A late e-mail arrived regarding a confirmed case of whooping cough (pertussis) at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association ice hockey championships at the Utica Memorial Auditorium last weekend.

No details have been released if the person was an attendee, official or employee of the facility, but the release does state two specific days, March 12-13 of the event.

Here is the link to the story and release from the New York State Department of Health here.

The Adirondack Phantom will be honoring two local high school ice hockey teams that advanced to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association title games at 7:30 on April 2 when the Phantoms face the Syracuse Crunch.

The Saratoga Springs Blue Streaks (Division I) and Queensbury Spartans (Division 2) squads will be honored during the first intermission out on the ice in front of fans and friends.

For players on the squad, a "champions" discount will be available for $13 for adults and $11 for children, both include the $1 arena fee.

Contact Dawn Price at 480-3355 for tickets.

The Saratoga Pop Warner cheer teams need a home to practice their craft.

I received a request from the organization's president, Matthew Riker, asking for help.

He wrote that the squads are looking for an available facility that is well-lit with open space, similar to a warehouse or a large storage garage or facility. They could probably utilize a conference or banquet room with high ceilings.

Obviously as a 501c3 organization they are hoping someone might be able to donate the space for practices or rent it at an agreeable, inexpensive, "for the kids" type of rate.

If anyone has any ideas, feel free to e-mail me at shudy@saratogian.com and I will be happy to pass it along.

The Capital District Chapter of the National Football Foundation is going to start a Section II Football Hall of Fame this year.

In order to make sure the committee has a solid list to choose from, they would like your input on who you think should be in the Hall of Fame.

As we all know there have been and still are many great coaches, players and officials that have come through the Section the past 90 or so years and it would be interesting to see what names come up from various positions and schools.

As you also know, not everyone can make it the first year but a solid list of former players would be very beneficial.

The committee has set a policy that only players that have played before the 2000 season will be considered.

So, who do you think should go in and why?

The organization will be posting a nomination form soon on its web-site http://www.section2football.com

With spring sports in full swing, eight Skidmore College student-athletes were recognized by the Liberty League for their efforts during the past week.

Softball opened up their season with a 5-5 record at the Rebel Spring games as Lauren Dinsdale (Harrington Park, N.J.) was named Performer of the Week, Sam Crose (Assonet, Mass.) picked up Pitcher of the Week and Julia Schwartz (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) took home Rookie of the Week. Dinsdale caught all 10 games for Skidmore while batting .438 (14-32) with a home run, four doubles, seven RBI and six runs scored. Crose tossed 42 1/3 innings, posting a 4-3 record with a 2.15 ERA while striking out 39 batters. Schwartz led the Thoroughbreds with four home runs while batting .333 with nine runs and nine RBI and also was the winning pitcher in relief against Rutgers-Newark.

Baseball’s Zack Rudman (Pittsford, N.Y.) was named Co-Performer of the Week and Trevor Brucato (Stamford, Conn.) earned Co-Pitcher of the week after a 3-1 week for the Thoroughbreds. Rudman went 6-7 with three RBI and three runs scored in a doubleheader sweep of Becker and finished the week with .562 (9-16) average with six runs scored, four RBI and two stolen bases. Brucato picked up a tough no-decision in a 3-1 13 inning loss to #2 Wooster, he tossed seven innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out one and walking one.

Women’s tennis freshman Brittany Trimble (Whitefish Bay, Wis.) received Rookie of the Week after her strong play in Skidmore’s 5-4 win at Rochester. Trimble earned a valuable two points, winning 6-2, 6-2 at number six singles and teamed up with Rachel Loeb to win 8-3 at number three doubles.

Golf’s Chris DeJohn (Rocky Hill, Conn.) picked up Performer of the Week honors after finishing first at the Jekyll Island Collegiate Invitational. DeJohn was three under for the tournament, shooting 67-74-72—213 and his first round 67 was the low round for the 27 team tournament which featured 13 of the top 20 Division III programs.

Women’s lacrosse freshman Mackenzie Staub (East Northport, N.Y.) received Co-Rookie of the Week honors after a five-point week. In a 19-3 win over Fort Lewis, Staub tallied two goals and two assists and would add another goal in the Thoroughbreds’ 14-13 loss to Colorado College.

-- Courtesy Skidmore College