baseball

 The Batavia Muckdogs won the New York-Pennsylvania League title this past season with a sweep of Jamestown. It was Batavia's first championship since 1963.

Now the honors come rolling in.

Manager Mark DeJohn was named St. Louis Cardinals Minor League Manager of the Year by Scout.com for guiding the Muckdogs to the title.

"“To be very honest with you, I would put it right up there as probably one of my most rewarding years that I’ve spent in the game,” DeJohn told Scout.com.

It is DeJohn's second season in Batavia and the second year the Cardinals have been the parent organization of the Muckdogs.

Pitcher Scott Gorgen was named 2008 Minor League Rookie Starter of the Year after going 5-2 with a 2.32 ERA for the Muckdogs.

Adam Reifer was as good as they come in the closer role, making 23 saves for Batavia, including a 1 2/3 inning save in the championship win. He was named the 2008 Minor League Rookie Reliever of the Year in the Cardinal organization.

Four former Batavia Muckdogs just earned World Series rings.

The Philadelphia Phillies just beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 to win the World Series 4 games to 1, claiming the first team title in 28 years.

Philadelphia used to be the parent club of the Muckdogs before St. Louis took over two years ago and some players on the team got their professional baseball start in Batavia.

First baseman Ryan Howard hit six homers in Batavia, playing 48 games in 2001. Second baseman Chase Utley batted .307 while playing 40 games in 2000.

Starting pitcher J.A. Happ went 1-2 in 11 starts for Batavia in 2004 and reliever Ryan Madson had a 5-5 record in 15 starts in 1999.

 The Philadelphia Phillies are moving on to the World Series after beating the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight, and several of the players on that roster started their professional baseball career in Batavia.

The Phillies were the parent club of the Batavia Muckdogs before the St. Louis Cardinals took control two seasons ago and they developed some quality players that are now going to have a shot to win a Major League Baseball title. 

Philadelphia beat the Dodgers 5-1 in the NLCS and are moving on to the "Fall Classic" for the first time since 1993.

First baseman Ryan Howard hit six home runs in 48 games for the Muckdogs in 2001, including a shot to right field that is often talked about as the longest in Dwyer Stadium history.

Second baseman Chase Utley had a .307 batting average while playing 40 games with Batavia in 2000.

Starting pitcher J.A. Happ started 11 games and went 1-2 for the Muckdogs in 2004 and reliever Ryan Madson went 5-5 in 15 starts for Batavia back in 1999.

 These former Batavia Muckdogs along with the rest of the Philadelphia Phillies will open up the World Series next Wednesday against either the Tampa Bay Rays or the Boston Red Sox.

Tampa Bay currently leads that series 3-1.

Attention all you Muckdogs fans and supporters! if you haven't heard, Muckdogs championship t-shirts are available for purchase! Check out the website, muckdogs.com (direct link here: http://muckdogs.com/index.asp?orgid=67&storyid=315&sid=FD4A130C-FED5-441D-8157-560D0254FB2F), for more info!

Hi i am Chris Freeman.  For the last four months I worked for the Batavia Muckdogs as an intern.  I was actually the PA announcer.  Eventhough, I was not being paid, I had such an awesome time at dwyer stadium.  I learned things like selling tickets, power washing and learning how to effectively speak into a microphone.  I felt like i was part of the Muckdog family although i was just an intern.

I would like to thank Travis Sick, Casey Freeman and Shirley Figueroa for always putting up with my work habits.  I learned alot from those guys.  Thank you for that.  I would also like to thank Big Dave for encouraging me to be an entertainer.  I will always remember this experience every time I go past Dwyer Stadium.  I had an amazing time there.  I dont care if the fans will ever remember me for when i announced in the year 2008, while wayne was on radio.  I just want the fans to remember one thing and that is " Thats another Turnbull K".

In their first playoff game, Batavia (0-1) lost to Lowell (1-0) in extra innings by a score of 4-3.  Hector Cardenas was brilliant in the start for the Muckdogs.  He went six innings with one hit, one run, four walks and ten strikeouts.  Zach Pitts (0-1) got the loss in his one inning of work with one hit, one run, three walks and one strikeout.  Spinner Robert McClain (1-0) picked up the win in his two and a third innings with three strikeouts.

Lowell got up early, scoring one in the first on two walks and two ground outs.  It remained a 1-0 game until Batavia scored three runs in the 6th.  Edwin Gomez double and Colt Sedbrook had a RBI single to start things off.  The bases then became loaded as Charlie Cutler reached on a force attempt and Jermaine Curtis was hit by a pitch.  Shane Peterson then walked to send Sedbrook home.  Chris Swauger then grounded out for the Muckdogs' third and final run.

The Spinners started their comeback in the 8th as they scored one on two doubles by Peter Hissey and Mitch Dening.  They tied things up and sent the game into extras in the bottom of the 9th on a solo homerun by Will Middlebrooks.  And finally, in the bottom of the 12th, Lowell plated one more to get the win.  Bases became loaded before Ryan Dent was served up a walk that plated the deciding run.

Batavia's Edwin Gomez went 3-for-5 in the game with a double and run scored.  The two teams play their second contest tonight at 7:05 in Batavia.  If Batavia wins, the rubber-match will again be at Dwyer Stadium on Wednesday.  Remember, home field advantage only counts when we have a stadium full of fans, so get out to the ballpark this week!

The Batavia Muckdogs (46-28) clinched a first place finish in the Pinckney Division of the New York-Penn League and ended their regular season last night as they took down State College (18-56) 4-1.

Miguel Tapia started on the mound and Scott Gorgen (5-2) got the win in his five innings of great pitching.  Gorgen let up only three hits and one walk while striking out five.  Adam Reifer (22) got the save in the 9th with no hits, runs or walks and one strikeout.  Gabriel Alvarado (0-1) finished his season suffering the loss, throwing one and one third innings with three hits, two runs, one walk and one strikeout.

The Muckdogs put two on the board in the 2nd, starting the inning with a single by Xavier Scruggs.  Jose Garcia then reached on a throwing error, putting two on for Edwin Gomez to drive home on a double.  The Spikes answered with one of their own in the bottom of the inning when Adenson Chourio and Ciro Rosero both singled.  Chourio moved to third on a force out before coming home on a wild pitch.

But that would be all the State College offense of the night, while Batavia scored one more run in each the 4th and the 8th.  In the 4th, Garcia singled, stole a base and came home on a wild pitch.  And in the 8th, the bottom of the inning started off with a Christian Rosa singled and Jermaine Curtis walked.  On a pickoff attempt, the Spikes had a throwing error that allowed Rosa to come around to score.

Rosa and Scruggs had the only multi-hit nights for the Muckdogs. Rosa went 2-for-3 with a run scored and Scruggs went 2-for-4 with a double and run scored.

*I'll have another post with final regular season stats and playoff info. later!

Batavia (45-28) won big over State College (18-55) by a score of 10-2, but Jamestown swept Williamsport in a doubleheader to take a share of the division lead.  However, Brooklyn lost, securing at least a wild card spot for the Muckdogs.

Adam Veres (1-1) got the start and win in six innings with five hits, one run, three walks and five strikeouts.  Ramon Aguero (1-10) suffered the loss, pitching two and a third innings with eight hits, six runs (five earned) and two strikeouts.

The Muckdogs scored all their runs in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th innings, beginning with three runs in the 2nd.  Christian Rosa singled and Chris Swauger followed with a two-run homerun.  Later in the inning, Jose Garcia singled and advanced to second on a throwing error.  Edwin Gomez then singled to bring Garcia home.

In the top of the 3rd, the Spikes scored on a walk, single and force out.  But Batavia answered right back with three more runs in the bottom of the inning.  The runs came on a Shane Peterson single, Rosa triple, Swauger single and Frederick Parejo single.

Their biggest inning came in the four-run 4th.  It all started when bases were loaded after Charlie Cutler was hit by a pitch, Peterson reached on an error and Rosa walked.  Swauger then came up with another RBI on a sacrifice fly.  Parejo followed with a RBI single.  The last two tallies came when Garcia reached on a throwing error that allowed two to come home.

Swauger ended the night 2-for-3 with a homerun, two runs scored and four RBI.  Rosa also went 2-for-3 with a triple, three runs scored and one RBI.  The two teams face each other again tonight in Batavia at 7:05.

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Tonight, Batavia can clinch a first place finish with a win over State College.  As stated earlier, the Muckdogs are a guaranteed playoff team after Brooklyn fell out of the wild-card race with a loss last night.  Here's where our Muckdog players stand in the NYPL:

• Adam Reifer: 2nd in saves (21); 1st in games (31).
• Colt Sedbrook: 7th in batting (.306 BA); 4th in hits (83).
• Jose Garcia: 2nd in stolen bases (25); 5th in runs scored (46).
• Shane Peterson: 2nd in on-base percentage (.402); T2nd in doubles (20).
• Collectively: 3rd in batting (.268 BA); 3rd in pitching (3.30 ERA).

It looked like it was going to be a close game -- until Jamestown (44-29) scored twelve runs in the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th innings to put it well out of reach for the Muckdogs (44-28), as the Jammers won 13-4 and moved to just a half game out of first place.

Zach Pitts (1-5) started the game and got the loss as he threw four and a third innings with two hits, three runs (one earned), two walks and three strikeouts.  Arquimedes Nieto had a rough outing when he came in to pitch in the 6th.  His once league-leading low ERA rose more than a point, as he allowed seven hits, eight runs and two walks.  Tom Koehler (5-5) was tough for Batavia in his start.  He got the win through his five innings with four hits, one run, one walk and seven strikeouts.

The Muckdogs took a 1-0 lead in the 1st when Colt Sedbrook singled, stole second and came home when Shane Peterson doubled.  Jamestown tied it up in the 3rd on a solo homerun off the bat of Justin Bass.  They added two more in the 5th in an inning that included a throwing error, a walk and two hit batsmen.  Three more Jammer runs in the next inning made the game 6-1.

Batavia scored their second run in the 6th.  Sedbook led off the inning with a walk.  Peterson then doubled moving Sedbrook to third before Charlie Cutler came up with a RBI single. But, Jamestown scored six runs in the very next inning to put the game well out of reach.  Batavia's last two runs came in the 7th when Jose Garcia walked, Jermaine Curtis singled and Sedbrook doubled to score both.

Sedbrook went 3-for-4 in the game with a double, two RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base.  Peterson went 2-for-3 with a double, triple and one RBI. The other multi-hit night came from Edwin Gomez, who went 2-for-4 with a double.

The Muckdogs are home today and tomorrow for the last two regular season games of the year against State College.  Get out to Dwyer and support the team as they try to clinch a first place finish!

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With two games left, here's where our top players sit in the NYPL:

• In his rough outing, Arquimedes dropped to 10th in pitching with a 2.95 ERA and 6-1 record.
• Adam Reifer is 2nd in saves with 21 and tied for 1st in games with 30.
• Colt Sedbrook's .311 BA is 7th in the league.  He is also 3rd in hits (83) and 3rd in on-base percentage (.399).
• Jose Garcia is 2nd in stolen bases with 25 and tied for 4th with 45 runs scored.
• Shane Peterson has a .406 on-base percentage which puts him in 2nd.
• The team is 2nd in batting (.268) and 3rd in pitching (3.34)

In the 7-2 loss last night, the Muckdogs (44-27) now sit just a game and a half above the Jammers (43-29) in first place in the Pinckney Division.  Errors proved costly for Batavia in the contest, as they had five, and the pitching staff was less sharp than they have been of late.

Josh Hester (2-2) picked up the loss in his start.  He threw two and a third innings with nine hits, seven runs (four earned) and three strikeouts.  Jammer Elih Villanueva (2-1)got the win as he pitched the first six innings with six hits, one run, one walk and four strikeouts.

Jamestown wasted no time jumping to an early lead as they scored five runs in the 1st inning.  Two singles followed by a three-run homerun off the bat of Miguel Fermin started the assault.  Two RBI singles later in the inning made it a 5-0 game.

The Muckdogs first got on the board in the 3rd.  They scored one run when Edwin Gomez doubled and came home when Shane Peterson singled.  The Jammers answered right back with two more runs of their own in the bottom of the inning.  Ernie Banks reached on a fielding error before Joel Staples singled and Brandon Turner followed with a double.

Batavia tried to rally in the 8th, scoring once more on singles by Peterson and Frederick Parejo.  Parejo went 3-for-4 in the game with a RBI.  Jermaine Curtis went 2-for-5 with a double.  Peterson also was 2-for-5, with a RBI and a run scored.

The Muckdogs come HOME to Dwyer Stadium tonight at 7:05 to take on Jamestown again; a win can clinch a first place finish.

Batavia (44-26) had eight doubles in their 10-2 win over State College (16-54).  With the win and another Jamestown loss, the Muckdogs now have a two and a half game lead as they sit in first place.

Thomas Eager (6-3) got the win in the start, going five innings with three hits, one run, three walks and one strikeout.  Tyler Cox (0-1) picked up his first decision in the loss, going two innings with five hits, three runs, one walk and three strikeouts.

The game was scoreless until the 3rd when Batavia scored one when Jose Garcia hit a double and Jermaine Curtis reached on a throwing error, enabling Garcia to come home.  The Spikes came back to tie it in the bottom of the inning, scoring after the bases were loaded after a walk, single and hit batsman.  Jeremy Farrell then hit a sacrifice fly for the one run.

But the game didn't stay tied long, as the Muckdogs plated another run on a Charlie Cutler walk and Xavier Scruggs double in the 4th, and they never looked back.  Two more tallies were added in the 5th.  Back-to-back doubles by Garcia and Curtis scored the first.  The other run came as Cutler singled to score Curtis.

Another two was added in the 6th.  To start things, Chris Swauger doubled and Edwin Gomez singled.  Garcia then hit into a force out which brought Swauger home.  A double by Curtis later in the inning scored Garcia.

Batavia's big inning came in the 8th as they scored four runs in the inning.  Gomez singled, Garcia doubled, Curtis doubled, Colt Sedbrook singled and Shane Peterson singled to plate the four runs on five hits.

State College showed some life in the bottom of the 9th as they plated one on a fielding error and a single, but the Muckdog damage was too great.

Garcia ended the night 3-for-6 with three doubles, four runs, two RBI and a stolen base.  Curtis also had three doubles as he went 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBI.  Let's hope Batavia can carry this offensive surge into Jamestown tonight as they strive for that first place finish.

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Here's where our Muckdogs stand in the NYPL:

• Thomas Eager: 2nd in pitching (6-3, 1.76 ERA)
• Arquimedes Nieto: 3rd in pitching (6-1, 1.76 ERA)
• Adam Reifer: T1st in saves (21); 1st in games (30)
• Colt Sedbrook: 7th in batting (.309); 3rd in hits (80); 3rd in on-base percentage (.396)
• Jose Garcia: 2nd in stolen bases (25); T4th in runs scored (44)
• Shane Peterson: 2nd in on-base percentage (.403)
• As a team: 2nd in batting (.268); 3rd in pitching (3.23)

We have come a long ways from city council meetings and searching for ways to save our team! The community needs to come together now for a strong finish with attendance and what better way to come together with a very possible playoff run? I challenge everyone on this site to bring family, friends or co-workers to the remaining games at Dwyer stadium. We have three home games left on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Then the playoffs! Yes the playoffs! Lets fill the stands, make some noise and have some fun at 299 Dwyer!  Let's send a message to Rochester thanking them for saving "OUR TEAM" and let them know we will be here for years to come supporting our team!  Business owners, buy two tickets to the rest of the games and give them away to your employees. Season ticket holders, bring a friend to the remaining games.  Every little bit helps, we have proven that since last December. I will see you there! Thanks Dave, Naomi, Travis, Mollie, Rock, Barb and all of the other great people associated with the Muckdogs!  You have done a great job all season with all the obstacles you have hurdled! From the season opener with the rain delay to the end of the season, you have been great! GO DOGS!

The Muckdogs won tonight 10-2 as Jamestown fell 2-1 to Williamsport...increasing Batavia's first place lead to 2.5 games!!  We had an astounding 8 doubles on the night in our second straight big win.

Full game re-cap and new league standings & leaders to come in the morning!

With a Batavia win and a Jamestown loss yesterday, the Muckdogs now sit in first place, 1 1/2 games above the Jammers.  The Muckdogs are also doing well individually.  Here's a look:

• In the NYPL, Arquimedes Nieto is in 2nd place for pitching, with a 1.76 ERA and 6-1 record.
• Adam Reifer remains tied for 1st in saves with 21 and leads in games with 30.
• Colt Sedbrook is 6th in batting (.311), 3rd in hits (79) and 3rd in on-base percentage (.399)
• Shane Peterson's 19 doubles put him in a three-way tie for 2nd place.  His .403 on-base percentage is 2nd in the league.
• Jose Garcia is 2nd in stolen bases with 24.
• Collectively, the team is 3rd in both hitting and pitching with a combined BA of .265 and ERA of 3.27.

The Muckdogs' (43-26) 13-0 win against the Spikes (16-53) was as lopsided in the stats as in the score.  State College had only three hits and five errors compared to Batavia's twelve hits and no errors, in a great game offensively and on the mound for the first place Muckdogs.

In the start, Scott Gorgen (4-2) earned himself the win in five innings with two hits, one walk and one strikeout.  Miguel Tapia followed him with one hit and four strikeouts through three innings, and LaCurtis Mayes pitched the 9th with two strikeouts to close-out the shutout.  The Spikes' Brian Leach (1-3) lasted three and a third innings with five hits, six runs (four earned) and three walks in the loss.

The Muckdogs wasted no time getting on-board, as they scored two in the 1st on a Colt Sedbrook single and Shane Peterson two-run homerun.  The biggest inning of the night came in the 4th as they scored four runs.  Bases were loaded early as Charlie Cutler walked, Xavier Scruggs doubled and Frederick Parejo also walked.  Cutler came in to score when Chris Swauger hit into a force out.  After Edwin Gomez walked, both Scruggs and Swauger came home on a fielding error.  Gomez scored the last run of the inning as he came home when Sedbrook hit into a force out.

Batavia scored once more in the 6th on singles by Gomez and Jermaine Curtis.  They scored three runs in the next inning, starting with two walks to Cutler and Scruggs.  Another error enabled Cutler to move to third to be in position to come home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Parejo.  Swauger then hit one deep to right for the Muckdogs' second two-run shot of the night.

As if 10-0 wasn't enough, Batavia tacked on three more runs in the 9th.  Parejo reached on an error and Gomez walked before Alex Castellanos came up with pinch-hit triple to get himself two RBI.  He then came home when Curtis hit a sacrifice fly.

Curtis ended the night 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.  Sedbrook got things swinging again, going 3-for-6 with a RBI and run scored.  The Spikes host the Muckdogs again tomorrow night before Batavia travels to Jamestown.   I'll bring the new NYPL standings first thing to you in the morning.

As of right now, Jamestown lost a 1-0 game to Williamsport and our Muckdogs are up 7-0 against the Spikes in State College...I'll have a full game re-cap later, as well as updated standings and statistics when all the NYPL games are completed!

Since this is the last week of the regular season, I'll have full game re-caps and standings/stats EVERY DAY! So, be sure to check back in and get out to Dwyer this Thursday, Friday and Saturday as we continue our quest for the NYPL title!