Sports

The governor announced yesterday that the Buffalo Bills playoffs pilot program was a success. Sports and entertainment events in major stadiums and arenas with a capacity of 10,000 or more will be able to re-open with limited spectators and COVID precautions starting February 23rd. The home of the New York Boulders, Palisades Credit Union Park in Pomona, has a capacity of just under 7,000, so it doesn’t qualify, but VP of Business Development Seth Cantor says the governor’s announcement is encouraging…

Ramapo supervisor Michael Specht is hopeful, if the stadium can be back in business this year, to have some improvements made, including replacing the dirt field with artificial turf…

The first venue to open under the new rules will be the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for a February 23rd NBA game featuring the Nets against the Sacramento Kings.

The Buffalo Bills Saturday won their first playoff game in 25 years, and now move on to the next round hosting the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round this Saturday. Less than ten percent of Bills Stadium’s capacity was allowed to see Saturday’s Wild Card game in-person, the first time this season they’ve had fans in seats due to COVID. The Buffalo News says Erie County officials and the Buffalo Bills are still evaluating the “experiment.” Ramapo Supervisor Michael Specht says if all goes well with their post-game COVID numbers, that could be a good omen for New York Boulders baseball games this spring at Palisades Credit Union Park in Pomona…

The Frontier League has teams in several other states including New Jersey, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Canada, but has not yet announced how or if the 2021 season will be played.

The New York Boulders’ newest pitcher is eager to get to the ballpark and get the season going. 24-year-old right-hander Chris Cepeda, who pitched for St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, says he’s familiar with and likes the Pomona stadium, but he’s not thrilled with the short porch in right field…

Cepeda logged 13 relief appearances for the Frontier League’s Evansville Otters in 2019. The Long Island native pitched three years for the STAC Spartans from 2017 to 2019 and compiled a 20-12 record with a 3.22 ERA.

The New York Boulders announced the signing of Chris Cepeda, who pitched for St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill. The 24-year-old right-hander is expected to be a starter, after logging 13 relief appearances for the Frontier League’s Evansville Otters in 2019. The Long Island native pitched three years for the STAC Spartans from 2017 to 2019 and compiled a 20-12 record with a 3.22 ERA.

The New York Boulders’ new manager held a Q&A session on Facebook last night. Despite the pandemic, TJ Stanton said he’s busy putting together the team for 2021, and the ballpark itself is a great draw for new players…

This would be Stanton’s first year managing the NY Boulders, who are hoping to get their inaugural season in the Frontier League started in 2021.