For the past 22 years and 11 months I have had the privilege of filling space in The Saratogian family of newspapers, The Saratogian, The Troy Record, The Pink Sheet and The Community News.

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. – A tie, a tip and a win.

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. – A solid first half by the Columbia boys basketball team, taking advantage of bad passing by Ballston Spa gave way to a second half battle with the Scotties keeping the Blue Devils at arm’s length, but couldn’t pull any closer in a rare Monday night Suburban Council tilt, 78-66.

TROY, NY − The La Salle Hockey team has not had quite the start to the new year that they would have liked. In their first two games of 2020, they lost to Burnt Hills 7-1 and then handed the Niskayuna/Albany/Schenectady/Amsterdam Mohawks their first win of the season 3-2.

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. – There are some matches that are memorable with coaches and wrestlers cherishing for years to come. Then there are some that the two combatants can never shake off due to the losses they suffered on the same night.

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Sometimes you need a little help from your friends.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – There is no better way to break up a holiday break than getting tested on the mat for several Section II wrestling squads Saturday at Saratoga Springs High School.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After back-to-back road wins against out-of-section opponents a week ago it was surprising to see the Saratoga Springs girls basketball team look a bit rusty Friday night when they took on Suburban Council foe Bethlehem Central at home.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The holiday break line-up went from two opponents to one for the Saratoga Springs boys basketball squad and the Blue Streaks needed every ounce of focus, rest and their big men to step up to defeat Section III’s Jamesville-DeWitt 64-56 Friday night.

AMSTERDAM, N.Y. – Teams advancing deep into the post-season have to adapt and be comfortable with facing an unfamiliar opponent. They may know of some of the top players, but not tendencies, typical offenses and set-ups.

AMSTERDAM, N.Y. – The Saratoga Springs girls basketball team is willing to take on any squad, any time, any place and proved it over the weekend, handing Amherst an 85-67 loss on Friday afternoon and then running past Brooklyn Law and Tech, 77-56 Saturday night at the annual Amsterdam Colleg…

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Saratoga Central Catholic’s three-pointers kept the Saints from being run out of their own gym Friday night as Bishop Maginn beat the holiday hosts down the court and on the boards to take the opening night feature, 90-69.

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – After a hot non-league start the Burnt Hills/Ballston Spa ice hockey team was brought back to Earth at the hands of defending Section II champions Bethlehem Friday night in the Spartans home opener at the Schenectady County Recreational Facility.

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. – The Shenendehowa girls basketball team almost found a lump of coal in its Christmas stocking Thursday night as Shaker High was able to break its press and rallied to take a third quarter lead before the Plainsmen regrouped for a 68-53 Suburban Council win at home.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – So often during the pre-season or rough starts into a campaign coaches will say “It’s not how you start, its how you finish.”

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. – The winter weather made the Christian Brothers Academy trip to Shenendehowa one of the lone games on the docket Tuesday night in the Suburban Council and the Plainsmen provided the perfect storm against the Brothers, hitting 10 three-pointers on the night combined with a…

MECHANICVILLE, N.Y. – The College of St. Rose women’s soccer program has already proven that it is a winner, competing in the NCAA Division II Final Four this week and it looks to reload it’s talent as Mechanicville senior soccer standout Jada Brown made her college decision official Friday …

STILLWATER, N.Y. – There is no better way to kick off the start to a season than with a win over your closest rival.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- The Shenendehowa ice hockey team opened with a split of non-league contests last weekend at the annual Don Kauth Memorial Hockey Tournament hosted by Saratoga Springs, but it was eye-opening for the players and staff.

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. -- Sometimes it’s good to start to start a new year with a new class and a challenging pop quiz to see where your students are at.

MECHANICVILLE, N.Y. -- The Red Raiders girls basketball team picked up right where it left off last season -- running.

MECHANICVILLE, N.Y. -- The Red Raiders girls basketball team picked up right where it left off last season -- running.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- A rally, a lead, a closing second bucket for the home team in front of a packed house and then a buzzer-beater put back for the win, former Saratoga Central Catholic assistant basketball coach Mike Beson would have loved it.

ITHACA -- Section II Division I champions Bethlehem Central shined at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association swimming and diving championships last weekend at Ithaca College.

The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake boys and Saratoga Springs girls cross country team turned back competitors from every level last Saturday at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls, claiming New York State Federation Cross Country titles.

GLENS FALLS, NY − For most programs, waiting five years to win another state championship is a blessing, but for Burnt Hills, it was something that was a long time coming. 

ALBANY, N.Y. – ¬¬¬¬¬¬There was no tomorrow for the Shenendehowa boys volleyball team, no film sessions, no practice, no road games, Saturday was the last day of the Plainsmen’s season.

ALBANY, NY − Christian Brothers Academy Hockey enters their 2019-20 campaign with high aspirations thanks to a strong returning core and a largely successful 2018-19 season.

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. – Football is a game of numbers – those for your team and those you take away or don’t allow.

EAST GREENBUSH, N.Y. – Things were never easy for former Manhattan College center Kevin Atlas, born with a disability, cut from his seventh-grade basketball team, having his parents’ divorce early in life and losing his father to cancer at the age of 10.

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Fayetteville-Manlius earned the Class A sweep at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association cross country championships in Plattsburgh Saturday morning.

SCHENECTADY, NY − After a hard fought season, Stillwater fell for the first time all fall in the New York State Regional tournament to Section X's Gouverneur, 10-2, on Friday night in front of a packed house at Mohonasen High School. 

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. – There are celebrations on the field, during practices and in the locker room for many student athletes and they occur throughout a number of seasons, but there are some celebrations that are special, only occur to a chose few and deserve a big room.

STILLWATER, NY − Stillwater’s Brooke Pickett is having a busy week. After signing her National Letter of Intent Thursday, Stillwater will be fighting this weekend to get back to the Class C State Championship for the third time in a row.

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. – The Bethlehem girls swimming and diving team are once again back on top of Division I swimming in Section II after more than a decade courtesy of a dominating performance Saturday during the Division I (large school) championships at Shenendehowa High School.

TROY, N.Y. – Football coaches typically don’t ask for miracles in games, especially big games, they ask for commitment, trust and execution on every down. If they are fortunate enough, they get all of those things for 48 minutes and then they get their just rewards – a smile, a win and somet…

LANSINGBURGH, NY − Stillwater stayed undefeated with Friday night's win over Cambridge-Salem to claim the Section II, Class C Championship, 21-0 at Lansingburgh High School. 

COLONIE, N.Y. – It’s not how you start the race, it’s how you finish it.

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. – It was election night across the country and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake girls volleyball coach Gary Bynon was outside the Ballston Spa High School gymnasium thanking the Spartan constituents for their support.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Saratoga Springs girls cross country team left little to the imagination in Monday’s rescheduled Section II cross country championships, racing to its 29th Class A title, leaving the dramatic finishes to the other classes.

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. – Sometimes number one can be the loneliest number.

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. – The only surprise for the Shenendehowa football team Friday night during its Section II Class AA semifinal against Christian Brothers Academy came in the third quarter and it was an announcement from the PA announcer.

LANSINGBURGH, NY − Schalmont claimed the Section II Class B Championship Friday night thanks to a 3-1 win over Mechanicville at Lansingburgh High School. 

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. – The third time wasn’t the charm for the Saratoga Springs field hockey team, looking to take a chance on another sports adage ‘It’s hard to beat a team three times,’ Wednesday afternoon in the Section II Class A semifinal.