baseball

Press release:

The Batavia Muckdogs have announced their manager and coaching staff for the 2014 season. For the second season in a row, this year’s squad will be lead by manager Angel Espada, pitching coach Brendan Sagara and hitting coach Rigoberto Silverio.

The 2014 campaign marks Angel Espada’s third year as the manager for the Marlins’ short-season Single-A affiliate, second as manager of the Batavia Muckdogs. Espada led the Muckdogs to a 39-36 record in 2013, finishing in third place in the Pinckney Division. Espada spent the 2012 season as the manager of the Jamestown Jammers and the year prior as the hitting coach for the Jammers. Prior to his time with Jamestown, he spent two years working as the hitting coach for the Gulf Coast League Marlins.

Espada was a 42nd-round pick of the Atlanta Braves in the 1994 First-Year Player Draft. In addition to the Braves, he also played in the Mets’ and Yankees’ systems. His playing career spanned 14 years and he finished with a .305 career batting average over 940 games played.

Brendan Sagara begins his third season as pitching coach for the Marlins’ short-season Single-A affiliate. Sagara has served as a pitching coach for 12 seasons with various teams. He broke into the coaching profession with the Dubois County Dragons of the Frontier League in 2001 as the Club’s pitching coach. He has also worked for the Braves as a part-time scout (2010-11) and the Mets as an associate scout (2006-09). In 2007, he was named Coach of the Year in Windy City of the Frontier League, while boasting the league’s top pitching staff.

Rigoberto Silverio returns for his second campaign as Batavia’s hitting coach and his sixth year in the Marlins organization. Prior to 2013, he spent two seasons as a coach for Jupiter. He spent his first three seasons with organization as a coach for the Jamestown Jammers. In his five seasons in the Marlins farm system, the former infielder was a career .243 hitter in 225 games.

Michael Bibbo will serve as the trainer for the 2014 season, his second year with the both the Muckdogs’ and Marlins’ organizations. Bibbo previously was the interim Head Athletic Trainer at Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia. Prior to that, he spent four years (August 2007-September ‘10, September 2011-June ‘12) as the Assistant Athletic Trainer at Malvern Preparatory School. He spent seven months (February-August 2011) as the Rehabilitation Intern with the Philadelphia Phillies. Bibbo received his Master of Science in Rehabilitation Science from California University of Pennsylvania in 2012 and his bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., in 2007.

The Muckdogs home opener is set for Saturday, June 14th vs. Auburn at 7:05. Season tickets, coupon books and ticket packages are all on sale now. They can be purchased at Dwyer Stadium or by calling (585) 343-5454.

Press release:

The Genesee County Baseball Club will hold its annual Batavia Muckdogs Hot Stove Dinner and Auction on Saturday, March 22nd, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Clarion Hotel at 8250 Park Road in Batavia. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under.

The evening will begin with a cocktail hour followed immediately by dinner. The Hot Stove Dinner is a time for good food, friendship and baseball talk. The night also features silent and live auctions of baseball-related memorabilia (including signed bats and balls), work by local artists, and gift certificates from a variety of local businesses. This year’s dinner will also benefit the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit.

Tickets may be purchased in Batavia at Dwyer Stadium, Gerace’s Hair Care, the Williams Law Firm, and the office of Dr. Alan Barcomb.

The World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals will have a very familiar feel for Batavia Muckdogs fans when it gets under way tonight in Boston.

Nine Cardinals players, including three starters, and one member of the Red Sox passed through Batavia at some point in their young careers.

Matt Carpenter, who played nine games in Batavia in 2009 and hit .469 in 32 at bats, will see the first pitch of the 2013 series as the Cardinals' lead-off hitter.

Somewhere in the middle of the line up, perhaps hitting clean up, will be Matt Adams, who really put himself on the map in the Cardinals organization in Batavia.

Adams was the 699th player taken over all in the 2009 draft and wasn't on anybody's list of elite prospects coming out of Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. He distinguished himself as a Muckdog, hitting .346 while drawing 11 walks and slugging four monster home runs in 31 games.

Lance Lynn, on the other hand, was signed with nearly a $1 million bonus in 2008 before starting his pro career in Batavia, where he quickly demonstrated to fans why he was so highly regarded by the Cardinal scouts. In six games with the Muckdogs, he posted a 0.96 ERA, striking out 22 in 18 2/3 innings before being promoted to Quad Cities.

Also on the Cardinals' roster for the series are Daniel Descalso (2007), Pete Kozma (2007), Tony Cruz (2007), Joe Kelly (2009), Kevin Siegrist (2009, 2010) and Seth Maness (2011).

Quintin Berry (2006), plays for the Red Sox.

Interestingly, only one of the series-bound former Muckdogs (Lancy Lynn) spent any time on the 2008 team, which won the NYPL championship.

The Muckdogs have long promoted that one reason to come to games is to see the major league stars of tomorrow. With 10 former Muckdogs carrying two teams to the World Series, that pretty much proves the point.

The Batavia Muckdogs, Class A affiliate of the Miami Marlins, have announced their schedule for the 2014 season. Batavia will open the 2014 season Friday, June 13, when the Auburn Doubledays host the Muckdogs at Falcon Park. Batavia opens its home schedule Saturday, June 14 when they entertain Auburn at 7:05 p.m.

The Muckdogs will host their annual Independence Day celebration on July 3 this year, as they are not home on July 4th. In addition to their Pinckney Division rivals, the Muckdogs will welcome the New York Yankees (Staten Island), Boston Red Sox (Lowell), New York Mets (Brooklyn) and the Detroit Tigers (Connecticut) farm teams to Dwyer Stadium in 2014.

Here is a month-by-month and day-by-day breakdown of Batavia’s 2014 home schedule:

Month    Home Games      Day      Home Games

June       8                         Sunday           7

July        16                       Monday           7

August    14                      Tuesday          4

                                          Wednesday    4

                                         Thursday        4

                                          Friday             6

                                         Saturday         6
    
Ticket packages, coupon books and season tickets for the 2014 season will go on sale beginning Nov. 1. They can be purchased by calling 343-5454 or in person at Dwyer Stadium, Monday thru Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For a complete schedule, visit www.muckdogs.com

Press release:

The 2013 New York-Penn League All-Star roster will include three players from Batavia. They will send infielders Avery Romero and Felix Munoz and pitcher Ryan Newell to the game to be held Tuesday, Aug. 13 at Dodd Stadium, home of the Connecticut Tigers.

Avery Romero

Romero, a 3rd round pick in the 2012 draft, has played in 44 games for the Muckdogs this year and has been among the league leaders in hitting all season. Romero currently ranks third in the league in hitting, with a .340 batting average, third in hits with 54 and fourth in on-base percentage at .408.

Felix Munoz was an undrafted free agent signing in 2008 and has started 43 games at first base for the Muckdogs this season. He is currently batting .295 with 26 runs scored, 13 doubles, four home runs and 28 RBIs. Munoz has also showed great plate discipline this year, as his 23 walks rank third in the league.  

A 7th round pick out of Shorter University in the 2012 draft, Newell is 4-2 in nine games started for the Muckdogs. The right-hander’s ERA of 2.09 ranks him 6th in the league and his 48 strikeouts ranks 4th in the league. Opposing batters are hitting just .229 against Newell so far this season.

Batavia currently holds the 4th-place spot in the Pinckney Division with a record of 23-22 but sit only 3.5 games out of the Wild Card. The Muckdogs sent five players to the 2008 All-Star game, three in 2009, five in 2010, six in 2011, and five in 2012.

The Rangers, of the American League, beat the National League champs, the Mets, yesterday in the Batavia Minor League championship game.

More information about the game once it's e-mailed to us.

To purchase prints, click here.

Press release:

Join us at Dwyer Stadium Aug. 6th, 7th and 8th for our youth baseball camp!

Kids ages 6-14 will receive two days of on-field instruction from the Muckdogs players and coaches on Aug. 6th & 7th from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Children will learn from the pros in the areas of hitting, fielding, pitching, catching, base running and bunting.

Then on Aug. 8th, campers will be able to come back to Dwyer for a private autograph signing with the team 30 minutes before the gates open (5:30 p.m.) and then be recognized on the field prior to the Muckdogs game vs. the Hudson Valley Renegades (Tampa Rays affiliate).

Campers will also receive a special T-shirt not available in the team store, a camp photo, two tickets to the Aug. 8th game, as well as daily lunch, all for only $70. Registration forms are available at Dwyer Stadium and online at muckdogs.com. Space is limited and early registration is encouraged.

Photo and story submitted by Roy Watson.

It was a year ago almost to the day that the same team met on the same mound for the championship game. Last year had a different ending. The Batavia Yankees came up short, losing in the 8th inning by one run.

Monday, was sweet revenge for Coach Roy Watson Jr. and Cornelius Cook. Yankees were up 4-0 in the top of the first inning. Oakfield came back and began to pound the ball. 

Trevor Sherwood was the starting pitcher, but soon after that coach had to pull him and enter Peter Maddafri. It was 8-4 in the bottom of the 2nd inning. 

The Yankees were fielding with a man on second and a walk to first. With a wild pitch, the runner was heading home. Catcher Evan Bender threw out the runner. That made it one out. Next play, Oakfield’s player is caught in a hot box between 2nd and 3rd base and the Yanks' got him out; third out came with the next batter striking out. This is what the Yankees' needed. There was no stopping their momentum. 

Coach Watson entered pitcher Tyler Prospero during the sixth inning. He had five strikeouts, with no man left on base. Tyler shut out Oakfield completely with his lethal curve ball and his 75-mph fast ball.

Tyler Prospero went 2-2 with game changing double and two walks, Dwayne Fonda 1-3, Peter Maddafri went 2-4, with two RBIs, Jarret Lasik 3-4, with two RBIs, Trevor Sherwood 3-4 with game-tying double and two RBIs, Peter Diversa went 1-3, with two RBIs and with a single to put the Yankees ahead in the 8th inning. Evan Bender went 1-4, Sam Marble went 2-4, Peter Kozol 1-3, Phil Kozil 1 RBI, Tony Diversa 0-1, with a walk.

The final score was Yankees 9, Oakfield Alabama 8. It was sweet revenge for the team that came up short a year ago.

Photo and information submitted by Durin Rogers. (Credit, Rogers said, goes to Christine Cecere-Wormley)

The American League All Stars of the Batavia Major League Baseball League beat the nationals in the league's annual season-ending all-star game, 12-8.

Pictured are, front row, Quinton Betances, Bryn Wormley, Vincent Grazioplene, Luke Rogers, Matt Neal, and back row, Manager Dan Utter, Kyle Kendall, Logan vonKramer, Jason Dykstra, Jesse Reinhart, Alex Totten, Dominik Taylor, Brandon Bartz, Coach Dan Utter Sr.

After the jump a submitted game story (click on the headline to read more):

Five (5) doubles in the fifth inning led to American Division Victory over the National League 12 to 8 in the 2013 Majors Division All-star Game.

The Batavia Major League Baseball League has hosted its season-ending All-star Game for almost 40 years. Each year 12 players from various teams are selected to represent  the American and National Division and battle it out for seven innings under the lights at the Paul E. Sputore Field in Batavia, New York. The 2013 All-Star Game was no exception with incredible offensive and defensive plays on both sides. In the end, the American League pulled off the victory 12 to 8 highlighted by strong bats and a string of doubles in the 5th inning.

On the coin toss, the American League, managed by Yankees Manager Dan Utter, pulled home field advantage with the National Division, managed by Phillies Manager Mike Anderson, batting first. American Leaguer Dominik Taylor (Yankees) got the start on the mound, striking out the first batter. Two consecutive walks would lead to eventual scores by Joey Gefell (Astros) and Vincent Dirisio (Phillies) for the  National League. Following an unassisted out by first baseman Brandon Bartz (Red Sox), catcher Jason Dykstra (Red Sox) threw the runner out at third base to end the inning.

Max Rapone (Braves) got the start on the mound for the National League and returned the favor by throwing out the first batter at first base, striking out the fourth batter, and a throw out at third-base by National catcher Gavin Schrader resulted in no score.

Taylor returned to the mound in the second inning, striking out three of the five batters he faced, but not before Cody Henry (Braves) scored for the National League making the score 3 to 0 at top of the second inning. Rapone likewise returned to the mound, striking out one before being relieved by Owen Mileham (Phillies) who threw out the runner at first and struck out a batter; but not before the American Division tied the game on scores by Bartz, Quinton Betances (Athletics) and Kyle Kendall (Rangers).

Luke Rogers (Red Sox) got the call to pitch in the top of the third inning for the American League. Following a walk, Rogers struck out the next batter for the first out of the inning. With two strikes and a runner on second, Rapone hit a deep fly ball to centerfield that was caught by then CF Logan vonKramer (Athletics). The catch started what would prove to be an amazing double-play when vonKramer relayed the ball to pitcher Rogers, who in turn made the throw to the plate where veteran catcher Bryn Wormley blocked the plate and made the tag for the third out. Gefell took the mound next for the National League in the bottom of the third, striking out two, but not before Vincent Grazioplene (Rangers) and Rogers scored for the American Division to take the lead 5 to 3.

Rogers returned to the mound in the top of the fourth for the American League, getting the first two outs and striking out the last, but not before the National Division took the lead 7 to 5 on two well-placed hits by Ryan Lang (Mets) and Dylan Warner (Astros), resulting in runs by both players, as well as Gavin Schrader (Mets) and Henry. Gefell continued strong pitching for the National League limiting the American Division to one run by Kendall on a solid hit by vonKramer to cut the lead by the National Division to 2.

Brandon Bartz (Red Sox) continued the American League pitching power in the top of the fifth inning, striking out three of the five batters he faced, allowing for the American League to show its true power at the plate and what would be a turning point in the game as the American League struck for five doubles in the fifth inning resulting in six runs. With one out, Rogers of the American League drove a Henry pitch deep down the right field line for a double. With two runners on, Bartz hit a towering shot to centerfield, bouncing off the fence and scoring two.  Dirisio relieved Henry to get the second out of the inning. Yet the American Division continued to pour it on with a Dykstra double up the middle to score Bartz, as did Kendall to left field and Jesse Reinhart (Rangers) to left center, all of which resulted in the batters scoring and the American League taking the lead 12 to 7.

Kendall then took control of the mound in the top of the 6th inning for the American League. The National League's first two batters, Dirisio and Schrader, each struck for singles resulting in Dirisio scoring. Kendall struck out the final three batters, stranding a National League runner on third base with the score 12 American, 8 National.

The American Division added to its cause with another hit by then lead-off batter Wormley, however a good play in the field and strong pitching from National League pitcher Schrader downed the remaining American League batters.

With the game on the line, Kendall returned to the mound, hitting the first National League batter and speedster, Mckenzie Riegle (Braves), putting a runner on base. Following a great play resulting in the inning's first out and advancement of the runner to scoring position, Kendall struck out the remaining two batters, ending the game to a crowd roar and American League win.

The National Division Team players were: Max Rapone, Cody Henry, Mckenzie Riegle, Dylan Warner, Joey Gefell, Sawyer Siverling, Gavin Schrader, Max Tenney, Jordan Welker, Owen Mileham, Vincent Dirisio and Ryan Lang.

Hiram Kasten, who appeared in numerous television shows, such as "Seinfeld" and "Everybody Loves Raymond," during his acting career in Hollywood, throws out the first pitch prior to today's Batavia Muckdog's game, which started at 11:05 a.m. Kasten's wife, Diana, is a Batavia native and the Kastens now live in Batavia while Hiram pursues roles on Broadway.

Carlos Lopez, who caught the first pitch, and Hiram Kasten.

The rain didn't come soon enough for Batavia pitchers Max Garner and Brian Ellington who surrendered all seven runs over four innings the Jamestown Jammers would need to secure a victory Tuesday night.

The legendary Jim Perry, 1970 Cy Young Award winner, threw out the first pitch following an autograph session with fans, but it was Jamestown's Chad Kuhl who turned in the masterful pitching performance. Kuhl went five innings and didn't give up a run and only three hits.

Yefri Perez, Justin Bohn, Avery Romero, Austin Dean and Coco Johnson each had a hit for Batavia.

Garner took the loss, giving up six hits and four runs (three earned) in two and a third innings. He walked one. Ellington lasted three and two thirds and gave up two hits and three runs, all earned. He walked two and struck out four.

Garner had been pretty dominating in four of his previous five starts. His ERA jumped by a full run, rising to 1.93. He's yet to secure a win and took the loss Tuesday night.

The game was called because of rain after seven innings, giving Jamestown a 7-0 victory.

Game time for Wednesday's game is 11 a.m. Hiram Kasten, formerly of Hollywood, with roles in hit TV shows such as "Seinfeld" and "Everybody Loves Raymond," and now of Batavia, will throw out the first pitch.

Taco.

After graduating from Pembroke High School in 2012, Caleb Lang signed on with Cairn University, located in Langhorne, Pa., joining the baseball team in his freshman year. Caleb plays third baseman and in the past made the Section V all star team.

In high school, Lang played first and short helping the Pembroke Dragons put together a record season in 2012.

Playing for the Cairn Highlanders in both the NCCAA II and NCAA III leagues, Caleb earned of Rookie of the Year honors and runner-up for player of the year playing in the CSAC. He was also named Cairn Highlander Player of the Year by his university and was Player of the Year in the NCCAA II East Division.

Playing in the NCCAA II division, Lang was one of 15 people to make the all-American team.

During the 2013 season, Lang had a batting average of .452 making him first in the CSAC and 7th in the NCAA III division. Caleb was also 12th in the NCCAA II division for slugging percentage with a .719 slugging percentage.

In his freshman year, Lang made the CSAC all-academic team and the dean's list at Cairn. He also made the university's dean's list both semesters of his senior year. 

Lang is going after a double major, business and Bible.

Lang chose Cairn university because "it just kinda seemed right" and that "it had the background I was looking for...

"I figure if you work as hard as you can and get as good as you can, you never know what can happen. So I figure I'll just play baseball, see where it takes me. But, definitely get my degree... No matter what happens, you'll always have your degree."

Photo and infomration submitted by Jim Fazio:

The Batavia 16-year-old Sr. League baseball team defeated Dansville in a double-header by scores of 10-5 and 10-0 to capture the District 3 championship and will face the District 2 champion this Saturday in Cuba , NY, at 3 p.m. The winner of this round will advance to Long Island the following weekend.

Team members include front row: James Fazio, Luke McComb, Tommy Demmer, Tyler Hale, Cameron Slaven, and Manager Jim Fazio.

Second row: Coach Dan McComb, Zeke Lynn, Joe Saraceni, Frank Bellucci, and Ryan Mullen. Back row Coach Dave Demmer, Zach Gayton, and Jacob Hale. Missing from photo is Nate Cornell.

Avery Romero added two more notches to his league-leading RBI total Monday night, but it wasn't enough to overcome some erratic pitching as the Muckdogs dropped to 13-14 with a 8-4 loss to the Tri-City Wildcats.

Romero is the best hitting player in the league so far, with a .361 average, 35 hits, 18 RBI, 10 doubles and 51 total bases (all league-leading stats), but the Wildcats are so far the best team in the NYPL with a record of 20-9.

Drafted in the third round of last year's amatuer draft, Romero is considered one of the Marlin's top 15 prospects.

After falling behind 3-0 in the second inning on back-to-back home runs by on Jon Kemmer and Thomas Lindauer, the eight and nine hitters in the line up, Batavia battled back in the fourth on consecutive doubles by Austin Dean, Felix Munoz and Romero followed by a single driving in Romero by Coco Johnson.

The rally was snuffed when Johnson tried to stretch his single into a double (top photo) and was called out on a close play at second by umpire Joe George. George's raised thumb brought manager Angel Espada charging over from the third base coaching, yelling a string of expletives. The call didn't change, but Espada was out of the game.

The Muckdogs took a 4-3 lead in the fifth, but Casey McCarthy (2-2) couldn't hold the lead and was charged with a blown save and took the loss, giving up three runs in the 7th to move his ERA to 6.00.

The starter for Batavia was Jarlin Garcia, who gave up three runs in five innings of work.

The attendance was 1,100. Next home game is at 7:05 p.m. June 23 against the Jamestown Jammers.

It was Mormon Night and former Cy Young winner Vern Law threw out the first pitch, a Mormon choir sang the National Anthemn, a Native American dancer was featured and white-shirted missionaries tossed prizes to the crowd.

Barry Sheldon, who was drafted by New York Mets in the seventh round after his senior year at Batavia High School in 1967, was inducted into the Section V Hall of Fame on Sunday during a ceremony at Frontier Field in Rochester.

Sheldon was a standout shortstop and pitcher for Batavia during all four seasons at the school.

Rather than sign with the Mets, Sheldon went to Genesee Community College for a year. That year, he was a fifth-round pick by the Minnesota Twins in the January draft and by the Detroit Tigers in the fifth round of the June draft.

Sheldon transferred to New Mexico Highlands University where he was 15-0 with a 2.30 ERA over two seasons.

In 1972, he signed with the Baltimore Orioles and played one season of minor league baseball, going 2-1 with a 3.68 in 16 appearances with the rookie league team in Bluefield, W. Va.

Lightning, thunder, fireworks, and that was all before the final out at Dwyer Stadium on Wednesday night as the Batavia Muckdogs rolled over the Auburn Doubledays 12-2 to end the Fourth of July show.

It was a tight ball game until bottom of the 5th when the 'Dogs exploded for seven runs, putting together a string of singles and walks and capitalizing on a throwing error by Doubledays third baseman Cody Gunter.

Batavia entered the bottom of the 5th down 2-1, with the Muckdogs' sole run to that point coming on a long ball off the bat of first baseman Felix Munoz. The ball was just long enough and just fair enough down the right field line to put Batavia on the scoreboard.

After Batavia's scoring deluge in the 5th, the rains came in the 6th, forcing a 38-minute delay after the top of the 6th.

Many of the 1,800 fans in attendance on 4th of July fireworks night (which was actually on July 3) left the park during the downpour.

The work stoppage didn't slow the Muckdogs, however, as they added four runs in the bottom of the 6th, with three runs plated on a bases-clearing triple by Carlos Lopez.

The winning pitcher was Fairfax, Va., native Ryan Newell, who tossed six innings, giving up seven hits, two runs (one earned), striking out two and walking only one. Through three starts, Newell is 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA.

Dane Stone (top photo), a second-year pro from Miami, dominated during two innings of relief work, holding Auburn scoreless on one hit while striking out four batters, including three of the four he faced in the eight. It was Stone's first appearance of the season.

Closing out the game in a non-save situation was Texan James Wooster who walked one but struck out two.

Munoz, a six-year pro from the Dominican Republic, had two hits, two walks, drove in three runs and scored three times. The home run was his first four-bagger of the season. He's hitting .313 on the season.

Lead-off hitter and starting shortstop Justin Bohn also had two hits. The Phoenix, Ore., native also had a walk, a run scored and a stolen base.

Left field Autstin Dean, from Spring, Texas, scored two runs on a walk and a single.

Avery Romero, from St. Augustine, Fla., and playing third base, reached on an error and a walk and scored twice.

The Muckdogs are now 7-7 on the season, a game and a half behind first place Jamestown in the standings.

Hitting leader so far is Romero with .353 average, giving him the fifth highest average in the NYPL at this point in the season. Munoz leads the team with 10 RBI.

Yefri Perez has seven stolen bases.

Batavia isn't home again until Monday, when the Muckdogs will complete a game-shortened game against Jamestown starting at 5:05 p.m. and then play a seven-inning match against the Jammers at 7:05 p.m.

Austin Dean

Justin Bohn lays down a perfect bunt for a base hit in the bottom of the fifth.

Part of the post-game fireworks show.

A new chapter in Batavia Muckdogs history opened Tuesday when farm hands in the Miami Marlins system took the field at Dwyer Stadium for the home opener of the 2013 season.

The 1,900 fans in attendence can surely hope Tuesday's game is a sign of good things to come. The Muckdogs beat Auburn 10-2.

One of the Marlin's top prospects, 2B Avery Romero, collected his first two professional hits scoring two runs.

Fans were also treated to one of the most exciting plays in baseball -- a triple -- three times. The three baggers were smacked by SS Javier Lopez (1-3 and 3 RBI), LF Austin Dean (1-5) and RF Connor Burke (2-4).

Third baseman Blake Barber had three hits, including a home run.

Starter Helpi Reyes went three innings and gave up one hit and no runs. Beau Wright (W, 1-0) went three innings and gave up two runs, picking up the W. Robert Ravago (S, 1) pitched three innings to qualify for the save.

Batavia is home again Thursday at 7:05 p.m., which is Irish Night. Friday's 7:05 p.m. game will be followed by fireworks.

Without walking seven batters, maybe Notre Dame beats Lyndonville 3-0, Head Coach Mike Rapone said after the Fighting Irish lost to the Tigers 7-3 in a Section V Class D semifinal game at Dwyer Stadium.

Starter Tyler Stroud, normally in command of his pitches, struggled to get the ball over the plate and squandered an early lead. With only a couple of hits, the Irish saw their 3-0 lead slip to 3-2 and then disappear to a 4-3 deficit.

Two of those runs scored on a wild pitch and a passed ball after walks helped Lyndonville base runners advance to third.

"Walks, passed ball, ground out, and little by little we let them back into the game and we never got the momentum back," Rapone said.

Rapone praised the effort of Lyndonville but repeated, it was the walks that did in his team.

"Their pitcher threw a nice game," Rapone said. "He kept us off balance. We didn't hit the ball that well. I think if we didn't walk seven guys, the three runs might have been enough."

The Batavia Blue Devils beat Livonia today to advance to the Section V Class BB championship game in Geneva at 6 p.m., Friday against Pal-Mac. In the Class C final, Pavilion was eliminated by Bolivar-Richburg.

Top photo: Tommy Prospero scores in the first on a steal of home. The Tigers' catcher dropped the ball.

To purchase prints of photos from this game, click here.

]