Anyone who's played high school sports on Saratoga Springs' high school fields knows they can wear down pretty quickly. It appears there's a group of people plan to do something about it. The group has 174 likes on Facebook. I'll follow up on this story later in the month:

SARATOGA SPRINGS >> “Build it and he will come.” This famous line from the Kevin Costner movie, Field of Dreams, about an Iowa corn farmer who builds a baseball field on his farm, is the inspiration behind a new project to “rebuild” the fields at Saratoga Springs High School. The Toga Fields of Dreams project is a grassroots fundraising campaign created to raise money for a state of the art sprinkler system to irrigate the athletic fields at the Saratoga Springs High School. The project will be funded in several phases, with the first phase commencing this fall for the girls' Varsity field hockey, lacrosse, soccer and softball fields.

Over the years, several of the varsity fields have deteriorated, for a number of reasons, to the point that some of the  varsity teams have been forced to play and practice offsite.  Parents, coaches and student athletes were not happy about this and met with school officials to determine what needed to be done to fix the fields so that teams could play on them. The answer was complicated, yet simple. They needed water.

“We started out as a small group of concerned parents,” said Ralph Petruzzo, one of the group’s organizers, and then word got out and more and more people wanted to get involved. We are now working together with the school’s administration to put an irrigation plan in place that will eventually make Saratoga’s fields the envy of the capital region.  ‘Build it and they can play’ is everyone’s goal for this project.”

In addition to the newly formed parent’s group, members of the school’s administration have been instrumental in making this project a priority. “I have been so impressed with the energy and enthusiasm of those involved with this project”, said Peter Sheehan, Saratoga Springs High School Athletic Director.  “It is great to see our different Booster Clubs come together and work with the administration to the benefit of our student-athletes.

When completed the plan will involve:

·        Irrigating almost 22 acres of land
·        Installing 5 miles of pipe that runs the length of the football field 90 times
·        Creating 87 separate watering zones
·        Eliminating water waste by creating a much more efficient system

The project will be done over time and financed once funds are raised. Phase I is starting now, before the weather turns, and their goal is to raise $25,000 in the next few months. The fundraising committee is reaching out to all members of the community, including local businesses, to contribute whatever they can to help them reach their goal.

People can go to http://www.gofundme.com/togafieldsofdreams to make donations. Their progress can also be followed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/togafieldsofdreams.

Natasha Capobianco and Schuylerville are now
ranked No. 17 in the latest Class B state poll

The Schuylerville girls soccer team moved up one spot in the latest NYSPHSAA state rankings. The Black Horses, who can clinch the outright Wasaren League title for the first time in program history Tuesday night against Hoosic Valley, are now the No. 17 ranked team in Class B. Schuylerville's place is one higher than No. 18 Hoosick Falls, and behind undefeated Section II powers Catholic Central (No. 9) and Schalmont (No. 1).

Here are the notable teams in the Class B state rankings:
1) Schalmont-2 (14-0)
2) Briarcliff-1 (10-0-1)
3) Marcellus-3 (14-1)
4) Oneonta-4 (11-2-1)
5) Bronxville-1 (10-2)
...
9) Catholic Central-2 (13-0)
17) Schuylerville-2 (13-1)
18) Hoosick Falls-2 (12-2)

In Class AA, Shenendehowa dropped to No. 9 in the rankings with Suburban Council-leading Guilderland the highest-ranked Section II team at No. 6. Fellow league rivals Niskayuna are No. 11.

 Class AA
1) Northport-11 (12-0)
2) Monroe-Woodbury-9 (14-0)
3) St. John the Baptist-CHSAA (8-0-2)
4) Massapequa-8 (11-1)
5) North Rockland-1 (10-0-1)
6) Guilderland-2 (13-1)
...
9) Shenendehowa-2 (10-2-1)
11) Niskayuna-2 (12-2)


Undefeated Queensbury is the top ranked Section II team in the Class A ranking at No. 9. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, the eight time defending section champs, enter the poll at No. 15. No other Section II squads made the top 20 in the rankings.

Class A
1) Honeoye Falls-Lima-5 (14-0)
2) Rockville Centre South Side-8 (10-1-1)
3) Garden City-8 (8-2-1)
4) Williamsville South-6 (13-0)
5) Somers-1 (10-1)
...
9) Queensbury-2 (14-0)
15) Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake-2 (7-6-1)

South Glens Falls' boys soccer team climbed up to No. 17 in the latest NYSSWA Class A state rankings released Monday afternoon. Coach Travis Birkholz's Bulldogs head into Monday with a nine-match shutout streak and actually beat Queensbury (No. 14 in Class A) earlier in the season.
South High's opponent Monday is Broadalbin-Perth, the No. 14 team in Class B.

Click here for the complete rankings.

Here's the Class A top 5:
1. Williamsville East-VI (11-0)
2. Syracuse Fowler-III (12-0)
3. East Hampton-XI (9-1-1)
4. Byram Hills-I (9-0-1)
5. Wallkill-IX (9-0)

In Class AA, formerly top-5 ranked Shenendehowa 9-2-1 was knocked out of the rankings entirely after a loss to No. 12-ranked Guilderland. Suburban Council rivals Shaker hold the No. 20 ranking.
Class AA top 5:
1. Arlington-I (9-0)
2. Walt Whitman-XI (10-0)
3. Fairport-V (8-0-2)
4. Mamaroneck-I (10-0)
5. Washingtonville-IX (9-0-2)

Class B top 5:
1. Livonia-V (12-0)
1. Ichabod Crane-II (10-0)
3. Carle Place-VIII (9-0)
4. Westhill-II (10-0)
5. Bronxville-I (8-1-1)

Class C top 5:
1. Lansing-IV (11-0)
2. Friends Academy-VIII (9-0-1)
3. S.S. Seward-IX (10-1)
4. Kendall-V (10-0)
5. Fabius-Pompey-V (9-1-1)

Class D top 5:
1. Chazy-VII (9-1-1)
2. Poland-III (11-0)
3. Fort Ann-II (11-0)
4. Harrisville-X (8-0-1)
5. Northville-II (9-0-2)