Leading off today: The Times Union's James Allen
wrote yesterday on the subject of playoff scheduling in Section 2, but it's the sort of issue that applies to the whole state.
Allen made note of the fact that the girls' Class AA soccer semifinal between Bethlehem and Niskayuna did not kick off until 9 p.m. (about two hours late) on Saturday and ended shortly before midnight. The game was the victim of circumstances:
- It was the last game of a quadrupleheader on Broadalbin-Perth's turf field.
- Three early games each went to overtime, with two requiring penalty kicks.
- Saturday was an SAT exam day, meaning that the preferred noon start for the multi-game schedule was scrapped.
Interestingly, Allen points out that a boys quadrupleheader at Colonie began at 10 a.m., apparently in accidental (we hope) disregard of the SAT exam.
All in all, it was the perfect weekend to consider playing Sunday contests, which is an accepted practice in some parts of the state but not encouraged in other locales. Whether its September or November, its understandable that the grown-ups might have plans on Sundays — a family event or watching the Patriots-Colts game on TV, force instance, that rank as a higher priority.
And, especially in the regular season, cost is a consideration because some school districts are contractually obligated to pay staff to run the site.
But the sectional playoffs are a bit of a different animal. It seems to me that, with the level of interest in semifinals and finals, there's enough money to be made at the gate to defray some of the additional cost of opening the stadium without cutting too deeply into the section's bottom line. If nothing else, you're going to save money by not having to turn on the stadium lights for games that begin at 1 p.m.
And there's one additional consideration that print and electronic media newsrooms will point out. There are just too many events to be covered on the first two Saturdays in November. Moving a few of them back a day will result in better coverage.
Tennis results: St. Francis Prep's Shinann Featherston won her second state tennis singles championship in three years yesterday with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Valley Central senior Ashley Miller at Eastside Racquet Club in Manlius.
Miller, who has a full scholarship to play at North Carolina next year, had finished fourth and fifth in the past two years. Featherston was unable to defend her title last year due to an injury.
The doubles championship went to Jennifer Kellner and Katherine Hanson of Hauppauge, who defeated Kelsey Raynor and Jacqueline Raynor (Garden City), 6-2, 6-1.
Fort Edward player arrested: Star running back Anthony Breeyear of Fort Edward was arrested early Sunday after he was spotted urinating on the side of a street, then ran from officers who tried to question him, police said.
Breeyear was charged with the misdemeanor of resisting arrest and the non-criminal violations of exposure of a person and disorderly conduct, Fort Edward Police Sgt. Justin Derway told The Post-Star.
Breeyear appeared to be intoxicated when police caught him, Derway said. The 12:45 a.m. incident came shortly after Breeyear scored three touchdowns in a victory over Canajoharie for the Section 2 Class D championship. Fort Edward plays Ticonderoga on Saturday in the state NYSPHSAA quarterfinals.
Breeyear has 134 carries for 1,110 yards and 13 TDs in his senior season. His status for the state tournament has not been officially resolved, but acting Superintendent Joseph Colistra said the district's athletics code of conduct mandates a two-game suspension.
"That's the policy," Colistra said. "Barring anything else coming out, that's what we're going to do."
Fort Edward Police Chief Walt Sandford said police are investigating where Breeyear got the alcohol, but so far have gotten little cooperation from Breeyear.
