Fans and media were invited out to Dwyer Stadium this evening to meet the 2009 Batavia Muckdogs. I spoke with manager Mark DeJohn briefly about his new team and snapped a couple of pictures of the work out, including one of DeJohn giving one of his players some instruction on glove work.
Hey everyone!
As some of you already know, I'm back interning with the Muckdogs again this year. My jobs have changed some, though. I am primarily doing media work. I'll have game stories after every game, feature stories throughout the season and I'll post a new player interview every Monday.
Feedback from fans is key! Let me know if there's anything you want to know about, any players you want to hear from, any story ideas, etc. I will try my best to do it all!
I have one pre-season feature story done, but my video is taking really long to upload, but I'll have that to you as soon as I can.
And don't forget: Open House tonight from 6-8 and of course the Home Opener Friday at 7! Hope to see you all there! :)
Cheerleading Camps for children ages 5 through 18 are being scheduled for this summer, beginning June 29 and continuing through August 12. Various age levels can participate in the cheerleading camps, which will be held at the Community Park located on Bank Street Road (at the E. Saile Dr. intersection) in Batavia. Camps include:
· Youth Cheer: Three levels for ages 5 – 7, 8 – 10, and 11 – 13. Participants will learn the fundamentals of cheerleading, sideline cheers, dance, and basic stunting and tumbling. One-week camps runs Monday through Wednesday from
· Cheerleading Boot Camp: For ages 13 – 18. This camp is designed for the cheerleader who wishes to prepare for high-school try-outs this fall. The camp includes intense stretching and conditioning, jump & sequence, tumbling and basic stunting. (Note: this camp runs twice a week – on Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 1 – 3 p.m. from July 6 - 29.) Cost: $200; Two-week option (July 20 – 29) $125
All camps are organized by GeneseExcel Sports and will be run by Krista Shamp, former Batavia High School Cheerleading coach. Shamp led two teams to championship titles; the first-ever win in Section V history for Batavia Cheerleading. She also is a five-time Section V Coach of the Year. “My staff and I are devoted to inspiring young athletes to understand and enjoy the sport of cheerleading. We have many years of experience collectively ranging from high school cheerleading to college national teams, All-Star performances to professional cheerleading. My hope is that we can bring a new level of expertise and spirit to local cheerleading.”
GeneseExcel is a privately owned company dedicated to providing Genesee County with recreational opportunities. Ted Hawley, owner of GeneseExcel, has been involved with youth soccer for over 15 years. He also has 30 years of experience with rugby – as a player and a referee. “I think there’s a need for athletic camps and clinics in this area, especially during the summer months, when many kids are training for school sports. GeneseExcel is committed to providing building blocks to not only develop skills, but to enhance the skills they may already have.
Applications will be accepted until July1. For additional information about cheerleading camps, or GeneseExcel soccer camps, please contact Ted or Patty Hawley at 585.343.3329 or email info@geneseexcelsports.com.
YOUTH SOCCER ADACEMY PROVIDE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR YOUNG ATHLETES
Christian Rosa was signed last June by the St. Louis Cardinals out of an independent league and assigned to the Batavia Muckdogs.
It was a dream come true for the undrafted Puerto Rican native, and he was a contributor to the 2009 championship season.
In 32 games, Rosa batted .286 with four doubles, two homers, 12 RBI and four stolen bases.
As the June draft approached this year, Rosa was cut by the Cardinals to make room for new players. He said he was surprised to be let go.
"I never thought I was going to get released,” Rosa said. “Everybody was telling me that I was doing great."
Batavia manager Mark DeJohn says Rosa indeed did everything right. But the lack of a strong throwing arm resulted in his release.
“I absolutely loved having Christian on my team. We won a championship that honestly means more to me than any World Series or other league championship rings I have, and Christian was a big part of that,” DeJohn said. “To be a kid who was undrafted and coming out of an independent league, he was just outstanding in a lot of areas.
“He received the ball well, blocked it well, called a good game, did a good job with the bat and ran well for a catcher. It’s just that his arm is well below average, and that’s heartbreaking because Christian is the type of kid you really get attached to.”
The Cardinals Nation blog has posted a tentative roster for the 2009 Batavia Muckdogs, and fans will recognize a few names from last year, including one of my favorites - Beau Riportella.
Other returning Muckdogs include: pitchers LaCurtis Mayes and Dan Richardson, catcher Luis De La Cruz, infielders Jairo Martinez and Xavier Scruggs with outfielder Edwin Gomez.
The roster also includes some top draft picks: fifth-rounder Ryan Jackson, eighth-round pick Jason Stidham and ninth-round selection Nick McCully.
Ryde Rodriquez, signed as a free-agent out of Havana, Cuba, is also on the roster. In 2008 in rookie ball, Rodriquez hit .324 but otherwise failed to impress at either Johnson City last season or Quad Cities so far this year.
Besides the returning Muckdogs, 11 of the other players have previous professional experience.
And, I'm telling you, if Riportella develops plate discipline (not just "some discipline" but any discipline), he'll be a hell of a hitter. Last year he struck out 32 times against only 3 walks.
You can come out to Dwyer Stadium tomorrow night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and meet members of the team. The season opens Friday at 7 p.m. at Dwyer Stadium.
UPDATE: Here's a post about a Muckdog from last year who won't be back in 2009 with the Muckdogs or any other Cardinals team.
Local baseball fans will be disappointed to learn that newly-minted professional ballplayer, and Batavia High grad, Ryan Gugel likely won't be playing any of his games in Batavia this summer.
The slugging catcher who signed a free-agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies last week has reported to Clearwater, Fla., in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League, according to the D&C..
The Phillies also have an affiliate in the New York-Penn League, the Williamsport Crosscutters, and it's possible Gugal could make his way to that Batavia Muckdog rival at some point this season or next. Though his next step could just as easily be the Lakewood BlueClaws or the Clearwater Thrashers.
Meanwhile, fellow Batavia High grad Chris Page, taken in the 50th round of the June Draft by the Cincinnati Reds, has yet to sign a contract. The Reds have rookie-level and Class A affiliates in Sarasota, Fla., Billings, Mont. and Dayton, Ohio.
The Batavia Muckdogs open their 2009 season at Dwyer Stadium June 19th at 7:05! Cheer on our hometown 2008 NY-Penn league champs as they return for another great season! The Muckdogs are facing their thruway rivals the Auburn Doubledays with post-game fireworks! Let's Go Muckdogs!!!
Hey MUCKDOGNATION!!! You and your friends and family are all invited to an open house this Thursday June 18th at Dwyer Stadium from 6pm-8pm. Meet the players, watch practice, get autographs or shop at the team store! Gates open at 6pm and its free and open to everyone! Bring your camera and get some pictures of the new St. Louis Cardinals 2009 draft picks!!! Also don't forget the season opener is this Friday the 19th at 7:05pm with fireworks!!! Let's fill the stands and make this a record breaking season attendance this year! LET'S GO MUCKDOGS!
Open Soccer tonight @ 6:45. John Kennedy fields, look around because we might be behind the school again this week. We play rain or shine, until the sun goes down. If you have any questions call or text me -585.409.5228- Anyone and everyone welcome, all ages, shapes, sizes, co-ed. It is recreational, but slightly competitive, but you don't need to be an amazing player to play, we welcome anyone. Spread the word. We play EVERY Monday night at 6:45 at John Kennedy. Its a been a great turnout thus far, hope to see you there.
The u19 Genesee Lancers United soccer team took first place at the 2009 Alexander 6v6 Tournament on June 14. They went 4-0 on the day, outscoring their opponents 17-4. They defeated TFN 3-1, E. Aurora I by the score of 4-1, E. Aurora-II by the score of 5-2, and Jamestoen United 5-0 to win the round-robin style tournament.
Kasey Welch led the way with 5 goals, including a natural hat trick in game three. Jessie Jaszko and Stacey Hein each scored 3. Brittany Luckey and Jenn Lonnen tallied 2 each, and Emilie Rath and Jenna Ferrando also scored. Leslie George was great all day in goal, and Audrey Rath, Jamie Braswell, and Brittany Hein played great all day to help lead the team.
The team is coached by Chris Chilano and sponsored by TF Brown's, Fenton Farm Produce, SJ Starowitz, and Lewis & Lewis, PC.
Ryan Gugel may have gone undrafted, but he is now a professional baseball player, becoming the second former Batavia baseball player to sign a deal this week after Chris Page was drafted in the 50th round of the Major League Baseball draft.
Gugel signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies - former parent club of the Batavia Muckdogs - this weekend.
The catcher had a .425 career batting average at Batavia with 22 doubles, seven triples, three home runs and 50 RBIs.
He then went to Genesee Community College where he hit .440 with 26 doubles, six triples, eight homers, 19 stolen bases and 82 RBIs for the Cougars in two years. He then continued his baseball career and education and the University of Albany.
At Albany, he started all 55 games as a junior and hit .297 with 12 doubles, a triple and four home runs. He also had an incredible .972 fielding percentage behind the plate.
He batted .303 with nine home runs and 49 RBIs as a senior. Gugel had a .953 fielding percentage as well as hitting 11 doubles and two triples.
The St. Louis Cardinals first-round draft choice, who might very well wind up in Batavia as a Muckdog, is a big guy from a small town with big ambitions.
Shelby Miller, from Brownwood, Texas, a town of 19,000 people, was the 19th overall pick in the annual MLB draft. His fastball has been clocked at 97 m.p.h. and he doesn't mind comparisons to Texas natives Roger Clemens and Nolan Ryan.
Those are some big shoes to fill.
The high school pitcher has been dubbed "a special kind of talent" who could fetch $3.5 million in his first contract.
The Cardinals second pick is a catcher out of the University of Southern California, Robert Stock.
Other selections in no particular order:
Baseball America has a complete list of St. Louis draft picks.
Just because a player is drafted doesn't mean he will sign, or that he'll wind up in Batavia. The Cardinals also have a short-season affiliate in Johnson City, Tenn.
Former Batavia baseball standout Chris Page is going to get his shot at pro ball.
The Genesee Community College pitcher/first baseman was drafted in the 50th round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Cincinnati Reds. He was the 1499th overall player selected.
"I was supposed to be working but I was watching the draft," said Page, who was picked at about 3 p.m. today. "It was the 49th round and I decided to watch one more. When they called my name, I was speechless."
The Reds have been scouting Page since high school, where the big 6-foot-4 lefty set two Batavia records in his senior season with a .534 batting average and 11 doubles. He also had 31 hits, three triples, two home runs, 19 RBIs and 15 walks in his senior season.
He was also 5-2 on the mound, earning him a chance to play at GCC, where Cincinnati continued to monitor his progress.
The Cougars went 25-13-1 this spring with Page leading the squad at the plate. He had a .456 batting average with 18 doubles, five home runs, 34 RBIs, 52 hits and 33 walks. He did not pitch due to elbow problems.
He is expected to start his professional career in the Florida Gulf Coast League.
"I am honored to have been followed and drafted by a great organization like the Reds," Page said.
...great work girls and a "way to go" to my niece, Liz Geandreau.
If you're looking for some fun this Sunday, June 7th, get three friends and come play in the "Fourth Annual Seth Morrison Memorial Golf Tournament". We're playing at Chestnut Hill in Darien. This is a beautiful course and one of the finest in Genesee County. It's a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start with a "scramble" format. Your team can post a score to rival "Tigers". We'll start you off with a light lunch before golf and a Char-broiled steak afterwards, we'll cap it all off with a Chinese Auction after dinner. Cost is $75.00 per golfer.
This tournament is in memory of Seth Morrison, a young man who died as a result of a house fire in Darien. Proceeds benefit the "Field of Dreams" sports park in Alexander.
If you're interested, call me, Bob Martin, at 344-0202 or e-mail to rmartin68@rochester.rr.com.
Submitted by Mary Beth Mcmartin.
Pembroke Girls Softball team knocks out # 1 seed Gananda
to meet Oakfield in the Class CC Finals on Wednesday
The Astros lost 19 to 15 on saturday in minor league baseball.It was a close game.Thanks to TF Browns for being a sponsor.Thanks to Paul Sputore for all he does for the minor leagues.
The S.C. Genesee Lancers Women's team, which became the first local soccer team to be promoted to the Premier Division in the RDSL (Rochester District Soccer League - which is the oldest league in the U.S.A.) is off to a great start in 2009.
The ladies played a tough 0-0 draw against the Canal City (Wheatland) Courage on Wednesday night. The team had many chances but just could put one away. After gaining the tie in their first game of the season, it didn't get any easier as the Lancers traveled to play the Greece Cobras on Saturday morning. The Cobras are a very good and established Premier team. The Lancers were missing 8 players for the match to boot.
The Cobras would score twice in the first four minutes, but the Lancers hung tough and Lindsay Wellspeak (Alexander/FLCC) would steal a ball from the Cobras defeneder and walk in on a breakaway and score with just 7 minutes left in the half go get the Lancers only down 2-1 at half.
In the second half the Lancers took it to the Cobras, with Wellspeak getting goal #2 off a great assist from Megan Baker (Kendall/St. John Fisher). Just moments later Kasey Welch (Byron-Bergen/Naz), coming of ACL surgery and making her return, would score off a wild scramble in front of the net after a Robin Blaun (Elba/SUNY Brockport) assist. The Cobras would tie the game at 3, but with 12 minutes left, Blaun would send a streaking Jessie Jaszko (Batavia/GCC) in on a breakway to score, sealing the 4-3 win. Caitlin Dilal (Mercy/Robert Morris) would make 9 saves in goal for the win, and the Lancers defense led by Jenna Ferrando (Leroy/Buffalo State) and Audrey Rath (Medina/Alfred State) were great all day.
The ladies are now 1-0-1 in Premier play and next up is the much anticipated Cup game vs. Greece Eclipse, Tuesday, June 2 at Lions Park in Batavia. Come out and support them! The team is sponsored by SJ Starowitz, TF Browns, and Lewis and Lewis, P.C.
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