Compiled by Craig Potter
Today’s C&C Worldwide SportsROC Report includes stories on the Rochester Red Wings 12th-inning loss, the Buffalo Sabres 1st Round draft pick, and the Western New York Flash set a franchise record for goals.
The Rochester Red Wings battled from a 4-0 deficit to tie the game 4-4, but ended up falling 5-4 in 12 innings to the Louisville Bats on Friday night before 8,062 fans at Frontier Field on Batman Night.
Louisville scored a run off starter Logan Darnell (8-5) in the third inning, and made it 4-0 on Carlos Triunel’s 3-run homer in the fifth. It was the first time in his 14 starts this season that he did not figure in the decision as he pitched 6 innings, giving up 5 hits, walking 3 and striking out 7.
The Red Wings battled back against the Bats bullpen as starter Keyvius Sampson hurled 6 innings of 1-hit ball.
Tommy Field, who replaced Miguel Sano after his 5 innings playing third base and going 0-for-1 with a walk in his first-ever Triple-A game, singled off reliever Nick Routts to start the 7th. After a strikeout, Logan Schafer singled. Following another strikeout, Wilfredo Tovar walked to load the bases. John Ryan Murphy cleared the bases with a double to center. James Beresford was safe on an error, then Jorge Polanco singled home Murphy with the tying run.
The game remained that way until the top of the 12th when a leadoff walk issued by reliever Sean Burnett was turned into the game-winning run by Louisville.
Despite the loss, Rochester (44-30) still leads the International League North Division by 1 game over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (43-31).
The series with the Bats continues on Saturday on Star Wars Night with the first pitch at 7:05. Gates open at 6 p.m., with fireworks to follow the game.
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In the first round of an NHL Draft where any pick beyond the first two became a guessing man’s game, Alexander Nylander must have been one of the few people in First Niagara Center who knew precisely how his night was going to pan out.
Sure, there was doubt with every team that approached the podium – Calgary seemed like a real possibility at No. 6 – but there was one destination in particular where the interview went so well and the interest seemed so high that he thought it was the perfect fit.
Four words from Tim Murray were all it took to affirm Nylander’s belief: “Buffalo selects Alex Nylander.”
“It was an unbelievable moment, the best moment of my life,” Nylander said of being selected by the Buffalo Sabres with the No. 8 pick at the 2016 Draft, an announcement met with an applause from the hometown crowd that Nylander said was unlike anything he’d ever received.
The selection adds yet another element of intrigue to the budding rivalry between the Sabres and their neighbors to the north, the Toronto Maple Leafs, as it pits him against older brother William, who was taken by Toronto at No. 8 in 2014.
William Nylander made his much-anticipated NHL debut last season, scoring 13 points (6+7) in 22 games.
“It’s gonna be awesome playing against my brother,” Alex said, smiling.
He’ll have the benefit of joining a cast of talented young players who already took their first step toward restoring a winning tradition to Buffalo last season. Nylander describes himself as a playmaker who makes his linemates better. Someday, his linemates might be Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart.
“It’s perfect,” Nylander said. “A lot of young players, it’s a really good team trying to build up now and they’re going to be really good for next year … It’s just going to be amazing playing with them.”
While it will ultimately depend on his camp and the decision made by Buffalo’s coaches and front office, Nylander’s current goal is to join his future teammates in the NHL next season. He wants to put on size, he says – he’s six feet tall and currently listed at 179 pounds – but he believes that a transition to the League next season is possible.
Prior to the start of the draft, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced that the NHL Combine will return to Buffalo next year.
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The Western New York Flash set a club record for goals in a game as they routed the Boston Breakers, 7-1, on Friday night at Rhinos Stadium.
The Flash were paced by a hat trick from Jessica McDonald and a brace from Lynn Williams en route to setting the franchise record for goals in a game.
After a slow start to the game, the Flash opened the scoring as rookie Makenzy Doniak fed a beautiful long ball up to the foot of Williams, who made a move to beat her defender and put it past the outstretched hands of Boston goalkeeper Jami Kranich. McDonald followed with her first goal of the evening about nine minutes later as Samantha Mewis used a soft touch to lead the ball to the foot of McDonald as the Flash took a 2-0 lead.
Boston scored their only goal of the night soon-after as Christen Westphal beat Flash goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland. It was Rowland’s first start with the Flash, and she played well despite the allowed goal. McDonald responded almost immediately as she collected a beautiful cross from Williams and put it into the far side of the net to make it 3-1 Flash in the 39th minute.
The Flash were able to add two more goals before the break as McDonald added her second goal of the night off of a beautiful ball by Liz Eddy. Doniak netted her second goal of the season off of a long feed from Mewis, who was credited with her second assist of the game. The five goals at the half meant that the Flash had tied their franchise record for goals in a game.
The team was quick to break the record as McDonald completed her hat trick in the 49th minute. Abby Dahlkemper fed an arching pass to Jaelene Hinkle, who fed it over to the foot of McDonald for an easy tap-in past Kranich. The hat trick was the first of the 2016 National Women’s Soccer League season and tied Carli Lloyd’s franchise record for most goals in a game by a single player. Taylor Smith added the team’s seventh goal in the 63rd minute on a shot that beat the right hand of Kranich and bounced in off of the far post.
The Flash will hope to keep their offensive momentum going as they host the Chicago Red Stars in week 11 of the National Women’s Soccer League action. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET at Rhinos Stadium. Tickets for the match are available at wnyflash.com/tickets.
Soccer returns to Frontier Field
The Flash also announced on Friday that they will play their scheduled July 9 home game at 7 p.m. against the Seattle Reign at Frontier Field.
Frontier Field has a strong history of hosting top level soccer games, including the United States Women’s National Team’s exhibition game against Iceland in 2004 that attracted nearly 15,000 fans.
“This is an extremely exciting opportunity to bring pro soccer at its highest level back to Frontier Field,” said Rich Randall, General Manager of the Flash. “It’s a special place that will bring back countless memories for soccer fans in Rochester. I’d like to personally thank the Red Wings staff for being so accommodating.”
Frontier Field has been the home for many soccer games since its inception in 1996, however this will be the first since 2005.
“We know that there are a lot of people with some great memories of watching soccer at Frontier Field and this will give them a chance to rekindle those memories,” said Naomi Silver, Red Wings President/CEO/COO. “We were happy to lend a hand to the Flash when their stadium was not available for this date.”
Tickets for the July 9 game at 7pm at Frontier Field go on sale on Monday, June 27 at 10am. Tickets are available online at wnyflash.com/tickets, by calling the Flash office at (585) 271-KICK, or by calling the Frontier Field ticket office at 423-WING. All tickets are General Admission and $15. Groups of 15 or more can get tickets for $12 each.