Compiled by Craig Potter
Today’s C&C Worldwide SportsROC Report includes stories on the Rochester Red Wings win over Syracuse, the WNY Flash blank Chicago, the Buffalo Sabres sign 4 players, and the Rochester Junior Knighthawks look to defend their titles in a Jr. NLL Tournament.
The Rochester Red Wings got timely hitting and excellent pitching to beat the Syracuse Chiefs, 5-3, on Friday night before 5,820 fans at Frontier Field.
The Chiefs took the lead with a run in the first inning off starter Jason Wheeler.
In the bottom of the first inning, Tommy Field was called out on a close play by first base umpire Derek Mollica. While manager Mike Quade argued the call with Mollica, hitting coach Chad Allen was ejected by home plate umpire Jantzen Visconti.
However, the Red Wings pulled ahead in the second on a leadoff single by Kennys Vargas and a home run by Eddie Rosario.
The game remained that way until the sixth when Wheeler gave up a triple, single and double, which tied the game. Aquinas graduate Chris Bostick then lofted a sacrifice fly to left to plated the go-ahead run.
With the bases loaded and 2 out, D.J. Baxendale came on to get a popup to second baseman Jorge Polanco to escape further damage. He picked up his first Triple-A win as Rochester regained the lead in the bottom of the inning.
The Red Wings responded in the home half with 3 runs of their own. Rosario started the rally wuth a single. Adam Brett Walker walked and Darin Mastroianni laced a RBI single to knot the game at 3-3. Wilfredo Tovar ended his 0-for-18 hitting streak with a double to score the fourth run. James Beresford then sent a sacrifice fly to center to account for the final run.
Bostick displayed his versatility as he played his third different position in his third consecutive game versus the Red Wings. Bostick batted fourth and played third base tonight, where he finished the game 1-for-3, while in the twinbill on Thursday, he played Game 1 at second base and Game 2 in left field.
The win keeps Rochester (48-35) 2.5 games behind North Division leader Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (50-32), and a half game ahead of Lehigh Valley (47-35).
*NOTES — OF Darin Mastroianni, sent to the Red Wings on a major league rehab assignment June 17, made his first appearance and had 2 hits, 1 RBI and a run scored…Minnesota Twins slugger Miguel Sano ended his rehab assignment with the Red Wings on Friday as he went back to the Twins, and Minnesota optioned 1B/DH Byung-Ho Park to Rochester…The start of the game was delayed 1 hour and 25 minutes due to a couple of storm cells passing through the area.
___________
In a battle for second place, the Western New York Flash blanked the Chicago Red Stars, 2-0, on Friday night in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) action at Rhinos Stadium.
With the victory the Flash (7-4-0 for 21 points) take over sole possession of second place over the Red Stars (5-3-3 for 18 points).
After an hour delay due to rain, the Flash were led by Lianne Sanderson and Lynn Williams each with a tally. For Sanderson, it was her first goal for the Flash since being acquired last week in a trade with Orlando.
Williams’s goal was her league-leading sixth of the season, breaking a tie between her and teammate Jessica McDonald, who finished the night by setting up both goals.
Katelyn Rowland earned the shutout in net for the Flash.
The Flash, winners of five of their last six matches, will resume play next Saturday, July 9 when they take on Seattle Reign FC in a match at Frontier Field.
___________
The Buffalo Sabres announced on Friday that the team has signed forward Kyle Okposo to a 7-year contract.
In his eighth full NHL season with the New York Islanders in 2015-16, Okposo (28, 6-foot-0, 217 lbs.) recorded 64 points (22+42) and 51 penalty minutes. His career-high totals in assists (42) and power play points (23) each led all Islanders players in 2015-16.
Okposo has topped the 50-point mark in each of the last three seasons, including a career-best 69 points (27+42) in 2013-14. He has been among the league’s most productive players during that stretch, ranking 25th among all NHL skaters in assists (117) and points (184), and 18th in points per game (.88) since the beginning of the 2013-14 season.
In 529 total NHL games, Okposo has recorded 369 points (139+230) and 310 penalty minutes, adding 15 points (7+8) and 11 penalty minutes in 24 playoff games. The St. Paul, Minnesota native has also represented the United States at several international tournaments, including the IIHF World Championship (2009, 2010, 2012) and the IIHF World Junior Championship (2007, 2008).
The Sabres also signed defenseman Jake McCabe to a 3-year contract extension.
In his first full NHL season in 2015-16, McCabe (22, 6-0, 214 lbs.) recorded 14 points (4+10) in 77 games and led all Sabres with a plus-6 rating. His average ice time of 19:07 per game ranked him 11th among all NHL rookies and his 14 points tied for eighth-most among rookie defensemen.
McCabe, who has appeared in 86 NHL games during parts of the last three seasons, has totaled 15 career points (4+11), a plus-3 rating and 66 penalty minutes since being selected by the Sabres in the second round (44th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft. Prior to joining the Sabres full-time, he spent most of the 2014-15 season with the Rochester Americans (AHL), where he led all Rochester defensemen in points per game as rookie with 29 points (5+24) in 57 games.
A native of Eau Claire, WI., McCabe has represented the United States several times throughout his career, including two IIHF World Championship appearances (2014 and 2016). He captained the United States to a gold medal at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he was named to the tournament’s All-Star team and was also on the team that won the 2011 IIHF World Under-18 Championship.
Former Sabres and Rochester Americans forward Tim Schaller signed with the Boston Bruins on Friday.
Buffalo also signed defenseman Justin Falk to a 1-year, 2-way contract.
Falk (27, 6-5, 224 lbs.) split the 2015-16 season between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Lake Erie Monsters (AHL). He totaled 4 assists, 17 penalty minutes and a plus-2 rating 24 games with Columbus and nine points (2+7) in 32 AHL games with Lake Erie. Falk also tallied four assists and a plus-3 rating in 17 AHL Playoff games to help Lake Erie to a Calder Cup Championship.
The Snowflake, Manitoba native was selected in the fourth round (110th overall) of the 2007 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild and has recorded 23 points (2+21) in 171 games during parts of seven NHL seasons with Columbus, the New York Rangers, and Minnesota. In 5 AHL seasons, Falk amassed 42 points (9+33) in 260 games.
The Sabres inked defenseman Taylor Fedun to a one-year, two-way contract.
Fedun (28, 6-0, 200 lbs.) made his NHL debut with the Edmonton Oilers during the 2013-14 season and posted 7 points (2+5) in 12 career NHL games.
The Edmonton, Alberta native spent most of the 2015-16 season with the Utica Comets (AHL), where he posted 33 points (8+25) and 48 penalty minutes in 63 games played. In 5 AHL seasons, he recorded 132 points (32+100) and a plus-23 rating in 263 career games. Fedun also added 8 points (4+4) and a plus-10 rating in 28 career playoff games.
___________
The Rochester Knighthawks announced on Friday that the organization will enter three youth lacrosse teams into the fourth annual Jr. NLL Tournament in Oakville, Ontario, which will take place from Aug. 25-28. Last year, the Knighthawks swept the tournament, winning the championship at the Pee Wee, Bantam, and Midget levels.
This year, a tryout session for each team will be held on Wednesday, July 13th at Total Sports Experience (TSE) in East Rochester. Teams will consist of 15 local players and five players from the Six Nations Reservation in Canada. All three teams will be coached by current Knighthawks players and members of the coaching staff. Already confirmed to coach are Knighthawks assistant coach and Hall of Famer Pat O’Toole, former Knighthawks star Mike Accursi, and Knighthawks defensemen Derek Searle and Brad Gillies.
The Junior Knighthawks will participate in the NLL sponsored tournament, which will be played using NLL rules. Age groups for the three teams are below:
* Pee Wee (born in 2004 or 2005)
* Bantam (born in 2002 or 2003)
* Midget (born in 2000 or 2001)
The tryout fee is $25 per player. Each player who tries out for a team will receive a Knighthawks practice jersey and a ticket voucher for a 2017 Knighthawks home game. Click here to register for the tryout.
Tryout schedules are as follows:
* Pee Wee – July 13 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
* Bantam – July 13 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
* Midget – July 13 from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Each player who makes a team will be required to pay a team fee of $400 to cover the cost of the tournament and four practices. With that registration fee, each player will also receive a pair of Under Armour© Knighthawks gloves, Under Armour© kidney pads and slash guards, a season ticket for the Knighthawks 2017 regular season, tournament item (i.e. socks, shirt, etc), and four to six tournament games.
For more information, please call the Knighthawks Office at (585) 454-4295.