baseball

Story by Dan McComb:

The Batavia 24U Baseball Team beat the Titans yesterday at Buffalo's Riverside Park 6-3 to remain unbeaten at 9-0. Batavia handed the Titans only their second defeat of the season (both to Batavia).

Jerry Reinhardt hit two home runs (both solo shots) and went 3 for 4 at the plate, and Zeke Lynn also hit a solo shot. Also collecting hits for Batavia were Casey Radka, Dion Rosalina, Burnie Jonis, Luke McComb, Jesse Reinhardt and AJ Marcello.

Lynn went the first five innings, striking out 11 and surrendering two runs (one earned). Radka finished off the afternoon going two innings, giving up two hits and surrendering one unearned run.

Batavia had a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Rosalina hit a double, and scored when Marcello hit a ground ball to the shortstop who threw the ball wildly past first base, scoring Rosalina and also scoring Marcello.

Batavia tacked on another run in the top of the third inning when Jonis singled and went to third base on a Reinhardt single. Jonis then scored on a sacrifice fly by Radka.

Batavia added another run in the top of the fourth on a solo home run by Lynn, and Batavia scored a run each in the top of the fifth and the top of the seventh inning on solo home runs by Reinhardt.

Batavia’s next game is tomorrow at Genesee Community College at 6 p.m. against North Town of Williamsville.

Milton Smith II had another hit Saturday. He has now hit in 21 of 23 games this season for Batavia.

Submitted photo and press release:

The Batavia Muckdogs have played 19 games in 19 days, and the long road trip from Batavia to Vermont may have caught up with the hitters. The Muckdogs (17-11) fell to the Vermont Lake Monsters, 2-0 Saturday night on a game where both teams combined for five hits, the Muckdogs picking up three of them.

Jackson Rose picked up the hard-luck loss, throwing five innings of two-hit ball, giving up a solo home run to Kevin Richards. The only other hit was an infield single.

Eli Villalobos had one of the best outings of his short professional career, throwing three perfect innings in relief, striking out four. Villalobos, a 2018 14th-round Miami Marlins draft pick out of Long Beach State in California, has started three games but has excelled for Manager Tom Lawless out of the pen. He now has 25 strikeouts in 22 innings and a save.

Sean Reynolds had one of the three hits for the Muckdogs and also walked, putting his average at an even .500 as he has hit in all four games with Batavia since joining the team on July 10 (seven hits).

Milton Smith II, the 21-year-old leadoff hitter for the Muckdogs and had a 12-game hitting streak earlier this season, had another hit and is now hitting .405 this season. Smith II, a 22nd-round pick of the Marlins in 2018, is ahead of Gilberto Jimenez, of Lowell, Mass., who is hitting .376 (Muckdog J.D. Orr was second in average but is just short on enough official at bats to qualify).

How amazing has this season been for Smith II? He now has hit in 21 of 23 games he has played.During his 12-game hit streak, his lone at bat was an extra inning walk-off single to win a game for the Muckdogs.

Dalvy Rosario also had a hit for Batavia.

The Muckdogs are at Vermont Sunday and Monday for 7:05 p.m. starts and after a travel day return home for two games to host the Auburn Doubledays, both at 7:05 p.m.

Tickets to the games on Wednesday, July 17 and Thursday, July 18 against the Auburn Doubledays (or home games July 20, 21 and 22 against Mahoning Valley) are available at muckdogs.com or stop by the Dwyer Stadium Ticket office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the week. The number is 585-483-3647.

Two Miami Marlins draft picks who are making an impact with the Batavia Muckdogs high-five after a diving catch by Milton Smith II, left, in center field head first toward the fence to end the inning, and Troy Johnston, who belted a home run and doubled Friday before 1,301 fans in Batavia.

Submitted photo and press release:

After taking the first two games of the series against the Boston Red Sox from club Lowell Spinners, the Batavia Muckdogs were in position to take over the best overall record in the New York-Penn League.

However, the Spinners showed why they are in the top spot by scoring two big runs in the ninth inning to hold off the Muckdogs 5-2 Friday night before 1,301 fans at Dwyer Stadium.

Batavia (17-10) is still in first place in the NYPL Pinckney Division and goes on the road for three games against the Vermont Lake Monster, the Oakland A's farm club.

Troy Johnston, a 17th-round draft pick of the parent club Miami Marlins in 2019 out of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wa., went 2-for-3 with a 394-foot solo home run to right field that went 102 MPH off the bat. Johnston also hit a RBI double down the left field line in the first and is now hitting .357 on the season.

Sean Reynolds continued his three-game tear in his return to Batavia by going 2-for-4 with a double to increase his average to .545, as he hit two home runs then followed it up with four hits including the double.

Milton Smith II made one of the best catches of the season in center field, going on a dead sprint to center and diving head-first toward the fence, making a catch to end the fourth inning. Smith II then led off the bottom half of the inning with a single and scored.

Albert Guairamo, Nic Ready and Dalvy Rosario had hits for Batavia.

The pitching staff game up 13 hits but only five runs, as Andrew Miller took the loss, throwing 3.2 innings with three strikeouts. Edison Suriel (two strikeouts) threw 1.1 scoreless innings and Bryan Hoeing in his first appearance in Batavia threw a scoreless inning.

The Muckdogs return home on Wednesday, July 17 and Thursday, July 18 against the Auburn Doubledays then back home July 20, 21 and 22 against Mahoning Valley.

Tickets for these games and others are available at the Dwyer Stadium box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, online at muckdogs.com or be calling 585-483-3647.

Press release:

You never know who will step up for the Batavia Muckdogs during any given game. It's the main reason the team is 17-9, sitting in first place in the Pinckney Division.

Thursday night, it was Jack Strunc's turn, as the shortstop went 3-for-4 with two doubles to lead Batavia to a 5-2 win over the Lowell Spinners.

Lowell is now 17-8 and Friday night's game in Batavia will determine who has the best overall record in the New York-Penn League.

"They have the best record coming in here but I think we show we can play with anyone," Strunc said. "It doesn't matter, we are confident no matter what division or who is at the top, these guys show up every single day, pitching and hitting."

Strunc, who was drafted this year in the 25th round of the draft by the Miami Marlins, scored twice and drove in two runs to increase his average to .333 with the three-hit game.

"I'm trying to see the ball as long as possible, I'm not trying to do too much," Strunc said. "I'm seeing a few more pitches than normal and I think that's helping."

Albert Guaimaro made three outstanding catches in right field including two running grabs near the fence to go with his RBI single at the plate. His defense kept runners from scoring in three innings.

Sean Reynolds, who is hitting .571 in his return to Batavia this week had a double and scored, Brayan Hernandez went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI and Andrew Turner had an RBI single.

Pitching was strong again as Dakota Bennett picks up the win throwing five innings of shutout ball with three strikeouts and Geremy Galindez notched his second save, throwing a scoreless ninth with a strikeout. Easton Lucas started, striking out two in two innings and one of the new Muckdogs, Brock Love, threw one scoreless inning with a strikeout. Love is a 34th-round pick the Marlins from the 2019 draft and played at University of Alabama.

Coming up: Friday is Crafty Hour where the large selection of craft beers are just $3. There will be other specials and events during the 7:05 p.m. game.

Tickets for these games and others are available at the Dwyer Stadium box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, online at muckdogs.com or by calling 585-483-3647.

Photos by Jim Burns.

Press release:

When the rest of the Miami Marlins prospects were being moved up and down a few weeks ago, Sean Reynolds stayed in Florida to refine his sweet swing and work on little things in his hitting approach.

Boy, are the Batavia Muckdogs glad.

In his first game with the team this season, Reynolds blasted two home runs, going 3-for-4 with five RBIs and two runs scored. The Muckdogs (16-9) downed the Lowell Spinners (17-7), 8-6.

Reynolds, a crowd favorite, is a 6-foot-7, 237-pound first baseman who hits from the left side and throws right-handed. The fourth-round pick of the Marlins in 2016 has crushed 33 home runs in his short minor league career. The 21-year-old hit 17 home runs in Batavia last season.

"I want to be a consistent hitter who can have power," Reynolds said. "It felt good, obviously, two big ones tonight. When it happens, it's always good."

However, Reynolds was pleased with his RBI single in the seventh inning.

"My favorite hit of the three was the two-out, two-strike RBI single," Reynolds said. "It is huge whenever you get a chance to add on late in a game against a good pen like that."

As for being back in Batavia, Reynolds said, "The crowd was excited and I was excited to be back. You never want to get sent down per se, but wherever I am I am going to try to help teams win games … That was fun."

Reynolds then signed autographs for young fans and handed his oversized batting gloves to one lucky Little League player. The boy looked at the gloves with wide eyes and Reynolds joked, "don't worry, you'll grow into them."

Lowell has the best overall record in the New York-Penn League and Batavia has the second-best record, which is good enough for first place in the Pinckney Division.

With the Muckdogs trailing 6-5 following an extended fifth inning rally from their NYPL opponent, the Lowell Spinners, Reynolds came through with a blast for the ages, a two-run home run, which regained the lead for Batavia and proved to be the difference in what eventually turned into an 8-6 win for the home team.

The three-run, go-ahead moon shot, Reynolds’ second four-bagger of the game, followed his go-ahead three-run tater in the bottom of the first inning which came after a two-run first from Lowell. Both of Reynolds’ big flies came with two outs. His second home run came off the bat at 115 MPH.

Left fielder J.D. Orr, a 10th-round Marlins draft pick this year, continued his torrid start to the season, finishing 3-for-4 with four runs scored and a stolen base while shortstop Dalvy Rosario (two runs), second baseman Jack Strung (25th round pick this year) and center fielder Milton Smith II (22nd round pick in 2018) also chipped in multi-hit games. Smith, the leading hitter in the NYPL is hitting .416 with Orr at .404 and chasing him at the second spot.

Picking up the win on the mound for Batavia was right-hander Joey Steele (1-0), who pitched one-and-two-thirds clean innings, allowing two hits and striking out one. Steele, a 30th round pick this year, got out of a jam in the fifth and then went on to hurl a perfect sixth inning.

Starter Edgar Martinez went 4.1 innings and struck out four. Muckdogs’ closer Evan Braband recorded the save, striking out the side in the ninth. Braband, the Marlins’ 2019 9th round draft pick, has allowed just one hit this season while striking out 11 over six and one-third innings pitched. He now has five saves on the season. Josh Simpson, a 32nd-round draft pick this year had his third hold as he threw two scoreless innings and struck out four.

Spinners’ right-handed reliever Miguel Suero (0-1) was hit with the loss, pitching two and one-third inning, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out one.

Batavia began the game trailing 2-0 after Lowell put up two-runs in the top of the first, but Reynolds’ blast in the bottom half of the frame gave the Muckdogs the lead until the fifth inning. The Spinners struck for two runs during both their half of the fourth and their half of the fifth, giving them a 6-5 lead heading to the bottom half of the inning.

Then, Reynolds’ two-run blast during the Muckdogs' half of the fifth proved to be the difference, while Reynolds’ single in the seventh simply served as insurance.

Coming up: Tonight is Thirsty Thursday as all Labatt's products are $2. On Friday is Crafty Hour where the large selection of craft beers are just $3. There will be other specials and events during the week. All games are at 7:05 p.m.

Tickets for these games and others are available at the Dwyer Stadium box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, online at muckdogs.com or by calling 585-483-3647.

Top photo: FIle photo from 2018. Bottom photo, Reynolds connects for one of his two homers, supplied by the Muckdogs.

Previously: In 2018, Muckdogs fans have watched perhaps the most intriguing player in the NYPL

Press release:

Just when the Batavia Muckdogs were ready to come home with a sweep of State College, Jonatan Machado provided eighth-inning heroics.

Machado crushed a two-out, three-run home run that finished erasing a 5-2 Batavia lead and gave the Spikes a 6-5 lead they would hold for the win.

Leonardo Taveras, who has been nearly perfect for the Spikes, came on in the top of the ninth, striking out two batters while picking up the save with his fastball clocked at 98.

Picking up the win on the mound for the Spikes was Cardinals' 2019 seventh-round draft pick right-hander Jack Ralston (1-0).​Batavia won the series, 2-1.

Batavia rapped 18 hits but no home runs on Monday in a victory, and started Tuesday with two home runs.

Jack Strunc blasted his first of the season, a two-RBI shot in the fourth inning. Strunc was a 25th-round pick in June of the Miami Marlins out of Creighton, Neb.

Brayan Hernandez hit his second home run of the season in the fifth inning, a solo shot.

Nic Ready had a strong 2-for-4 game with two doubles, an RBi, and a run as he now has a .310 average.

Dalvy Rosario (run) doubled for the Muckdogs and Troy Johnston singled.

Batavia southpaw Edison Suriel took the loss in relief.

Batavia starter Julio Frias went five strong innings with five strikeouts and gave up one earned run.

Another bright spot for Batavia was a strong outing by M.D. Johnson, who came on with one out and struck out two batters for his third hold. ​

Batavia (15-9), remains in first place and plays at home at Dwyer Stadium against the Lowell Spinners, a farm club of the Boston Red Sox.

The game has many specials, including game-day food discounts that will be announced at the game, and Sahlen's will provide hot dogs for just $1 all game. It is also Turnbull Little League night as children wearing youth baseball shirts receive a free general admission ticket.

On Thursday it's Thirsty Thursday as all Labatt's products are $2. On Friday is Crafty Hour where the large selection of craft beers are just $3. There will be other specials and events during the week. All games are at 7:05 p.m.

Tickets for these games and others are available at the Dwyer Stadium box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, online at muckdogs.com or by calling 585-483-3647.

Press release:

All season long, Milton Smith II has battled with teammate J.D. Orr for the top spot on the New York-Penn League average leader board.

Monday night, Smith raced out to the lead with a 5-for-6 performance to not only increase his average to .423 but lead the first place Muckdogs to a 14-2 win over the State College Spikes.

Batavia (15-8) pounded out 18 hits led by Smith II, who also had three runs, stole a base and had a RBI. The lefty centerfielder is a 2-18 22nd round draft pick by the parent club Miami Marlins. He is a Starkvile, Miss., native and was drafted out of Meridian CC.

In the fifth, State College was keeping the game close at 5-2 when Batavia Manager Tom Lawless started giving runners the green light. Dalvy Rosario and Troy Johnston had RBI singles, then Johnston stole second as Rosario stole home, starting a streak of nine unanswered runs.

Johnston, who is also a lefty outfielder, went 4-for-5, tripped two doubles with three RBIs and three runs. He was taken by the Marlins in the 17th round of the 2019 draft out of Gonzaga and now has a .356 average.

Albert Guaimaro has continued his hot streak, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs and a run for the Muckdogs while catcher Dustin Skelton had three hits including a double and two RBIs. Skelton was drafted this year by Miami a round after Johnston.

Jack Strunc had two hits and an RBI while Rosario had a hit, scored four runs and drove in a run.

Jackson Rose picked up his third win on the season, this time coming out of the pen to throw four scoreless innings of one-hit ball with five strikeouts and just one walk. Rose, 3-1 on the season with a 2.70 ERA, is a 2018 Marlins draft pick out of Minnesota.

Eli Villalobos started and went four innings with four strikeouts and Tyler Kolek threw a perfect inning with a strikeout.

The Muckdogs have now on 7-of-11 games and play one more game Tuesday night in State College at 7:05.

Coming Home: The Muckdogs return home to play Lowell on Wednesday as part of a three-game homestand (July 10, 11 and 12).

Hot dogs are just $1 on Wednesday and all Labatt's products are $2. Friday is Crafty Hour, all craft beers are $3. There are other ticket specials for Little League players in uniform as well.

All three games start at 7:05 p.m. and tickets are available at the Dwyer Stadium box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, online at muckdogs.com or call 585-483-3647.

Here's a video profile we did of Smith a couple of weeks ago:

Press release:

To remain in first place in the New York-Penn League, the Batavia Muckdogs pitching needed a little help.

The offense provided it with a two-out rally and a balk call in the fourth inning as the Muckdogs downed the State College Spikes, 3-2 on Sunday.

The Muckdogs trailed, 2-1 when Jack Strunc walked with two outs, then Andrew Turner blasted a double to the gap and Strung scored all the way from first.

That's when the luck came through as well. Dustin Skelton struck out, but when the ball got away from the catcher, he made it to first and Turner went to third. Still with two outs, a balk was called and Turner scored the eventual winning run.

From there, the pitching continued to be tremendous for Batavia.

Jeremy Galindez improved to 2-0 with the win, as he threw two perfect innings in relief of Remey Reed. Reed, who is 3-0 on the season, struck out five in four innings and lowered his ERA to 1.73.

Josh Simpson, a 2019 draft pick of the Miami Marlins, got his second hold of the season, throwing 1.2 scoreless innings with a strikeout.

Evan Brabrand, who has developed into a closer for Batavia manager Tom Lawless, picked up his fourth save of the season. Brabrand, a ninth-round draft pick this year, finished the eighth and ninth without allowing a hit or run.

Batavia improved to 14-8 with the win, 1.5 games ahead of State College (13-10) and two games ahead of Mahoning Valley and West Virginia.

The other Batavia run came in the first when Milton Smith II singled and scored on a hit by Troy Johnston, who had two hits on the day.

State College answered in the bottom of the inning when Andrew Warner hit a two-run single.

Albert Guaimaro and Skelton had hits, while Turner had two hits.

The Muckdogs are at State College tonight and Tuesday, both games at 7:05 p.m.

The Muckdogs return home to play Lowell on Wednesday, July 10 as part of a three-game homestand (July 10, 11 and 12). Hot dogs are just $1 on Wednesday and all Labatt's products are $2. Friday is Crafty Hour, all craft beers are $3. All three games start at 7:05 p.m. and tickets are available at the Dwyer Stadium box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, online at muckdogs.com or call 585-483-3647.

Press release:

The Batavia Muckdogs showed some power to go along with the season-long outstanding pitching to remain in first place with a 4-1 win over the Auburn Doubledays Friday night.

Batavia (13-7) is in first place in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division.

Edison Suriel picked up in the win in relief of Edgar Martinez (four innings, three strikeouts, two hits one run) by throwing a scoreless fifth with a strikeout. Dakota Bennett had an unconventional save, throwing the final four innings of shutout ball, striking out two and giving up just two hits and no walks.

At the plate, Troy Johnston (double, RBI, run) and Harrison Dinicola (double, RBI) each had two hits while Milton Smith II (run), Nic Ready (RBI double), Andrew Turner and Jack Strunc (RBI double) all had hits. Albert Guaimaro blasted a triple for the Muckdogs and scored.

Batavia trailed 1-0 in the third when Johnston doubled with two outs and scored on Ready's double.

In the fourth, Strunc scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball. The Muckdogs tacked on insurance with single runs in the seventh and eighth.

The Muckdogs continue to get support from the draft and Miami Marlins signings: as Bennett was an 11th round pick of Miami in 2017; Johnston a 17th round this year; Dinicola went in the 27th round in 2018; Ready was picked in the 23rd round this year; Strunc 25th round this year; Smith II was a 22nd round pick in 2018; and Andrew Turner went in the 39th round in 2018.

The Muckdogs have won four-of-five and the last two on the road.

The two teams will play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 4 p.m. as the Muckdogs have five more road games over the next four days before returning home to play Lowell on Wednesday, July 10 as part of a three-game home stand (July 10, 11 and 12).

Hot dogs are just $1 on Wednesday and all Labatt's products are $2. Friday is Crafty Hour, all craft beers are $3.

All three games start at 7:05 p.m. and tickets are available at the Dwyer Stadium box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, online at muckdogs.com or call 585-483-3647.

Press release:

The Batavia Muckdogs remain in first place despite dropping the final game of a three-game series with the State College Spikes, 6-4 on Wednesday.

The paid crowd was 2,314, the largest crowd to see a game in two years.

The Muckdogs came from behind to win in extra innings on Monday, won a 1-0 thriller Tuesday, but fell short Wednesday with the winning run at the plate to win the series, 2-1.

Batavia (11-7) maintains a half-game lead over Mahoning Valley and State College.

The Muckdogs managed five hits, as New York-Penn League batting leader Milton Smith II had hit, two RBIs and a run while Dustin Skelton, Nic Ready (RBI double), Albert Guaimaro (RBI) and Andrew Turner had hits.

Jackson Rose started for the Muckdogs striking out five in four-and two-thirds innings without giving up an earned run. Edison Suriel finished the fifth without giving up a run and Eli Villalobos took the loss, throwing four innings striking out two.

For State College, Jacob Schlesener was the winning pitcher with a dominant performance, striking out 12 in six innings. Logan Gragg picked up the save. 

David Pinsky had a big night at the plate for State College going 3-for-5 with a home run, double and three RBIs.

The team will play seven games in six days at Auburn and State College before returning home to play Lowell on Wednesday, July 10 as part of a three-game homestand (July 10, 11 and 12).

Hot dogs are just $1 on Wednesday and all Labatt's products are $2. Friday is Crafty Hour, all craft beers are $3.

All three games start at 7:05 p.m. and tickets are available at the Dwyer Stadium box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, online at muckdogs.com or call 585-483-3647.

At age 11, Karissa Kendall does something not many girls can claim -- she is a successful pitcher in both baseball and softball.

Story by Dan McComb:

The Batavia 24U Blue Devils Baseball Team beat the Lake Erie Blue Wahoos 8-0 Tuesday at Genesee Community College.

Zeke Lynn went the distance on the mound, giving up two hits while only throwing 81 pitches. Lynn was aided by a triple play and a double play.

The triple play occurred in the bottom of the fourth inning with the bases loaded and Batavia leading at that point, 1-0. The ball was hit to Casey Radka at short and he threw home for the force out. The runner at second rounded third base and Ryan Mullen, the catcher, threw to third base and in a run-down that runner was tagged out for the second out. That runner interfered with Mullen, and the third out was called.

In the bottom of the fifth inning Batavia turned the double play when Lynn fielded a hard-hit grounder and threw to Radka at short who fired to AJ Marcello at first base for the double play.  

Batavia scored their first run in the first inning when Dion Rosalina singled and went to second on a passed ball and came home on a pop up to the infield which was misplayed by the Wahoo infield to score Rosalina.

Batavia scored again in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it 2-0 when Radka doubled and came home on an error by the left fielder who dropped a fly ball.

Batavia broke it open with three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it 5-0. Josh Baptiste walked, as did Josh Bradley, and Baptiste came home on an RBI double by Jerry Reinhardt. Bradley came home on a sacrifice fly by Rosalina.

Batavia added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Mullen walked, Luke McComb singled and AJ Marcello singled home Ryan Mullen.  Tristan Aldinger then delivered a two-run triple to drive in McComb and Marcello to get Batavia’s seventh and eighth runs of the game.

Radka led the 12-hit attack, going three for three with a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base. Aldinger went two for four with two RBIs. Marcello went two for three with a run scored and an RBI.

Batavia’s next game is at home at GCC is Friday night against the 3-1 Gators.

Batavia is now 6-0 on the season.

The Dodgers and the Mets faced off today in the Batavia Little League Championship.

The Dodgers needed to win the first game to force a Game 2, or the Mets, if they won the first game, would have become champions.

The Dodgers did win the first game, 5-4 but the Mets came back in a big way in the second game to win 11-3.

Sean Reynolds, whom we profiled last year as one of the most intriguing players in the New York-Penn League, and whose photo graces the Muckdog's printed season schedule, and who became a fan favorite last season, is rejoining the Batavia Muckdogs.

The Marlin's organization decided today to swap first basemen between Batavia and the Clinton Lumberjacks, sending Evan Edwards to Clinton, Iowa, and returning Reynolds to the New York Penn-League, where he led the league last year in home runs, RBIs, runs scored, walks, and strikeouts.

In fact, Reynolds set a new league record for strikeouts at 133. He hit 17 home runs and had 52 RBIs while walking 42 times.

In 68 games with Clinton, Reynolds was hitting.173 with nine home runs, 32 RBIs, 33 walks, and 145 strikeouts.

He rejoins Batavia just a week into the NYPL's short season.

Reynolds was a fourth-round pick for the Marlins in 2016 and Edwards was a fourth-round pick for the Marlins this year.

The Batavia Muckdogs finished a rain-delayed game against the Auburn Doubledays and then the two teams played a seven-inning game.

Batavia won the first game with timely hitting from Igor Baez, a two-out homer in the ninth, Dalvy Rosario and a game-winning single by Albert Guaimaro.

They lost the nightcap 5-0, moving the Batavia record to 3-3 on the season and giving Auburn its first win of the season.

After the game, we spoke with Milton Smith Jr., who grew up in Laurel, Miss., a small city of 18,000. He said being in Batavia feels like home. A 22nd-round draft choice in 2018 out of Merdian Community College, Smith hit .362 in his first professional season and is off to a .467 start with Batavia.

Submitted photos and press release:

The Pembroke Dragons 10U Baseball Team took to the tournament held in Nunda June 13-18 with one goal set in their mind and that goal was to win.

In order to achieve the goal they set for the GLOW All Stars tournament, it would take blood, sweat, tears and applying the hard work that they started in the gym many months ago.

To lead off the tournament Pembroke relied on the pitching of Brayden Lang, who struck out 23 batters in the first two rounds of play while going 9 for 10 at the plate with six singles, two doubles and a triple.

Along with the smart at bats and huge catches in the field by Gavin Liss, Ryan Zika, Austin Post and Trevor Rheinheimer the Dragons made their way to the semifinal game.

The game of the semifinals set for a tough task ahead facing a talented Nunda team and defeating them in extra innings.

The semifinals round was led by explosive hitting and base running by Owen Schultz. Owen sparked the Dragons when they needed it most with a massive double, clearing the bases and setting up the Dragons for the comeback that they needed.

In the bottom of the seventh inning Owen got on base and used his speed and heart to steal home, sealing the win for the Dragons to advance to the Championship round against a loaded Perry team led by the great coaching of Steve Deaton.

During the championship game the Dragons started Zachary Hartz on the mound who kept the scoring and the hitting to an astounding low against a team that had put up 62 runs thus far throughout the tournament.

Madden Perry made a huge double play at first by catching a ball and touching the bag before the runner had time to tag up to inch the Dragons even closer to achieving their goal.

To close the game on the mound Pembroke then turned to Aydaen Windnagle, who struck out batters and played with great composure and confidence right to the end.

With Pembroke holding onto a 7-to-4 lead in the sixth inning of the game with bases loaded you could almost hear the hearts pounding.

The winning play that ended the game sent the Dragons into celebration mode was made by none other than Mason Wetherbee.

A player from Perry took a deep shot to left field and the feeling of time almost stopped as Mason took off toward the ball and made an amazing glove catch before going to the ground.

As Mason came up with the game winning catch the celebration began and the emotional Dragons ran about the field in all their glory. Overall the Dragons played with heart, determination and most importantly as a team lifting each other up a when needed and grinding to the very end brining home the first ever Glow Championship to Pembroke.

The coaching staff of Manager Dan Lang and assistant coaches Lee Hartz, Dan Zika, Arron Post, Luke Windnagle, Ian Wetherbee and Norm Liss would like to congratulate the boys on this hard-fought journey and rising to the challenges they faced to become the Champions that they are.

As we say, you need to over-believe to overachieve and that’s exactly what happened to get the win.

Nic Ready, who recently graduated from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, where President Donald Trump singled him out and called him up to the stage -- made his professional baseball debut with the Muckdogs on Friday night.

Ready, from Poway, Calif. (San Diego County) is the son of Randy Ready, a former major league player whose career included a stint with the San Diego Padres.

Click here for a game report and video.

The 2019 season for the Batavia Muckdogs got off to the right start with 1,700 fans in attendance and a 2-0 win over the Auburn Doubledays.

Ben Hayes, the president of the New York-Penn League, the current owners of the franchise, said he's pleased with the improvements made by General Manager Brendan Kelly, Groundskeeper Cooper Thomson, and the rest of the staff during the offseason.  

Over the offseason, the league signed a three-year lease agreement for Dwyer Stadium and Hayes isn't talking like a league leader who wants to leave Batavia.

"We've been here since 1939," Hayes said. "Batavia means a lot to the New York-Penn League and there's been a lot of rumors and all that kind of stuff generated by people who are scared that the club's going to leave. But it's still here."

To keep the team here, though, the team needs community support. 

"The facility is a good facility at this point in time to play professional baseball," Hayes said. "We do need people to come and we need businesses to support the operations so that we can pay our bills, pay the bus company to transport us around, hotels -- all the different things that come along with a professional baseball team."

The team itself looks good. Several college-age players, some top prospects, lots of talent.

In centerfield this year is one of the Miami Marlins' Top 50 prospects, Milton Smith Jr., who hit .361 last year in rookie ball. He went 1-3 on opening night.

Dalvy Rosario, another top prospect, his first two hits in the league. He also stole a base and was caught stealing.

Peyton Burdick, a third-round draft pick from Batavia -- Batavia, Ohio -- started in right field and got his first two professional hits.

Nic Ready, from Poway, Calif. (San Diego County), an Air Force Academy grad (see separate video), and son of former major leaguer Randy Ready (San Diego Padres, among other teams, and for the previous three seasons, he managed in the Marlins system), started at third base. His first professional hit was a double and he scored a run.

Starting pitcher Remey Reed, a 2016 sixth-round pick from Plano, Texas, who spent part of the 2016 and 2017 seasons in Batavia, gave up only one hit over five frames to pick up the win. Cason Sherrod notched the save.