Kids are the best

Every Monday and Wednesday, a group of four players heads down to School 4 in Dunkirk to visit the After School program in Mr. Adam's class. Mr. Adams played four years for the Blue Devils and was on the coaching staff for four years. Now an elementary school teacher, he has kept up with our program.

Below, Brian Sheehan works on the Promethium Board with a group of kids and Tommy Morris.

Zach Hugg, or 'Huggy', as he is known -- one of the favorites because he "is so good at video games" -- plays some baseball math. Huggy won.

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Future Rick Generete?

Dan Fetes got back into the mix this past Friday for the Blue Devil hockey team's first game. Here Dan interviews Brett Mueller (in an amateur video) following a 5-2 win over the Canton Kangaroos.

Dan, a communications major, is in his fourth year working with the campus radio and TV stations. Dan's career announcing highlights include sitting alongside Buffalo Sabres announcer Rick Generette during a Sabres broadcast.

A number of current baseball players played high school and club hockey. This year, Ryan Fitzgerald is in the scorer's booth as the clock operator at all home games. Be careful Fitz -- he missed all of last baseball season with a medical red shirt after "slipping on ice" in January.

Junior Matt Casilio -- former Section V Hockey Player of the Year and a State Champ -- works the hokey games, too (he and Dan were teammates at Webster-Thomas). He has an internship with coach Meredith and films various drills at practice and games, and helps break down film. Matt is an Exercise Science major.

Teaching the youth

Ryan Fitzgerald (white shirt) and Coach Bongiovanni (lavendar
shirt) pose with their students at Love Elementary.

  

Sophomore Ryan Fitzgerald is earning experience toward his childhood education degree. He has been assigned to Love Elementary School in Jamestown... and is wiorking under long-time Blue Devil assistant Chad Bongiovanni. Chad is a full-time teacher there in addition to helping out with the baseball team. Chad is also a high school umpire and gets behind the plate during some of our fall ball intersquads.

Ryan is also very active on campus. He is the official clock operator at home hockey games (he was a standout player in high shool) and he refereees intramuarals, all while maintaining a 3.0 in a challenging major.

Captains named

The team voted for captains on Monday. Congratulations to Angelo "Ace" Sciandra for being named the captain of the pitching staff. Ian Gallagher, Dillon Lowe, Dan Fetes and Brian Sheehan were voted captains as well. We went with five since all five received a large number of votes.

Ace was voted a captain for the second straight year. In addition to baseball, he is an honors student as an education major and has recieved a number of awards recognizing his teaching prowess.

Gallagher and Lowe were teammates at Pittsford-Sutherland HS in Rochester. It is one of the best run high school programs in the state. In 2010, they won the New York State Championship -- the year after they graduated. Thus, when referred to as a pair, they are called the 'State Champs'. Lowe is a 3.0+ student and is working towards a degree in engineering.

Dan Fetes is one of the most involved players I've coached -- color commentator for our home hockey games; has his own blog and radio show; represents the team on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee; has written for the school paper and maintains over a 3.0. He'll be employable when he graduates!

Sheehan is in his third season as the team's starting catcher and swings the only 34'' on the team. He runs the team from behind the plate and has been one of the most consistent players over the past three years.

Congrats, Captains!

Battling the elements

We battled the elements again this weekend -- another rainy Saturday. We got in a productive Friday, though. Kenny Johnston took home the Hammer with another solid performance. He's been very steady this fall. A double of the wall, several solid at bats sand a lot of positive energy.

Our fall is done and we will now move into the off-season. Bating cages, weight rooms, throwing programs and the library.

In general, it was a wet fall as far as the weekends. Here's something to get you in the mood to play some baseball:

Driving in runs

Thursday's practice saw coaches Greco and Tantillo set up a modified scrimmage. Each inning, we placed runners on base to start the inning (first and third; second base; third base only) and our goal was to drive in as many runs as possible. Productive outs, quality at bats.

The day started sub-par -- infield popups, strikeouts looking, etc. -- leading to a negative overall score with the Modified Greco Scoring System. The losing team ran a triangle after each inning.

By the final inning, the Crushers drove in all four runners from third base. Execution improved and both teams had positive scores the final three innings. A great improvement.

With starting catcher Brian Sheehan out due to classes, backup catchers Kyle Koslowski had a solid day throwing and blocking. Anthony Polvino, who is also competing for time behind the plate, took home the Hammer. He started poorly -- a couple defensive errors and popups, but he kept his head about him and delivered several hits and blocked well. Same positive attitude every practice. According to his junior college coach, Anthony Barone "Anthony is in my top five, all time. I love that kid." Anthony is an Energy Giver, for sure.

We haven't done any video lately, so here is a blast from the past:

Gaupp has big return to campus

Carl Gaupp played baseball and would later go on to teach chemistry at Fredonia State. Its been about eight years since he last participated in an alumni game. This past Saturday, Dr. Gaupp broke open a close game vs. the current Blue Devils with a bases-loaded triple -- using wood. the Alumis went on to win 11-2 over a group of current Blue Devils.

 

Needless to say, Andy Dlugosz picked up the win in relief -- has he ever not vultured a win?. Jamie Sapienza added a few safeties and almost stole second. Winston Woodard was at his 11th straight alumni game and gave up only one run over three innings. Tommy flew in from Florida and flew around the bases, stealing a couple to add to his career total.

 

Joe Mauer look-alike Matt LaPorte caught all nine innings (since Rob Herrmann showed up in street  clothes). Tim Cowan -- now the HS coach at Chautauqua Lake -- put in a solid day. dan greco, Tommy Tantillo and Jon Messina manged not to get hurt.

 

For the Blue Devils, freshman Carl Wolf flashed some serious leather, while Tommy Morris "big leagued" a few plays. Kenny Johnston got lit up and struck out twice to assist the alums to victory.

Fredonia Baseball welcomed alumni back to Ludwig.

The 2012 alumni game was a success as the old timer's defeated the rookies with an 11-2 victory at Ludwig Field. Mother nature finally cooperated with us as Saturday's weather was beautiful. The alumni squad pictured above, from left to right: front row- Tim Cowan, Jon Messina, Tom Tantillo, Tommy Dee, Dan Greco: back row- Andy Dlugosz, Carl Gaupp, Jamie Sapienza, Matt LaPorte, Winston Woodard. The alumni have kept tabs on the current baseball team and are a huge part of our success. It was nice to be able to give back as we all had some fun playing the game that we love.