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Phil Blackwell

Stories by Phil

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C-NS, Liverpool girls lacrosse get playoff wins

Two sides endure weather delays, reach sectional semis

Two days, two venues, three delays and countless momentum shifts passed before the Cicero-North Syracuse girls lacrosse team could finally put away Fayetteville-Manlius in the opening round of the Section III Class A playoffs. Liverpool endured the same sorts of delays, but far less suspense and no mid-game location shift, as it beat the combined Syracuse city squad 16-6 and joined the Northstars in reaching the semifinal round.

Sovring reaches state golf tournament again

C-NS star needs playoff to advance at sectionals

For the second year in a row, Cicero-North Syracuse girls golfer Brianna Sovring is on her way to SUNY-Delhi to play in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association tournament. It was how Sovring got to that point that provided all the excitement and tension during Tuesday's Section III championships at Kanon Valley Country Club in Oneida.

Boys track Northstars dominate own invitational

Relay teams sweep three races; Austen, Webb, Giardi get wins

In between the league and Section III Class AA championship meets that it hosted, the Cicero-North Syracuse boys track and field team hosted its 14th annual invitational meet last Saturday. And the Northstars easily made its way to the top, picking up 162 points. No one else in the 16-team field had even half that total, as Corcoran was second with 58 points and Jamesville-DeWitt (54 points) was third.

Liverpool baseball scares C-NS again

Northstars again have to rally to beat Warriors

Right at the end, the Liverpool baseball team started to click and find success, even if it was too late to reach the post-season. What the Warriors could take the most pride in, perhaps, was the way it played in two-head-to-head encounters with rival Cicero-North Syracuse.

Girls track Warriors edge Northstars for league title

Liverpool again sets pace in CNYCL National meet

Even in the home venue of its main rival, the Liverpool girls track and field team still found a way to prevail in Thursday's CNY Counties League National division championship meet. The Warriors, with 175 points, held off host Cicero-North Syracuse (165 points) to win at Bragman Stadium, in large measure due to the versatility and depth it showed in running events.

C-NS boys track edges Liverpool in league meet

Northstars avenge regular-season loss to Warriors

Though they were the same rivals, meeting in the same location, as they had a week earlier, this time around the Cicero-North Syracuse boys track and field team got the better of Liverpool. Remembering what had happened in their regular-season showdown, the Northstars got payback in Thursday's CNY Counties League National division championship meet at Bragman Stadium.

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Mallaro, Apps lead Northstars past B'ville

C-NS secures Class AA baseball top seed

Vince Mallaro started it, Will Apps finished it, and in between the Cicero-North Syracuse baseball team got just what it needed to lock down the top seed for the upcoming Section III Class AA playoffs. More importantly, the Northstars showed, in its 3-2 victory over Baldwinsville Wednesday night at Gillette Field, that it could recover from a defeat and put together a big-time performance against a big-time opponent.

Boys lacrosse Warriors whip C-NS, 12-4

Liverpool gets momentum-boosting win before playoffs

A slew of defeats – some close, others not so much – had the Liverpool boys lacrosse team in what looked like a vulnerable position. True, the Warriors were defending Section III Class A champions, about to see whether it could repeat as the sectional playoffs loomed. But it had to face 9-6 Cicero-North Syracuse Tuesday night at LHS Stadium, another side looking for a signature victory to build on.

F-M baseball hands C-NS first defeat of season

McClure brilliant in Hornets' 2-0 shutout of Northstars

Entering a challenging final week of the regular season, the Cicero-North Syracuse baseball team was still unblemished, at 14-0, but quite aware that its long streak could end at any time. That time arrived Monday afternoon, at Fayetteville-Manlius, where the state no. 2-ranked Northstars ran into Hornets left-hander Jack McClure and didn't get on the board in a 2-0 defeat.

C-NS softball roars to Morabito Tournament title

Hansen leads Liverpool to 3-1 mark at Muddville

Back in late April, the Cicero-North Syracuse softball team got tripped up for the only time this season, beaten by its own mistakes in a 9-2 defeat to John Jay-East Fishkill in a tournament near Binghamton. But the second time the Northstars ventured into tournament play, it turned out quite different, C-NS going 4-0 and winning last weekend’s 32nd annual Ace Morabito Memorial Tournament at Herkimer’s Muddville complex.

Local track stars shine at Saturday meets

Lawes, Akinpelu both win for Liverpool at Loucks Games

In between their head-to-head showdown last Wednesday and the rematch in the CNY Counties League championship meet late this week, the Liverpool and Cicero-North Syracuse track and field teams both found success in a pair of Saturday events.

C-NS, Liverpool girls lax splits with B’ville

Northstars continue strong late-season push

At least in the waning stages of the regular season, the Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool girls lacrosse teams were wed together by the common goal of trying to knock off Baldwinsville. And it was the Northstars that proved successful, going to Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium last Friday night and prevailing 13-10 in a non-league contest, avenging a 10-9 defeat to the Bees just three weeks earlier.

Liverpool boys fall to West Genesee, 14-4

Warriors also drop rematch with Baldwinsville

A month may have brought changes in the Liverpool boys lacrosse team, but it certainly has changed things for the side it conquered to win the Section III Class A title a year ago.

Rain washes out C-NS baseball Ilacqua Tournament

Northstars still unbeaten; await showdown with B'ville

About the only thing capable of stopping the Cicero-North Syracuse baseball team at this juncture in the season is a hot pitcher – or, barring that, precipitation. The rain that had mostly gone missing through the end of April and the start of May resurfaced late last week, just before the Northstars were to host its annual John Ilacqua Jr. Memorial Tournament.

O’Hara perfect in C-NS win over Auburn

Northstars nearly stunned by East; Liverpool beats West Genny

Though it had lost 4-0 to Cicero-North Syracuse on May 3, the Liverpool softball team had to be pleased with the progress it made since it lost to those Northstars by a margin three times larger earlier in the season. Yet anyone trying to stop the Northstars must find a way to hit Sydney O’Hara, who added to her long resume with a perfect game in Wednesday’s 5-0 victory at Auburn.

Liverpool track gains sweep of C-NS

Warriors boys, girls both clinch league titles

All through the spring, the Liverpool track and field teams watched Cicero-North Syracuse finish ahead of them most of the times they got together for large-scale weekend meets. But when they went head-to-head Wednesday afternoon, it ended quite differently, the Warriors winning both meets and sweeping the CNY Counties League regular-season championships in the process.

C-NS baseball pushes record to 13-0

Northstars add four more wins to perfect mark

The longer it stayed undefeated, the more a target the Cicero-North Syracuse baseball team would become – but at least so far, the state Class AA no. 3-ranked Northstars have turned back every possible challenge.

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C-NS softball blanks Liverpool, edges B’ville

Warriors have easier time defeating Bees in 3-1 week

Just looking at the numbers, the Liverpool softball team has made up some ground on Cicero-North Syracuse – but has not yet caught up. In last Friday’s battle at Gillette Field, the Warriors’ pitching duo of Dana Nicoletti and Peyton Bellrose mostly contained the Northstars, but it still wasn’t enough as Liverpool lost a 4-0 decision.

Track Northstars handle West Genesee

C-NS boys win New Hartford meet; Liverpool next

To some degree, every Cicero-North Syracuse track and field season centers around the annual showdown with Liverpool. There’s even more on the line in 2013, though, as both meets this Wednesday – the boys at Bragman Stadium, the girls at LHS Stadium – feature undefeated sides within the CNY Counties League National division.

Liverpool track sides sweep Baldwinsville

Warriors use weekend meets to prepare for C-NS

Everyone on the Liverpool track and field teams is primed to take their respective shots at Cicero-North Syracuse on Wednesday, with the CNY Counties League National division titles at stake.

Liverpool boys lacrosse stops city foes

C-NS splits games with B'ville, Oswego

Defeats to Fayetteville-Manlius (lopsided) and Marcellus (a blown fourth-quarter lead) had the Liverpool boys lacrosse team in some trouble as April drew to a close. Another loss, to Corcoran last Tuesday night, may have demoralized the Warriors, and it trailed in the fourth quarter – but this time it was Liverpool staging the comeback and pulling out a dramatic 9-8 victory.

C-NS girls lacrosse beats F-M in overtime

Northstars survive Hornets comeback from five-goal deficit

Emotions ran all over the place for the Cicero-North Syracuse girls lacrosse team in Thursday night's clash with Fayetteville-Manlius at Bragman Stadium. From calm control to frenzied worry, the Northstars felt everything, but just in time it found its best form, rallying to force overtime and eventually beat the Hornets 15-12.

A role model departs

Long-time Buffalo sports journalist served as my role model

Something really stopped me last week. Not the occasion of a birthday, for there’s one of those every year and it always happens to fall during a busy time where there’s little chance to really kick back and enjoy things, not with the deluge of games, tournaments and meets to keep up with.

Girls lacrosse Northstars roll to easy wins

C-NS rips past Central Square, Auburn, Carthage

Fueled by a close call with Baldwinsville on April 19, the Cicero-North Syracuse girls lacrosse roared past its next three opponents and improved its overall record to 6-3.

C-NS track stops B’ville, cleans up at meets

Boys Northstars win team honors at Arcaro Relays

Both of Cicero-North Syracuse’s track and field teams took large steps toward claiming the CNY Counties League regular-season titles thanks to last Wednesday’s sweep of its two meets against Baldwinsville.

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C-NS baseball tops Baldwinsville, 10-4

Northstars break late tie with six unanswered runs

To anyone that might have doubted whether the Cicero-North Syracuse baseball team had the goods to be a Section III Class AA front-runner, a ready answer was provided in Thursday afternoon's game at Baldwinsville. Staring down the defending sectional champions in a tight contest, the Northstars made the Bees blink down the stretch, and it led to a 10-4 victory, C-NS's eighth in a row.

C-NS boys tennis wins classic over Liverpool

Northstars claim pair of pivotal doubles matches

Just a point or two separated the Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool boys tennis teams by the time their head-to-head match Tuesday afternoon was complete. But it was the Northstars finishing on top, getting points in a pair of three-set doubles matches to pull out a 4-3 decision over the Warriors.

C-NS baseball remains unbeaten, goes to 5-0

Northstars get hard-fought wins over West Genny, McQuaid

About the only thing that’s gone wrong for the Cicero-North Syracuse baseball team is ill-timed bad weather, which postponed two different attempts at a showdown between the Northstars and defending Section III Class AA champion Baldwinsville.

Liverpool girls win twice, return to .500

Warriors get crucial win F-M for turnaround

At one point last week, the Liverpool girls lacrosse team was 2-4 and slipping toward a worse fate, but a pair of well-timed wins may signal a long-term turnaround.

C-NS boys lacrosse has 2-1 week

Northstars fall to Corcoran, rally past Colonie in OT

Steaming for nearly a week after a series of correctable mistakes cost them a chance at beating Fayetteville-Manlius on April 11, the Cicero-North Syracuse boys lacrosse team tripped up again, but would quickly recover and improve its mark to 7-3.

Boys Northstars win Cook-Destefano Relay title

C-NS fares well in distance races, sprints

With every finish by every competitor important, the Cicero-North Syracuse boys track and field team emerged with an exciting victory in last Friday’s Cook-Destefano Relays at Utica Proctor.

Liverpool boys lax stopped by Auburn

Warriors are 6-2 heading into F-M showdown

On a Tuesday evening in late April, the Liverpool boys lacrosse team will get another shot at humbling Fayetteville-Manlius, just as it did each of the last two years in one-sided victories during the Section III Class A semifinals.

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C-NS softball blanks Liverpool, 12-0

Seven-run second inning breaks it open for Northstars

Liverpool softball leadoff hitter Alicia Hansen won her personal battle with Cicero-North Syracuse ace Sydney O'Hara, twice picking up hits against a pitcher who had already thrown two no-hitters this season. However, that was one of the few bright spots for the Warriors on a windswept Thursday afternoon as the Northstars rolled to a 12-0 victory in the latest chapter of this long-time rivalry.

C-NS track sides sweep home meet

Liverpool steps up for second place in girls portion

It had not yet warmed up, nor had it dried out too much, by the time Cicero-North Syracuse’s track and field teams hosted its 10th annual Relays last Friday at Bragman Stadium.

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C-NS girls lacrosse rolls past Liverpool

Big first half keys Northstars' 15-8 win

In their latest chapter of a neighborhood rivalry, the Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool girls lacrosse teams battled it out on even terms for long periods of time, a charge from one side met a charge from the other side. But that all took place after the outcome was settled.

O'Hara no-hits F-M in C-NS softball opener

Northstars ace also hits fifth-inning grand slam

From the moment the 2012 state Class AA championship game ended in bitter defeat, the Cicero-North Syracuse softball team has devoted itself to getting back to that point and winning it all this time around.

Baseball Northstars hit big in season-opening routs

C-NS scores 49 runs during impressive 2-0 start

What is “normal” for the Cicero-North Syracuse baseball team is quite good by the standards of most other Section III programs. Each spring, the Northstars enter the fray thinking of nothing less than league and sectional titles, and in 2013 it’s hungry to chase after both crowns again.

Girls lax Warriors drop rematch with West Genny

Liverpool responds with one-sided romp over Oswego

Actually, there were two rematches of 2012 Section III Class A title games last Thursday afternoon, one for each gender. Just before the boys Warriors topped West Genesee again, the girls Warriors were at Camillus, looking to even things up with the reigning state Class A champions – but unable to do so, falling in an 11-4 decision.

C-NS boys lacrosse improves to 4-1

Northstars edge Binghamton, pull away from Forks

The Cicero-North Syracuse boys lacrosse team completed a busy stretch of four games in six days with a come-from-behind effort to beat Binghamton 11-10 last Monday at Bragman Stadium.

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Liverpool boys win lacrosse rematch with West Genny

Warriors top Wildcats, just as it did in 2012 sectional final

It didn't go to overtime, and it didn't carry the same stakes as the last time they got together 10 months ago. But once again, the Liverpool boys lacrosse team got the better of West Genesee, relying on its most veteran hands to put together a 7-4 victory over the Wildcats Thursday afternoon at LHS Stadium.

Just like the rest...but not like the rest

SU basketball reflects best, worst parts of college game

So what is Syracuse University basketball, circa 2013? The Orange’s run to the Final Four in Atlanta has evoked a whole lot of examination of what’s gone right and what’s gone wrong here. It’s also evoked the usual amount of journalistic opportunism - some of it legitimate, some of it not.

Girls lacrosse Warriors claim opener over Carthage

Liverpool looks to improve on 2012 run to sectional finals

While climbing to a spot in the Section III Class A finals was nice, the Liverpool girls lacrosse team is after something more – a championship.

Liverpool lacrosse holds off C-NS, 7-6

Season opener sees Warriors nearly squander 6-0 lead

When the Liverpool boys lacrosse team jumped all over Cicero-North Syracuse in the first half of Wednesday night's season opener against Cicero-North Syracuse at Bragman Stadium, it could not have imagined all the stress it would have to deal with later in the contest.

Girls lacrosse Northstars smash J-D, 18-6

Northstars feature junior-heavy lineup, plenty of depth

Not since the late 1990s has the Cicero-North Syracuse girls lacrosse team occupied a spot atop the Section III Class A ranks. Perhaps this is the season where that changes for the Northstars, as it made a strong opening statement Tuesday night with an 18-6 victory over Jamesville-DeWitt at Bragman Stadium.

Liverpool announces spring sports schedule

Boys lacrosse Warriors meet C-NS to start sectional title defense

Liverpool’s boys lacrosse team, defending the first Section III Class A title it won since 1989, opens its season March 27 at rival Cicero-North Syracuse, kicking off a busy spring sports season. Here is the LHS varsity schedule, with all dates and times subject to change.

C-NS releases spring sports schedule

Softball team looks to return to state Class AA finals again

Cicero-North Syracuse High School’s 2013 spring sports schedule, with dates and times subject to change.

C-NS girls fall to Gates-Chili in state semis

Northstars unable to avenge early-season defeat

Through sheer willpower and determination, the Cicero-North Syracuse girls basketball team made sure that its second encounter with Section V power Gates-Chili, in Friday night's state Class AA semifinal at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, did not go as badly as the first one.

C-NS girls edge Albany, return to state final four

Free throws key Northstars' 51-49 win over Falcons

A lot of time is spent by basketball teams, at all levels, practicing free throws. What they hope for is something close to what the Cicero-North Syracuse girls pulled off against Albany in Saturday's Class AA regional final at Onondaga Community College's SRC Arena.

No margin for error

Tougher for HS coaches in era of increased scrutiny

When New York Mills boys basketball coach Mike Adey picked up career win no. 500 last Sunday as his Marauders won yet another Section III Class D title at the Carrier Dome, he entered a territory few might ever trod upon again.

Burdo, Clarke lead Warriors at state swim meet

Liverpool cracks top 10 in state team standings

Perhaps the Liverpool boys swim team did not get everything it wanted out of its trip to Webster Schroeder High School in the Rochester suburbs, where the state championship meet took place. But freshman Nick Burdo and junior Garrett Clarke both posted top-five finishes, and the Warriors finished eighth in the overall team standings, sixth among public schools.

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