Leading off today: Westhill's boys lacrosse season is over following the revelation that at least 11 players are facing criminal charges for a hazing incident where a player was kidnapped on Thursday, Syracuse-area media reported on Tuesday.
Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick held a news conference at which he said persons who turn themselves in within 48 hours will be issued an appearance ticket for unlawful imprisonment, a misdemeanor. Those who do not accept the offer could face a charge
of second-degree kidnapping, which is a violent felony.
The DA said at least 11 players were involved in the hazing incident, but there could be more involved who are not part of the team. Some of the players have cooperated with the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office, Syracuse.com reported.
Meanwhile, district Superintendent Stephen Dunham informed parents that the lacrosse season has been terminated though he stated that the majority of varsity players were not involved in the alleged incident.
The website's story goes into greater details in piecing together what apparently transpired last week and there were no known injuries. Still, the idea that this sort of behavior continues to exist among teens in 2025 boggles the mind.
From home-schooling to owning all 17 inches of home plate
Jordan Charlebois' had been home-schooled since the start of first grade, but Rene Charlebois gave his blessing to his son to enroll in school this semester in order to play baseball for Hadley-Luzerne in Section 2, fulfilling a longtime ambition to play varsity baseball.
The results have been amazing. The 17-year-old right-hander with a side-arm delivery has been mowing down opposing lineups.
Charlebois had allowed just five hits and one earned run in 31 innings of work through the weekend, striking out 65 batters and walking eight. He added to the big numbers Tuesday with 14 K's in seven no-hit innings against Corinth.
Charlebois bats leadoff and plays in the outfield and at shortstop when not pitching.
"I've had so much fun. I love playing varsity," he told The Times Union. "I love baseball in general. This is a step up from just playing travel league."
• Tuesday's victory was a combined no-hitter in extra innings. Charlebois gave way to Makaio Potts, who turned a 1-2-3 double play in the top of the eighth and then bunted home the winning run in the bottom half of the inning.
Milestones
James I. O'Neill senior lacrosse player
Bella Alberici, back in action after missing most of 2024 with an injury, scored her 200th career goal recently. The West Point recruit, a two-time Section 9 Class C and D player of the year, is the daughter of Joe Alberici, who has coached the Black Knights for 20 years.
• Wappingers sophomore Haley Washall also reached 200 goals during an 18-9 win vs. Carmel over the weekend. She finished the day with eight goals and two assists as th team improved to 7-2 on the season.
• Irondequoit's Abby Ras, a Niagara University recruit, drove in her 100th career run this week during a 15-8 loss to Hilton.
Passings
Bill Morello Sr., who coached wresting in his hometown for 40 years, most recently as an assistant boys coach to son Bill Jr. and as the head girls coach at Lockport, died Monday, one day after his 69th birthday.
Coming up
In case you missed it, the New York State Sportswriters Association published the large-school portion on Monday, completing the 2025 edition of the
boys all-state basketball team. As always, thanks to Steve Grandin, who tackles an amazing volume of our work, for undertaking that task again.
Kevin Devaney Jr. checked in to say he has finished the equally daunting task of compiling the girls all-state team, and we will be rolling that out in the coming days.
Also, The Times Union in Albany reported a few days ago that state Assemblyman Matt Slater has reintroduced a bill that would force the NYSPHSAA and PSAL to conduct separate playoffs for non-public schools.
I'll be digging into that lengthy (1,750 words) story tonight to see how the proposed law differs (or not) from what Slater proposed last year, when he couldn't get the bill out of committee.
