Youth
Triathlon
The
2005 Southwest Youth Triathlon will be held Sunday, September 25
at 2:00pm at the Southwest Allen County Schools Natatorium and grounds.
This beginning level triathlon is for ages 7 and older and race
distances are determined by the age of the participant. Each participant
will receive a race t-shirt, Livestrong wristband, triathlon medal,
race goodie bag, and food and drinks after the race! It promises
to be challenging and rewarding! Proceeds from the race benefit
Ft. Wayne's Community Harvest Food Bank and the Kids Cafe. The cost
is $12 for individuals and $8 for each additional family member.
Checks should be made payable to Three Rivers Velo Sport (3RVS).
Call 431-2585 for additional race information. Come on out and give
it a "tri!"
Girls Fast Pitch Softball Tryouts
The
Aboite Crush (2005 WSQ) 12U Girls fast pitch travel team will be
conducting open tryouts for the 2005 - 2006 season. We are seeking
highly competitive and dedicated girls to compliment our returning
roster. Previous travel experience is a plus, however girls looking
to continue their growth in fast pitch softball are encouraged to
attend. We will aim to participate in 1 or 2 fall tournaments and
will hold indoor practices during the winter months in preparation
for the spring/summer season. Tryouts will be held at the Aboite
Crush practice field on Saturday, August 20 from 10 am - noon and
on Sunday, August 21 from 4 pm - 6 pm.
If you are a player looking to elevate your game to
a higher level of competitive play and are committed to the total
team concept, join us at our open tryouts. Questions, comments or
if you are unable to attend either of the open tryouts and wish
to schedule a private workout, please contact Brian Kurek at (260)
459-2714 or via email at bakurek@aol.com.
The Tryout/Practice Field location is 4110 Clubview
Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46804. (Behind Kapp's Lawn Care on Engle Road)
Fort Wayne Among Top Minor League Sports Cities
According to the July 25 issue of "Street
& Smith's SportsBusiness Journal" Fort Wayne is America's
seventh-best minor league sports city. The journal tracked 546 teams
in 47 leagues in 230 markets. Scores were based on the attendance
numbers of the past five years, facility capacity, franchise tenure,
per capita income, and unemployment. Points were also given to those
markets that had recently built or renovated a facility.
In the 5 scoring categories Fort Wayne ranked 24th in
attendance as a percentage of population, 5th in franchise tenure,
19th in attendance per capita income, 18th in unemployment and 39th
in capacity.
Also in this issue was a market watch of areas that
are moving up, those to watch and those on the slide. Fort Wayne
was listed along with only 4 other markets that are "moving
up". Key reasons for this were strong fan base: although unemployment
has increased since 2000 attendance has still jumped by one-third;
the addition of the Freedom and their large attendance numbers;
and the renovated Arena. Markets "to watch" and on "the
slide" were Dayton, OH and Greenville, S.C. Although Dayton
is #8 this year attendance is down 3% and in Greenville, #1 five
years ago, three teams have left and their "attendance is half
of the 550,000 it was five years ago."
"The success of the Wizards - 2003 and 2004 Midwest League
Team of the Year, the Freedom - league leading attendance and the
Komets - 54 years and multiple championships all contribute to Fort
Wayne's high ranking but it's the people that support our teams
that truly deserve the praise." according to Randy L. Brown,
Coliseum General Manager.
Top 10 Minor League Sports Markets:
1. Rochester, NY
2. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA
3. Hershey-Harrisburg, PA
4. Providence-Pawtucket, RI
5. San Bernardino County, CA
6. Oklahoma City, OK
7. Fort Wayne, IN
8. Dayton, OH
9. Toledo, OH
10. Fresno, Ca
Volunteers Help TRYSA Succeed
(Friday, February 18, 2005) - Volunteers are the life-blood
of the Three Rivers Youth Soccer Association. President, Joe Beier
tells the Aboite Independent, We are always
looking for volunteers. Our coaching staff is entirely volunteers,
there are seasons where we usually end up getting enough, but there
are seasons where even at the coachs meeting we havent
found coaches for all the teams. A lot of that comes from people
not being familiar with the sport, or not being able to commit to
the time involved.
Click
here for audio of Joe Beier. (:23,
65 KB)
According to Beier, We always welcome individuals if they
dont want to coach but still want to be part of the organization,
we invite them to come and help out with the board and the other
operations of the club. So if people decide they dont want
to coach but still want to be involved with the organization, we
do have a board of directors that meets once a month to kind of
talk about the goings-on of the league, and soccer in the area,
and how they can help promote the club.
Beier says, The biggest thing that we stress is that were
there for the kids to have fun, and our organization is about the
kids. Weve tried to pattern ourselves to be the Wildcat of
youth soccer in Fort Wayne, where were there for everybody
to have fun, and for everybody to play, and our main focus is just
for the kids to have fun.
Registration continues this weekend and next at 218 E. Collins Road.
For more information phone (260) 482-9615, or visit www.trysa.org.
Our board is all volunteers, our coaches all volunteers,
and that makes for a pretty interesting mix. - Joe Beier
Soccer:
Sports With A Kick
(Friday, February 11, 2005) - Last weekend, Greg Mauch, Director
of Soccer and Canterbury High School Soccer Coach was inducted into
the Indiana Soccer Hall of Fame. The Aboite Independent
asked Mauch why soccer has become such a popular sport. He says,
Well theres a lot of good reasons. Number one
its just a great game to play. Its a lot of fun to participate.
Click
here for audio of Greg Mauch. (:23,
65 KB)
According to Mauch, Soccer has grown in incredible amounts
over the last 15 to 20 years, and at some point it will taper-off
because well run out of additional kids to draw in. However,
right now it continues to show tremendous growth, and I suspect
it will continue to do so for the next 5 or 10 years.
Canterbury
Coach Hall Of Fame Inductee
(Friday, February 4, 2005) - This weekend, Greg Mauch, Director
of Soccer and Canterbury High School Soccer Coach is being inducted
into the Indiana Soccer Hall of Fame. The ceremony takes place Saturday
night at the Indianapolis Crown Plaza. Mauch tells the Aboite Independent,
I dont know who nominated me, and thats kind of
a secret process I guess, but the list of members of the Hall Of
Fame is a pretty nice list. If they want to put my name on it, Im
more than happy to let them. Mauch has been active in Soccer
for more than three decades.
Click
here for audio of Greg Mauch. (:47,
127 KB)
Asked if hes ever aspired to coach at the college level, Mauch
responds, No, every once in a while that flitters through
my mind, but realistically thats not a lifestyle that I would
be comfortable with. The recruiting, being on the road 250-300 days
a year, I enjoy my family way to much to be able to do that. Its
just not my style. Mauch now has even more family to enjoy.
Last weekend he became a grandfather for the first time.
Next Week, the Aboite Independent talks with Coach
Mauch about the growth and popularity of soccer.
Sign
Up Time For Kicks and Giggles
(Wednesday, February 2, 2005) - Canterbury Schools
Kicks and Giggles soccer league for kiddies is about to get underway.
Director of Soccer Greg Mauch tells the Aboite Independent,
Its a program we run on Sunday afternoons from mid-February
through the last weekend before spring break. Weve done it
for about 8 or 9 years now, and its designed to be an introduction
to the game, a gateway to soccer type thing. We encourage kids to
come in; we make it a fun time. They do some ball work and then
play small games. There are no set teams, we dont keep score
necessarily, we just play some games and turn it around and play
some more games, and at the end and kids seem to have a good time
with it. Mauch says, Its been a very successful
program for us. For many years we did it just for Canterbury kids,
and then we thought we ought to open it up to everybody. Kicks
and Giggles begins Sunday, February 13th, and runs through March
20th.
Click
here for audio of Greg Mauch. (3:14,
495 KB)
Registration is through Canterbury School, and participants can
sign-up at the door on the 13th. According to Mauch, The cost
is $30 for all six weeks, so it comes out to a little less than
paying a babysitter. The funds go into the Canterbury soccer account,
and we use it to buy equipment for the playground and stuff like
that, so the moneys not a big issue.
The sessions are held in the Canterbury Middle School gym, just
off South Bend Drive.
For more information call (260) 436-7721.
Were just looking forward to getting started.
- Greg Mauch
Lady
Cougars Gain Recognition
(Friday, December 17, 2004) - The University of Saint Francis
womens basketball team
has been ranked 12th among the NAIAs Division II Top 25 in
the latest ratings.
The Lady Cougars improved to 10-2 last Saturday with 87-65 win over
Marian. USF was ranked No. 15 in the first regular season NAIA Top
25 released on Dec. 7. Prior to that, Coach Gary Andrews team
received 23 votes in the preseason rating.
USF is one of four Mid-Central Conference members in this weeks
Top 25 and six of the nine MCC members received votes. Indiana Wesleyan
(12-2) is the highest rated MCC member at No. 5. IWU was No. 5 in
the preseason rating. USF and IWU are tied for the MCC lead with
4-0 conference records. Taylor (Upland) was No. 20 for the second
week in a row and Marian (7-2) moved into the Top 25 at No. 25.
Bethel received votes after a No. 22 rating in the first Top 25.
It just shows how good our conference is having that many
teams recognized, Andrews said. It also tells you how
tough this conference is, how hard it is to win. We want to keep
playing defense the way we did against the Knights on Saturday.
Senior guard Cassie Kline (Huntington / Huntington North) leads
the MCC in assists at 8.1 a game, which is No. 2 in NAIA national
stats. USF junior Megan Dossen (Fort Wayne / Bishop Luers) is No.
25 in NAIA scoring and No. 2 in the MCC averaging 17.4 points a
game. Sophomore center Chivonn Keppeler (Edgerton, OH / Edgerton)
is No. 11 in MCC scoring (13.8 ppg) and sophomore guard Nikki Lewis
(Fort Wayne / Homestead) is No. 14 averaging 13.2 ppg.
International
Basketball Challenge At Canterbury
(Monday,
December 6, 2004) - An Australian High School basketball team
will spend several days in Fort Wayne and play a game this evening
at Canterbury High School. Ken Harkenrider, Canterbury Athletic
Director tells the Aboite Independent, Its
an outstanding opportunity for us. We are hosting a touring group
from Canberra, Australia that will play our boys Varsity and JV
teams. We hosted a similar group a year ago, and really had a lot
of fun. We do some home-stay hosting, and we have the games,
and team meals, and try and broaden it out just beyond the sporting
event itself.
Click
here for audio of Ken Harkenrider. (1:11,
187 KB)
According to Harkenrider the Canberra Grammar School is very similar
to ours. Its a Pre-K through 12 sort of an independent
setting. Im really thrilled because I think it will take it
to another level where kids are going to be very familiar with the
way were set up, and we can really investigate similarities
and comparisons with what their experiences are like down there.
We did a similar thing last year and it worked out really well.
Tonights International Basketball Challenge between the HSE
Kangaroos and Canterbury will be played at Canterbury High School
at 3210 Smith Road. The Junior varsity game is set for 6pm with
the Varsity match up to follow. If you cant get to the games,
log on to www.aboiteindependent.com, and go to our Special Events
page. Well provide live streaming audio of the play-by-play.
Cub Scout Pack 3900 is sponsoring a community service project in
conjunction with the games. In place of the standard $4.00 admission,
fans will be asked to make donations to benefit the Associated Churches
Food Bank. Financial contributions will be used to purchase holiday
turkeys for distribution throughout the Fort Wayne area. Cub Scouts
will be on hand to collect all donated items.
Congratulations
Cougars!!!
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St.
Francis Mascot
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(Monday, December
6, 2004) - By virtue of their latest win, the St. Francis Cougars
advance to the NAIA Championship Series title game. University of
Saint Francis Sports Information Director Bill Scott provides the
following article to the Aboite Independent.
Defense made the difference for the University of Saint Francis
in a 12-7 win over Georgetown College (KY) in an NAIA Championship
Series semifinal game at Bishop John M. D'Arcy Stadium on Saturday
afternoon. Blessed with near perfect college football weather before
a near sellout crowd, No. 2 USF and No. 3 GC slugged it out for
the right to play in the NAIA Championship Series title game on
Saturday, Dec. 18, in Savannah, Tenn.
I expected it to be a lower scoring game because both defenses
are outstanding, USF coach Kevin Donley said afterwards. And
you have a tendency to get a little more conservative in a big game
like that. Both defenses played extremely well. Our punting game
may have been the difference because we were backed up and Cam got
us out of the hole so many times and allowed our defense room.
The Cougars (13-0) used two second-half interceptions, the punting
of Cam Smith, and some big plays at the right time to hand the Tigers
their first loss after 12 consecutive wins. USF was the last team
to beat GC in the first round of the NCS in 2003. All the scoring
took place in the second quarter. The Tigers, who came into the
game No. 2 in NAIA scoring offense at 42.2 points per game, took
the lead 7-0 when QB Jeff Smith passed to C.R.Rohrbough for an 8-yard
TD and Dan Snodgrass added the extra point with 9:51to play. Sophomore
halfback DerrickAlderman (Richmond, IN /Richmond) got USF on the
board when he caught a short pass from Chris Bramell (Indianapolis/
Franklin Central) for a 15-yard TD to cap a 7-play, 66-yard drive.
On 1st and 20 from the Georgetown38, Adam Denning (Payne, OH / Wayne
Trace H.S.) hauled in what proved to be the winning TD from Bramell
with five seconds to play in the first half. Denning's TD reception
capped a 12-play, 99-yarddrive that took 3:19and finished the scoring
for the game.
I look back at that and I'm just thinking about getting in
position to kick a field goal, Donley recalled with a relieved
laugh. Sometimes it's a guessing game. We put that play in
specifically for their coverage and we were fortunate enough to
complete it. Thank goodness we put the play in.
Georgetown started 3 drives in the 2nd half just outside of USF
territory- Georgetown 49, Georgetown 41, Georgetown 47 - but USF
defense denied Tigers. The most serious threat came when the Tigers
drove from their own 41 to the USF 3-yard line. Ryan Payne tried
to run for 1st down on fourth and 1 at USF 3, but was tackled by
Marty Starks (Fort Wayne, IN / Northrop H.S.) and Clarence Ellington
a yard short of of the first down with 16 seconds left in the third
quarter. USF forced Georgetown to punt twice on ensuing possessions
and Paul Carter (Indianapolis/ Northwest) and Ellington (Boynton
Beach, FL /Delray Beach Atlantic) picked off Smith passes to close
out the Tigers' final two possessions.
USF will play two-time defending champ Carroll (11-2) in Savannah,
Tenn., Dec. 18 at 1:05 p.m Eastern time. Carroll rallied to eliminate
Azuza Pacific 14-10 in Helena, MT in the other semifinal game.
USF set a school record for consecutive wins in season 13. Junior
running back Cory Jacquay became the second in Cougar history to
rush for more than 1,000 yard in a season- 1,005. He also moved
over 2,000 yards rushing for his career - 2,029.
USF coach Kevin Donley got his180th career win, his 65th win in
7 seasons at USF. He is 180-103-1 in 26 seasons as a head coach.
NAIA Offense Player-of-the-Game -Chris Bramell (Indianapolis/ Franklin
Central H.S.)
NAIA Defense Player-of-the-Game -Chris Van Horn (Fort Wayne/ Snider
H.S.) had 5 tackles, 3 solo, 3of USF 5 sacks for 17 yards in losses.
-- GO USF --
BILLSCOTT - UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR
St.
Francis Hosts Championship Semifinal Game
(Friday, December 3, 2004) - The University of Saint Francis
will host the NAIA Championship Series semifinal game between Georgetown
College and the Saint Francis Cougars Saturday, December 4th. USF
has provided the following information to the Aboite Independent.
For the first time in the 7-year history of the football program,
the University of Saint Francis will play host to an NAIA Championship
Series semifinal game. The final two unbeaten teams in the NCS --
No. 3 Georgetown College (KY) and No. 2 University of Saint Francis
- will square off at Bishop John M. DArcy Stadium on the USF
campus in one of two National Championship Series semifinal games
on Saturday, Dec. 4.
No. 10 Azuza Pacific (11-2) will travel to No. 9 Carroll (10-2)
to play the two-time defending champs at noon Fort Wayne time. Azusa
Pacific stunned No. 1 and previously unbeaten Sioux Falls (S.D.)
24-3. Carroll advanced to the semifinals with a 56-17 win at No.
5 Dickinson State (N.D.).
The winners on Saturday (Dec. 4) will play for the 2004 NAIA Championship
in Savannah, Tenn., on Saturday, Dec. 18.
Were excited to bringing a game of this magnitude to
Fort Wayne, no matter who it is we are playing, USF coach
Kevin Donley said. We do know a little more about this opponent
than we did our first two opponents.
USF eliminated the Tigers 34-23 in the first round of the 2003 NAIA
Championship Series. It was the fourth time Donley sent his Cougars
against the school where he coached from 1982 to 1992. Georgetown
won the first three meetings in Georgetown, Ky.
Before Saturdays quarterfinal games, USF and GC were both
in the NAIA top 5 in scoring offense (USF #1, 44.0, GC #2, 41.8)
and total offense (USF #1, 511.4, GC #4, 446.1). USF was No. 2 in
rushing offense (324.6 ypg) and GC was No. 4 in passing offense
(268.4 ypg). The Tigers will be throwing against the No. 3 pass
defense, USF surrendering 124.9 ypg prior to giving up a season-high
308 to Hastings College (IA).
We made some good adjustments to their passing attack after
they lost one of the top running backs in the country, USF
defensive coordinator Warren Maloney said. We got the job
done when we had to. Both teams were in the Top 10 in scoring
defense, USF No. 4 at 9.8 ppg and GC No. 8 at 12.6 ppg. In total
defense, USF was No. 5 yielding 245.5 ypg, GC No. 8 at 247.5 ypg.
The Tigers advanced to the semifinals with a hot start against Mid-American
Nazarene (KS) scoring three touchdowns in a 2:42 first-quarter span
to take a 19-0 lead over the No. 11 Pioneers (10-3). The Tigers
capitalized on a fumbled lateral and a pass interception. GC QB
Jeff Smith passed for 402 yards and five TDs. Ryan Payne bounced
back from a pulled hamstring the week before with 155 yards rushing,
a TD run and a TD reception. GC finished with 608 yards total offense.
2004 Cougars Schedule
9-11 Ohio Dominican W 55-3
9-18 @ #10 McKendree W 33-10
9-25 Iowa Wesleyan W 62-8
10-2 @ Geneva W 30-24
10-9 Butler W 35-7
10-16 Urbana W 37-20
10-23 @ Taylor W 46-0
10-30 Malone W 40- 6
11- 6 @ Quincy W 49-13
11-13 #15 Walsh W 42-14
11-20 # 12 Morningside W 53-3
11-27 #16 Hastings W 48-17
12- 4 #3 Georgetown
2004 Tigers Schedule
9- 2 Bethel (TN) W 56-0
9-11 @ Kentucky Wesleyan W 47-0
9-18 Cumberland (KY) W 65-16
9-25 @ Union (KY) W 34-13
10- 2 Lambuth (KY) W 48-17
10- 9 @ Bellhaven (KY) W 23-6
10-16 UVA-Wise W 56-14
10-23 BYE
10-30 @ Pikeville W 28-14
11- 6 Campbellsville (KY) W 41-17
11-13 @ Cumberland (TN) W 27-21
11-20 Trinity International (IL) W 35-21
11-27 Mid-American Nazarene W 46-27
12- 4 @ U. of St. Francis
Southwest
Sprint Triathlon
(Thursday, October 7, 2004) - This Sunday afternoon marks
the 3rd Southwest Youth Triathlon. Ted Tiernon with 23 years under
his belt teaching in the Southwest Allen County Schools, and presently
the phys-ed instructor at Woodside Middle School tells the Aboite
Independent, Were going to have it at 2 oclock
this Sunday, October 10th. We expect somewhere between 70 and 100
young people there, and probably some adults too. Well do
a short swim, and a bike ride, a single or perhaps a few laps around
Indian Trails Park next to Summit Middle School, and then finish
up with a short run on the track. The competition involves boys
and girls starting from age seven all the way up well into the teens,
and Im certain well have a few adults too. The
event is sponsored by TriFort TriAthletes to promote physical fitness
and activity.
Click
here for audio of Ted Tiernon. (:24,
69 KB)
According to Tiernon, a number of wonderful sponsors have donated
boatloads of neat gifts and prizes for the kids. Registration must
be done in advance, that means today or tomorrow. Registration forms
are available online at www.ft-wayne.in.us,
or at the Summit Middle School Natatorium. They should be returned
to the Natatorium no later than Friday.
Homestead Football Webcast
(Friday, September 24, 2004) - The Homestead Spartan football
team travels to Dekalb for a 7pm kick-off tonight. The Aboite
Independent offers live streaming audio of the game by clicking
on the Special Events icon, or click
here. Joe Pasquali provides the play-by-play with a pre-game
show at about 6:40. Be sure to log in tonight to www.aboiteindependent.com,
your web home for Spartan sports.
AI
To Webcast Homestead Athletic Events
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Joe
Pasquali
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(Friday,
September 3, 2004) - The Aboite Independent begins
a new service to our reader/listeners this evening, as we begin
webcasting Homestead High School athletic events. Tonight, Joe Pasquali
brings us the play-by-play of the Homestead-East Noble Varsity football
game. Joining Joe as color commentator is Chris Copley. Both are
award winning sport broadcasters.
Pasquali says, Ive been broadcasting for Homestead four
years, three years doing Varsity. Hopefully if I do enough games
Ill probably break a hundred games this year for my time here
at Homestead. Chris Copley and myself won the State Football Broadcasting
Award last year at the IASB (the Indiana Association of School Broadcasters)
competition. All the High Schools in the State that have radio stations,
and some of the Colleges participate. Its down at the University
of Indianapolis every year. We sent them a little 5-minute uninterrupted
clip of football play-by-play. It was actually from the Snider-Homestead
game last year, a game Homestead lost, but we had some great moments,
and we were able to send it in and we got first place. So hopefully
well repeat this year.
According to Pasquali, Copley knows his stuff, having played
quarterback for a few years, he can really give you an inside point
of view when it comes to our passing attack. He really knows about
football, and hell chime in with some great stats and commentary
to help the game flow along. Asked what to expect from tonights
webcast, Pasquali says, We should start around 6:40 with a
little bit of a pre-game show. We definitely have an interview each
week with Coach Zolman for Homestead, during our pre-game show.
Well also talk about last weeks game for both teams.
Then well talk about what happened last year when Homestead
and East Noble faced each other, and hopefully what you expect to
see from both teams tonight. It should be a great game. Click
here for audio of Joe Pasquali. (:40,
109 KB)
The webcast will include a halftime show and a post-game wrap-up
with an interview with the coach or the player of the game.
Hopefully well have a great broadcast tonight. Were
going to try our hardest, and hopefully everybody out there listens,
and hopefully they enjoy what they hear. - Joe Pasquali
To listen to tonights Homestead-East Noble webcast, courtesy
of WCYT, click on the Special Events block on the left
of your screen (or click
here), and follow the prompts.
Homestead
Football Coach Leaving
(Monday,
April 19, 2004) - It appears Homestead High School is looking
for a new Football Coach. Drew Wood has accepted an offer to become
the coach at Bloomington South High School. The offer still needs
Monroe County Community School board approval. Wood said he wasn't
looking for a job, but it was too good to pass up. While leading
the Spartans, Homestead finished 48-10, while finishing 32-3 in
the Northeast Hoosier Conference. Homestead also won four conference
titles in his five-year tenure.
After
Seven Road Games Wizards Open At Home
(Saturday,
April 17, 2004) - Friday night the Fort Wayne Wizards opened
the home portion of their season against the Beloit Snappers.
The Wizards are led by manager Randy Ready, a veteran of 13 professional
seasons in the major leagues including time spent with the San Diego
Padres. Tom Tornincasa is back for his fifth season as hitting coach
and is joined by first-year pitching coach Steve Webber.
On the field,
fans will be excited to see familiar names from 2003, and some top-rated
prospects. Daniel Moore, a left-handed second round pick by the
Padres in the 2003 draft, leads the Wizards' notoriously strong
pitching staff. Right-handers Chuck Bechtel and closer Aaron Coonrod,
who both played in Fort Wayne for the 2003 season, join him. Colt
Morton, a third round selection by the Padres last year, returns
to start behind the plate. Morton finished 2003 in Fort Wayne, hitting
.171 with two home runs and seven runs batted in. According to hitting
coach Tornincasa, Morton "could hit for power this season."
Other
names on the Wizard's uniforms that may seem familiar: Valenzuela
Jr. and Bochy. Fernando Valenzuela Jr., son of the pitching great
for the Los Angeles Dodgers, will start for Fort Wayne at first
base. And he's not the only son of a baseball man. Greg Bochy, a
24-year old pitcher-turned-infielder is the son of the San Diego
Padre's manager Bruce Bochy. (Bochy begins the year on the disabled
list.)
Highlighting
the entertainment this season are 12 fan-favorite post-game fireworks
shows, appearances by Myron Noodleman, the Zooperstars, BirdZerk
and Jake, the Diamond Dog. "Big Daddy Weave," a Christian
band, will play a post-game show on Sunday, August 8th. The Wizards
will host the fifth annual Boy Scout Overnight on Saturday, June
5 and the Girl Scout Overnight on Saturday, June 19.
Tickets to
see the Wizards play at Memorial Stadium include all post-game activities
and cost between $6.50 and $9.00.
Former
Spartan Backstop Homers For Twins
(Saturday,
April 10, 2004)
- Rob Bowen, 1999 graduate from Homestead High School got his baseball
season off to a great start Thursday, walloping a pinch-hit home
run for the Minnesota Twins. While the two-run shot wasn't enough
to win the game, it was a great season first 'at-bat' for the former
Spartan catcher. The Twins fell to Detroit 10-6. Bowen, who spent
a month with the Twins last year, was supposed to start this season
with the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats, but hopped on a flight
from Connecticut and met up with the Twins in Detroit before noon.
The Twins lost two catchers to injuries in this week, and Bowen
was called up early Thursday morning to be the backup for Henry
Blanco. The home run is the first of Bowen's major league career,
and just his second hit in 11 major league at-bats. The Aboite Independent
will track Rob's progress, and you can also access the Rock Cat's
website at www.rockcats.com
for more information on Rob.
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