Here’s the good news for runners. You can still run. Even during a public-health emergency, there are many virtual races and creative things that people are doing on line to keep themselves connected and engaged with their running compatriots.
Kingston’s team in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL, a semi-pro league) — the Stockade FC — had its season cancelled this past week, an innocent victim of the coronavirus. It’s a disappointing turn for the players and fans and for second-year coach Jamal Lis-Simmons.
All local sports have been sidetracked by the brand-spanking-new COVID-19 (sounds like a phone number from the land-line era) — which all of us peasants know as the non-scientific and plebian corona (think Mexican beer) virus (think common cold, with a twist), as well as the vicarious world of sports viewing: no NBA, no NHL, no MLB, no NCAA, no NASCAR, no NFL, no XFL, no MLS, no WWF and even, unthinkable as it may become: no more BLT, no more FBI, no more CIA and even no more BB King.
It was quite the winter sports season on the local level.
The local trainer finds it fulfilling to help others shape up.
The Kingston High School boys varsity basketball team’s stellar season ended abruptly last week with a surprise 75-49 loss to Pine Bush in the Section IX, Class AA semifinals. The game, played at Kingston’s Kate Walton Field House on Wednesday, March 4, saw the Tigers struggle from outside against a team they twice defeated during the regular season shooting from behind the arc.
This one seemed improbable. After losing their all-star backcourt of Axel Rodriguez and Casey Burke from their two-straight Section 9 Class A title basketball teams, the New Paltz boys weren’t given much of a chance to do what they did on Saturday, March 7…win their third straight. But that’s what they did, beating number two seed Monticello 69-67 in overtime on a Jackson Soper three-pointer from deep in the corner with just 0:29 left on the clock. With the win, the Huguenots are the first Class A team to ever win back-to-back-to-back titles.
Kingston High School senior Lauren Townsend is closing out her indoor track and field career on a high, earning a spot in this weekend’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association meet thanks to a second place showing in last week’s Section IX qualifier.
The Saugerties High School girls varsity basketball team’s season came to an end on Monday night with a 60-48 loss at FDR in the opening round of the Section IX, Class A playoffs. The #7 seeded Sawyers battled to the end against last year’s sectional champ, weathering an early deficit to take the lead in the second half. Head coach Heather Fanelli felt that Saugerties played one of their best games of the season.
And it took 20 years, but the Huguenots finally won their second MHAL title — this after being in their third straight Final Four and losing in the Final two years in a row — beating Millbrook 64-43 on February 28, with Patrick Murphy — seemingly fully recovered from ankle issues that held him to just eight games played this season — leading the way with 17 points and 12 rebounds, with Justin DeMaria with 15 and Jackson Soper 14.