Thursday, July 25, 2019: Shoemaker, Sample defend their state junior amateur titles

   Leading off today: Unadilla Valley rising freshman Bailey Shoemaker captured her third straight New York State Girls' Junior Amateur title on Wednesday at Seven Oaks Golf Club.

   Shoemaker, a two-time runner up in the NYSPHSAA championship, fired a 1-over-par 73 in the second round to win by seven strokes at 3-over 147. She began the day tied with Amber Pennington, who recently completed her junior year at Rondout Valley.

   Shoemaker broke loose from the field with two birdies and an eagle on the front nine for a three-shot lead at the turn to join Kerri Murphy (1993-95) and Nannette Hill (2000-02) as three-time champions.

   "It wasn't my best week, especially being my home course," Shoemaker said. "I still got it done playing scrappy ball."

   Webster's Mikah McDonnell, a two-time Section 5 champ who'll attend William & Mary College in the fall, finished in second. Pennington and Manhasset's Lauren Chen tied for third at 155.

      Reigning Federation champion Luke Sample of Trevor Day School defended his title with a playoff victory in the 78th New York State Boys' Junior Amateur Championship at Seven Oaks.

   Sample and Jud Langille finished at 3-under 141 following second-round scores of 75 and 73, respectively. Langille was one stroke ahead heading to No. 18, but Sample made par to force the playoff. The leaders went back to the 538-yard 18th, where Sample two-putted for birdie, while Langille made a par.

   "I will be the first to tell you that there were some big mental mistakes that I got away with," Sample said. "A win is a win and I am really proud with how I stuck with it on 18 and pulled driver. I decided I was going to go for the win.

   Including his 2017 NYS Sub-Junior triumph, Sample has now won state-level titles in three consecutive years. He birdied the opening hole of a playoff to claim the 2018 NYS Boys Junior Championship.

      Charlie Fischer, 14, earned his first state title by five strokes at the 63rd New York State Boys' Sub-Junior Amateur Championship. He shot rounds of 70 and 75.

   Jantzi exits again: North Tonawanda football coach Eric Jantzi, who returned to the Lumberjacks last season after a seven-year absence, has resigned, AD Matt Cook confirmed.

   Jantzi finished his first stint with an 86-23 record, which included two Section 6 titles and a 2009 New York State Public High School Athletic Association championship. The squad was 2-6 last fall.

   "We are sad to see him go," district Superintendent Greg Woytila said. "He will be spending more time with his family."

   Woytila said the search for a replacement is underway. The announcement of the new coach could come at the Aug. 5 school board meeting.

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   Done after 45 years: Bill Hopkins, who coached boys basketball at Corning West, Corning East, Elmira Heights Edison, Elmira College, Elmira Notre Dame and finally at the combined Corning High last winter, has retired after 45 seasons.

   Hopkins was a head coach for 25 of those 45 years, first at Edison from 1983-90. He also coached baseball and golf at various times and retired from teaching in 2008.

   He was not retained at Notre Dame last summer after compiling a 159-52 record and no losing seasons during his 10 seasons and took over for John Fesetch at Corning, where his club went 5-12 last winter.

   Hopkins, 67, cited a lack of the energy he demanded of himself as a factor in stepping down.

   "After what had happened at Notre Dame, I had kind of lost

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my zest for putting the time in and just the overall coaching," he said. "Kind of lost faith in the process, the support system kind of let you down a little bit."

    • Kelly Tormey has resigned as the girls lacrosse coach at Fayetteville-Manlius after posting a 47-12 record with three Section 3 championships in as many seasons.

   With her sister, Kristen Beilein, as assistant coach, the Hornets went 15-4 this spring. Both are daughters of longtime F-M coach and current Colgate coach Kathy Taylor.

   "I am grateful to have had the opportunity to return to my alma mater, alongside my sister, and lead the F-M girls lacrosse program these last three years," Tormey said in an email to Syracuse.com.

   Tormey cited a desire to spend more time with her three children.

   Interim AD appointed: North Salem's school board approved Denise Kiernan as interim director of K-12 physical education and athletics on Monday. She replaces Henry Sassone, who served as AD for more than 30 years before the board announced on June 19 that it would not retain him.

   Kiernan, a former president of the New York State Athletic Administrator Association, served as the director of health, physical education and athletics at Sleepy Hollow for two years before abruptly resigning in May.

   Rape charges filed: Greece Athena basketball star Melvin Council Jr. is accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl inside his apartment last month, Rochester media outlets reported Wednesday.

   Council, 17, an honorable mention all-state selection last season as a junior, is charged with first- and third-degree rape and first-degree sexual abuse, both felonies, after he was indicted by a Monroe County grand jury last week, the Democrat and Chronicle reported.

   Council was taken into custody by Greece police, who responded to a call at his apartment.

   "I am aware of the allegations, and Melvin denies them entirely," said James Napier, Council's attorney. The Greece Central School District declined comment.

   Following up: A vigil and services were held last week for recently Skaneateles graduate Josh McIntyre, a football player who died last week.

   McIntyre made a key play last November in the NYSPHSAA quarterfinals, returning a fumble for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter as part of a comeback victory against Chenango Forks in a game decided on the final play.