Thursday, April 19, 2018: Deposit ace breaks record for perfect games

   Leading off today: Deposit junior pitcher Makenzie Stiles broke the NYSPHSAA record by pitching the 11th softball perfect game of her career Wednesday during a 15-0 win over Unadilla Valley.

   Stiles improved to 4-0 on the season in breaking a tie with Chelsea Plimpton, who threw 10 perfect games for Williamsville South from 2003-07. Barb Cook (Susquehanna Valley, 1995-99) and Marissa Carpenter (South Glens Falls, 2006-08) threw nine perfect games apiece.

   Deposit's Bryn Martin went 4-for-4 with a home run, five RBIs and three runs scored in the victory.

   Spaulding sets school mark: Senior Rachel Spaulding became Queensbury all-time scoring leader in girls lacrosse when she rolled up five goals and seven assists in a 26-0 rout of Amsterdam.

   Spaulding has 152 goals and 161 assists in three-plus seasons for a school-record 313 points. Mary Rahal, now at Syracuse, held the previous mark with 308 points from 2011-15.

   Jordan Bentley added five goals and three assists for Queensbury.

   Big day at the plate: Noah Campo hit for the cycle and slugged a grand slam in Briarcliff's 15-2 baseball win over Pleasantville.

   Campo's day at the plate consisted of a run-scoring triple in the first inning, an RBI double in the third and then a single and the bases-clearing home run in the eight-run fourth.

   "I was really seeing the ball well today and I was feeling great at the plate," Campo said. "I hit for the cycle, but it's really a team effort. My teammates were all on base for me to get them in. That's how I put up the numbers I did today."

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   Victor softball rolls: Victor used a nine-run fourth inning to build an insurmountable lead and defeat Fairport 14-2 in a matchup of two of Section 5's top softball teams.

   Fairport pitcher Clare Aroune was hit by a line drive at the end of the third inning and left the game. The Blue Devils went to work the next inning to break the game open in support of Katie Sidare, who struck out 17.

   Sarah Simmons finished 3-for-3 with three RBIS.

   State rule suspended: The New York State Public High School Athletic Association announced it is waiving the "seven consecutive day" rule for the remainder of the spring season, thereby allowing weather-battered teams to practice or play more than six straight days.

   "This is, without question in my 33 years, the worst spring I can recall," said Phonsey Lambert, Saratoga Central Catholic's baseball coach and AD. "We've had snow in early April, but it melted off. This cold, I've never seen anything like it."

   The waiver will benefit baseball and softball teams, many of which have played fewer than half their scheduled games thus far. Some teams have yet to take the field for a game.

   "I think it's a last resort for teams to use," said West Genesee baseball coach Kevin Krause. "Some schools may use it and some may not."

   There's less than a month left in the regular season for most teams across the state.

   "It's going to be a weird spring," Krause said. "We've played two games. People are stir-crazy from being inside."

   Lambert said rescheduling games can be a challenge, with remaining non-leaguers at risk in order to fulfill league obligations.

   "You've got proms and senior trips," Lambert said. "So many things are thrown at spring sports. It's crazy."

   NFHS makes esports deal: The National Federation of State High School Associations and the NFHS Network have announced a partnership with online gaming provider PlayVS, setting the table for scholarstic esports competition.

   PlayVS will work with the NFHS and the NFHS Network to roll out in at least 15 states this fall. Play will culminate with state championships streamed on the NFHS Network.

   Mark Koski, CEO of the NFHS Network, said 72 percent of teens playing video games regularly, making esports a tool to engage additional students with after-school activities.

   "We're excited to partner with the NFHS and NFHS Network to introduce esports in high schools nationwide," said Delane Parnell, CEO and founder of PlayVS. "This partnership combined with our technology and publisher relationships will help us create the first scalable competition for high school students. Esports is about more than just playing games -- it can be used to help students grow their STEM interests and develop valuable life skills; and since there are more high school gamers than athletes, it's about time we foster this pastime in an educational setting."

   Extra points: Texas is bringing replay reviews to high school football championship games for the upcoming season. The University Interscholastic League, Texas’ governing body for high school sports, announced the decision Thursday.

   All reviews will be initiated by the replay officials. Reviews will take place in a replay booth, with a collegiate replay official reviewing plays.

   "We are extremely excited to add instant replay to our state championship games," Dr. Susan Elza said in the UIL release. "We've studied this topic thoroughly, and have had many conversations with officials and coaches. The consensus we've heard is that our game is ready for this and it will be a valuable addition."