Golden Baseball League Announces League-Wide Tryouts in San Francisco April 8th - 9th
The Golden Baseball League (GBL) announced today that the 2008 league-wide tryouts will be held at Benedetti Diamond on the campus of the University of San Francisco on Arpil 8th and 9th. All eight GBL teams will be evaluating and signing players for the upcoming season that begins in May.
"We are pleased to partner with the University of San Francisco and appreciate their hospitality in allowing us to utilize their renovated Benedetti Diamond to host our 2008 league-wide tryouts," said GBL Commissioner Kevin Outcalt. "We expect a high level of experienced professional and top collegiate players similar to the past GBL tryouts that were held in Fullerton and Long Beach in southern California the last two years."
The tryouts will be open to players that have professional or collegiate experience. It will be conducted by top independent professional baseball scout and consultant Nick Belmonte and the talent will be evaluated by the Golden Baseball League team managers and player procurement directors who include many well-known baseball names such as Reno Silver Sox manager Jeffrey Leonard (Giants), Orange County Flyers manager Gary Carter (HOF), OC Flyers coach Darrell Evans (Giants/Tigers), Yuma Scorpions manager Mike Marshall (Dodgers), Long Beach Armada manager Steve Yeager (Dodgers), Calgary Vipers manager Mike Busch (Dodgers), and St. George Roadrunners manager Cory Snyder (Indians).
Professional contracts will be offered at the end of the second day.
Location: University of San Francisco, Benedetti Diamond
Time: April 8th 8:00 - 6:00
April 9th 8:00 - 1:00.
For more information or to register for the tryout, please visit Golden Baseball League.
Crestwood, IL - The 2007 Frontier League Champion Windy City ThunderBolts professional baseball team have announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Nick Tracy to a contract for the 2008 season. Tracy will be entering his second season in the Frontier League in 2008.
Nick Tracy made his professional debut with the Slippery Rock Sliders in 2007, making 19 starts for the team. Tracy finished with a 3-12 record and 5.91 ERA for the Sliders with 54 strikeouts in 105 innings. He led the Sliders in games started while ranking second in innings pitched and strikeouts. Tracy was frequently the victim of the Sliders' struggling offense in 2007, which finished with a league-worst .238 team batting average, as he pitched into the sixth inning while allowing three or fewer earned runs in ten of his 19 starts.
Tracy joined Slippery Rock after finishing his career at Mars Hill College, a NCAA Division II program located just outside of Asheville, North Carolina. He completed his senior season last spring with a 6-2 record and 4.42 ERA in 13 games (12 starts), striking out 57 batters in 77.1 innings. Tracy led the Lions in games started, innings pitched, and strikeouts while holding opponents to the lowest batting average (.274) among starting pitchers. He is currently an assistant coach at Mars Hill.
"Nick's statistics do not truly reflect the quality pitcher that he is, as between the college and Frontier League seasons he saw a lot of action last year," commented ThunderBolts' field manager Brian Nelson. "He has a tremendous make-up and I received several strong recommendations from both Major League scouts and Frontier League coaches."
The Windy City ThunderBolts are entering their tenth season as members of the Frontier League. The ThunderBolts play at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood and will look to defend their Frontier League Championship. Windy City opens the 2008 season on May 21, with the home opener on Tuesday, May 28 against Evansville. For more information, please contact the ThunderBolts at 708.489.2255 or visit Windy City Thunderbolts.
Florence, KY - The Florence Freedom are proud to announce that the team's Opening Day May 21st is officially sold out! The game is the organization's first ever "Education Day" sponsored by Xavier University's College of Social Sciences, Health and Education.
"Our sales staff has been hard at work this off-season talking to schools all over the Cincinnati area," said Freedom General Manager Kari Rumfield. "The response from the schools has been great and we are looking forward to starting the 2008 season successfully both on and off the field."
Over 3,200 school kids from the Northern Kentucky area will be in the stands to see the Freedom begin the 2008 season. Schools from Boone, Kenton, Campbell, and Grant counties will all be in attendance for the event. First pitch is at 11:05am.
"We are very excited about this game," mentioned Kevin Schwab, the Freedom's Director of Fun. "This is a great way for the kids to enjoy a game and we know their energy will get the players pumped up too."
Education Day is also a "Salute to Dr. Seuss" with the Freedom players wearing striped socks, the Public Address Announcer speaking in rhyme, and Dr. Seuss characters on the concourse. Each student will receive a baseball trivia packet filled with questions about the sport to answer throughout the game.
Single game tickets, ticket packages and group outings are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting Champion Window Field or by calling the Freedom office at (859) 594-HITS.
Florence Freedom is a member of the Frontier League, a 12-team Independent Professional Baseball League established in 1993. The Freedom play a 96 game schedule with 54 home games between late May and early September.
The Gateway Grizzlies announced today that for the seventh consecutive year, Saint Louis University and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale will continue their rivalry at GCS Ballpark.
The match-up, which will take place on May 13th, is scheduled for a 7:05 p.m. start time.
Tickets will go on sale to the general public Wednesday, April 2nd at 9:00 a.m. They can be obtained by visiting the GCS Ballpark ticket office, over the phone by calling 618-337-3000 or on-line at Gateway Grizzlies
"Our premier college games have always been a big hit," said Grizzlies General Manager Tony Funderburg. "People look forward to coming out to the ballpark before our season begins to see top notch ball players. It's a great way to get the fans excited about another baseball season".
The Grizzlies are the defending West Division Champions. They begin their eighth Frontier League season May 21 when they host the Southern Illinois Miners.
Season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are currently on sale and are available by calling the Grizzlies at 618-337-3000 or visiting the GCS Ballpark ticket office in person.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff O'Neill, Joe Pott, or Tony Funderburg in the Grizzlies office by calling (618) 337-3000.
MARION, Ill. - After an impressive showing against the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, the Southern Illinois Miners logo advanced to the Elite Eight of the minor league baseball logo tournament Tuesday morning. Big John will take a swing at the Final Four on Wednesday when the Miners logo goes up against the Grand Prairie (Texas) Airhogs, an expansion team in the independent American Association.
The 64-team tournament to determine the best logo in minor league baseball is being held on Darren Rovell's Sports Biz blog on the CNBC website and will conclude with the championship on Monday, March 31.
The Miners logo has improved its margin of victory in all three rounds. The logo garnered 58 percent of the vote in the first round against the Pensacola Pelicans. The margin of victory jumped to 64-36 against the Miners second-round foe, the Carolina Mudcats, and an impressive 64-34 against West Tennessee.
"This next match up is going to be a tough one," Miners General Manager Tim Arseneau said. "We're facing an expansion team so their fans could be just as enthusiastic as ours."
Winners in each round are determined by fan voting on Rovell's blog so Miners fans are encouraged to vote early and often. Voting in each round is open for 24 hours and starts at approximately 9 a.m. Fans can follow the link on the front page of the Miners website to vote all day Wednesday.
The Miners home opener is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 at 7:05 p.m. For the latest Miners news and updates, visit Southern Illinois Miners.
FLORENCE, KY - Think you've got what it takes to play in the pros? Here's your chance! The Florence Freedom will hold an open tryout for the 2008 season on Wednesday, April 30th at Champion Window Field.
Tryouts begin with registration at 9:00am and will continue throughout the day.
To be eligible, player hopefuls must be between the ages of 20 and 27.
"This tryout is a great opportunity for players who may not get a good look," said Freedom Manager Jamie Keefe. "Every year we seem to find one or two players that come to spring training with us and compete for a job. Here they will get that look and maybe even that chance to fulfill that boyhood dream."
Alain Quijano, a left-handed pitcher from Des Moines, IA earned a roster spot with the Freedom in 2007 from the open tryout. Quijano finished the season with a 4.35 ERA and 75 strikeouts.
"Alain was our 'diamond in the rough' last season," mentioned Keefe. "He was a very valuable find - and wanted the ball every day. He started, threw in long relief, was used as a setup man, and even a closer."
Tryouts are open to the public with a registration fee of $50.00. Standouts will be invited to join the Freedom at training camp for the chance to make the final cut.
Ticket packages and group outings are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting Champion Window Field or by calling the Freedom office at (859) 594-4487.
Florence Freedom is a member of the Frontier League, a 12-team Independent Professional Baseball League established in 1993. The Freedom play a 96 game schedule with 54 home games between late May and early September.
LOVES PARK, Ill. - The Rockford RiverHawks announced Thursday that they have released catcher Joey Huskins and pitcher Ben Brockman.
Huskins, who turned 24 on Tuesday, split the season behind the plate and in left field. He hit .224 with no home runs and 22 RBI.
The RiverHawks picked up Brockman in a late-season trade with River City. He had no record, no saves and an 11.42 earned-run average in seven appearances with Rockford.
Opening Night is at 7:05 p.m. May 21, when the RiverHawks host River City. The RiverHawks are members of the Frontier League, a 12-team independent professional baseball league that will play its 16th season this summer. Advertising and season-ticket information is available by calling the box office at (815) 885-2255. Most games are broadcast live on WNTA (1330 AM) and the internet. Fans can also visit the RiverHawks online at Rockford RiverHawks.
MARION, Ill. - The Southern Illinois Miners have signed right handed pitcher Ben Norton for the 2008 season. Norton, 23, was recently released from the Kansas City Royals organization.
Norton spent the 2007 season with the Royals Pioneer League affiliate in Idaho Falls where he appeared in 16 games, 14 as a starter. He finished the season with a 3.95 ERA and recorded 56 strikeouts in 57.0 innings. He walked only 22 batters. Norton was selected by the Royals in the 24th round of the 2007 draft out of the University of Evansville.
"Ben has a 90-plus MPH hard, sinking fastball and a major league quality slider," Miners Manager Mike Pinto said. "He throws strikes with four pitches, and everyone I have spoken with tells me what a competitor he is on the mound."
Norton played his college baseball at the University of Evansville. Over his two seasons in the Missouri Valley Conference, he went 18-7. He finished his 2007 college season with a 2.55 ERA. In 2006 he was selected Newcomer of the Year in the Missouri Valley Conference, just the second pitcher in six years to win the award. His efforts helped the Purple Aces win their first regular season conference title in school history. Norton was named Player of the Week twice during 2007 and was named Collegiate Baseball's National Player of the Week and Baseball America's "Louisville Slugger" National Player of the Week.
The Miners home opener is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 at 7:05 p.m. For the latest Miners news and updates, visit Southern Illinois Miners.
News 3-30
Golden Baseball League Announces League-Wide Tryouts in San Francisco April 8th - 9th
