Caz baseball rips Westhill in sectional semifinal

By PHil BlACkWEll

The baseball showdown that everyone in Cazenovia anticipated turned into a beatdown no one could have expected.

But the Lakers didn’t mind one bit - especially after all of the trouble and heartache Westhill gave them the last 12 months.

On the same Onondaga Community College turf where a comeback attempt in the 2022 Section III Class B title game fell just short, Cazenovia completely turned it around, ham- mering Westhill 10-1 in the May 27 sectional semifinal.

It wasn’t just what happened a year ago that haunted and motivated every single Cazenovia player. It was taking an 8-0 defeat at home to Westhill in late April in a game where the Lakers did not get a single hit off pitcher Ryan Campbell.

Campbell was again on the mound, like Byrnes working on three days’ rest after they both pitched in their team’s opening sectional games. One of these aces would handle the a Cazenovia High School graduate.

After taking his oath, Stevens said he was very honored to have been promoted and noted that it has been a long time since the department had a new sergeant.

“Your faith will not be misplaced,” he said. “I’m very happy to be here and to have this as my career. I’m looking forward to what is to come.”

Fiscal recap

At the beginning of the meeting, Wheeler provided a recap of the fiscal year 2022-2023, which concluded on May 31, 2023.

According to Wheeler, the village ended the year with an overall cash balance of $798,708 out of a budget of about $3.3 million.

“That’s right around a fifth of that budget, 17.4 percent,” Wheeler said. “That’s right in the range that New York State likes to have. They like to see the cash reserves between about 15 and 20 percent. . . Unlike other levels of government which are allowed to run a deficit [and] actually spend more money than they take in, local governments not only have to balance their books, but they actually have to keep a cash reserve on hand for emergencies. We were able to do that even in a pretty short turnaround a whole lot better challenging fiscal environment this past year with inflation being what it was.”

With one out in the top of the first inning, Byrnes doubled. Cazenovia didn’t get another hit in the frame - but still scored three runs thanks to a series of walks, a botched rundown that allowed Byrnes to score, and a successful squeeze bunt by Nico Segall. And it could have been more had not the Lakers stranded the bases loaded. Though Westhill answered with a run in the bottom of the first, it didn’t stay close for long.

Chickens

During the public comment period, Jonny Haines, a Cazenovia resident who runs the community-driven Instagram account @ cazenoviafirst, suggested that the board consider reopening the dialogue surrounding the village potentially allowing chickens within its boundaries.

Currently, any type of farm animal is expressly forbidden in the village code.

Haines explained that in a 92-person poll on his social media page, 87 percent of the voters were in favor of having chickens in the village.

Wheeler responded by noting that when the village board last voted on the issue about 15 years ago, three members were against allowing chickens and two were in favor.

“That was actually the most controversial, divisive vote in my time on the board,” he said. “. . . Ever since then, people periodically will ask me, ‘Do you think it will ever come up for a vote again?’ I don’t have any opposition to exploring it and maybe putting together a little study group.”

The board agreed with the mayor and decided to begin analyzing the topic this sum-

Sully Clarke reached base on an error to lead off the top of the second. Byrnes and Donlin both walked to again load the bases, and Jacob Grevelding’s bloop two-run single made it 5-1, forcing Campbell to exit in favor of Dom Zawadzki.

Another grounder by Segall brought home another run and a wild pitch extended the margin to 7-1 and in the top of the third Clarke’s triple and Byrnes’ double, along with a hit from Donlin, gave the Lakers a 9-1 cushion.

All of this took pressure off Byrnes, but it didn’t affect the quality of his mound work. Striking out 10, Byrnes pitched a complete game, limiting Westhill to six hits and two walks and shutting it out over the course of his last six innings.

Having rallied to beat Central Valley Academy in a tense opening-round game May 23, the Lakers had an easier time of it in the May 25 quarterfinal against no. 7 seed Clinton, prevailing by a score of 8-1.

Steadily, Cazenovia mer. “We can get some other folks who might be local experts to provide input, and we’ll plan on tackling that in July or August,” said Wheeler. in other news

Two seats on the board of trustees and the office of the mayor are up for election on June 20, 2023. Voting will be held from 12 to 9 p.m. at the American Legion Post 88, 26 Chenango St., Cazenovia. The trustee positions are currently filled by Cindy Bell and Justin Fuchs.

Both Bell and Wheeler are seeking re-election. Thomas Tait is also on the ballot to succeed Fuchs. All three candidates are running unopposed for two-year terms.

Wheeler thanked Fuchs for his service over the past two years and remarked that the trustee’s decision to vacate his seat was due to a recent change in his work duties and a desire to spend more time with his young family.

The mayor also encouraged everyone to get out and vote even though the election is uncontested.

“For the people running, it’s reassuring to feel like people are paying attention and are engaged civically,” Wheeler said.

Later in the meeting, Wheeler reported gained control against Clinton pitcher Ryan Chmielewski by scoring two runs in each of the first three innings, adding single runs in the fourth and sixh. that negotiations are still ongoing between the broker for the Cazenovia College campus bondholders and the New York State Police, which is interested in leasing the college campus as a location for a temporary, secondary training academy.

Joey Awald, with a single and two RBIs, led the way, with Sully Clarke, Izaak Gilbert and Neco Segall also driving in runs and Byrnes scoring twice. Donlin maintained a shutout until the fourth inning and only allowed three hits overall, striking out nine to set up the showdown with Westhill.

“We expect to hear more about that in the coming days, but if you hear a rumor that ‘Oh, it’s a done deal, it’s been signed,’ it’s [just] a rumor, it’s not true,” Wheeler said. “As of this afternoon, they were still working on it, but I think that deadline is coming up, and they need to have it done for the police to accomplish their goals. There are a lot of other things being investigated and possibilities [for the campus] being explored, but no hard news on any of those at this point.”

Additionally, Wheeler highlighted the community’s upcoming Fourth of July festivities, including the 50th Annual Cazenovia July 4th Foot Race in the morning, the parade at 1 p.m., and fireworks in the evening.

Due to Independence Day, the board rescheduled its July meeting for Wednesday, July 5 at 7 p.m. in the village municipal building.

The Village of Cazenovia Board of Trustees typically meets on the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in the village municipal building, 90 Albany St.