• Lille Marie A. A.
    Lille Marie A. A.

    Buh Bye Moose

    Posted about 7 hours ago by Lille Marie A. A.
    I'm sadden to hear that we no longer have the Moose with the Yankees, but I wish him the best. I want to publicly thank him for giving us great pitches and heart-stopping games.
    May your future be great Moose, you deserve it man!


    Peace, Love, & Music,

    Lille Marie
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  • Rob Truitt
    Rob Truitt

    Team Synopsis

    Posted 1 day ago by Rob Truitt
    Our team is young. Very young. Of our players that are returning from last year. We have 3 that this is their last year of eligibility, and are looking at at least 7 players that will be elibigle for the first time this year. With that said, we were even younger last year (which was our first year), we were still able to surprise a few really good teams last year. In one of our wooden bat tournaments last year we beat both the tournament winner and the third place finisher.
    We are looking to expand our recruiting area a little larger this year. We are looking to gain more players not only from Paint Valley High School, but also McClain, Huntington, and Western High Schools. We were more focused on our base (closest) school last year, but are ready to branch out more. We haveties with Benedictine and Ohio University (Chillicothe) baseball teams.
    If you are from this area of Ohio and would like to be involved with our team please send me an email at robert.d.truitt@us.army.mil
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  • Flip Ramirez
    Flip Ramirez

    ABYC JINGLE BALL SHOWDOWN - RIVERSIDE, CA DEC. 19th - 21s...

    Posted 2 days ago by Flip Ramirez in ABYC - AFFLICTION BASEBALL YOUTH CLUB
    OPEN TO 7U, 8U, 9U, 10U AND 13U TRAVEL OR RECREATIONAL TEAMS

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    THIS TOURNAMENT QUALITY VENUE OFFERS 4 EXCELLENT BASEBALL FIELDS WITH LIGHTS. PLENTY OF TEAM WARM-UP SPACE. A FULL SNACK BAR. LOTS OF TREES FOR SHADING AND PICK NICK AREAS FOR TEAMS AND FAMILIES TO RELAX ON IN BETWEEN GAMES. BASKETBALL COURTS. CLEAN RESTROOMS. TWO NEW PLAYGROUNDS FOR THE LITTLE ONES.

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    RAWLINGS TOP OF THE LINE PONY BASEBALLS WILL BE PROVIDED BY ABYC.

    (2) UMPIRES FOR ALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES. UP TO BAT PLAYER ANNOUNCER WITH LOUD SPEAKERS AT ALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES.

    THIS TOURNEY WILL FILL-UP QUICKLY. PLEASE CALL FLIP RAMIREZ AT 949-678-5095 OR EMAIL US AT INFO@AFFLICTIONBASEBALL.COM TO PENCIL YOUR TEAM IN, NO OBLIGATIONS.

    ALL TEAM ENTRY FEES ARE DUE IN BY FRIDAY DECEMBER 12TH TO BE GUARANTEED A SPOT.

    PLEASE SEND CHECKS PAYABLE TO:
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    3410 LA SIERRA AVE #F265
    RIVERSIDE, CA 92503

    Cost: $375.00
    Minimum Games Guaranteed: 3
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    THIS TOURNAMENT IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ABYC - AFFLICTION BASEBALL YOUTH CLUB OF RIVERSIDE, CA

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    PLEASE VISIT US AT WWW.AFFLICTIONBASEBALL.COM
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  • Chris Martinez
    Chris Martinez

    about me

    Posted 2 days ago by Chris Martinez

    HI MY NAME IS CHRIS AND I AM LOOKING FOR A GIRL I AM FUN TO BE AROUND.I LOVE TO HANG OUT AT THE FOUNT OF MY HOUSE.I WISH I COULD HAVE A GIRL THAT LOVE TO PLAY BASEBALL AND IS ON A TEAM.I WISH I COULD MEET HANNAH MONTANA.I WANT ALOT OF FRIEND ON WEPLAY.

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  • Eric Hogel
    Eric Hogel

    need a player to do a tournament in palmsprings

    Posted 3 days ago by Eric Hogel
    hello my name is eric i run a travel ball team and we are going to palm springs for the u.s.t.b.a nationals its a four day tournament a few of our players cant go so we are looking for 2 youths to play in the 9u it will be fun so if you can do it please call me at 209 380 3865 a.s.a.phe tournament is from december 27th to december 30th we need help its only 70.00 per player so please call thanks
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  • Larry NA
    Larry NA

    2006 All-Star Game, Crawfordsville, IN

    Posted 3 days ago by Larry NA
    Nicholas' baseball career, the early years!!!

    I found a couple of pictures (See The Early Years Photo Album) of Nicholas during his early baseball career. In 2006 he had made The All Star Team and played in a weekend tournament in Crawfordsville, IN. The picture is of him (and the homerun ball) after a 2 out, 2 run, game tying home run in the bottom of the last inning. He had 2 other opportunities in other games in the regular season tournament to either win a game or tie a game but was left on deck. Both of those times he slammed his bat into the ground. After having a talk with him about attitude it was discovered he really, really, really wanted to get up there and bat. This is where together we came to the conclusion "he loves pressure".
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  • Larry NA
    Larry NA

    2 losses and and end to a long run! (2008 Lafayette Squires)

    Posted 3 days ago by Larry NA
    2 Losses and an end to a long run!

    Nicholas and his team took 2 on the chin today in rain, sleet, snow and blowing wind. A great day for a football game, only it's baseball season.

    This tourney was at Indianapolis' Indy Sports Park. Here's the update:

    2 games today brought some sadness & an end to a long long run of saves for Nicholas. I missed the 1st game today but was told he was brought in to close a game in which we were down 12-11 in the last inning. We batted last and I guess the plan was to have Nicholas shut em down & he did, then we get at least a run to tie it but we didn't. That's not the run that ended. 2nd game was a thriller and we trailed most of the game until we tied it 6-6 at the end of 4 innings. In the 5th, they scored 2 runs to make it 8-6. We scored 2 runs to tie it in the 6th then Nicholas had bases loaded and sent one into right field down the 1st base line for the go ahead run, our first lead. We continued to score and made it 10-8. Now, the weather was horrendous with rain, snow, sleet, blowing wind and just a plain muddy stinky field (pitching mound included). They laid a carpet out for the pitchers to land on after their delivery.

    Ok, clearly in the last inning their pitcher struggled as he walked several of our batters. Together with some hits we scored the 4 runs. As I said the pitching mound was treacherous. But, it was for both pitchers and the other pitcher came out on top of this one. I would have to say in defense of Nicholas, I don't think he ever lost his cool. I mean, he didn't kick, slap anything or appear to act frustrated, he seemed to keep plugging away all the while he was getting whipped.

    I discussed something he could have been doing that might have helped him in a rainy situation. As he walks toward the plate a bit to get the ball back from the catcher, to take his glove off immediately and use both hands to rub the ball dry while walking back to the mound, put it back into his glove while closed to keep it dry until delivery. Also to blow on his throwing hand to warm his fingers up a bit. Now, this is illegal unless temps are below 45 deg. because of being able to I guess use a spit ball. No doubt whatsoever temps were below 45.

    The run of what I think are 31 games of never losing a lead came to a crashing end today. Once he became a pitcher for real starting 3 years ago he had never given up a lead when he came in to close a game out.
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  • Larry NA
    Larry NA

    MCCutcheon Tourney Champs! (2008 Lafayette Squires)

    Posted 3 days ago by Larry NA
    McCutcheon Tourney Champs!!!
    What an incredible game to have watched from a youth baseball standpoint. Pony Express (who gets their players statewide), undefeated in the tourney and the team that beat us 2-0 yesterday was the opponent. We jumped on em early and had a lead of 1-0 at the end of one. They scored 3 runs in the 2nd to lead it 3-1. That score stood until Nicholas had a game tying 2 run double into deep right center with 2 outs in the last inning. (7th). That score stood for the next 4 innings & into the 11th when in the top 1/2 we got a run. Then Nicholas had a 2 run single into right center to make it 6-3 at the end of 10 1/2 innings. We have to hold em, so in comes Nicholas to close it & I'm pacing big time. Got a fly out to center. Puts a guy on with a walk and the next scenario I think is a coaching error. The next batter drills one over the left fielders head for a run scoring double. I thought the left fielder was way to shallow for their No. 2 batter because with a runner on and only one out, you want to keep everything in front of you. It's now 6-4 with one out and a runner on 2nd. Nick strikes out the next 2 batters, their No. 3 & No. 4 hitters in the order for his first tournament (travel squad) championship and the teams 1st tournament championship this year!!! Also awarded were National points towards a national ranking!!!

     Bill Lodde (who owns The Igloos in town & has a son that catches) ran onto the field and got a ball from the umps, gave it to me to give to Nicholas for a game ball.

    I had been thinking all week about this CC team and the losses they have incurred. They have lost 3 games by 1 run each. They lost 2-0 yesterday to a prominent Pony Express Team with both of those runs coming on an error. But, I was thinking that this team is really pretty good.

    Feelings?? I ran up to the pitching coach and grabbed him for a hug and had to thank him for what he has done with Nicholas. I knew the change had to be made with his wind up and delivery to make it any further in baseball as a pitcher. This is the 1st year I've ran into coach's that actually teach. The Bronco coaches at some point should have corrected his wind up n delivery. And to have the patience to allow him thru the hard times in those 2 games in Indy when he got whipped. To know he was the guy. Besides, he is the brother to Nick Vukas' wife, who owns Nick's Bar & lord knows how much more I had made them rich in the past. Her and I talked at Dayton in detail about the times there and their other bar in Bloomington..Jake's.
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  • Larry NA
    Larry NA

    Nicholas is rocking this baseball season! (2007 Lafayette...

    Posted 3 days ago by Larry NA
    Nicholas closing this one out and earning himself a huge, huge save!!!

    I have been far far behind in posting information about my son's baseball season. As you can see from previous posts he had a stellar season last year. This year he has also been playing on a tournament team and has traveled most weekends and played some of the top teams both in the nation and the state. This is Nicholas' 1st year on a tournament team and is in his 1st year in Pony League in the rec league here in Lafayette. Over the past couple of weekends he has began to pick up his level of playing against the intense competition in these tournaments. More about those stats in a bit.

    His rec league stats are phenomenal, especially his pitching stats. All of this will be updated soon along with a pitching and batting story coming out of The Munster Indiana Tourney on the weekend of June 8, 9, 10. Below is a picture of his 2nd place trophy earned by his team who are named The Lafayette Broncos, a 13 year old tourney team established this year.

    Picture located in Munster, IN Tourney Album!!! Here's the story: At Munster where they play against a higher level of players. He went 10-16 at the plate with 4 doubles, a triple that landed in an apartment complex lawn, well beyond the home run wall they had taken down. Pitching here they were allowed 7 innings total for the weekend. He is their No. 1 pitcher so the idea is to save him as many innings as possible for the championship game. But of course you have to get there first. In the game to get into the championship game we had used up our No. 2 pitchers innings and we have other pitchers that sort of get us by.

    In the very last inning we have an 8-5 lead and Nicholas has 3 innings left so we at this point are saving him. We get an out, 2 more outs and we win without using Nicholas. 2 straight singles puts runners on 1st n 2nd. Next guy up rips a triple down the 3rd base line and brings in 2 runs making the score 8-7 in the bottom of the last inning. Can't wait any longer now, coaches bring him in, after all, we have to get to the championship game. Bottom of the last inning with a runner on 3rd and 1 out he comes in. NOW THIS IS BIG TIME PRESSURE!!! I don't remember what he ran the pitch count to on the 1st batter but he struck him out which is pretty much what you have to do in this situation. I do remember vividly the pitch count on the next batter. Nicholas got behind in the count 3-0 and I'm thinking to myself that he absolutely does not want to put the winning run on 1st with a walk, it opens up so much more offensive options for the opposing team. He battles back and struck the guy out from a 3 ball n 0 strike count. Broncos WIN 8-7!!!!!!!!! And on to The Championship game!!!!!

    In an ironic turn of events in a game at Westfield, IN, Nicholas was benched during a game for attitude. He was pitching and the opposing team was scoring on him. In an exchange of communication between him and coach, Nicholas responded back inappropriately. He was benched! Now, the rules call for all kids to bat regardless. As a parent I felt the benching was needed for a quick attitude adjustment. As we came to bat and got a couple of runners on I saw Nicholas step into the batters box. I thought a benching was a benching and he should not have been allowed to bat. Rules are rules I guess. Needless to say with 2 runners on he sent a tremendous shot over the left field wall for a 3 run home run. It landed on another field, approximately a 325' shot.

    In his rec league he has dominated opponents this year from the mound. Pitchers are allowed 3 innings per game at this age. He has pitched 20 innings and has given up 4 earned runs on 6 hits. he has 43 K's against 11 walks. He is 5-1 as a starter which has only been the last 5 games. He was the closer before these games. His last victory came in the 1st round of the tournament. We finished 5th in the division out of 6 teams so we had a No. 5 seed and played the no. 2 seed. Nicholas started and gave up 2 UNearned runs in the 2nd inning. No earned runs for his 3 innings, had 5 K's and walked 3, gave up 4 hits. At the end of his 3 innings we had a 6-2 lead.

    The rec season has come to a sad end for Nicholas' team. We lost in a game that turned out to be a tremendous battle between pitchers. This was a loss to the no. 1 seeded team. Nicholas started on the mound and pitched his alotted 3 innings. 1st inning was a bit shaky as he had 1 out and runners on 2nd & 3rd. he was able to battle back and leave those runners stranded. In his 3 innings he gave up 2 hits, walked 2, struck out 5 & gave up 0 runs. At the end of 3 innings it was 0-0. Our pitcher gave up 3 runs in the 4th inning which were the only runs scored in the game.
    For the season Nicholas pitched 23 innings and here are his stats.

    55 K's

    14 walks

    ERA .64 gave up 4 earned runs

    4-1

    1 save

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  • Larry NA
    Larry NA

    2007-08 Winter Training at On Deck!

    Posted 3 days ago by Larry NA
    Nicholas has been winter training at this facility for the upcoming baseball season!

    http://www.baseballondeck.com/