Leading off today: I'll tread gently here because I suppose its possible that the account of the game published by The Buffalo News perhaps does not accurately reflect the facts. However, that Western New York media outfit tends to get the facts straight, so what we might have here is the dumbest resolution to a
de facto league championship game in recent memory.
From the write-up on the baseball game between Buffalo Public Schools foes:
"Burgard and da Vinci entered their game Wednesday with undefeated league records, and both teams left undefeated after the Cornell Cup rivals played to a 0-0 tie.
"The tie was decided due to a 90-minute time constraint on the game per league rules."
Da Vinci is 5-0-1 in the league and 5-1-1 overall. Burgard is 4-0-2 and 5-0-2. Both are headed for the Cornell Cup tournament June 4-5. The site has yet to be announced. I'm hoping that announcement is accompanied by a confirmation that they understand that no one in their right mind tries to impose a time limit on a baseball game.
Back from the brink: Down to its last strike a day earlier, Archbishop Stepinac is still alive in the CHSAA baseball playoffs after a 5-3 win over St. Raymond in the completion of a suspended game.
Stepinac's seventh-inning, two-out rally Tuesday was followed by the game being suspended by rain in the eighth inning. In the resumption, Mike Becchetti doubled home the g-ahead run in the 12th inning and Izaiah Walker and Chris Antonelli added RBI singles.
Matt Mercado pitched two innings in relief to earn the win.
The Crusaders will now meet All Hallows on Thursday in the continuation of the double-elimination tournament.
More baseball: Defending state champion Center Moriches improved to 22-0 with an 11-1 win over Mattituck for the Section 11 Class B championship. Center Moriches outscored Mattituck 22-4 in its sweep of the best-of-three series.
Sophomore Jordan Falco hit the first of five run-scoring singles in the fourth inning that broke the game open.
Revenge: Mamaroneck defeated Niskayuna for the first time in four postseason meetings, posting an 11-5 win to advance to the NYSPHSAA boys Class A lacrosse tournament.
"We obviously wanted to win sectionals, but that was just a way to get back here," Tigers senior attackman Tommy Conley said after finishing with five goals and two assists. "This was really the goal. And now we're trying to take it even farther."
Will Martin added three goals as Mamaroneck (19-1) won its 19th consecutive game.
• Connor Durkin had four goals and four assists as Jamesville-DeWitt rolled past St. Lawrence 15-2 in the Class C first round. Pat Murad finished with four goals and an assist.
In Class D, LaFayette overwhelmed Salmon River 19-8 behind five goals and two assists from Trevor Hill. Ethan Gentile also scored five times.