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Give a Muckdog a home this season

By Billie Owens

Here's a media release from the Muckdogs:

How would you like to live with the next Ryan Howard or Chase Utley this summer?

The Muckdogs are in need of your help in locating host families. The team comes to Batavia the weekend of June 12th and 13th. There are host families signed up for the season, but there is still a need to house at least 15 more players.
 
This is where you can help. Being a host family to a player has benefits:

  1. You have a future St. Louis Cardinal staying in your home.
  2. You become acquainted with young men from all around the country who love “America’s Favorite Pastime,” baseball.
  3. You also get paid by the player for an amount you both agree upon.

So why wait? If you are interested or know someone in the Batavia area (within just a few miles of Dwyer Stadium) who might be interested in hosting a player or coach, please contact the Muckdogs office at 343-5454.

Thank you for your support!

Muckdogs announce 2010 promo schedule

By Billie Owens

The Batavia Muckdogs, Genesee County’s only professional sports franchise, has released its 2010 promotional schedule featuring fireworks, giveaways, special events, theme nights and daily promotions.

The fun will kick off three days prior to Opening Day with the very first pre-season “Pep Dog Rally” starting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday June 16. This free event will be fans’ first chance to meet this year’s team.

It will feature games for the kids, local mascots, and prizes and raffles throughout the night. One highlight will be a homerun derby featuring local celebrities, including City Manager Jason Molino and Elba Town Supervisor Lucine Kauffman.

The Muckdogs will again offer fans a daily menu of money-saving promotions available throughout the season.

The Batavia Daily News will continue to sponsor Muckdog Mondays. Every Monday home game, fans can receive $1 discount off a general admission ticket when they redeem a coupon that runs in the Saturday edition of the newspaper.

On Tuesday nights, KRAFT Singles presents KRAFT Singles Tuesday Night Tickets. Fans can bring a KRAFT Singles wrapper to the Muckdogs box office for a buy one -- get one free ticket from KRAFT Singles. Visit kraftsingles.com for more details.

The Family Four Pack will take place on every Wednesday and is presented by Drug Free Communities. Fans can purchase four general admission tickets, four hot dogs, four 12 oz. sodas and a 2010 program for only $30, a savings of $12. Every Family Four Pack purchased will also receive a free prize pack courtesy of Drug Free Communities.
 
Fireworks will again light up the sky after every Friday night game at Dwyer Stadium, as well as on the annual Independence Day celebration on July 3.

Every Saturday will feature a pre-game concert in the concourse. These “Rock the Ballpark” events are presented by Tim Horton’s of Batavia and will feature New Buffalo Impact with Papa and Mama Root, an oldies rock 'n' roll tribute band, and original music recording artists. All performances begin at 6 p.m., weather permitting.

The Muckdogs will also play host to multiple unique events at Dwyer Stadium this summer.

On Saturday July 10, the Muckdogs will host the first “Festival of Muck," paying tribute to the mucklands in Elba. The night will feature muck wrestling, an onion giveaway, muck slip 'n' slide and a bobbing-for-onions contest. More details will be revealed at a later date.

The Muckdogs will have two Community Sleepovers on Saturday, July 10 and Saturday, July 17. Participants who buy their tickets in advance will be given a discount. Only 400 vouchers for sleeping on site will be given out for each night. For more details, fans can call the office at 343-5454.

Other games of note this season include:
 
Opening Day/Magnet Schedule Giveaway                             Saturday, June 19
Star Wars Night                                                                       Saturday, June 26
Anti-Bullying Night                                                                   Monday June 28
Museum Night at the Muckdogs – fans will learn about          Friday, July 2
     history of Genesee County
Free Buzz Cuts                                                                        Friday July 16
Sun Visor Giveaway (1st 500 fans)                                          Saturday, July 17
Renew Your Vows with Reverend Sick                                    Sunday, July 18
Muckdogs Fans Fan Giveaway (1st 1000 fans)                       Friday July 30
Frisbee Giveaway (1st 500 fans)                                              Saturday July 31
“Muckdog Gazette” Giveaway                                                  Monday, Aug. 2
Team Photo Giveaway I                                                           Saturday, Aug. 14
Belly Buster Night                                                                    Monday, Aug. 30                                                                   
Fireworks Nights will be: July 2 & 3, July 9, 16 and 30; Aug. 13; Sept. 3.

The Muckdogs open their 2010 home schedule at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, June 19 vs. the Auburn Doubledays. For a complete 2010 promotional schedule, go to www.muckdogs.com or call the Muckdogs office at 343-5454.

Photos: Michael Napoleone Memorial Baseball Tournament

By Howard B. Owens

For the past two days, young ball players from all over Western New York converged on the ball fields at MacArthur Park for the annual Michael Napoleone Memorial Baseball Tournament.

The tournament is named after a Batavia boy who succumbed to a form of leukemia and raises funds for a foundation in his name that assists families of children with cancer.

Ten teams in the 9-10 year old range and 10 teams in the 11-12 year old range competed. There was also a tournament for T-ball-age players.

More pictures after the jump:

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Former Muckdog says amphetamine suspension stems from misunderstanding

By Howard B. Owens

In an article about set backs to his career, Alan Ahmady, one of the Batavia Muckdog's most impressive young players last year, says that his current suspension for amphetamine stems from him taking some old prescription pills.

Ahmady was still in Fresno in mid-May because of yet another mistake. This one, though, he says, was a "misunderstanding of the rules." At the end of last season in Batavia, he was drug tested in mid-August and then notified in October that he had taken a performance-enhancing drug and was suspended 50 games.

"They said it was amphetamine," he says. "I was like, 'What's an amphetamine?' "

He says the test result was caused by Adderall, a drug he was once prescribed for attention-deficit disorder. While at Batavia, he'd started taking it again to help him focus on learning a new position: catcher. He contacted Bud Selig's office to appeal the decision, but because the pills were left over from an old prescription, he had no case.

In 67 games for Batavia in 2009, Ahmady hit .297 with a .407 OBP, 3 HR, 46 runs scored, and 32 RBI.

He's expected to join the Quad City RIver Bandits on May 31.

Next Saturday at Dwyer: box office opens, summer job fair, singing contest

By Billie Owens

Are you ready for some baseball?

The Dwyer Stadium Box Office opens at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 22 for the 2010 season.

This is also the day when the Muckdogs will host their summer Job Fair, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Positions available include picnic supervisor, cashiers, cooks, bartenders, batboys, and ushers. All applicants must be at least 16 years of age.

Additionally on Saturday, the Muckdogs will conduct the 3rd annual National Anthem contest. This event will begin promptly at noon. Auditions will take place at home plate and will be preformed a cappella.

The winner will sing the National Anthem and God Bless America at the July 3rd game between the Muckdogs and Auburn Doubledays. Runners up will be eligible to sing at remaining home games during the 2010 season. 

The Muckdogs open their 2010 home schedule on at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, June 19 vs. the Auburn Doubledays.

Beginning May 22, the Dwyer Stadium Box Office's regular season hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday.

Pep Dog Rally offers family fun at stadium

By Billie Owens

You are invited to the very first pre-season "Pep Dog Rally" at Dwyer Stadium.

It takes place on Wednesday, June 16, just 3 days before the Season Home Opener (7 p.m. Saturday, June 19). Come out and get our Batavia Muckdogs PEPPED up for the 2010 season.

Gates open at 6. Admission is FREE and there will be fun for the entire family. There will be games for the kids, local Mascots, food concession for you to get your ball park favorites. The merchandise stands will also be open for you to gear up for the season and you will be the first to meet this year's players.

Tickets for this year's games will be available to purchase. There are many different packages to choose from or if you like, you can purchase the entire season and be entered in to various raffles.

One highlight of the evening will be the Homerun Derby. Come see the local personalities try to hit a homerun out of Dwyer Stadium! There will be prizes and raffles throughout the night! The players will be available to sign autographs and chat with fans.

Pep Dog Rally offers family fun at stadium

By Billie Owens

You are invited to the very first pre-season "Pep Dog Rally" at Dwyer Stadium.

It takes place on Wednesday, June 16, just 3 days before the Season Home Opener (7 p.m. Saturday, June 19). Come out and get our Batavia Muckdogs PEPPED up for the 2010 season.

Event Date and Time
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2010 Michael Napoleone Memorial Baseball Tournament

By Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation
2010 Michael Napoleone Memorial Baseball Tournament Friday, May 28th - Sunday, May 30th Played at the Little League fields in Batavia. Two age groups will compete: Ten teams age 12 and under AND Ten teams age 10 and under. Team entry fee: $200.00 T-ball tournament for ages 8 and under (registration necessary-no fee). Contact Dave at (585) 797-7836 or Paul at (585) 781-8138 for details, or visit www. michaelshope.org The weekend will include fun events for everyone in the family! Proceeds benefit the Michael Napoleone Memorial Foundation Inc.
Event Date and Time
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Photos: Spring means baseball

By Howard B. Owens

When I drove past Batavia High today, I saw the JV baseball team getting ready for a game. Coach Buddy Brasky told me the varsity team was getting ready for a game at Dwyer, so I went over there and snapped a couple of photos, too.

More pictures after the jump:

Special Recognition Award: Rochester Community Baseball

By Howard B. Owens

History. Community. Baseball. Three things Naomi Silver knows something about.

In 1956, 57 years after the Rochester baseball franchise was formed, the St. Louis Cardinals, which had owned and operated the Red Wings for the previous 27 seasons, decided to abandon the city. Naomi's father, Morrie Silver, made it his one-man mission to save baseball for Rochester.

Silver formed Rochester Community Baseball, Inc. In 72 days, Morrie sold enough stock in the team -- 8,882 shares to local investors -- to buy the team from the Cardinals, keeping it from being either shuttered or moved.

Today, Rochester is home to the only minor league baseball team that has operated in the same city since the 1800s.

Batavia is also a historic baseball city. The New York-Penn League was formed in Batavia and Batavia is one of only two cities -- along with Jamestown -- that still has teams connected to those original six franchises.

The Muckdogs trace their lineage to 1939.

It's that history, and the importance of baseball to the community, that attracted Naomi Silver and Red Wings General Manager Dan Mason, to the Muckdogs.

Prior to the 2008 season, the Muckdogs were on the ropes. 

The team lost $150,000 in 2007. It seemed nearly certain the NY-Penn League would force the team to move to a larger market. Silver and Mason heard about the dire straits of baseball in Batavia and decided to do something about it.

Rochester Community Baseball stepped in and paid off all of those debts and agreed to operate the team and see if the franchise could once again become a profitable operation.

Fewer than 200 cities in North America have professional baseball teams.

In cities such as Ithica, Elmira and Watertown, baseball fans are bereft each summer of the opportunity to see future stars swat homers the way Ryan Howard did a few years ago at Dwyer Stadium. They miss the joys of showing up at the ballpark and visiting with friends or mentoring grandchildren while watching young pros hone their skills in one of the most storied and historic leagues of professional sports.

"For Batavia to have a team is a great asset," Mason said. "It’s something that a lot of other cities would love to have. The pride that it generates, and the memories it generates for the fans in any minor league community, is something that is a great asset to the quality of life in that town."

Credit Rochester Community Baseball with saving the sport in Batavia, for now. It's the reason the Red Wings will accept a special recognition award Saturday from the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce. But it doesn't guarantee baseball in Batavia in 2011.

Even after winning a championship in 2008, the first year the club fell under Red Wings' management, the team still lost $100,000 in 2009.

This year's campaign is critical, Silver said, in determining the future of baseball in Batavia.

"I would have thought that last year we could have broken even," Silver said. "This year, we most definitely must break even. We should be better than that."

Fan support is important, but minor league teams survive on business sponsorships. At one time, local businesses were very supportive of the Muckdogs, but the sponsorships fell off in recent years. Muckdogs General Manager Travis Sick is working hard -- with help from superfan Russ Salway -- selling corporate sponsorships. The level of local business support, Silver said, will be key to determining the future of the Muckdogs.

"We’ll know in a relatively short time what the outcome will be,” Silver said. "We’ll be able to tell very soon what our sponsorships are going to be like. We won’t know if we’re going to draw more people until the baseball season starts."

It's clear that Silver and Mason care a good deal about baseball, history and community. It's woven into the mission and culture of Red Wings baseball, and it's why there's a Batavia Muckdogs team this year.

Now is the time, according to Silver, for the community to step up the effort to support baseball in Batavia.

"We definitely want to get people involved in this," Silver said. "Everyone has a stake in this in Batavia. Whether you’re a fan that should be making a decision to come out to the ballpark or whether you’re a business and would hate to see baseball leave Batavia, we hope they'll all get out there.

"There’s hardly a community I can imagine," Silver added, "that would want to lose an asset like this."

Enthusiasm, optimisim abound for 2010 season at Muckdog's hot stove dinner

By Howard B. Owens

Easily more than 200 people gathered at the Batavia Party House last night for the Batavia Muckdogs Booster Club's annual hot stove dinner and auction. There were plenty of laughs and people expressed a lot of excitement about the coming season, which could be a critical year for drawing enough community support to keep the team in Batavia.

At the podium, Brian Paris honors "The Voice of the Muckdogs," Wayne Fuller, for his many years of service to the team as the public address announcer and official score keeper. Fuller stepped aside from those roles after the 2009 season. But his voice won't be far from a microphone during the upcoming season; he'll serve as color man on WBTA's broadcast of games.

More pictures after the jump:

Todd Jantzi, left, and Patrick Weissand chat during the silent auction.

Brian Paris, left, and Ryan Gugel chat with a fan who drove to the dinner from Greece.

Board member Bill Kauffman gets a gift from the board honoring his service to baseball in Batavia.

Gretel Kauffman is in the foreground. Immediately behind her is local artist John Hodgins, watching the bidding progress for his winter landscape painting. It fetched $255, well above any other auction item.

Auctioneer Todd Jantzi makes a sale.

Daily News photographer Mark Gutman goofs when the camera gets turned on him for a change. Writer Alanna Stage gets a good laugh.

Muckdogs' fan beating the drum to sustain 71-year tradition of pro baseball in Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

If the Muckdogs don't last in Batavia, it won't be because Russ Salway didn't put every ounce of passion he has behind the effort to save the team.

The Le Roy native spends at least 10 hours a week in an office at Dwyer Stadium calling on local and regional businesses trying to sell season ticket packages and special event attendance as well as stadium advertising.

If you bump into him around town, he's likely going to want to talk at some point about the Muckdogs and the need for fan support this season -- this season, especially.

Salway has also set up a group on Facebook called, appropriately enough, Let's Keep the Batavia Muckdogs in Batavia.

Russ Salway doesn't work for the Muckdogs or the Rochester Red Wings, who took over management of the team three years ago. Salway is a volunteer.

"We are obviously operating with a small staff, so we can't get to everything," said General Manager Travis Sick. "So to have somebody like Russ, who is so familiar with the community and knows a lot of people, is a great help.

"He's a tremendous help to us," Sick added. "A lot of people say they want to help, but very few come through like Russ. He's great."

Salway said he is putting so much time and effort to promote the Muckdogs because he can't image Batavia without minor league baseball.

"If we lose the team, we'll never get another one," Salway said.

Last season, the Muckdogs lost about $150,000. That deficit was covered by Rochester Community Baseball, the community group that owns the Red Wings. Club officials say they can't sustain those kinds of losses indefinitely. 

"The Red Wings are definitely behind baseball here, but we need to show some improvement," Sick said. "This is still a business and we can't sustain a hundred-thousand-dollar loss year after year. I don't want to call this a make-or-break year, but we've got to show some improvement."

And Salway says he's making progress. He's finding more people and businesses willing to make a commitment to the Muckdogs this season.

"People are really stepping up," Salway said. "There is no reason we can't make this work."

Sick said season ticket sales are slightly ahead of sales from this time last year.

Salway has become such an integral part of promoting Muckdogs baseball, that it's hard to forget it's not his real job. He has worked for O-AT-KA Milk Products for 15 years, where he mixes ingredients for speciality drinks. 

His schedule allows him to go to Dwyer Stadium to field phone calls for a couple of hours during the week. He runs the Facebook group from home at night.

You might think all of this extra time spent on a volunteer effort might put a strain on his personal relationships, but Salway said that his fiancee, Kellie Porter, is 110 percent behind his effort and even puts in volunteer hours herself.

Both Salway and Porter are doing it, not just for the community, he said, but for their children.

"My kids grew up down the road from Dwyer and we've been going to games for years," he said. "I want the team to remain for years so I can take my grandchildren. It's such a great thing for the community. It's a safe, family-friendly environment. It's really the last place in the county were you can go and see old friends and make new ones."

Sick said it won't take much for the team to show progress -- if more people would just go to one more game a year and a few bring some friends, that would help. The team draws about 2 percent of the population to games. If that number just ticked up a notch to 3 percent, it would make a huge difference, Sick said.

The Muckdogs are part of a tradition of professional baseball in Batavia that goes back to 1939. The New York-Penn League was founded in Batavia. Salway said Batavia shouldn't lose that continuity and that sense of history.

The next big event in the life of every Muckdog's fan is the Hot Stove Dinner on Friday at the Batavia Party House. It may be possible to purchase tickets ($25) at the door, but it would be better to buy them in advance at Dwyer Stadium.

Big Season needed for the Batavia Muckdogs in 2010

By Russ Salway

I know its the last week of December and also the year! There is snow on the ground and were tucked between two holidays, Christmas and New Years. We couldn't be any further away from baseball!   This is why it's more important now than ever that we think about our Batavia Muckdogs and the upcoming 2010 season. 

The Rochester Red Wings have been operating the Muckdogs the last two seasons and have stepped up to the plate and will operate the team again in 2010. I say stepped up to the plate because for two seasons the Wings have lost  a lot of money operating the Muckdogs. This is a critical time for our team. The Wings came on board at the last minute a few years ago when we were about to lose our pro team.  They really saved our team.  If Hollywood was involved, they probably couldn't have written a script any better. 'A Small city franchise since 1939 on the brink of losing its only pro team when a neighboring big city franchise saves the team.  Then its a magical year where for the first time in 45 years that small city wins a championship!'  It was a magical season, but  now after two seasons of operating in the "red" , you have to wonder how much longer the Wings can keep the Muckdogs in Batavia!

I have spoken with several people involved with the Red Wings and they all want this to work in Batavia. This is where I ask you, the citizens of Batavia and Genesee County to step up to the plate and support our only professional franchise.  If every business in our area bought just one pair of season tickets, that would be enough to save the team! Just one pair! Its a tax write off for the business and in turn they can use the tickets for their employees and a gift to other businesses they work with.  

A summer night at Dwyer Stadium is so much more then a night out at a baseball game. Dwyer stadium is really the only place left in our County that people can gather together in a community atmosphere and visit with old friends while making new ones. I worked for a small business in Batavia on Main st. for years. I used to hear all the time how our community would gather together on a Saturday night on Main st. and visit with old friends while making new ones! Dwyer stadium is our last place like that!  I can't tell you how much fun the social aspect is at Dwyer!  Also the cost for a family of four sitting together on a summer night outside compared to a night of sitting in the quiet dark movie theater is no contest! The Muckdogs win in price and entertainment every time!

Batavia has had pro ball since 1939. The league we play in was born right here at the Hotel Richmond!  Yes it has grown and moved on to bigger markets like Staten Island, Brooklyn and Aberdeen. How cool is it hat Brooklyn comes to Batavia to play pro ball?  How cool is it that a parent can bring their kids to a game where they can watch future MLB stars in our own backyard?

There are bigger markets that would jump at the chance of having a pro baseball franchise in their city.  We are lucky to still have ours and its up to us, the citizens and businesses of Batavia and Genesee County to hold onto ours!  I hope you consider stopping down to Dwyer in the coming month, the first of 2010, to show Rochester and the New York Penn League that were serious about keeping our franchise for many years to come!

Former Batavia Muckdog Jess Todd with Cleveland Indians

By Russ Salway

It only took Jess Todd a few years to make it from Batavia to St. Louis. He then was traded to the Cleveland Indians. The 2007 Muckdog is now on the same roster as former Muckdog catcher Lou Marson.  You just never know how fast their trip will be from the minors to the majors! Be sure to see future MLB players start out their professional careers. There is no better view then watching pro ball at Dwyer stadium. Both 6 game and 8 game packs are on sale now. Also you can even get a 4 game pack (good for any games even 4 single games) along with a Muckdog T-shirt and 2010 Game program for just $25.00. Check out this article on Todd and watch his Indian debut!  http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090806&content_id=6285854&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle

Batavia Muckdogs ONE DAY SALE!!! This Saturday 10am-2pm

By Russ Salway

The Batavia Muckdogs have announced a ONE DAY ONLY SALE! The sale will be this Saturday from 10am - 2pm. They will have select caps and t-shirts marked at 2 for $20They also have some new merchandise in. Holiday Packs and Coupon Books will be available. If you spend $25 or more, you get a free gift and are entered into a drawing to win some autographed memorbilia. Come on down to Dwyer Stadium (299 Bank st.) this Saturday and take care of that baseball fan on your holiday shopping list! For more information you can call the Muckdogs at 585-343-5454!!!  Let's come on out and support Genesee Counties only professional  sports franchise!!!!

Muckdogs announce 2010 schedule

By Howard B. Owens

The Batavia Muckdogs will host their home opener for 2010 on June 19, according to a schedule released by the team today.

Game time will be 7:05 p.m. and the opposing team will be the Auburn Doubledays.

It will be one of 38 home games for the minor league team.

The Muckdogs open the season the day before in Auburn.

There will be six Friday and seven Saturday games played at Dwyer Stadium in 2010.
 
Holiday packs, ticket packages, and season tickets for the 2010 season are now on sale. They can be purchased by calling 585-343-5454, or in person at Dwyer Stadium from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m..  The Muckdogs will also be at Christmas in the City on Friday, Dec. 4.
 
For a complete schedule, visit www.muckdogs.com.

Muckdogs to be led by new manager in 2010

By Howard B. Owens

The Batavia Muckdogs will have a new coaching staff for 2010.

Mark DeJohn, who led the Muckdogs to a NY-Penn League championship in 2008, will not be back. He's being replaced by Dann Bilardello.

Bilardello has served in the St. Louis Cardinals organization for the past three years as catching coordinator. Prior to that, he was a manager in the Red Sox and Dodger minor league systems.

The new pitching coach is Ace Adams, who filled that role in Quad Cities in 2009.

DeJohn remains in the Cardinals organization as a roving instructor.

Former Batavia Muckdogs in the World Series!!!

By Russ Salway

 It's finally time to enjoy one of the greatest moments in sports! The 2009 World Series is about to get under way and Batavia can be very proud to cheer on some former Muckdogs! The Philadelphia Phillies have several former Muckdogs on their roster. Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, J.A. Happ, Ryan Madson, Andrew Carpenter and Kyle Kendrick! Were very proud of our former 'Dogs!!!  Also don't forget to stop on down to Dwyer Stadium and get your 2010 Muckdog season tickets! Makes for a great x-mas gift! You can also call 343-5454 to place an order. They also have 8 game packages for sale. Let's Go Muckdogs!

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