Meet the Muckdogs: Nick Longmire
baseball
Muckdogs sending five players to all-star game
Five Muckdogs will represent Batavia in the 2010 New York-Penn League All-Star game.
Catcher Audry Perez, outfielder Nicholas Longmire, infielder Joey Bergman and pitchers Justin Edwards and Chase Reid were named to the squad.
The game will be played Tuesday, Aug. 17, at Richmond County Ballpark in Staten Island.
Closer Jose Rada -- who is third in the league with 10 saves and has a 1.13 ERA to go with 33 strikeouts in 24 innings -- was passed over (General Manager Travis Sick said that Rada was selected prior to being promoted to Quad Cities).
Following from the Muckdogs' news release:
Perez was an undrafted free agent signing in 2006 and has started 30 games as catcher for the Muckdogs this season. He is currently batting .333 with 44 RBI’s, which is good for 7th best in the league. Perez has also been solid behind the plate this year and has helped guide the pitching staff to a team ERA of 3.77.
Bergman, a 33rd round pick in the 2010 draft, has been among the league leaders in hitting all season. Bergman currently ranks 10th in the league in hitting, with a .313 batting average, to go along with 8 doubles and 17 RBI’s. Bergman primarily plays infield for the Muckdogs but was selected as the designated hitter for this year’s All-Star team.
The Cardinals selected Longmire in the 5th round of the 2010 draft out of Pacific University. As the team’s everyday centerfielder, Longmire has enjoyed a stellar rookie season. He is currently batting .286 and his 39 RBI’s is second most in the league. He also ranks in the top 10 in both home runs (8) and slugging percentage (.503).
Justin Edwards is in his second year of professional baseball and was a 28th round pick in the 2009 draft. The left-hander is 3-2 with an ERA of 2.57, which puts him in the top 10 of starting pitchers this year. He has also recorded 42 strikeouts in his 49.0 innings of work.
St. Louis drafted Reid out of Vanderbilt University in the 41st round of the 2010 draft. Pitching primarily as a set up man, Reid is 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA. He has help opposing batters to a .125 average, and has recorded 30 strikeouts in just 18.0 innings of work.
Batavia holds the third place spot in the Pinckney Division with a record of 28-21.
This marks the second time in three years that the Muckdogs have sent five players to the All-Star game. The Muckdogs sent five players to the 2008 All-Star game and sent three in 2009.
Muckdogs drop three straight in Brooklyn
The Muckdogs rode into Brooklyn as the hottest team in the NY-Penn League. They're leaving with a three-game losing streak on their tails.
Batavia dropped the three games by scores of 4-0, 14-4 and on Friday in extra innings, 5-4.
Yesterday, the Muckdogs' bullpen spoiled an outstanding pitching performance by Zack Russell, who gave up no runs and no hits over six innings. Batavia was up 2-0 when he left the game.
Michael Reid gave up two runs in the seventh to get tagged with a blown save. After the Muckdogs scored two runs in the top of the ninth, Keith Butler gave the runs back to Brooklyn in the bottom half. Tavis Lawlor took the loss, giving up the winning run in the 11th.
Nick Longmire and Chris Edmondson each had two hits.
The Muckdogs are 3-5 since hot-hitting catcher Audry Perez was injured while running the bases on July 31. He hasn't played since.
The team's record is now 27-20 and they're 2.5 games out of first.
They now travel to Vermont for a three-game series against the Lake Monsters, who are in first in the Stedler division with a record of 26-21.
Batavia returns home Tuesday to face Aberdeen.
Red Wings president says Muckdogs likely to lose Rochester support after this season
Baseball America -- the premier publication covering minor league and college baseball -- reports that the 2010 campaign for the Batavia Muckdogs will likely be the team's last under Rochester Community Baseball management.
"I have had discussions with (Genesee County Baseball Club) president (Brian Paris) and told him that we would probably not be interested in coming back for another year," said Silver, the president of the Red Wings. "So he is going to have his work cut out for him."
The article blames lack of community support for the situation, noting that average attendance has not risen above 1,045.
"It wouldn't take a miracle to turn it around, but it takes a certain community spirit to make something like this work," Silver said. "In a lot of communities, particularly where the population is rather small and drawing power is not the greatest in the world anyway, it becomes increasingly hard for a team to generate enough excitement and turnstile attendance unless something major happens. A small community can make it work if a team is new to them or a new stadium becomes all the buzz for several years. That may be enough to get them excited for years to come.
"In Batavia, it is real tough. We market much the same way as we do in Rochester. It's a miniature version, but it just doesn't get the same attention. People are missing out. And then the franchise disappears. And then you don't get it back. Once you lose it, you don't get it back."
Meet the Muckdogs: David Kington
Sorry about the darkness.
Muckdogs continue to pile up wins
The Muckdogs continue to rip through the NY Penn League, shredding Mahoning Valley yesterday 8-1 for the team's 12th win in its last 14 contests.
The victory put Batavia back in first place, a half game ahead of Williamsville.
Jon Rodriguez homered in his third straight game, giving him six on the year. He had three hits, two RBIs and scored twice.
Infielder Joey Bergman brought his season average back up over .300 with another multi-hit game, going 2-4 and scoring three runs.
Starter Chris Corrigan picked up his third win, going five innings and giving up one run on three hits.
The Muckdogs are in Brooklyn tonight for the start of a three-game series. After three games in Vermont, they return to Dwyer on Tuesday to face Aberdeen.
Muckdogs split pair in Jamestown
The Muckdogs five-game winning streak was snapped Sunday as Batavia split a double-header in Jamestown against the Jammers.
In a pair of low-scoring affairs, the Muckdogs dropped the first game 3-1 and picked up the nightcap 2-1.
With Williamsport beating Mahoning Valley 5-3, Batavia drops back into second place, a half game out.
In the first game, Nick Longmire supplied the Muckdogs' lone run with his eighth home run of the season in the 6th inning. Yuner Castillo had three hits. Third-year pro from Camden, Ariz., Zach Russell gave up three runs in three innings to get tagged with the loss. It was Russell's sixth start of the season. He's now 1-2, but his ERA remains a low 2.48.
In game two, corner infielder Jon Rodriquez hit his first home run of the season. Patrick Biserta, a first-year pro from Harriman, had two hits and an RBI.
Starter John Gast went three innings, giving up four hits and no runs. Matt North pitched two scoreless innings and was credited with the win, and Jose Rada, despite walking two and giving up a hit and a run, notched his 10th save of the season.
The Muckdogs are home tonight (7:05 game time) and take on Mahoning Valley. Tomorrow's game against Mahoning Valley starts at the unusual time of 11:05 a.m.
Following the two game series, Batavia hits the road for six games, returning on Aug. 10. The next fireworks night is Aug. 13 against Hudson Valley.
Muckdogs take sixth in a row to grab slender hold on first place
Behind another strong outing by starting pitcher Andrew Moss, the Batavia Muckdogs locked up a 16-win July and their six consecutive victory to move into first place -- by one percentage point -- over Williamsport.
The Muckdogs took down the Jammers, whom they play twice today in Jamestown, 6-1.
Moss went five innings for the Muckdogs (24-16) giving up one run and four hits to the Jamestown Jammers (23-17). Moss struck out six and moves his record to 5-1 with a 3.35 ERA.
Hot-hitting catcher Audry Perez was removed for a pinch runner after smacking a double in the third inning. He did not appear seriously injured, but there is no word on the extent of his injury.
He was replaced by Roberto Espinoza, a Venezuelan picked by the Cardinals in the June 2006 draft. Though Espinoza has four years of minor-league experience, this is his first season in Batavia, joining the team in mid-July. Espinoza picked up his first two hits as a Muckdog as well as drawing walk.
Fifth-rounder Nick Longmire had three hits and an RBI raising his average to .319.
Joey Bergman and Yuner Castillo each had two hits.
Perez and DH Victor Sanchez each had two RBIs.
More pictures after the jump:
Muckdogs in the hunt, will get some pitching help
On a day when the Batavia Muckdogs picked up an important fifth-straight win in a tight Pinckney Division race, the team learned another strong arm is on its way.
Seth Blair, a first-round supplemental draft pick for the St. Louis Cardinals has agreed to terms and will report to Batavia. Blair, 21, was the 46th player taken overall in the June draft.
He was 12-1 in 18 starts this season at Arizona State University with a 3.64 ERA. He struck out 108 batters and walked 29. He won the Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year award.
The Muckdogs, who have been hot in July, picking up 15 wins, are one game behind Williamsport and tied with Jamestown for second place in the Pinckney Division.
The Jammers play the Muckdogs at Dwyer tonight, 7:05 game time, and then the teams travel to Jamestown tomorrow for a twi-nite double header.
Last night, the Muckdogs kept their win streak going by scoring two runs in the 10th inning (after giving up a run in the top of the 10th) to pull out an 8-7 victory over Auburn.
Outfielder Jon Edwards, who's in his fourth stint with Batavia and has struggled since a strong 2008 campaign (helping the Muckdogs win the NY-Penn League championship), had a big night Friday, hitting a home run and driving in three runs.
Joey Bergman had two hits and three RBIs while first-year pro Victor Sanchez, playing first base, had four hits and scored three times (hitting ahead of Edwards and Bergman). Nick Longmire had two hits.
The final run of the game came on a wild pitch allowing Mike O'Neill to score from third.
Muckdogs hot July puts them in contention
In second place, a game behind Williamsport, with a four-game winning streak and a 11-3 record so far in July, the Batavia Muckdogs return home tonight to face Auburn.
Fireworks will follow the game, which starts at 7:05.
The 22-16 Muckdogs beat Auburn (15-25) in Auburn last night, 8-3.
Hot-hitting Audris Perez doubled in three runs and Joey Bergman added two RBIs.
Fifth-round draft pick Nicholas Longmire is 6th in runs scored (27), 6th in triples (4), tied for second in home runs (7), tied for first in RBIs (36), 5th in total bases (74), 1st in slugging (.578)
Perez is third in RBIs with 31 and 6th batting average (.346).
The Muckdogs feature two starting pitchers among the league leaders in ERA (Justin Edwards, 2.04, and Nick McCully, 2.31). Edwards, in his second tour with Batavia, is 3-1 for the season.
Starter Andrew Moss, who tossed seven perfect innings earlier this month, has four wins, tying him for third in the league, with a 3.54 ERA. Edwards and Moss are tied for 10th in the league with 34 Ks each.
The Muckdogs take on Jamestown at Dwyer on Saturday, and then travel to Jamestown for a twi-night double-header against the Jammers, returning home Monday to face Mahoning Valley.
Muckdogs host Drug-Free Marshals Night on Friday
The Batavia Muckdogs heartily welcome the 3rd Annual Drug-Free Marshals Night at the Ballpark, Friday, July 30. Gates open at 6 p.m. and just before the game starts at 7:05, the entire audience will be sworn in, by Senator Mike Razenhofer, as new "Drug-Free Marshals."
On the field along with Sen. Razenhofer will be Muckdogs players, little leaguers, local officials, local law enforcement and the event planner, Sue Hawley, prevention educator at GCASA Prevention.
“Everyone who participates in becoming a Drug-Free Marshal avows to remain drug-free and also encourages others to remain drug-free as well," Hawley said. "They personally sign a pledge that they bring home to their parents, grandparents or just someone they love, which states they have chosen to, and will, lead a drug-free life.”
When asked at a local park this week why taking drugs is a bad idea, some of the children in attendance replied, “because you can die,” “because they can cause cancer” and “because they can ruin your life."
“Even at such a young age, it shows that these children are well aware of the harmful effects of taking drugs,” said a camp counselor.
Hawley said she always thought that the Drug-Free Marshals program should be brought to this community.
"It is a wonderful program that targets our young children from ages 5 through 13," she said. "Traditionally teenagers are given drug education and a lot of money goes to these programs.
"The mission of Drug-Free Marshals is to talk about this subject to our younger children and have them make a promise to themselves to ‘live a drug-free life’ and ‘show my friends that a drug-free life is my choice and is more fun.'"
For more information about Drug-Free Marshals: Sue Hawley GCASA Prevention, 815-8172, or e-mail: shawley@gcasa.org.
Meet the Muckdogs: Colin Walsh
This is the first in a series of videos we're posting to help you get to know your Batavia Muckdogs players better.
Red Sox - Braves Square Off in Minor League Championship Tilt
The First United Methodist Church Red Sox squared off against the Sertoma Braves Saturday in the Paul E. Sputore Batavia Minor League championship game.
Teams stand on the sideline during National Anthem
as a stiff breeze unfurls the flag
Chandler Baker started on the mound for the Red Sox
under the watchful eye of battery mate Brianna Janes
Alex Kunes started on the hill for the Braves
with assistant coach Dan Kunes keeping an eye on the action.
Braves supporters
the Red Sox faithful
Here's something you don't see everyday - a Red Sox fan in pinstripes!
after taking a pitch, Alex Frongetta turns to get the call
his reaction speaks volumes
score keeper checking out the action from the press box
Andrew Francis takes over mound duties for the Sox and like Chandler, does an effective job.
With his team leading, coach Vin Misiti remains intense, not ready to celebrate....
until now!
kneeling, l to r, Mike Alvut, Chandler Baker, Sammy Bartz, Bryce Reigle, Andrew Francis, Luke Grammatico and Spencer Misiti. Back, l to r, assistant coach Vin Misiti Jr, head coach Vin Misiti, Maya Urban, ass't coach Jeff Bartz, Alex Frongetta, Tanner Cook, ass't coach Mike Francis and Brianna Janes.
Vin takes several moments to adress both players and parents, reflecting back on the season.
and a special thanks to these fellas, Paul and Louie, whose behind the scenes work and dedication make the Batavia Minor League possible.
Muckdogs take 2-0 lead into sixth, but can't hold on
Another strong pitching effort from starter Justin Edwards, but the Batavia bullpen was unable to protect a 2-1 lead and the Muckdogs (16-15) lost to Williamsport Tuesday, 8-3.
Edwards went six innings and allowed only one unearned run. Travis Lawler was charged with a blown save, giving up two hits and one run, but the Muckdogs were really buried when David Kington came on and gave up three hits, walked three and surrended six runs.
The only Muckdog to post a multi-hit game was Nick Longmire, who went 2-4, scored two runs and smacked his fourth triple of the season.
The Muckdogs return home Sunday to face Williamsport.
Muckdogs need only one run in the first inning to secure win
One run on an RBI single by hot-hitting catcher Audry Perez in the first inning was all the scoring the Batavia Muckdogs needed at Dwyer Stadium on Monday to notch the team's 16th win of the season.
The Muckdogs (16-14) rode nine innings of scoreless ball by four pitchers to move within two games of the visiting team, first-place Jamestown Jammers (18-12).
Venezuelan Jose Rada, four years in the Cardinals, but in his first season with the Muckdogs, walked one but didn't surrender a hit in the ninth to pick up his sixth save and lower his ERA to 0.98.
The biggest noise of the night came from a group of Jamestown Jammer fans sitting high up in the first-base-side bleachers, cheering on their team in the top and bottom half of every inning -- for eight-and-half innings (pictured below).
Folks, everyone of you reading this who hasn't been to a game yet this season needs to go to at least two. Or we're going to lose our team. Not only is it a lot of fun, and shows great community spirit, but it's also a chance to see future major leaguers up close. This past All-Star Game included 22 players who came through the NY-Penn League.
More pictures after the jump:
