Archive for September, 2008

Rochester Rockies Win 2008 NABA Championship!

Sunday, September 28th, 2008
By Chuck Healey & Staff Writer
Normally you would not find Sports info in this publication, but since The Property Source is a sponsor of the team, we felt it would be fitting to say congratulations to the Rockies on an exceptional year! The Rockies are a member of the NABA 28+ baseball league. The uniqueness of this league is that it is hardball played with only wood bats. The Championship was last weekend and below is a recap of the game.
Craig Bodensteiner (McQuaid) came out of retirement 3 seasons ago because he knew the Rockies would have a chance to win a championship… His clutch 2-out, 2 strike line drive base hit in the bottom of the ninth scored Craig Brown from third and sent the Rockies into “Pandemonium”, giving the Rockies a 2-1 win over a tough Red Stox ballclub and their second title in four years.
The Rockies (15-4 record) were making their third title game appearance in the past four years, returning to the dance after dropping a close game to the Padres in last years final. Evan Bickel (Geneseo) (9 IP, 3 hits, 6 K’s, 1 unearned run) was brillant in the win facing only 31 batters (4 over the minimum) in notching the victory. Bickel who missed all of 2007 with a career threatening back injury also bounced back in a big way this season with a 9-1 Record and a 1.16 ERA. The Rockies dusted off their black championship jerseys from 2005 for the playoffs and several veterans including John Sexton (Webster), Owen Bickel (Geneseo) and Brian Johnson (Webster) all retirees off the 2005 team returned in 2008 and made huge contributions during the season and in the playoff run.
The Red Stox got on the scoreboard first in the top of the third. Bob Bowman’s wet ground ball was thrown away leading off the inning. With one out he moved to third on a ball fielded by Bickel, and scored on Al Lanni’s Texas leaguer with two out to short left field.
The Rockies tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. Larry Frisa (Spencerport) (1-3) reached with a base hit with two outs. Frisa moved to second before Craig Brown (Buffalo) (2-3) followed with a base hit. Dan “Pee Wee” Herman of the Red Stox (9 IP, 2 runs, 12 hits, 8 K’s) was called for a balk scoring Frisa and the score was knotted at 1-1 after five innings.
Bickel would take charge for the Rockies over the next four innings facing only 13 hitters during that span and actually 16 over the last five after throwing a 1-2-3 fourth as well.
With both pitchers sparing like a pair of great fighters in a championship fight, the game went to the bottom of the ninth tied 1-1 and the Rockies answered the “bell for the round”. Owen Bickel (1-3) singled to lead it off, Chuck Healey Jr. (Aquinas)  (2-3) followed with a hit, (Craig Brown ran for him) and Bill Schnupp (Fairport) (1-3)  laid down a nice bunt that Herman slipped fielding and all hands were safe and the bases were loaded with no outs. Mickey Harris (North Carolina) hit a flyball to left center but a perfect throw home from the Red Stox centerfield Mickey Parker nailed Bickel at the plate. That set up the games final moment. Bodensteiner came up with two outs, runners on second and third, and first base open. The Red Stox huddled, then elected to pitch to him and two strikes later Bodie responded with a line drive walk off base hit. Cementing the win for the Rockies in what was a superiorly pitched and played championship game and helping his teammates hoist another championship trophy!
For more information on the NABA, visit their website at
www.RochesterBaseball.com
Winning Pitcher  Evan Bickel   9.0 IP. 4 hits, 1 run (unearned), 6 K’s, 1 walk
Losing Pitcher    Dan Herman  9.0 IP, 12 hits, 2 runs, 8 K’s, 1 walk
RBI’s  Rockies     Brown 1, Bodensteiner 1,  Red Stox  Lanni  1
Extra base hits   Rockies  Cooney 2 doubles,

Homes Sales in August

Monday, September 15th, 2008

The Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS® (GRAR) is reporting on the market statistics in the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region for the month of August.

This past month there was a 23.4 percent decrease in monthly closings and a 10.6 percent decrease in homes listed for sale as compared to August of 2007 according to statistics released by the Genesee Region Real Estate Information Service (GENRIS), the information subsidiary of GRAR.  The median sale price for our area increased 0.2 percent to $125,000 from last month and remained flat compared to August of last year.

The surrounding counties of the Greater Rochester MSA, specifically Yates and Wyoming counties, continue to show positive activity in regards to year-to-date monthly closings with increases of 29.9 and 7.5 percent respectively.

The real estate market for the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region is unique in that while we may not experience the housing booms that have occurred elsewhere, we are also fortunate that we do not experience the dramatic decreases in sales either, as other parts of the country currently are.  Interest rates remain low and real estate is definitely local.  It’s still a good time to buy in the Rochester area.

These statistics reflect the real estate activity for the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region for the month of August.

The Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS® represents more than 3,000 real estate professionals in the Genesee and Finger Lakes region.  Please contact the Rochester Home Builders’ Association for monthly statistics reflecting new housing starts and building permits.

Looking to sell or buy a home? Contact your local REALTOR® today who can provide you with the necessary expertise to make your experience a positive one.