Thursday, April 11, 2019: Chaminade rolls in rivalry game vs. St. Anthony's

   Leading off today: After struggling early as Chaminade fell behind 3-1, goalie Liam Entenmann finished with 16 saves to highlight a 13-7 victory over St. Anthony's in a matchup of perennial Long Island boys lacrosse powers Wednesday.

   "He played spectacular, but with Liam, you kind of get used to that," Flyers midfielder Reilly Gray said. "It's insane, but you see the stuff he does at practice, it's really awesome. But not surprising at all."

   Gray scored three first-quarter goals and four in the game as Chaminade improved to 4-0 and handed the Friars their first loss. James Ball and Kevin Kuttin connected twice apiece.

   The teams play again May 15 in what amounts to a de facto CHSAA Class AAA championship game.

   "Everyone knows about Chaminade vs. St. Anthony's," Entenmann said. "In my opinion, I think it's the biggest rivalry in the country and definitely in this area. Everyone wakes up that day and says, 'This is what we play for.'"

   Armed and dangerous: Depew seems to have pitching to spare on the baseball diamond this spring. Senior Josh Doss threw a two-hitter in a 3-2 win over Lancaster last week, Joe Pagano pitched a no-hitter in the Wildcats league opener against Pioneer on Monday and then Ethan Krakowski maintained the momentum Wednesday.

   Krakowski hurled a one-hitter with five strikeouts and surrendered just two walks in a 12-0 win at Lake Shore as defending ECIC divisional champs faced off. Krakowski had a no-hitter going until Zach Evans' one-out single in the bottom of the seventh.

   Jake Wentland drove in four runs with a pair of singles in the win.

    • Eden rallied from an 11 runs down against Springville to tie the contest at 11-11 before the game was suspended by darkness in the top of the eighth inning.

   Allegation of ugly taunts: The Marlboro Central School District has begun an investigation into a complaint that one or more of its varsity baseball players verbally harassed a Rondout Valley pitcher over his sexual orientation during Wednesday's game.

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   According to Hudson Valley Sports Report, senior Sam Culwell posted the allegation on Facebook.

   Culwell, who came out as bisexual last year, wrote that Rondout Valley coach Paul Bogart came out to the mound to talk to him in the sixth inning when the comments were made.

   "At this point I had already struck out one batter and as my coach comes up to talk to me all I hear from the opposing dugout is 'tell him he's a failure and a (redacted),'" Culwell

wrote. "It took all of my composure to not break down on the spot."

   HVSR said Culwell could not be reached for further comment and Rondout coach Paul Bogart told the website he was only aware of the alleged incident after the fact.

   "I didn't personally hear it while I was on my way to the mound, but when he came off the field he was distraught. He was ready to yell something across the field and I stopped him," Bogart said. "I had no idea until after the game; one of the other kids told me what happened."

   Marlboro Superintendent Michael Brooks released a statement that said an investigation under Dignity for All Students Act had been initiated.

   "Hate of any kind is unacceptable, immoral and goes against all that we as a District believe, live and teach," his statement said.

   Further, the statement noted "we are very disturbed that this type of language and behavior still exists in today's society. These behaviors, whether exhibited by adults or children, are without any foundation and strike against the District's main mission; to help children excel in life."

   Honor for Harrison: Harrison High School has been selected the winner of the Winter 2019 NYSPHSAA Community Service Challenge.

   The winner was chosen by the NYSPHSAA's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee comprised of two student-athletes from each section.

   Harrison students Josh Cooper, Matthew Cooper and Connor Novak launched Athletes in Action with the goal of integrating community service into the school's athletics program. AIA partnered with Pleasantville Cottage School, a residential treatment program for emotionally troubled boys and girls between the ages of 7-15, to arrange visits by each Harrison sports team once per season to play its specific sport with the residents.

   "Athletes in Action is a perfect example of having an impact and winning outside of a game situation," AD Chris Galano said in the statement announcing the award. "The best part of this program is it was created and driven by students."

   Extra points: Fairport boys coach Scott Fitch will be in charge of the USA Basketball Junior National Select Team that will compete against an international all-star squad in the 22nd annual Nike Hoop Summit on Friday in Portland, Ore.

   Fitch has taken on several roles in the USA Basketball development program in recent years, including serving as an assistant with the 2018 U17 World Cup team which took the gold medal and the 2017 U16 National Team.