Another difficult spring begins at Troy High

I've said often in recent times that Troy High doesn't do enough to promote its spring sports, unlike football in the fall and basketball in the winter, the two major sports that make money for the school. It doesn't help that every year, when spring sports season arrives, Mother Nature gets in the way.

Case in point: Tuesday's baseball opener at Burnt Hills either was played and not reported to the local press, or was postponed due to mid-morning rains. The softball team opened at Burnt Hills, and left on the short end of a 11-2 score. This one, though, was a non-league clash, as the two teams will meet again in the Suburban Council finale for both on May 14 at Troy.

Curiously, while Spectrum News had cameras, presumably one operated by sports director-anchor Marissa Jacques, at the lacrosse team's home opener vs. Shaker, the game result didn't appear in today's Albany Times-Union. Go figure. For what it's worth, Troy lost this one, too, 16-4, to the defending sectional champions. Unlike in other sports, where they're a Class AA school, Shaker drops down to Class A for lacrosse because there is no Class AA for the sport. Again, go figure.

It won't get any easier. Thursday's calendar sees the baseball & softball teams taking on Averill Park. In another curiosity, those games are also denoted as non-league, but the schedule doesn't show any other meetings between the two schools in either sport this season. Averill Park is the opposite of Troy in that the baseball team was among the dregs of the league last year, while the softball team has been a league power----and a thorn in Troy's side---the last few years. With Troy moving back to Class A next season, the classic rivalry in softball may yet get a jolt of momentum.

Meanwhile, the lacrosse team wraps a 2-game season opening homestand with cross-town rival LaSalle Thursday night. Shane Hendry's club had a game scheduled last night, but the result of that game was also not reported as of press time, at least to Spectrum and the local papers. As it stands, Troy doesn't have it easy at all to start the season, as after tomorrow, they have a Saturday matinee at Niskayuna, with a 11 am (ET) start. The Cadets, per the Colonial Council site, have a Saturday matinee as well, albeit with an opponent to be named, at Hudson Valley Community College, also at 11.

By the way, we should be hearing about the complete 2018 Friday Night Lights series at Joe Bruno Stadium in about 2 weeks, right before the first games are to be played. Our High School Fridays feature will return well before then, on Friday the 13th.