baseball

It was bike giveaway night for the Batavia Lions Club at Dwyer Stadium. The winners were sisters Ashlyn and Veronica (on bike) Reynolds, of Le Roy, and Landon Brown, of Henrietta. Don Milleman, left, chaired the event for Lions and Tony Scalia is club president. (Photo and game photos by Howard Owens.)

 

Coming into Tuesday night’s doubleheader against the Vermont Lake Monsters (22-26), the Batavia Muckdogs (19-28) had lost two games back-to-back and were on the verge of losing all hope of getting within striking distance of the last wild card spot.

Brett Lilek and Scout Squier, who would combine to start both games of a doubleheader for the second straight home series, were tasked to keep the Muckdogs' slim playoffs hopes alive as Batavia looked to capture their sixth consecutive series win.

Lilek started the first game of the doubleheader and continued right where he left off from his last start. Back on August 5, Lilek pitched five innings; striking out eight while allowing four hits in an eventual Muckdogs win over State College. On Tuesday night, Lilek was equally as impressive, if not better.

“The guys went out there [Lilek and Squier] and pounded the strike zone, threw strikes and kept the game going for us,” Manager Angel Espada said.

Lilek dominated the strike zone all evening and kept the Lake Monster hitters off balance with is off-speed pitches. He was able to retire 15 of the 17 batters he faced in his five innings of work. Lilek recorded seven strikeouts on just 61 pitches thrown. He only allowed one hit in the first inning and walked one other batter.

Lilek got all the run support he would need in the first. All-Star Anfernee Seymour started the game with a walk. He moved to third after Vermont pitcher Kevin Duchene attempted to pickoff Seymour but he took off for second on Duchene’s first move. Chris Iriart, Vermont’s first baseman, then threw the ball into the outfield in an attempt to get Seymour out at second, giving Seymour third base.  

Travis Brewster then singled home Seymour for his eighth RBI of the year. Stone Garrett, also an All-Star, then doubled off the wall to score Brewster. On the attempt to throw Brewster out at home, Garrett tried to take third and was called out. After the play, the umpires got together and pointed to Garrett, who had gone into the dugout, that he was safe and to go back to third. Brad Haynal then grounded out to shortstop to score Garrett, making it 3-0.

“The hard work is paying off and we have been blessed that every time we have had a tough game, the rain out kind of gives us a breather,” Espada said.

The Muckdogs added another run in the fourth inning and two in the fifth inning, but they were just added bonuses. Lilek and Jordan Hillyer combined to throw seven innings of one-hit baseball. Each giving up one walk a piece, in total they only allowed three base runners all game, retiring 12 batters in a row at one point and not allowing a runner to pass second base.

The Muckdogs took game one of the doubleheader with a final score of 6-0. Garrett led the offensive going 2-for-4 with a RBI and two runs scored.

Not to be out done, Squier was just as impressive in game two as Lilek was in game one. Just like he did back on Aug. 5, Squier followed up a quality start from Lilek with one of his own.

Squier, whose only real trouble of the game came in the first inning, was able to shut down the Vermont offense, also pitching five innings.

Trace Loehr led off the game with a single. Steven Pallares then reached on an error by third baseman Angel Reyes. Squier was able to strike out two of the next three batters and get another to fly out to end the inning.

The Muckdogs again jumped on the Lake Monsters right from the start. Alex Fernandez reached on an E5 and Brewster quickly singled. A bad throw into the infield by the center fielder, allowed both runners to move up 90 feet. Garrett worked a walk to load the bases with no outs.

Haynal then grounded into a double play, but Fernandez was able to score to make it 1-0. Roy Morales grounded out to end the inning but not before the Muckdogs got the only run they would need.

“In both games the difference was the first inning,” Espada said. “We got a big inning the first game and we scored the only run in the first inning there.”

Squier settled down after the first inning and retired the next nine of out 10 batters. After his five outstanding innings, All-Star reliever and closer Steve Farnworth came into the game for the six-out save.

Farnworth worked pretty uneventful sixth and seventh innings to earn his 10 save of the year, sealing the 1-0 victory for Batavia and taking the series.

“We have been playing a lot better defense and we are making clutch plays…and that’s the difference right now,” Espada said. “We are pitching okay and besides the game the other day, we have been playing good defense.”

After his win in the first game, Lilek improves to 1-2 while Squier quietly continues to impress with a 4-0 record.

The Muckdogs will welcome the Lowell Spinners, an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, to Dwyer Stadium on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. for an extremely important series in terms of the wild card race. Lowell currently sits atop the wild card standings and with a strong showing in the three-game series, the Muckdogs could play themselves right back into playoff contention, as they only sit five games back.

Although the importance of the series cannot be denied or overlooked, Espada is not looking ahead.

“I’m not looking that far. I’m just keeping the guys focused on one game at a time and eventually if you do that, things will take care of themselves,” Espada said. “You don’t want to put that pressure on them, they are so young, that they don’t understand and try to do too much.”

CenturyLink Field, home of the 12th man, Lambeau Field, home of the Lambeau leap, and Oracle Arena, the home of the 2015 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors all share one common denominator, home field means something. The crowd, the tradition and the history all seem to give the home team that added edge. 

For the Batavia Muckdogs (19-27) playing at home this season has meant absolutely nothing. They actually have a slightly better record on the road 10-14, compared to at home 9-14.

Now it would be naïve to compare Dwyer Stadium to CenturyLink or Lambeau Field, but in any sport, at any level, playing at home should mean something.

Coming into Sunday night’s game against the Vermont Lake Monsters (21-26), an affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, the Muckdogs were one of the hottest teams in the New York-Penn League. Winners of seven of the last 10 games and having won five straight series to close within five games of the last wild card spot.

Travis Neubeck started on the mound for Batavia and in only his second professional start he pitched fairly well but struggled with his command all night.

“He didn’t have his best stuff but he went out there and competed,” Manager Angel Espada said.

Neubeck was able to get through four innings of work, allowing three runs on five hits while walking four.   

When Ayron Adames came in relief of Neubeck it was only a 3-2 game in favor of the Lake Monsters.

League All-Star, Stone Garrett tied the game in the bottom of the fifth when he hit his league-leading ninth home run of the year. Batavia tacked on another run later in the inning after Ryan Cranmer reached on an error by the third baseman. He moved to second on a wild pitch.

Cranmer scored to take a 4-3 lead when Alex Fernandez grounded to third, but it was misplayed by the third baseman for his second error of the inning and third in the game.

Adames shut down Vermont in the two innings he pitched. He only relinquished one hit and walked one batter, plus striking out two.

Everything seemed to be going the Muckdogs way and it looked like they were on their way to winning the first game of this three-game series, but the wheels fell of the wagon in the seventh.

LJ Brewster began the inning by striking out the first batter he saw, showing why earlier in the season he was called up to the Jupiter Hammerheads, the Marlins Advanced-A farm team. Unfortunately, the rest of the inning showed why he was back in Batavia.

Brewster walked Nick Collins and Chris Iriart on back-to-back four-pitch walks. Brett Siddall then hit a perfect double play ball to second baseman Fernandez, who in turn let the ball go off his glove, allowing Collins to score from second, tying the game at 4-4.

Now with runners at first and third, Skye Bolt singled to score Iriart easily. Left fielder Brandon Rawe inexcusably let the ball go under his glove and allowed Siddall to score all the way from first, making it 6-3.

Not expecting a bunt, third baseman Taylor Munden was playing well behind the base at third and Ryan Howell saw that and tried, and executed perfectly, a squeeze play, scoring Bolt from third and reaching first base himself, without even a throw.

Brewster’s nightmare of a game continued in the eighth when he allowed two more runs on three hits and one walk.

“Young pitchers, young players sometimes you try to do too much in certain situations and that’s part of the game,” Espada said. “It’s part of their learning experience as a professional.” 

The Lake Monsters added two more runs in the ninth inning off of Aneury Osoria to bring their total to 11. Batavia was able to score one run in the bottom of the ninth but the game was well decided by then.

As announced earlier in the week, the Muckdogs have an incredible six players selected to the All-Star team even though they have the worst record in the league. Both Anfernee Seymour and Stone Garrett were chosen and they showed why on Sunday.

Seymour went 3-for-4 with three singles, a run scored and an amazing four stolen bases, bringing his season total to 22, just one behind the league leader. Garrett went just 1-for-3 but he added to his league-leading home run tally and scored two runs.

“It’s a whole team effort and you don’t want to put the pressure on these young guys at this level because they are All-Stars,” Espada said.

The Muckdogs will return to Dwyer Stadium on Monday night to try and right the ship and get back to their winning ways. Game time is set for 7:05.

Press release:

The 2015 New York-Penn League All-Star roster will include six players from Batavia, which is the second highest in the league. They will send infielders Brad Haynal and Anfernee Seymour, outfielder Stone Garrett and pitchers Nestor Bautista, Steven Farnworth and Jordan Holloway to the game to be held Tuesday, Aug. 18th at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium, home of the Aberdeen Ironbirds.

Haynal, a 18th round pick in the 2014 draft, has played in 39 games for the Muckdogs this year and has been among the league leaders in hitting all season. Haynal currently ranks eighth in the league in hitting, with a .313 batting average, tenth in slugging percentage at .444 and his 13 doubles is tied for second in the league.

Anfernee Seymour was an undrafted free agent signing by the Marlins in 2014 and has started 35 games at shortstop for the Muckdogs this season. The speedster is currently second in the league in stolen bases with 17. He is currently batting .281 with 23 runs scored, six doubles and seven RBIs.

An 8th round pick in the 2014 draft, Garrett has started 44 games in centerfield for Muckdogs and is arguably the top power hitter in the league. Garrett ranks first in the league in home runs with eight, first in slugging percentage at .576, second in RBIs with 32, and first in the league in triples with six. Garrett also ranks first in extra base hits (25) and total bases (98).

Nestor Bautista was selected in the 32nd round of the 2014 draft out of Ball State University. The left-hander has compiled an ERA of just 1.86, which is tops in the league for qualifying pitchers. Bautista has a record of 3-1 and has racked up 29 strikeouts in 38.2 innings pitched.

Steven Farnworth is in his second year of professional baseball and was a 23rd round pick in the 2014 draft. The right-hander has been the Muckdogs closer this season and is currently tied for second in the league with nine saves. Farnworth has appeared in 15 games this year and has an ERA of just 0.36. He has also recorded 23 strikeouts in his 25.0 innings of work and opposing batters are hitting just .198 versus Farnworth this year.

Holloway was drafted in the 20th round of the 2014 draft and has started eight games for the Muckdogs this year. He has compiled a record of 3-3 with a 3.08 ERA. In his 38.0 innings of work, he has recorded 24 strikeouts and opposing batters are only hitting .203 against him this year.

Batavia currently holds the sixth place spot in the Pinckney Division with a record of 19-26 and are just four games out of the wild card spot. The Muckdogs sent six players to the 2011 All-Star game, five in 2012, four in 2013 and four players in 2014.

Coming into Wednesday night’s doubleheader against the State College Spikes (21-21), the Batavia Muckdogs (15-26) were dead last in the New York-Penn League in terms of pitching with a staff ERA of 4.38.

Brett Lilek and Scott Squier both had rare, back-to-back quality starts, as the Muckdogs were able to sweep the doubleheader, taking the series. 

Lilek, who started game one, came into the game with a 0-2 record and a lackluster 6.11 ERA. The 6-foot-4 Arizona State product was able to work through two jams on his way to pitching five innings of shut-out ball, scattering four hits and striking out eight.

The first jam for Lilek came in the second inning when Casey Grayson doubled to lead off the inning. Lilek was able to strikeout the next two State College batters, but Jesse Jenner connected on an infield single that set up first and third with two outs. After falling behind 2-1 to R.J. Dennard, Lilek got the lefty to fly out to third.

Lilek again was faced with runners in scoring position when Grayson singled in the fourth, followed by an Orlando Olivera singled that was fumbled by leftfielder Travis Brewster, allowing Grayson to take third.

Olivera was able to move to second after a wild pitch. Lilek settled down and got Cole Lankford to strikeout and Jenner to pop out.

The two games were slated to be only seven-inning games but the Muckdogs and Spikes needed extra innings, even for a regular nine-inning game, to determine a winner in game one.

The teams had to play into the 10th inning before the Muckdogs were finally able to scrap across the game winning run.

Taylor Munden lead off the 10th inning of a 1-1 ball game with a double and was moved to third by a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Brandon Rawe. Giovanny Alfonzo scored and secured the Muckdogs' first walk-off of the season with a sacrifice fly to leftfield.  

After a bite to eat and the field was prepared for game two, Squier picked up right were Lilek ended in the first game.

Squier was able to get through five and two-thirds innings. He struck out five, gave up six hits and allowed one run.

He received all the run support he would need in the fourth inning when Stone Garrett singled up the middle, followed by a Brad Haynal single of his own. After a failed pick-off attempt of Garrett at second that saw the ball hit him in the back and roll into the outfield, both runners were able to move up a base.

Angel Reyes launched his third double of the year, scoring both Garrett and Haynal. The Spikes were able to get one back in the sixth off Squier but a Reyes' triple and Yuniel Ramirez' sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the inning made it 3-1.

Ryley MacEachern came in for a four-out save and struck out three of the five batters he faced.

The Muckdogs have now won four straight series and eight of their last 11 games. Although everything pointed to this being a lost season for the Muckdogs, they currently sit just six games back of the wild card.

Batavia hits the road for a three-game series in Mahoning Valley before returning to Dwyer Stadium on Sunday to start a six-game home stand.

Sunday’s game will have a unique starting time of 5:05 p.m. 

The Muckdogs game tonight has been postponed due to the threat of a thunderstorm.

The Muckdogs will play a doubleheader on Wednesday against the State College Spikes with the first game starting at 5:05 p.m. and the second game will directly follow the conclusion of the first game; both games will be seven innings.

Any ticket purchased for tonight’s game can be redeemed for any future regular season game.

Coming into Monday night’s game against the State College Spikes (20-21), the Batavia Muckdogs (15-25) found themselves in the midst of a hot streak. Winners of five of the last six games and only six games out of the wildcard, Batavia looked to continue its recently found success.

Travis Neubeck got the emergency start on the mound after Gabriel Castellanos was called up. The Spikes were able to jump on Neubeck early, as the young righty was making his first professional start.

Craig Aikin reached base in the first inning after hitting a routine ground ball to Anfernee Seymour at shortstop, Seymour’s legs got tangled up and he was unable to make the throw to first, resulting in his 12th error of the season.

Leobaldo Pina then doubled home Aikin to make it 1-0. Seymour was able to make up for his mistake in the bottom half of the inning.

Seymour led off the inning with a single and just like he has all season, stole second. He then moved to third on a failed pick-off attempt at second that saw the ball dribble into the outfield. Taylor Munden plated Seymour with a sacrifice fly to centerfield, tying the game at 1-1.

“He’s going to go out there and help because he can play the game and he has the tools to make things happen for us,” Manager Angel Espada said about Seymour’s impact on the team.

Neubeck settled down after the first inning until he seemed to run out of gas in the fifth inning.

“There was a lot of things going on for him, a lot of firsts,” Espada said. “He went out there and I think he did a good job for the most part and that last inning happens.”

Neubeck walked Ronnierd Garcia to start the fifth inning and quickly came around to score on a Josh Swirchak RBI triple. Neubeck was able to retire the next two batters, but Pina stepped into the box and launched a two-run home run to make it 4-1, ending Nuebeck’s night.

“We played so well on the road and that just comes to show you why these kids are at this level,” Espada said.

Ayron Adames came in relief of Neubeck and also pitched well until he, too, ran out of gas in the eighth inning.

The Spikes were able to muster three runs, on five hits behind an Orlando Olivera home run to take an 8-1 lead.

“There is a fine line between developing and winning -- that’s the way it’s going to be,” Espada said.  

Kyle Keller pitched the ninth inning and allowed one run, making the final 9-1.

Roy Morales finished the game 2-for-4 while Seymour was 1-for-3 with a run scored and two stolen bases. Seymour now has 17 stolen bases on the year, good for second in the league and just one behind league leader, Johnny Sewald of the Tri-City ValleyCats.

“Once you fall back, young hitters tend to press a little bit instead of trying to take good at-bats,” Espada said. “The youth showed up today and hopefully we can put this one behind us and come back ready to play tomorrow.”

Batavia continues its series against the Spikes Tuesday night at 7:05 at Dwyer Stadium. 

Photos by Howard Owens.

The wins have been few and far between for the Batavia Muckdogs thus far in the season, but in front of a near sell-out crowd on Friday night, they were able to finally reach double-digit victories.

The Muckdogs jumped on the visiting Tri-City Valleycats (18-15) right from the beginning of the game, scoring in each of the first four innings.

Like he has all season, Anfernee Seymour sparked the offense with his lightning-quick speed. Seymour struck out to start the game but the ball got away from the catcher, allowing Seymour to take first.

Seymour then stole second for his 15th stolen base of the year, tying the Valleycats’ own Johnny Sewald for the league lead.

Hot hitting Brad Haynal then singled home Seymour for his 15th RBI of the season.

“They have been competing and trying their best,” Manager Angel Espada said. “We can’t forget these guys did the toughest thing to do in baseball and they did it, which is to throw a perfect game.”

Batavia continued it's hot start in the second when Taylor Munden singled and then two passed balls allowed him to advance to third. Cameron Newell, who came into the game hitting an abysmal .091, tripled to score Munden and make it 2-0.

Travis Brewster was able to plate Newell with a sacrifice fly to short leftfield.

Coming into the game, Valleycat starting pitcher Dean Deetz led the league with a 4-1 record on the mound, but Batavia seemed to have his number all night.

Alexander Fernandez belted a solo home run in the third inning to make it 4-0.

“We took advantage of their mistakes and that’s what you have to do as hitters,” Espada said. “If they make a mistake you have to make them pay.”

The offensive barrage continued in the fourth when Newell was hit by a pitch and moved to second, thanks to a gorgeous sacrifice bunt by Travis Brewster. Lead-off man Seymour then smacked a single to score Newell, but the Muckdogs were not done.

After a strike out by Fernandez, Stone Garrett connected on his league leading sixth home run of the season.

“I’ve just been not pressing more and telling myself I have more time to see the ball,” Garret said. “When you’re pressing you’re jumping out at everything and swinging at balls in the dirt.”

If you have followed any part of the Muckdogs' season, you know that they have struggled to put a complete game together and Friday night was no exception.

After getting a run back in the fifth, Tri-City was able to score four runs in the seventh-inning to pull within just two runs of Batavia.

Fourth-round pick out of the University of Oklahoma, Anthony Hemelyn started the inning with a single and was quickly plated by a Pat Porter RBI triple. Sewald then singled home Porter making it 7-3.

Antonio Nunez walked with one out and then both runners were moved up 90 feet because of a passed ball. Bryan Muniz singled to score Sewald, closing the gap to 7-4.

“We are going to have to earn everything and nothing is going to be given to us,” Espada said. “It’s just one of the seasons.”

After a pitching change, Bobby Wernes grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Nunez and getting the score to 7-5.

Jordan Hillyer was able to get out of the inning without any more damage.

Batavia responded by adding a run the bottom half of the inning after a Garrett double and Haynal single to set up first and third. Munden was able to get the ball far enough out of the infield for a sacrifice fly.

Tri-City was able to get that run back in the eighth to make it 8-6 but that is the closest they would get.

Steve Farnworth worked a perfect ninth inning for his fifth save of the year.

“It feels good to play error-free baseball all nine innings and just get 27 outs and no more,” Garrett said.

Seven of the nine Batavia hitters collected a RBI for the game. Munden went 3-for-3 with two singles, a double and a RBI while Garrett was 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and a double.

Scott Squier got the win on the mound after going a strong five innings. He gave up one run, two hits and struck out three.

“He went out there and competed and found a way to get it done,” Espada said about Squier.

“The last couple games we have been playing clean baseball and who’s to stay we can’t turn this thing around defensively, too,” Espada said. “We still have 40-something games left and it can be done.”

Batavia improves to 10-23 on the season and will look to keep the positive flow going on Saturday night against Tri-City. Game time is slated for 7:05 p.m. 

There is not much left to say about the 2015 Muckdogs (9-22) season other than it has been a huge disappointment, as they lost their fourth straight game Thursday night and dropped their winning percentage to a measly .281 percent on the year.

If you had to choose one game thus far in the season to be a microcosm of the Muckdogs' year, Thursday night’s game against the Connecticut Tigers (15-16) would be at the top of the list.

When watching the team, it is hard to deny that, even though they are in the middle of a historically bad season, they continue to fight for almost all of the game. What has been lacking all year is the inability to put a complete game together.

Coming into the seventh inning of Thursday night’s game, the Muckdogs held a slim 1-0 lead. When Batavia was finally able to get the third out of the inning, they found themselves down 5-1.

Josh Lester, a 13th-round draft pick out of Missouri, started the inning with an 11-pitch at-bat that ended in a walk. AJ Simcox and Tanner Donnels both singled to load the bases.

Will Allen singled, scoring Lester. Shane Zeile doubled off the centerfield wall, scoring both Simcox and Donnels. Victor Padron smashed a hard ground ball up the middle to plate Allen and Zeile, making it 5-1.

“It was a good game until the seventh,” Manager Angel Espada said. “It was one of those days and how the season has been for us.”

After the seventh-inning meltdown, it did not appear things could get much worse, but things did just that in the eighth.

After batting around the order in the seventh, Lester again led off the inning with a walk. Simcox, just like last inning, singled. Donnels followed that up with another single, scoring Lester. Just like a broken record, Allen singled to make it 7-1.

Zeile worked a walk to load the bases with still no outs, against Muckdogs left-hander Justin Langley. Jose Zambrano continued the trend by singling home Donnels. Langley’s night was over after just two-thirds of an inning pitched.

Ayron Adames did not weather much better in relief. Adames would allow three straight RBI singles to Padron, Cam Gibson and Brett Pirtle. When all was said and done, the Tigers had sent 12 batters to the plate in the eighth, scoring six runs on seven hits.

The Muckdogs were able to push across one run in the bottom of the eighth but it was far too little, way too late.

The one bright spot of the game was the fact that the Muckdogs did not commit an error in the field. Coming into Thursday night’s game the Muckdogs had a committed a league high 63 fielding errors in only 31 games. That is good for 12 more than the next team, which has 51.

In their three-game series against the Tigers, the Muckdogs were outscored 20-9.

The Muckdogs will welcome the Tri-City Valleycats, an affiliate of the Houston Astros, to Dwyer stadium for a three-game series starting on Friday night at 7:05.

Fireworks will follow the conclusion of the game. 

When a baseball team is struggling, you look to do the small things right and hope for a bounce, here or there, to go your way. The 2015 Muckdogs are 32 games into their season and are still looking for that bounce.

Coming into Wednesday night’s game against the Detroit Tiger affiliate, Connecticut Tigers (14-16), the Muckdogs (9-21) had lost five of their last six games and find themselves 11.5 games out of first place.

Gabriel Castellanos, the pitcher who started the perfect game back on June 24, started on the mound for Batavia in an attempt to end their most recent losing streak.

Unfortunately, Castellanos was unable to find the magic he had back on June 24.

He walked lead-off hitter Victor Padron to begin the game, followed by a single by AJ Simcox. With the runners in motion, Corey Baptist was able to smack a groundball where the third baseman should have been, scoring Padron and moving Simcox to third.

Tanner Donnels scored the Tigers second run with a sacrifice fly. Baptist moved to second on a balk by Castellanos. After a walk by Pat Mackenzie, Steven Fuentes singled making it 3-0 before the Muckdogs could catch their breath.

Connecticut added one run in both the second and third innings, ending Castellanos night after just three innings.

“Like I always tell you, they are young kids,” Manager Angel Espada said. “If they were ready to go to the next level, they would be in a higher level.”

The Muckdogs were able to get one back in the third when Galvi Moscat doubled and was moved to third on a Giovanny Alfonzo swinging bunt. Taylor Munden plated Moscat after he grounded out to shortstop.

“They have plenty of fight,” Espada said, and fight is exactly what Batavia did in the fourth inning.

Down 5-1, the Muckdogs scrapped together and plated five runs in the inning and to take the lead.

Stone Garrett started the inning with a single and was quickly scored by a Brad Haynal double that landed just inside the right field foul line. Roy Morales then doubled just inside the third base line, scoring Haynal and making it 5-3.

Morales moved to third on an Eric Fisher groundout. After Blake Anderson was hit by a pitch, Moscat hit a line drive that kicked off the right-fielder’s legs and allowed both Morales and Anderson to score, tying the game at 5-5.

Batavia took their only lead of the night when Moscat scored via an Alfonzo sacrifice fly.

Cam Gibson, the Tigers' designated hitter, tied the game up in sixth inning with his third home run of the season. Connecticut would take the lead for good in the eighth after Muckdog reliever Steve Farnworth walked Gibson. He stole second and then scored on a throwing error by Munden at shortstop.

The Muckdogs loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth with only one out, but were again unable to find that one bounce they have been looking for and could not push across any runs.

“That’s the way things are going for us,” Espada said. “When things are not going your way, both those things are going to happen.”

Jake Shull came in for the save in the ninth and retired the Muckdogs in order.

“The most important thing is we gotta stay positive and take one day at a time,” Espada said.

Moscat finished the game 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Haynal was also 2-for-4 with a double.

Drew Smith improves to 2-0 for the Tigers while Shull picked up his third save.

The Muckdogs return to Dwyer Stadium tomorrow night at 7:05 in hopes of avoiding the sweep. 

After returning home from their six-game road trip, the Muckdogs (9-20) lost the opening game of the series and the team's fifth out of the last six games to the visiting Connecticut Tigers (13-16).

On a night where each team was only able to muster six hits apiece, walks and errors were again the downfall for the Muckdogs.

Jordan Holloway and Nestor Bautista combined to walk 10 batters.

“We have to realize we are not in the Major Leagues and there’s a reason why they are all here,” Manager Angel Espada said.

Holloway got the start on the mound and although he did walk six batters in his four innings of work, he pitched much better than his previous starts.

“The kid (Holloway) as you see has a big arm but at the end of the day he is a 19-year-old that needs to learn how to pitch,” Espada said.

The only two runs scored by the Tigers came in the fourth inning after Tanner Donnels reached on an error and Holloway then walked Pat Mackenzie to put two runners on with no outs.

Holloway would strike out Joey Havrilak, but run into trouble when Steven Fuentes tripled to center field, scoring both Donnels and Mackenzie.

Holloway’s night would be over after the fourth inning; he was replaced by Bautista.

Batavia's lone run came in the third inning when Anfernee Seymour singled and later scored on a Alexander Fernandez double.

“You just have to stay positive and trust the process,” Espada said. “You gotta keep working, there is no way around it.”

Matt Hall started on the hill for the Tigers and went a solid three innings before being relieved by Chase Edwards who only allowed two hits over his five innings of work.

The one bright spot for the Muckdogs, not only tonight, but the whole season is the play of Bautista. Coming into Tuesday’s game, he had a record of 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA in 22.2 innings pitched.

On Tuesday he pitched five innings of shutout baseball. He scattered four hits and four walks while striking out five.

Gerson Moreno came in the ninth for the Tigers and worked a perfect ninth inning, picking up his second save of the year.

“Do you want to win games? Yes, you have to trust the process…what is better for these kids,” Espada said. “In five, four years you’ll see some of these kids in the Big Leagues and than you realize how good a job you did.”

The Muckdogs continue their three-game series against the Connecticut Tigers on Wednesday. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.

You wouldn’t know it by their record, but the Batavia Muckdogs (7-16) have been playing much better baseball as of late.

Throughout the season, the Muckdogs have failed to show any sort of consistency. Weather it be poor fielding, pitching or the inability to score runs, the lack of consistency has been the Muckdogs' downfall.

Thursday afternoon, Batavia looked to turn the page and begin a streak of consistent, solid baseball.

Things looked rocky to start the game as Jordan Holloway started where he left off his last start by walking two of the first four batters he faced.

Holloway got out of the jam by getting Jose Pujols to ground into an inning-ending double play.

The 19-year-old again walked the first two batters he saw in the second inning. Unlike in his last start where he allowed those runners to score, Holloway was again able to get out of trouble by getting the next three batters to fly-out to center.

Holloway’s day was over after just the two innings of work. He didn’t allow a hit but walked four and threw 40 pitches.

Ryan Hafner came in relief of Holloway and allowed two runs on three hits. Both batters that scored were either walked or hit by a pitch.

The Muckdogs would cut the Crosscutter lead in half in the fifth inning when Alexander Fernandez belted a towering fly ball over the left-center fence for his first home run of the year.

Batavia tied the game in the seventh when Fernandez would reach on a fielder’s choice. He would steal second and then advance to third on a passed ball. Giovanny Alfonzo walked, which prompted a pitching change for the Crosscutters.

Anfernee Seymour then hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Fernandez and tying the game at 2-2.

Coming into the season much was expected from young catcher Blake Anderson. With a modest batting average of .259, nine RBIs and only one home run, Anderson came into Thursday’s game in a funk.

In the eighth inning all seemed to be forgotten.

Eric Fisher singled to set up Anderson. With two outs and a 0-2 count, Anderson took a healthy swing at the next pitch and drove the Juan Figueroa pitch over the left-field fence for a two-run home run.

“Just do what I needed to do to get the win and get us ahead,” Anderson said about his approach to the crucial eighth inning at-bat.

Steve Farnworth would come into the game in the eighth and pitch two innings of shutout ball, only allowing two hits while collecting the win on the mound.

“Yeah, we started off slow but who says we can’t come back and win 10 or 15 of the next 20,” Anderson said.

Although many might look at their record and think they are a horrible team, over the last couple weeks the Muckdogs have been competitive in almost every game.

The first two games of this series against Williamsport back that up. The Muckdogs are one bad inning away from having taken both games of the series so far.

“We get this thing turned around and play to win every day,” Anderson said.

Batavia travels to Williamsport for a doubleheader tomorrow and then will be in State College for a three-game series before returning to Dwyer Stadium on Tuesday July 21. 

When you play with fire, you will get burned and that is exactly what the Muckdogs (7-15) did Wednesday night against the league-leading Williamsport Crosscutters (17-6).

Brad Haynal got the Muckdogs on the board in the second when he doubled, moved to third on a bloop single by Eric Fisher and then scored on a Roy Morales RBI single.

The Crosscutters, an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, responded in the third with two runs of their own.

Austin Bossart, who came into the game hitting .310, punched a single off Batavia starter Justin Jacome. Grenny Cumana then doubled down the left-field line, setting up second and third for lead-off man Zach Coppola.

Coppola would double, scoring both Bossart and Cumana, making it 2-1.

Batavia added two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning when Anfernee Seymour singled and then moved to third on a beautifully called and executed hit-and-run with Travis Brewster.

Seymour would score on a Stone Garrett groundout and Brewster would later score on a Haynal double.

The lead was short lived for the Muckdogs when in the fourth, Josh Tobias connected on an infield single; Jesus Posso walked followed by a Bossart two-out single scoring Tobias, and tying the game at 3-3.

Jacome walked the next batter to load the bases, ending his night. Nestor Bautsita came in and got Coppola to groundout into a fielder’s choice to end the threat.

The sixth inning is where it all fell apart for the Muckdogs.

William Cuicas tripled to lead off the inning and then scored on a Cumana pop-up just past first base that should have been caught. Cumana was able to move to second on the throw from the outfield to home trying to get Cuicas. 

Coppola then executed a perfect bunt that had the pitcher, second baseman and first baseman for the Muckdogs all converging on it. The ball went under Alfonzo’s glove and Cumana was able to score making it 5-3.

“It’s part of this level and it hurts you,” Manager Angel Espada said. “You can’t hurt yourself defensively, not at anytime and not against the best team in the league right now.”

Although Batavia shot themselves in the foot in the sixth inning, they were still able to tie the game up in seventh, giving themselves a chance to win the game.

A Blake Anderson singled that just got over the outstretched hands of Crosscutter second baseman, Cuicas started off the inning.

Ryan Cranmer then doubled, putting runners in scoring position with no outs. Seymour then got hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Galvi Moscat, who replaced Brewster in sixth, hit a ground ball to third. The third baseman easily got Anderson out at home but in an attempt to double off Moscat at first, the catcher hit Moscat in the leg, allowing Cranmer to score.

Garrett then doubled home Seymour and the game was tied at 5-5.

“The way we have been playing is pretty well, we had that one bad inning there and it cost us the game,” Espada said. “You give a team like this opportunities and they are going to hurt you.”

The Crosscutters would get the deciding run in the top of the ninth inning by way of a solo home run by Jan Hernandez off of Batavia reliever Jordan Hillyer. Hernandez, who had previously struck out in all three of his previous at-bats, launched the 2-1 pitch over the left field fence.

“He threw a slider that caught too much of the plate and you have to give it to Hernandez who put up a good swing with two strikes,” Espada said.

The Muckdogs were set down in order in the bottom of the ninth.

Haynal finished the game 2-for-4 with two doubles and a RBI. Seymour went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Garrett also contributed with two RBIs.

“It’s a little bit hard when you have your best guys going out there and probably one of the best chances to win ball games and you don’t come out on top,” Espada said.

The Muckdogs will have a chance to regroup quickly as they have a unique starting time of 11:05 a.m. on Thursday.

“I think they are young enough that they will bounce back,” Espada said. “Even if you win or lose you have to forget about it, there is nothing you can do about past games.”

Batavia remains in last place with a record of 7-16 while the Crosscutters continue their league dominance with an overall 18-6 record.

The Muckdogs (6-12) came into Friday’s game riding a bit of a resurgence, with four wins in five games, and were looking to continue their hot stretch against the Auburn Doubledays (7-11).

Coming off his first win of the season, 19-year-old Jordan Holloway got the start for Batavia and struggled to find the strike zone all night.

The California native would walk four of the first six batters he faced and before he knew it, he was down 2-0.

“It’s a typical 19-year-old pitcher,” Manager Angel Espada said. “He’s trying to work his way through things and figure out the game of baseball.”

Just like in first inning, walks were Holloway’s downfall in the second.

Edwin Lora walked to lead off the inning. He would then steal second and after the throw sailed into centerfield, Lora would end up at third. An Andrew Stevenson groundout to shortstop scored Lora from third making it 3-0.

Holloway’s night would be over after the fourth inning. While he did strike out six and only allowed two hits, he walked six batters and hit another.

“He’s young and his trying to learn how to pitch and these are learning experiences for him,” Espada said.

Nick White came in relief of Holloway in the fifth and allowed seven hits, two walks and three runs over his three innings of work.

Ryan Hafner and Ayron Adames would pitch the final two innings of the game for the Muckdogs. Both pitchers would combine for five hits, three runs and two walks.

When the dust had settled, Batavia pitchers had combined to walk 10 Auburn batters and hit two.

“It’s just one bad game. We have been playing good baseball for the past nine or 10 games and this is just one game,” Espada said.

The only offense of the day for the Muckdogs came in the sixth inning when Giovanny Alfonzo singled with two outs and then moved to second on a passed ball.

Alfonzo then scored Batavia’s lone run on a high hit ball to center by Stone Garrett that was lost in the lights by the Doubledays' centerfielder.

Auburn was able to score three more runs in the top of the ninth in route to a 13-1 victory.

Batavia dropped to 6-13 while Auburn improved to 8-11.

“You just put it behind you and start from zero tomorrow,” Espada said. 

Photos by Howard Owens.

After a rough start to the season, the Muckdogs pitching staff is starting to find their groove as they pitched the Muckdogs to a 4-1 victory on Wednesday night.

The Muckdogs were home to face off against the Auburn Doubledays after taking 2-of-3 from the West Virginia Black Bears over the weekend.

Justin Jacome started for Batavia and threw three quality innings. He struck out four, walked one and only allowed one hit.

Nestor Bautista would come in relief of Jacome in the fourth. Bautista only allowed four hits over four and two-thirds innings pitched. He struck out three.

“Solid job, they pitched to contact and kept them of balance,” Manager Angel Espada said. “They used their stuff really well."

The Muckdogs would plate one run in each of the first three innings in route to their sixth win of the year. 

Giovanny Alfonzo sparked the offense when he singled in the first and was able to get to second base after an overthrow to first base. Hot hitting Brad Haynal would single, scoring Alfonzo from second, making it 1-0.

Batavia would score again in the second when Eric Fisher would triple to lead off the inning.

Left-fielder Brandon Rawe would then single, scoring Fisher from third.

Haynal was once again involved in the action in third inning.

Stone Garrett worked a two-out walk and then stole second. Haynal would then single to score Garrett, making it 3-0 Muckdogs. Batavia would threaten with runners on first and third but Doubleday pitcher, Taylor Hearn was able to get Fisher to fly out to second.

“It’s starting to come around better as a whole team,” Haynal said. “It’s not just one guy doing it, we got everyone through the lineup moving guys.”

The Muckdogs were able to plate another run in the eighth to make the game 4-0.

Garrett would reach base on an error by the third baseman and be moved to third on a perfectly executed hit-and-run with Dunbar.

Fisher then hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Garrett.

“Our pitching got better, like we knew it was going to get better, and we are getting some timely hitting,” Espada said. “You put those things together and you should be coming on top."

Auburn was able to break up the shutout in the ninth inning when David Kerian crushed a Steve Farnworth pitch for a one-out single. He would then move to second on a wild pick-off attempt.

Matthew Page then doubled to score Kerian. Farnworth dug deep and ended the threat by striking out Jakson Reetz and Randy Encarnacion to end the game.

Unlike in the beginning of the season, the Muckdogs can count on hitters one through nine instead of just the guys at the top of the lineup.

“It’s hard when only a couple guys are pulling weight,” Haynal said. “Now I think everyone through the lineup is able to do some damage…a lot of people around baseball know hitting is contagious.”

Haynal finished the game 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs. Fisher was also 2-for-3 with a triple, a RBI and a scored run.

Bautista improved his record to 2-1 while Farnworth picked up his third save.

The Muckdogs travel to Auburn today but will be back home on Friday to take on the Doubledays in the series finale.

There will be fireworks following the conclusion of the game.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.   

On Sunday, "Challenger Sports," a joint program of Genesee ARC and the YMCA for physically, intellectually and developmentally disabled kids ages 5 to 21, marked its 10th season with an alumni baseball game at the Little League field in Batavia. Alumni players faced off against alumni coaches and volunteers.

Pictured: alumni volunteers, coaches and players; half of them are in this photo...

...and here is the other half.

Shelley Falitico, director of development at ARC, recalled the program's humble beginnings in 2006.

"When we started, it was 'Challenger Baseball,' " Falitico said. "A local parent expressed interest, and contacted ARC and the YMCA. We started recruiting volunteers, we sent out notices for kids with special needs, and we had 70 kids sign up. When it ended, parents came up to us and asked, 'What's next?' "

Since then, the program has grown to include indoor soccer, tennis, dance and, over the last year, basketball and swimming.

Many of the Challenger alumni, according to Falitico, have gone on to play softball in the Special Olympics.

"They've been learning and playing for 10 years," Falitico said. "I take some pride as the coach, helping them learn the fundamentals of baseball on a real baseball field."

From left, alumni volunteers Eric Houseknecht, Craig Houseknecht, Danielle Hirtzel, Brian Falitico and Mark Houseknecht.

Falitico also expressed great pride in the volunteers who have devoted their time to the players over the last decade.

"When we first started," she said, "we had coaches, but I needed more volunteers to help the kids learn different fundamentals of the game."

For that, she turned to area high schools. After recruiting young volunteers, she provided disability awareness training -- and the rest, as they say, is history.

"They volunteered with us all through high school," Falitico said. "What I found really touching was that when they came home from college in the summer, they would call me and say, 'Are you still doing that baseball program? I want to help.' And when I contacted them about a 10-year alumni game they said, 'Absolutely.' "

Some of these volunteers came from as far as Pennsylvania and Boston to participate on Sunday. One gentleman, according to Falitico, was home for the weekend from South Carolina, stopped by to congratulate the team, and then flew back home.

However great the difference the volunteers have made in the kids' lives, the impact has gone both ways.

"(The volunteers) see kids with a variety of disabilities just wanting to get out there and play the game and have fun," Falitico said. "Their perseverance and dedication taught a lot of them to appreciate what they had, and I've had a couple volunteers say to me that it changed the way they viewed themselves and the world."

Pictured current "Challenger Sports" baseball players, coaches and volunteers; half are in this photo, along with Assemblyman Steve Hawley...

...and here is the other half.

The alumni game was preceded by a regular Challenger game with current players. This game ended with the standard Challenger outcome, which is always a tie.

"(Our goal) is just to make it a fun game where everybody gets a chance," Falitico said. "Everybody gets an at-bat, everybody gets to swing -- no matter how many times -- until they hit the ball. We want the kids to learn good sportsmanship."

However, this did not stop Falitico, who coached the alumni players, from squeezing in a small boast about their 30-7 victory over the alumni volunteers.

"We mercy-ruled them," she joked.

For more information about Challenger Sports, call Genesee ARC at 343-1123 or the YMCA at 344-1664.

Additional photos:

Assemblyman Hawley throwing the inaugural pitch of the alumni game

"Hammerin'" Hank Stratton, a 10-year veteran player, up to bat.

Past Batavian coverage:

The Muckdogs were able to win their first series of the year behind 19-year-old Jordan Holloway’s strong start.

The 6-foot-4-inch righty kept the Mahoning Valley Scrappers off balance all night in route to a 7-4 Muckdog victory.

Most of the young players on the Muckdogs are not used to the grind of playing every day. With the unexpected day off on Wednesday because of rain, the Muckdogs look to have gotten some much needed time away because they are playing much better baseball as of late.

“When you aren’t playing as well as we were playing, time off of the field always helps,” Manager Angel Espada said. “Hopefully it helped us, but for some reason they are playing much better."

In the first inning, Holloway was able to work around a one-out walk to Scrappers left-fielder Ka’ai Tom by striking out DH Emmanuel Tapia and getting Nathan Winfrey to fly-out to left.

Holloway was able to work a perfect second inning while only throwing five pitches. The only trouble of the game for Holloway came in the third inning.

Connor Marabell led off the inning with a single and was moved to second by a Silento Sayles groundout to second.

Willi Castro doubled to right, scoring Marabell. Tom doubled, setting up runners at second and third with one out.

Holloway struck out Winfrey, but he was able to advance to first when catcher Blake Anderson couldn’t corral the loose ball in the dirt. Castro scored from third.

Holloway got out of the inning by getting Li-Jen Chu to fly-out to leftfield.

“We are talking about a 19-year-old kid who is learning how to pitch," Espada said. "It’s only his second year in pro ball and he is handling it pretty well. It’s just one day at a time, one start at a time with a young guy like him.”

Just like most of the season so far, the top of the Muckdogs lineup has carried them.

Anfernee Seymour and Stone Garrett combined to go 7-for-8 with four runs scored and three RBIs to lead the way for Batavia.

The scoring for the Muckdogs started in the first inning when Seymour knocked a single. Garrett beat out an infield single to short to set up first and second with one out.

A Korey Dunbar groundout to shortstop moved both runners up 90 feet. Seymour scampered home after a ball got by Chu, making it 1-0.

Batavia plated three more runs in the second all with two outs.

Ninth place hitter Joe Chavez and Seymour worked two-out walks. Giovanny Alfonzo doubled, scoring both Chavez and Seymour.

Garrett laced a ball in the gap for a triple, scoring Alfonzo making the game 4-0.

The Scrappers changed pitchers, bringing in 6-foot-6-inch James Stokes, who struck out Dunbar to end the threat.

Seymour would again be involved in Batavia’s scoring efforts in the fourth.

The speedy shortstop singled and stole second, even though the Scrappers called for a pitchout. He stole third and dashed home after the throw got away from the Scrappers' third baseman.

Seymour alone made the game 5-2. But the Muckdogs were not done.

In the sixth inning, Galvi Moscat singled up the middle, followed by Seymour and Alfonzo both getting hit by a pitch.

The hot hitting Garrett stepped into the plate and squeezed a ball down the first base line scoring two.

“They have been swinging well the whole season,” Espada said about Seymour and Garrett.

LJ Brewster and Steve Farnworth finished the game up for Holloway without allowing a run and only allowing three hits over three innings of combined work.

Garrett finished the day going 4-for-5 with three RBIs and two doubles. Seymour was 3-for-3 with four runs scored.

Holloway pitched six innings while striking out five and walking two in his first win of the season.

The Muckdogs improve to 3-11 on the season and look to continue their moment going into this weekend's games in West Virginia.

Batavia returns to Dwyer Stadium on Wednesday, July 8, against the Auburn Doubledays. 

Photos by Steve Ognibene.

After being rained out on Wednesday night, the Batavia Muckdogs and the Mahoning Valley Scrappers met in two, seven-inning games on Thursday.

Cody Poteet, a fourth-round pick out of UCLA, started for the Muckdogs in game one.

Poteet opened strong by retiring the side in the first inning on just nine pitches. While Poteet looked confident, his defense let him down in the second.

Nathan Winfrey led off the inning with a single and would quickly move to second on a failed pickoff attempt to first.

Winfrey scooted to third on a ground out to second by Scrappers' third baseman Austin Fisher.

With two outs, Winfrey scored after the Muckdogs' third baseman threw a David Armendariz ground ball into the dirt trying to throw him out at first.

Poteet regrouped and fanned the next batter to end the inning.

The Muckdogs were able to score three runs in the fourth after some great situational baseball.

Eric Fisher started off the inning by smashing the first pitch he saw right back up the middle. Ryan Cranmer drew a walk, setting up first and second with no outs.

Brandon Rawe executed a perfect sacrifice bunt, moving Fisher to third and Cranmer to second.

Ninth-place hitter and left field Cameron Newell connected on a fly ball deep enough to center to score Fisher from third making it 1-1.

Leadoff hitter Anfernee Seymour ripped a ball just inside first base to score Cranmer.

The lighting-quick shortstop scored from second when Giovanny Alfonzo singled, making it 3-1.

Nestor Bautista replaced Poteet in the fourth and scattered three hits through the final four innings of the game.

Batavia added another run in the fifth when Brad Haynal doubled and then moved to third on a passed ball. He then scored on another passed ball by the Scrappers.

With solid pitching and timely hitting, the Muckdogs avoided the worst start in club history since 1953 by winning the first game of the doubleheader with a final score of 4-1.

The teams headed to the clubhouse to get ready for the next game and all the Muckdogs offense must have stayed in the locker room.

Three Scrappers pitchers were able to hold the Muckdogs to only two hits the whole game.

Jose Zapata got the start for the Scrappers in the second game and allowed only one hit while striking out three over his three innings of work.

Dominic DeMasi took over in relief in the fourth and allowed a mere one hit over three innings of work.

Billy Strode notched the save in the seventh for the Scrappers, working around a two-out error to keep the shutout intact.

Mahoning Valley scored all they needed in the sixth inning.

Silento Saylas started the inning with an infield single and then stole second. He advanced to third on a Willi Castro sacrifice bunt.

Saylas scored on a Fisher double just three pitches later. Winfrey drew a walk and Li-Jen Chu singled home Fisher making it 2-0.

The Scrappers added another insurance run in the seventh making it 3-0.

The Muckdogs got a runner on base in the bottom of the seventh but were unable to string any hits together.

The loss dropped the Muckdogs to 2-11 while the Scrappers improve to 5-8.   

Batavia currently sits in last place in the Pinckney Division and 10 games back of the first-place Williamsport Crosscutters.

The Muckdogs will finish up their short three-game home stand on Friday. The game is the annual Independence Day celebration and like all Friday night games, it will have fireworks following the conclusion of the game.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

The Muckdogs’ game tonight against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers was postponed due to rain.

The teams will play two, seven-inning games tomorrow, Thursday July 2. First pitch for game one will be at 5:05 p.m. with the second game to directly follow the conclusion of game one.

All tickets for tonight’s game (7/1) can be redeemed for any future home game.