The Altamont Enterprise

Wednesday 22 May

Erwin Austin

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Local track-and-field teams compete in league championships during the past week

Details: Published on Friday, 17 May 2013 20:25

img 8284-web The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Arcing over: During Tuesday afternoon’s Western Athletic Conference Championships held at Fort Plain High School, Berne-Knox-Westerlo’s Morgan Viscio attempts to leap over the high jump set at 4 feet, 8 inches. Viscio ranked fifth in the high jump, and won the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 17.2 seconds. The Bulldogs finished third overall in the girls’ team competition with 75 points. Courtney and Allie Tedeschi finished first and second in the 2000-meter steeplechase; Courtney’s time was 7:37, and Allie’s was 8:17.This week, the track and field teams from Guilderland, Voorheesville, and Berne-Knox-Westerlo all competed in their respective league championships.

Bulldogs

The BKW boys and girls traveled to Fort Plain on Tuesday for the Western Athletic Conference Championships. The girls placed third with a team score of 75 points and the boys placed fourth with a score of 86 points.

Here are the BKW girls’ results:

–– Morgan Viscio, first place, 100-meter hurdles, 17.2;

–– Courtney Tedeschi, first, 2,000-meter steeplechase, 7:37.5;

–– Sara Abbott, first, pole vault, 8 feet;

–– Allie Tedeschi, second, 1,500-meter, 5:18.9;

–– Annie Laura Shafer, second, 800-meter, 2:40.7;

–– Allie Tedeschi, second, 2,000-meter steeplechase, 8:17.3;

–– Annie Laura Shafer, third, 1,500-meter, 5:31.2;

–– 4 X 400 relay, fourth, 4:33;

–– Morgan Viscio; fifth; high jump; 4 feet, 6 inches;

–– Katie Slaver, fifth, pentathlon, 990 points;

–– Delaney Martin, sixth, 3,000-meter, 14:44.7;

–– 4 X 800 relay, sixth, 1`2:12.7; and

–– Shannon Quay, sixth, 800-meter, 2:53.6.

Drew Smith makes it A hometown rookie among NFL ‘cool cats’

Details: Published on Friday, 17 May 2013 20:17

By Jordan J. Michael

dsc4960-web – Photo by Bill Ziskin
Happy to be here: Saying that he was “put on this Earth to play football,” Guilderland native Drew Smith has completed his goal of making it to the National Football League, signing with the Buffalo Bills as a free agent after not being drafted. Smith is 6 feet, 2 inches and 225 pounds, and rushed for 40 touchdowns with the University of Albany.Drew Smith’s dream of becoming a National Football League player came true when he signed a three-year contract with the Buffalo Bills this month, but his new vision is to actually line up on the field when the Bills start the 2013 season.

The 2008 Guilderland High School graduate arrived in Buffalo last Thursday for rookie mini-camp. He gained 3,196 rushing yards and scored 45 touchdowns for the University at Albany, but he doesn’t know how much those college numbers matter now that he’s sharing a locker room with the likes of C.J. Spiller, Mario Williams, and Fred Jackson.

In the NFL, everyone is awesome, and for good reason.

“The speed of the game is so much faster,” Smith said this week after starting Organized Team Activities with the Bills on Monday. “Everyone is so fast. You can’t ever hesitate.”

Younger Blackbirds Hope to Defend Classic Title

Details: Published on Friday, 17 May 2013 20:06

img 0770 copy-web The Enterprise –– Jordan J. Michael
What’s the good word, coach? The 2013 baseball season has been up and down for the defending Class C champion Voorheesville Blackbirds. The team won its first five games, then lost four, then won seven straight, and now lost three in a row. Here, Mike Hennessy, left, and David Cardona, middle, listen to Voorheesville Assistant Coach Jon Glisson during a 7-to-0 loss at Schalmont on Monday. Coming into Monday’s contest, senior Nico Church was hitting .610 for the Blackbirds with 39 hits –– a school record –– 32 stolen bases, 25 RBIs, 30 runs scored, and 2 home runs. “We’re a little younger, but we’re coming back,” Church said. “It’s the same mentality, same everything. We’re ready to play.”

img 0767 copy-web The Enterprise –– Jordan J. Michael
Eye-level pitch: Voorheesville’s Kristian Singh takes a pitch from Schalmont’s Jimmy Hamilton on Monday during the Blackbirds’ 7-to-0 loss in Rotterdam. Voorheesville had a chance to overtake Schalmont in the Colonial Council standings with a win, but the team struggled in the cold, windy conditions. Hamilton moved to 6-0, scattering two hits and six strikeouts during his complete game. The Birds (11-7, 7-6) are the defending Class C champions, and looking to repeat. “For us as a whole, we’re looking to go out and show people that last year wasn’t a fluke,” Head Coach Kyle Turski said. “We’re a program to be reckoned with in Class C. We’re going right after it, and expect to be back in the title game. We’ll do everything we can to get there.”

Birds Fly Monday...Grounded Tuesday

Details: Published on Friday, 17 May 2013 20:01

img 8246-web The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Steady play: Braedan Morrison returns a shot from Doane Stuart’s Bokuh Chen during Morrison’s three-set (4-6, 7-5, 7-5) victory on Monday in the Class C/D quarterfinals. Voorheesville won the match, 5 to 2, but lost to Maple Hill, 6 to 2, on Tuesday in the semi-finals.

img 8219-web The Enterprise — Michael Koff
On Monday afternoon, Luke Gorka of Voorheesville sends a serve to Doane Stuart’s Lars Olson during the first set of the Class C/D sectional play at Voorheesville’s high school. Gorka lost, 0-6, 0-6 but the Blackbirds took that match, 5 to 2.

Guilderland girls’ lacrosse make it seven straight title games

Details: Published on Friday, 17 May 2013 19:28

img 8325-web The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Lacrosse sandwich: Guilderland’s Shannon Mackesey escapes the defense of Bethlehem, and gets fouled during Wednesday’s Class A semifinal at Guilderland. The Dutch won, 17 to 3, after being ahead, 12 to 0, at halftime, and will face Shaker on May 22 at the University of Albany for the championship at 7:30 p.m. Mackesey had one goal on Wednesday, and Morgan Hardt scored five goals.

The Guilderland girls’ lacrosse team is hoping to recapture the Class A title after losing each of the last two title games, against Shaker and Niskayuna, by one goal at the very end. The Dutch get a rematch with Shaker next Wednesday.

However, ask Guilderland about the past, and there isn’t much of an answer.

“Every year, it’s a new, different team,” Head Coach Gary Chatnik said after Guilderland’s semifinal win over Bethlehem yesterday. “We’re focused on playing well and taking what’s in front of us.”

“I think the final game from last year carries over,” added Rebecca Golderman. “We don’t want to be upset when the season ends.”

For Guilderland, there is no other agenda except success. “We’ll play our best,” Chatnik said, “and hopefully good fortune comes with that.”

–– Jordan J. Michael

Guilderland Advances

Details: Published on Friday, 17 May 2013 19:15

Dutch beat Colonie, 9-0, on Monday and Niskayuna, 6-2, on Tuesday. They will face Bethlehem in the Class A final for the fourth time in a row.

img 0807-web The Enterprise –– Jordan J. Michael
Sky high: Guilderland tennis player Max Chao gets airborne for an overhand shot during Tuesday’s Class A semifinal against Niskayuna at Guilderland. Chao and his doubles partner, Nate Backus, defeated Noah Levine and Tim Molino, 2-6, 6-1, 6-1, and the Dutchmen advanced to its ninth Class A final in 10 years. Guilderland won the title in 2005 and 2011, and has lost to Bethlehem five times over that stretch.

img 0788-web The Enterprise –– Jordan J. Michael
The Guilderland tennis team has made its ninth Class A Championship appearance in the last 10 years after beating Niskayuna, 6 to 2, in the semifinals at home on Tuesday. Here, Nate Backus hits a serve during his doubles match. The Dutch were scheduled to face Bethlehem on Wednesday, but forecasted rain moved the championship to today at 4 p.m. at Central Park in Schenectady. This is the fourth year in a row that the two teams are playing in the finals, and each has been decided by a 5-to-4 score.

img 0831-web The Enterprise –– Jordan J. Michael
Looking through his tennis racket on Tuesday is Guilderland player Conner O’Brien, who approaches the net during his match against Niskayuna’s Jeff Martin. O’Brien lost his match, 6-7, 4-6, but the Dutchmen won the Class A semifinal over the Silver Warriors, 6 to 2.

Ten Eyck honored for softball at RPI

Details: Published on Friday, 17 May 2013 17:40

taylorteneyck copy-web Taylor Ten EyckGuilderland High School 2012 graduate Taylor Ten Eyck has been honored by the Liberty League for her efforts with the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute softball team as a rookie catcher.

Ten Eyck was named to the Liberty League First Team and also named Liberty League Rookie of the Year for 2013. She is the first RPI player to be named Rookie of the Year since 2010.

The Guilderland native is second on the Engineers with a .369 batting average, collecting 38 hits in 103 at bats in 37 games. She has five doubles and a home run with 25 runs and 23 runs batted in. The Liberty League Rookie of the Week once, she is second in the league in runs, fourth in hits, and fifth in batting average and defensive chances (208).

A unanimous All-League selection, Ten Eyck boasts a .971 fielding percentage. She has started every game, has hits in 28 games, including one with three. She has scored at least one run in 18 games and has an RBI in 17.

RPI is 26-15 and won the Liberty League Championship by beating the University of Rochester, 6 to 5, on May 5. It was the Engineers’ first league title.

Ten Eyck plays with her twin sister, Morgan, who batted .242 for RPI. The twins played together at Guilderland.