Adirondack League

Keith Harrington-Staff Writer:A couple of weeks ago I wrote an article singing the praises of Spartan Field at Castleton State College as the new home of the Adirondack League baseball and softball championship games. One of the things I liked about Castleton was that if both of a school’s teams qualified for the title tilts, their fans could easily keep an eye on both games at the same time. Yesterday the Lake George Warrior fans were able to do just that,  and I am sure they liked what they saw. Both the Lake George baseball and softball  teams avenged regular season losses to their opponents to grab Adirondack League championships. Here is the story on all of the action.

Adirondack League Baseball Championship Game

Lake George 4 Fort Ann 2

What a difference 24 hours can make. On Thursday the Fort Ann Cardinals baseball team beat Lake George 6-5 in their regular season finale. Yesterday though at Spartan Field, the Warriors were clearly the aggressor and were able to win the ADK crown with a 4-2 win. Lake George rode a sparkling pitching gem from Connor McCoy to grab the title. McCoy was dominant, silencing the powerful Fort Ann bats with a five hit, 14 strikeout performance.

When the two teams played in the regular season a day earlier, both teams played a little vanilla, saving their ace pitcher for the big one instead of using them in a game that meant nothing. McCoy was able to outduel Fort Ann’s main pitcher, George Lehoisky, handing him his first loss of the season. Lake George scored three runs in the first three innings against Lehoisky by slapping out six hits.

Lake George took a 1-0 lead in the second, and then increased it in the third when Willy Blunt smashed an RBI double. Peter Fisher then cranked a triple to drive in Blunt to make  it 3-0 Lake George. That is all of the offense McCoy would need as he kept the Cardinal bats in check the rest of the way. Fort Ann scored single runs in the fifth and sixth but could not manage to get closer.

One  bright spot for Fort Ann is that Robert Sprague, who has pitched very little all year came in to relieve Lehoisky and was solid. Sprague went 3 2/3 innings and struckout six Warriors. If Sprague is healthy enough to pitch like he is capable, Fort Ann could be poised to make another very deep playoff run.

Lake George moves to 14-5 on the season. Fort Ann drops to 16-3.

Adirondack League Softball Championship Game

Lake George 5 Argyle 4

The Lake George Warriors softball team overcame an early 2-0 deficit, and then used a huge fourth inning to grab the lead, and  held on to win the Adirondack League championship over Argyle 5-4. The win turns the table for the Warriors after an earlier season loss to  the Scots.

Lake George jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Amy Sander singled, and then scored on a single by Chelsea Sipowicz. Argyle came back in the bottom of the inning.  Alyssa Salerno reached on an error and scored on a Hannah Kennedy double. Courtesy runner Vicky Genovese later scored when Lake George pitcher Amy Sander was called for an illegal pitch making it 2-1 Scots.

The fourth inning was the key inning for Lake George. The Warriors batted around in the inning and scored four run to go  up 5-2. Emma Feathers knocked in Rebecca Kandora who had singled, and Sander and Brittany Motta added RBI hits.

Argyle came back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to pull within 5-4. Salerno ripped an RBI single and Kennedy doubled again to close the gap, but the Scots rally ended there and they were not able to get the equalizer as Sander closed the door.

Lake George raises their record to 15-5. Argyle drops to 15-3.

Keith Harrington/Staff Writer: This week is the final week of baseball and softball play in the Adirondack League, and then it is off to Section II tourney play. The boys championship game is all set. It will be the Fort Ann Cardinals vs. the Lake George Warriors. Lake George will also be playing in the softball championship game against a team that is yet to be determined because of the battle in the East. Argyle is in the driver’s seat, but still has not officially clinched. Both ADK title games are scheduled for Friday, May 18th at Castleton State College. With all of Tuesday’s games postponed, it remains to be seen if that schedule will have to be adjusted. Here is what’s happening “Across the ADK Diamond.”

1. Fort Ann baseball became the first ADK team to wrap up a division title and earn a spot in the championship game. The Cards defeated Hartford 3-1 on Friday to clinch. Some people might say, “So what, Fort Ann was expected to win again.” However, the Cardinals had to do things differently this year. Robert Sprague was not able to pitch due to an injury and George Lehoisky had to  become the ace of the staff. Plus, Fort Ann received a stiff challenge from a talented Salem team and couldn’t cruise to the East Division title like they normally do. A job well done by Coach Dane Clark  and his crew.

2. Speaking of Salem, kudos to the Generals baseball team on an outstanding season. They gave Fort Ann all they wanted and should be a serious threat in the sectionals. Nick Burch, Dan Jameson, Chris Payne, Marcus Blanck, Justin Capuano and company will be a very tough out for any opponent.

3. Lake George clinched both the baseball and softball West Division titles on Monday. I had mentioned in an earlier story that Castleton is perfect for fans of a team who has both their girls and boys teams playing in the title games because you can see both fields from one vantage point. I was at Spartan Field a couple of weeks ago, and you may have to search around a bit, but you can find just the right spot to watch both games with a little experimentation.

4. Yesterday the Adirondack League East softball race got a little bit clearer as Argyle beat Fort Ann for the second time this season, 2-0. Ashley Ellis of Argyle fired a two-hitter to outduel Fort Ann’s Molly Bailey who tossed a three-hitter herself. Christina Tucker had a pair of hits for the Scots. Argyle controls their own destiny with a two game lead over Fort Ann and Whitehall. They can grab the crown with a win over Bolton on Wednesday.

5. Hats off to the Hartford Tanagers softball team and coach Duane Flower. Hartford lost some key players to graduation, including ace pitcher Christina Petteys, who is now at SUNY Adirondack. After a slow start the Tanagers stand at 10-5 in league play and 13-5 overall. Junior pitcher Morgan Wicks(11-5) has come into her own this season, and Brittany Brayman has played as well as any player on any team. Hartford has wins late in the season over title contenders Argyle and Whitehall and recently won the Trapper Classic in Warrensburg. Watch out for the Red and Black in sectional play. Many of these girls played on a volleyball team that advanced to the state volleyball tournament.

Rick Lyons Staff Writer:  Another week of Adirondack SportNet’s top five and another shuffling of the deck. The Indians from Schaghticoke for the fifth straight week own the top spot but our other four teams all shifted places from just a week ago.

1. Hoosic Valley 12-0, 18-0:  The Indians had their biggest scare of the year against Granville needing nine innings to turn back the Horde 13-9.  Tamarac fell 7-4, and the Valley scored four times in the bottom of the 6th en route to a 7-2 victory over Hoosick Falls.  Hoosic Valley has secured our number one spot all year and continues to roll through a very special season in Schaghticoke.

2. Greenwich 9-3, 14-4:  Four games, four wins as the Witches gear up for sectional play.  Jason Flynn threw a four-hit complete game in a 5-1 win over Schuylerville.  Greg Scott followed with a one-hitter in a 7-1 victory over Cambridge, and Cori Winch struck out nine and scattered five hits in an 11-1 W over Stillwater. We know this team can score runs, and with their pitching depth look for the Witches to make a deep sectional run.

3. Fort Ann 14-0, 14-2:  The Cardinals mashed Ft. Edward 19-1, and North Warren 17-2 this week.  These are typical scores for many of Fort Ann’s league games as they simply manhandle the majority of the Adirondack squads.  They played a competitive contest against Hartford later in the week prevailing 3-1 over the Tanagers.  Two non-league losses or they would be another undefeated team in the area.

4. Salem 11-2, 13-3:  The Generals had victories over Ft. Edward 19-4, and Argyle 9-0.  Against the Scots Justin Capuano and Ryan Jameson combined for a one-hitter, while in the Fort Edward contest Nick Burch dominated from the hill fanning 19 batters on the afternoon.  Salem has simply been very solid all year and will present problems to opponents come playoff time.

5. Hoosick Falls 7-3, 10-5:  The Panthers drop to number five and some would say that’s too high, but I think they belong.  They have wins over Fort Ann and Greenwich and played the Valley tough this week before falling to the Indians.  They have some games to make up this week and it wouldn’t  surprise me if they put four more in the win column as the Falls tune’s up for the second season.

Keith Harrington/Staff Writer: As we head into the final week of the regular season, a few of the Adirondack League softball teams prepared themselves for sectional play by participating in tournaments. If you enjoy watching high school softball the Lake George/Warrensburg region was the place to be on Saturday. Lake George hosted Duanesburg and Ticonderoga in a round robin tournament. Warrensburg hosted Corinth, Hartford, and Fort Edward in the Trapper Tournament.

I spent the day in Lake George and was treated to some very good softball.  This tournament was well organized and very entertaining. The Duanesburg Purple Eagles flashed their muscle as they went 4-0 on the day. Both Duanesburg’s varsity and junior varsity swept Lake George and Ticonderoga. Expect to be hearing a lot about the Purple Eagles in Section II softball over the next few years. Their junior varsity club featured a solid pitcher, and an outstanding third basemen with a lightning quick bat. They were both just seventh graders.

Lake George Tournament

The host Lake George Warriors split their two outings in the tournament. The Warriors dropped their opener to a strong Duanesburg team 12-0. Lake George came back to win game two over Ticonderoga 7-3. Duanesburg defeated Ticonderoga 9-4 to go 2-0 in the tournament.

Against Duanesburg, Lake George hung close for three innings as the Purple Eagles led just 3-0. Duanesburg however scored four runs in the fourth and five in the fifth to blow the game open.

In the second game for Lake George, the Warriors held a 2-0 lead early but Ticonderoga tied things up in the bottom of the third. The Warriors though outscored the Sentinels 5-1 over the last three innings to take the victory.

Amy Sander led the Warriors in the circle and the plate. Sander was the winning pitcher, scattering five hits and striking out eight. She was 3-4 at the plate. Jamie Jarrett had a tripled,  singled and had three RBIs for the Warriors. Rebecca Kandora had a pair of hits as well.

Lake George is now 13-4 on the season.

Warrensburg Trapper Classic

The Hartford Tanagers swept a pair of games from Adirondack League foes as they claimed the Warrensburg Trapper Classic crown. The Tanagers defeated Corinth 8-4 in the opening round, and then stopped Fort Edward in the championship tilt 11-6.

In the opener, Hartford beat Corinth for the second time this season. Hartford didn’t waste any time in this one. They scored two runs in the first and five in the second to take a 7-0 lead. Corinth closed the gap by rallying for four runs in the top of the fourth, but Hartford tacked on a run in the bottom of the frame and held on for the win.

Morgan Wicks picked up her 10th win of the season in the circle, yielding five hits and striking out eight. Brittany Brayman was 3 for 4 at the plate with a double and triple.

Fort Edward advanced to the final with a 10-9 win over Warrensburg. This was a wild one as the teams swapped the lead a few times. Fort Edward led 2-0 early, but Warrensburg scored four in the second, three in the third, and two in the fourth to lead 9-2. Fort Edward came back to tie the game 9-9 with two in the fourth and five in the fifth, and then won it with a run in the eight on a Brittini Sardina homerun. Sardina also homered in the third.

In the championship game, Fort Edward scored five runs in the top of the second to go ahead 5-0, but Hartford scored five runs in the bottom of the frame to tie it at five all. The Tanagers then put up a four spot in the fourth and tacked on two more in the fifth to go up 11-5, and went on to win from there.

Brittany Brayman was the winning pitcher for Hartford, striking out five. Brayman had another big game at the plate, with a double, triple and three RBIs. Wicks also had a strong game with a homer, a double and three RBIs.

Hartford is now 12-5. Fort Edward is 8-10. The two clubs meet again Monday in ADK play.

Corinth beat Warrensburg in the consolation game 7-6.

Keith Harrington/Staff Writer: The Adirondack League softball race this spring has been exciting and unpredictable. Just when you think you have it all figured out, another wrench gets thrown in. As the action heads into the final week of the season however, the four top teams in the ADK East battled each other, and things finally started to take a little shape. Yesterday Argyle defeated Whitehall 12-0, and Fort Ann beat Hartford 14-3. The Scots and the Cardinals will meet on Monday in Argyle. Argyle can clinch with a win in two out of three games, if one of the wins is against Fort Ann. Fort Ann can clinch at least a tie if it beats Argyle and Lake George. Whitehall still has a mathematical chance,  but must win all three of their games and hope for help. Here is a look at yesterday’s two big games.

Argyle 12 Whitehall 0

When these two team met a couple of weeks ago Whitehall came away with a 2-1 win. This one though was dominated by Argyle. The Scots came out with fire in their eyes, scoring four runs in the first and one in the second to lead 5-0. That is all Argyle pitcher Ashley Ellis would need as she tossed a four-hit shutout to knotch the win in the circle.

Argyle took a 2-0 lead in the first on a two run single by Shelby Graham. Ellis also nailed a two RBI single to make it 4-0. Argyle put it away in the fourth with a six run inning. Hannah Kennedy and Andrea Richards both had a pair of RBIs in the frame to lead Argyle.

Ellis, who is now 11-2 on the season in the circle had four strikeouts while walking only one. Brittney Putorti struck out six and walked five for the Railroaders.

Argyle is 11-2, 12-2. Whitehall is 9-4, 9-4.

Fort Ann 14 Hartford 3

The Fort Ann Cardinals set up Monday’s Adirondack League showdown with Argyle by keeping the Scots in their sights with a 14-3 win over Hartford. It was the second win for the Cardinals over the Tanagers this season. Fort Ann jumped to a 2-0 lead after two innings, and exploded for seven in the fourth to put this one away.

Kayla Bancroft had the hot bat for Fort Ann. Bancroft went 3 for 5 with a double. Kaleigh Foran and Kara White each tripled and singled.

Brittany Brayman blasted a homer for Hartford.

Molly Bailey got the win in the circle for Fort Ann, firing a five-hitter, while striking out eight.

Fort Ann is 11-3, 11-4. Hartford is 9-5, 10-5.

Rick Lyons Staff Writer:  I’m a Jeter fan.  Let’s put that out there right now.  Like everything about the guy.  His approach to the game, his production and longevity, and the ability to perform in the clutch are at the top of a very long list.  He’s not about numbers other than World Series rings, and he has five of those in his career.   Every year but one the Yankees have been in the play-offs since Jeter has been the starting shortstop.  Is that all about Derek?  Absolutely not.  Do they win five championships without number 2?  Absolutely not.

With all that said I was waiting for the accusations to start.  For those that don’t follow the Yankees and Jeter closely the Captain is hitting .397 entering tonight’s game against the Rays at the big ballpark in the Bronx.  He’ll turn 38 next month.  He was supposedly on a downward spiral hitting a career low .270 in 2010 and struggled mightily the first half of last season.  He comes out this year and has his best career start over the first 28 games.  His 48 hits lead all of  major league baseball and Jeter has shown some power as well with nine doubles and five home runs over the first five weeks.  The man’s turning 38  and playing like this,  must be on the juice.

You see that’s another negative to the whole performance enhancing drug era.  Any aging player in the post steroid era who’s production spikes must be juicing.  You know the names, Clemens, Bonds, Palmero among others.  Players that put up big numbers at an age when production usually is going the other way.  Their involvement with PED’s is well documented although the trio would deny having done anything wrong.  By all accounts major league baseball has greatly reduced the presence of PED’s in it’s game but the specter of juiced numbers remains.

A couple of things about Jeter’s situation that shed in my mind some light on his numbers this season.

Last year Derek was injured, and he tinkered with his swing.  Coming off a down year in 2010 he changed his approach specifically his stride and to me never looked comfortable with his new style.  Add to this injuries which are always a guessing game with Jeter as he never wants to talk about injuries regarding himself.  A stint on the disabled list in June allowed Jeter to heal and also go back to his old style of doing business at the plate, and when he returned to action we saw a different player for the second half of last year.  Hitting over .330 for the last three months of the campaign, Jeter finished at .297 for the season.  Not bad for a washed up 37 year old.

Secondly a tremendously proud man, Derek heard all the comments about his demise.  He went through a nasty contract negotiation with the Yankees when the club pointed to his diminished production.  After signing the three year deal many doubted he would finish the contract as the Pinstriper’s starting shortstop.  People were pouring gas on the competitive fire that burns in Jeter.  For a player who consistently has performed best when the lights were the brightest, the light was white hot and number 2 has responded.

This year Jeter is seeing the ball really well.  He’s not chasing balls out of the zone nor is he missing mistakes.  A ball to his liking isn’t fouled back, it’s hit and hit hard.  He also gets down the line just like he always has when healthy, and has a handful of infield hits to date.  About every fifth day manager Joe Girardi uses Jeter as the DH giving the 37 year old a half day off in an attempt to keep him fresh.

Is Derek Jeter going to hit .400 this year?  Not happening.  Is he using performance enhancing drugs?  Also not happening.  Do I know for sure?  Obviously not, but watching him handle his business for 17 seasons on and off the field under the bright lights of New York I’d be less surprised to see Elvis Presley play at SPAC this summer than to find out Jeter was on the juice.  Let’s just sit back and enjoy an incredible run to start the season from this first ballot hall of fame player.  He’ll probably have three hits tonight including the game-winner and in the post game interview say he was just happy to contribute.  Same old Jeter in more ways than one.

Keith Harrington-Staff Writer

Well, I  know this probably won’t come as a shock,  but our ADSN Softball Power Rankings #1 team from this past week lost.  The Greenwich Witches recovered from a slow start on the season to work their way all the way to the top of our rankings. However, this past week Greenwich dropped a 3-1 contest to Hoosick  Falls. How many weeks in a row is it that our most highly ranked  team has lost? I am not sure, but  it is at least three or  four weeks in a row. It just shows the parity that there is this year in high school softball.  Sitting on top of the softball power rankings is almost starting to seem like  being on the Sports Illustrated cover.  Noone seems to want the dubious honor.  So hold your breath…..and I apologize in advance. Here are the ADSN Softball Power Rankings for this week:

1. Granville (12-3)-The Golden Horde grab the top spot back this week. Granville got a very nice non-league win, 7-6 over Glens Falls with Lauryn Zovistoski and Emily Fuller leading the way. Granville leads Hoosick Falls by a game, but owns a win over the Panthers. Tamarac and Greenwich are two games back heading into the final stretch of Wasaren League play.

2. Hoosick Falls (11-3)-The Panthers got a very big win this week, taking care of Greenwich for the second time and ending the hot streak of the Witches. Rachel Quackenbush stuck out 10 against Greenwich while firing a three hitter. Sierra Bailey and Frankie Pearson had the key Hoosick Falls hits. The Panthers get another shot at Granville on May 15th.

3. Greenwich (9-4)-Greenwich had been on fire as of late, but Hoosick  Falls has been their nemisis in Wasaren League play this spring. Hoosick  Falls edged Greenwich 3-1 this week. The Witches can still  get a share of the Wasaren title, but must take care of their own business and then get help. Greenwich will meet Granville  May 17th.

4.-5. Argyle (10-2), Fot Ann (10-2), Whitehall (8-2), Lake  George (10-2)-These teams are so closely matched that you could  fit them under a blanket. I ranked them tied for the last two spots because you literally cannot seperate them. Fort Ann and Whitehall split the season. Argyle defeated Fort Ann the first time around. Whitehall beat Argyle in their first meeting, but Hartford upset Argyle 4-3 this week. Lake George lost their lone league game to the Scots. Get the picture? There are two weeks left for these ADK teams to get it sorted out.

Keith Harrington-Staff Writer

In one of the most anticipated high school baseball games of the spring, the Fort Ann Cardinals rallied from a 3-1 defecit to roll past the Salem Generals 9-3 in the Adirondack  League. Fort Ann had defeated Salem 7-5 in the first meeting earlier in the season, and this game has been talked about and been hyped up ever since.

Fort Ann jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first, but Salem grabbed the lead in the topot the third 3-1. The big blow in the inning for the Generals was Chris Payne’s two run double. The lead would not last as Fort Ann responded in the bottom of the frame. The Cards plated four runs to take the lead for good at 5-3. George Lehoisky and Joe Foran blasted back to back triples to pace the attack. Fort Ann added a run in the fourth, two in the fifth and one in the sixth to pull away for the win.

Foran led the Cardinals with a pair of hits and two RBIs. Lehoisky and Chris Jackson added two hits, while Jeff Johnson was 1 for 2 with an RBI. Robert Sprague doubled for Fort Ann.

Lehoisky got the win on the mound for Fort Ann, moving his record to 5-0 on the season. He scattered five hits, while striking out eight and walking none.

Fort Ann is now 11-o in the ADK, 11-1 overall. Salem drops to 9-2, 11-3.

Rick Lyons Staff Writer: Legendary Yankee closer Mariano Rivera was shagging flies last night during batting practice prior to the game between the Yankees and the Kansas City Royals. Mo did this every day, pursuing fly balls with athleticism and youthful exuberance despite being an 18 year veteran and 42 years of age. He loved it getting his running in during the pregame tracking down fly balls off teammate’s bats. Last night as he has done thousands of times before he ran toward the warning track, measuring the flight of the baseball, anticipating the catch. Last night it didn’t happen. Last night the greatest closer of all time crumpled at the edge of the track, going down tearing the ACL in his right leg and potentially ending the career of the most dominant athlete we’ll ever lay eyes on.

Today a sadness hangs over baseball and the fans of the game. Not only Yankee fans but people that follow the sport in every city share the pain. This country likes individuals who can deliver the goods, do it consistently and in a way that doesn’t shout “Look at me”. We like things we can count on like the calm of a Sunday morning, the beauty of a sunset, or the ability to call on a loyal friend. Mariano Rivera for 18 major league seasons and the way he’s handled his business has been as reliable as the day is long.

His consistency of excellence is unparalleled. Not only the end result of his work in becoming the all time saves leader in Major League Baseball, but in the way he went about it. His ability to repeat his pitching motion, exactly the same way for almost two decades seems impossible. The fact that he used only one pitch, his fabled cutter is unthinkable. Batter after batter stepped to the plate knowing exactly where Mariano’s release point would be and what type of pitch he would throw. It didn’t matter. Cutter in, broken bat pop-up, cutter away, swing and a miss strike three. Game after game, year after year Mo delivered.

His demeanor was unchanging whether it was a Wednesday night in April, or game seven of the World Series. Class, grace, a cool elegance on the mound and in the post game interviews to follow. He answered all the questions after losing to the Diamondbacks in 2001 as graciously as when celebrating in the spray of champagne after another Yankee championship. Mo was the same after the rare defeat as he was after the so many victories. “Humble in victory, gracious in defeat”, always reminds me of Mariano.

Surgery and rehab lie ahead for the Great One, and speculating about whether or not he’ll play again seems on everyone’s mind. Father Time, the torn ACL and hinting in spring training about the possibility of retirement at season’s end, are reasons to think we may have seen the last of the great Yankee closer. Mariano would be at peace with that, feeling I’m sure it was God’s will.

He said his cutter was a gift from God. Baseball fans would say the same about Mariano. Let’s hope we see both back in action someday after number 42 jogs in from the bullpen to save it one more time for the Yankees. If not, let’s appreciate we had 18 years, of watching simply the best.

Keith Harrington-Staff Writer

In the past the Adirondack League has held the end of the season showdowns between the east and west division champions of softball and baseball at a pair of different locations. The games have been played at Morse Complex in Glens Falls and Moreau Rec. Park in Moreau. This year however the Adirondack League has booked a new location for the title games, Spartan Field at Castleton State College. Some people might wonder why ADK officials would choose to move the games across the state line to Vermont. I believe that Castleton is not only a wise choice for this spring’s games, but should become the permanent home for these annual meetings.

First of all, Spartan Field is a first-class facility.  Both the softball field and baseball fields are kept in emaculate condition. The fields are  just a couple of short years old, and will be an upgrade from any fields the championship games have been played on in recent years. The fields were renovated as part of Castleton’s $26 million Castleton Student Initiative project that was completed in 2009 and included the building of Spartan Stadium. There are plenty of excellent spots to watch the games, and both the baseball and softball fields can be viewed at the same time, just in case both of your school’s teams are playing.

The staff at Castleton also has the experience in hosting major sports contests. Castleton annually hosts such events as the Vermont high school football state championship games and the Vermont/New Hampshire Twin State soccer games. Any Saturday home football game at Spartan Stadium is a well organized activity which has more the feel of a giant party than a just a sporting event. There is plenty of parking and room to tailgate. This winter I was part of the media as Castleton was the site of the North Atlantic Conference men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. Everything about the way this tournament was presented was top notch.  

As far as travel time goes,  no fans should be concerned about the distance. I know it might sound daunting to have to go “All the way to Vermont.”  I work in neighboring Poultney. It takes me about twenty minutes to go from my home in  Hartford to work, and Castleton is another ten minutes away.  Many teams in the league travel a longer distance to play their regular season games, and this trip will be worth it to play for a championship in a ballpark that is worthy of a championhip game.

That brings me to my final point. The Adirondack League championship games are one of the best local sporting events of the year.  I love that the ADK has their own title games before sectional play. It reminds me of the conference tournaments in college sports. The soccer games are played at Golden Goal, the basketball games at SUNY Adirondack . The softball and baseball games now need their own special place,  and Castleton is absolutely perfect. I hope ADK officials consider making Spartan Field the permament home. I wouldn’t even be opposed to all of the Adirondack League finals being played at the Castleton complex, and once you visit there, you may agree. Maybe “The Road to Castleton” will become a new slogan for the athletes of the Adirondack League.