed as the Panthers clung to a 19-7 advantage.

Neither team could move the ball on the opposing defense as Stillwater bogged down at the Panther 44 yard line and their own 35 yard line on their next two possessions while HFCS gave the ball back at the Warrior 49 yard line and had a second pass picked off.

The Hoosick Falls defense continued to bottle up the Warrior attack during their last three possessions with the Panthers coming out on the long end of the 19-7 score. 

Under the Goalposts: In other Class C action, Cambridge beat Mechanicville in overtime and Schuylerville, Fonda-Fultonville and Watervliet picked up wins. HFCS travels to Corinth this Friday night in a game which should be very competitive. The Tomahawks, like HFCS, have lost to Schuylerville.

HFCS Golfers Defeat Granville

By

 

Corey Callahan was medalist on Thursday, September 18, against Granville. (Bea Peterson file photo)
Corey Callahan was medalist on Thursday, September 18, against Granville. (Bea Peterson file photo)

Hoosick Falls defeated Granville 4.5-0.5 at the Hoosick Falls Country Club on Thursday, September 18. Corey Callahan was medalist with 36.

 

Bellemare HF def Casey 2 & 1

Callahan HF def Miller 5 & 3

Wirmusky HF def McDermott 3 & 1

Gorman HF def Bixby 2 & 1

Hall HF tied Bernard

Hoosick Falls’ record is now 9-2.

Soccer Weekend In New Lebanon

By

Come to the 32nd Annual New Lebanon Soccer Tournament. New Lebanon is hosting the Lee, Berlin and Hoosic Valley Boys teams as well as the Chatham, Berlin and Hoosic Valley Girls teams.  All these teams are playing great soccer this year. There has already been some really good soccer being played at the New Lebanon High School this year, and these games promise to be no different. The tournament will be played at the New Lebanon High School field.

Tyler Pomakoy vies for the ball against Waterford. (David Flint photo). Waterford’s Ray Carmel and Mike Hilton scored a goal apiece to give Waterford a 2 to 1 win over the BCS Boys soccer team on Wednesday. Fred Morine scored for Berlin with Brent Demick recording 24 saves in goal. Berlin is now 4 and 3 in the league and 6 and 3 overall.
Tyler Pomakoy vies for the ball against Waterford. (David Flint photo). Waterford’s Ray Carmel and Mike Hilton scored a goal apiece to give Waterford a 2 to 1 win over the BCS Boys soccer team on Wednesday. Fred Morine scored for Berlin with Brent Demick recording 24 saves in goal. Berlin is now 4 and 3 in the league and 6 and 3 overall.

 

 

There will also be baked goods, hot dishes and barbecue off the grill for very reasonable prices.  Great soccer!  Great food! Why go anywhere else?

Entrance at the gate is $2 per adult, $1 per child, per night.

Games are as follows:

• Thursday September 25 – Boys –  5 pm – Lee vs. Berlin, 7 pm – Hoosic Valley vs. New Lebanon

• Friday September 26 – Girls –  5 pm – Chatham vs. Berlin, 7 pm – Hoosic Valley vs. New Lebanon

• Saturday September 27 – 1 pm – Girls Consolation Game, 3 pm – Boys Consolation Game, 5 pm – Girls Championship Game, 7 pm – Boys Championship Game

Grafton Lakes State Park Hosts 22nd Annual Barge Chaser Canoe And Kayak Race

By

Fall is just around the corner and Grafton Lakes State Park is gearing up for its 22nd Annual Barge Chaser Canoe and Kayak Race.  The event will be held Sunday, September 28, with registration beginning at 10 am at the Beach Nature Center and the race at 11 am.  The race, which is sponsored by the Northern New York Paddlers, is a day of friendly competition for the paddlers and fun for the whole family. 

There are two courses for paddlers to choose from.  The shorter course follows the three miles of shoreline around Long Pond with no portage.  The longer course is seven miles altogether with sections on Long Pond and Second Pond including two short portages.  There are classes separating canoes and kayaks, tandem or solo, age groups, gender and experience.  Awards are given for first through third place.

The registration fee is $10 per person and $5 for participants under 18.  Registration includes a potluck picnic after the races.  Hamburgers, hotdogs and drinks will be provided, but please bring a salad or dessert to share.  

For more information, contact Sue Knapik of Northern New York Paddlers at 843-8133.  To learn more about other park events, visit www.nysparks.com.

Ninth Annual Karen McGovern Volleyball Tournament

By

 

Weather conditions were perfect Saturday for the Ninth Annual Karen McGovern Volleyball Tournament. (Bea Peterson photo)
Weather conditions were perfect Saturday for the Ninth Annual Karen McGovern Volleyball Tournament. (Bea Peterson photo)

by Bea Peterson

 

Karen McGovern fought a valiant battle with cancer over nine years ago. She lost her battle, but her memory lives on in the Karen McGovern Volleyball Tournament held every year at The Sand Bar. Funds raised at these tournaments are used to assist Hoosick residents fighting cancer. It can cover prescription and household bills, transportation to doctor’s appointments and treatment centers or help with any other financial needs they might have. This ninth year the tournament raised $12,000, the same as last year. With the state of the economy, the group had scaled back expectations to $10,000, so they were pleasantly surprised by the results. During break time Karen’s father Bill said, “$10,000 is a drop in the bucket for cancer research, but it does so much good in this community.” He estimates that over the years the tournaments and other contributions have reached over $100,000. Eight teams and many spectators participated in the September 13 event.

Bill Johnston Honored

Each year a cancer survivor showing Karen’s tenacity in fighting the disease is honored. This year George Holbrook had the privilege of introducing Bill Johnston. He said he and Bill have had a great business and personal relationship for 40 years. He said Bill has undergone radiation and chemotherapy and continued to do his legal work with a smile. He said it was a pleasure to be able to honor him in this way. He also noted what a great job the McGovern fund is doing in helping the community. 

Bill managed a humorous quip or two, then said. “I represent those souls that go before me and after me. This is not about me.”

“Our faith, our religion is what sustains us when we go through times of illness. Illness only affects your physical being, not your spiritual being.” He said he believes a soul’s job after death is to reach a nearness with God. “By honoring the soul of Karen McGovern, by doing good for others, you are assisting Karen to get closer to God.”

This year Ron Jones shared his memories of Karen. He described her as a wonderful, strong person with an upbeat spirit who rose up even stronger in the face of adversity. He spoke of a Christmas party he held when he asked everyone to bring an ornament for his tree. Karen’s ornament for him was an angel. “Every year I pull her angel out of the box and place it at the top of the tree, and my family gets to think about Karen,” he said.

Mahar Funeral Home Honored

This year Tim and George Smith of the Mahar Funeral Home were honored for their support of the Karen McGovern Fund. When a bereaved family is unsure of which charity they would like to receive memorial contributions, the brothers often suggest the McGovern Fund. Those supplemental donations add  much to the Tournament funds.

Lisa Ferrannini, one of the event organizers, said next year will be the 10th annual tournament and it will be huge!