The Adirondack region had one of its best medal hauls at last weekend’s Empire State Games in Binghamton.
Adirondack was third in the medal count with 165 and was tied for second with Long Island for the most gold medals (66). Western was the top region with 222 medals including 79 gold medals, while Long Island was second with 200 medals.
Several Adirondack teams claimed medals including gold medals for the open women’s basketball team, the open women’s softball team, the masters women’s volleyball team and the masters men’s rugby team. The scholastic men’s baseball team, the scholastic women’s hockey team, the scholastic women’s soccer team and the masters women’s rugby team earned silver medals, while bronze medals went to Adirondack’s open women’s soccer and scholastic men’s volleyball squads.
The open women’s basketball team earned its first gold medal in seven years by beating Western 70-57 in Sunday’s championship game. The Siena College duo of Melissa Manzer and Shondaya Burrell a Colonie Central High School graduate led the way for Adirondack. Manzer finished with a game high 27 points, while Burrell contributed 14 points.
The masters men’s rugby team defeated Central 19-12 in Saturday’s gold medal game to win its second consecutive title. Adirondack defeated Central by the same score in its first meeting Friday on its way to a 6-0 record.
The masters women’s rugby team was hoping to also return home with a gold medal, but Western edged Adirondack 15-10 in the final game. Adirondack defeated Western 10-7 in an earlier match.
At least the masters women’s rugby team played its gold medal game. The scholastic men’s baseball medal games were rained out. Hudson Valley was awarded the gold medal by virtue of its higher seed after round robin play, while Adirondack received the silver medal.
Adirondack’s open women’s softball team had better luck with the weather and the competition. Adirondack breezed through round robin play with a 4-1 record and then knocked off Western 7-4 in Saturday’s gold medal game. Shenendehowa High School graduate Michelle Connors drove in two runs with a pair of hits to lead Adirondack’s offense, while fellow Shen grads Amanda Ferro and Jennifer Granato each scored a run.
The masters women’s volleyball team swept Western 25-18, 25-18 to win its gold medal match. The team included three Clifton Park residents ` Shannon Combs, Sally Gillich and Christine McCarroll ` as well as Gretchen Belanger and Courtney Deming of Ballston Spa, Paula Isaksen of Glenville, Kristina Kemmer of Voorheesville and Ann Mantha of Selkirk.
In other medal games:
Western built a 3-0 lead and held on for a 3-2 victory over Adirondack in the scholastic women’s soccer gold medal game. Niskayuna High School’s Whitney Frary had a goal and an assist, and Ballston Spa High School goaltender Renae Cairns stopped five shots.
Adirondack’s open women’s team downed Hudson Valley 3-1 for the bronze medal Sunday. Shen graduate Ashley Moore scored all of Adirondack’s goals, and Niskayuna High School graduate Marie Mutryn had seven saves in goal.
Long Island defeated Adirondack 2-0 in the scholastic women’s hockey final, but not without a strong effort from Adirondack goaltender Jennifer Conophy. The Glenmont native stopped 36 of the 38 shots she faced.
The Adirondack scholastic men’s volleyball team settled for the bronze medal after losing to Long Island 2-1 in its final match. Adirondack lost the first game 25-20, but bounced back to beat Long Island 25-20 in the second game to force a third game. Long Island wound up winning that game 15-12.
Individual results will appear next week.“