Sports briefs: Thunder not bringing back Loh

Alex Loh will not return as head coach of the ECHL's Adirondack Thunder. (echlthunder.com)

SPORTS – The ECHL’s Adirondack Thunder announced Wednesday that it will not renew the contract of head coach/director of hockey operations Alex Loh.

Loh joined the Thunder as an assistant coach before the inaugural 2015-16 season and was named head coach prior to 2018-19. As a head coach during his three seasons, with the team not competing in 2020-21 due to COVID-19 restrictions, his regular-season record was 86 wins, 94 losses, 18 overtime losses and 8 shootout losses.

In 2018-19, the Thunder finished in second place in the North Division, but lost to Manchester in the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. In the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season, Adirondack finished 22-28-8-5. This past season was the first time the Thunder didn’t qualify for the playoffs, finishing 27-40-4-0.

“We want to thank Alex for his commitment to the organization and his efforts,” the organization said in a statement. “Alex has been a key piece of this team since its inception and has played a significant role in all our successes. We also want to thank our fans for their support, patience, and enthusiasm during this past season and we will begin the process of finding a new head coach immediately.”

PETTY EARNS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

UAlbany softball’s Morgan Petty was recently named the America East Player of the Year.

Petty, a junior, led the America East in RBIs (46) and finished second in batting average (.371). Petty also ranked second in the conference in runs (33), hits (46), home runs (nine), and slugging percentage (.694)

Petty earned a first-team selection along with teammates Katie Falotico, Lové Drumgole, Maranda Jimenez, while Sierra Fretz was named a second-team and all-rookie selection.

UAlbany starts its postseason run in the America East tournament with a game Thursday. This year’s conference playoffs are at Binghamton.

PAPAS COLLECTS TOP HONOR

Russell Sage softball senior Arianna Papas, a Maple Hill High School graduate, was named this season’s Empire 8 Conference Player of the Year.

Papas closed the regular season as the conference leader in batting average (.505), slugging percentage (.869), on-base percentage (.563) and OPS (1.405). Papas also ranked in the top-five in hits, RBIs, doubles, triples, home runs and runs scored.

Joining Papas on the league’s first team was teammate Taylor Dicranian. Earning a second-team spot from Russell Sage was Emily Agate, while Makayla Lindsey and Katelyn Rice each made the third team.

SARATOGA SPRINGS GRADUATE RECEIVES AWARD

SUNY Cortland senior third baseman Danny Coleman, a Saratoga Springs High School graduate, was recently named the SUNYAC Baseball Athlete of the Week.

Coleman batted .600 with four walks, three doubles, three runs, four RBIs and a .714 on-base percentage as Cortland swept a three-game series against New Paltz to close out the regular season.

Through 40 games, Coleman leads the Red Dragons with a .399 batting average, 10 home runs, 18 doubles, 56 RBIs and 46 runs scored.

Ahead of this week’s SUNYAC tournament, Cortland is ranked No. 12 in Division III by D3baseball.com and is the league tournament’s second seed.