Showing posts in the “Baseball” category
Mike Potter ·
16 Mar 2010, 7:12 PM ·
3 Comments
DURHAM ATHLETIC PARK/DURHAM N.C. Central hosts yet another challenging baseball battle with an ACC foe, this time an N.C. State team that’s looking for its first road win of the season.
The Eagles are looking for their first win anywhere, and really haven’t kept more than a couple of games competitive so far this season.
Because the weather forecast isn’t good, the game will have a 3 p.m. start - sort of - instead of the regularly scheduled 6 p.m. starting time. It’s the first of their two scheduled meetings this season, as the Eagles will visit Doak Field at Dail Park on April 13.
Jeff Citero (0-1, 9.82), a junior out of Southeast Raleigh, will be on the mound for the Eagles while the Wolfpack sends big sophomore Mike Russo (0-0, 6.14).
It’s competitive from the start, but the Wolfpack scores in every inning, hitting five homers in a 24-6 romp. Continue reading »
ACC, Baseball, N.C. Central, N.C. State Akeem Hood, Andrew Ciencin, Anthony Wilson, Blake Murray, Chris Diaz, Chris Overman, Coppin State, Dallas Poulk, Danny Canela, David Scott, Drew Poulk, Elliott Avent, Henry White, Jeff Citero, John Gianis, Justin Goodson, Kurt Wilson, Mike Russo, Nate Smith, Pratt Maynard, Ross Plummer, Russell Wilson, Tarran Senay, UNC Wilmington
Rob Rowe ·
15 Mar 2010, 8:33 PM ·
Comment
DURHAM BULLS ATHLETIC PARK/DURHAM Duke has pulled the same feat twice, this time in Durham.
Last year, Duke lost the first game in the Tobacco Road series in Chapel Hill, but won the series by winning the last two games. This year, the series is in Durham, but the same result comes out on Sunday as Duke wins the finale 5-3.
For the first time in the series, there are no runs scored in the first inning. The first run is scored in the top of the third on of a two-run homer by UNC’s Jesse Wierzbicki.
Continue reading »
ACC, Baseball, UNC-Chapel Hill Ben Grisz, Brian Litwin, Duke, Eric Brady, Jesse Wierzbicki, Levi Michael, Ryan Graepel, UNC, Will Currier
Rob Rowe ·
13 Mar 2010, 9:27 PM ·
Comment
Duke third baseman Eric Brady swings and misses in the second ACC contest of the year for the Blue Devils. (Photo by Rob Rowe)
DURHAM BULLS ATHLETIC PARK/DURHAM If you saw the box score from last night’s game, you’d be in disbelief - #11 UNC beat Duke 21-9.
Fast-forward eighteen hours, and its Duke with an eight-run inning in front of the largest crowd in Duke coach Sean McNally’s tenure, and possibly in Duke Baseball history - the attendance is at 2,572. The crowd cheers on the Blue Devils to win this one, 15-11.
Eric Pfisterer (2-1, 5.28 ERA coming into today) is on the mound for Duke at the start. Tar Heel starting pitcher Patrick Johnson (2-1, 1.42 ERA coming into today) starts the first three innings and allows UNC to take a 2-1 lead.
Continue reading »
ACC, Baseball, Duke, Durham Bulls, UNC-Chapel Hill Ben Bunting, Brian Goodwin, Chris Munnelly, Christopher Manno, Durham Bulls, Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Eric Pfisterer, Jake Lemmerman, Jeremy Gould, Levi Michael, Marcus Stroman, Michael Morin, Patrick Johnson, R.C. Orlan, Sean McNally, Snorting Bull, Tommy Coyle, Will Piwnica-Worms
Mike Potter ·
12 Mar 2010, 11:00 PM ·
Comment
North Carolina's Jacob Stallings watches the ball cross the plate as Ben Bunting warms up for his turn. (Photo by Rob Rowe)
DURHAM BULLS ATHLETIC PARK/DURHAM The ACC baseball conference season starts tonight, and they seem to make schedules a lot differently in this sport than in most others.
Duke, which has moved 18 home games to the Durham Bulls’ digs this season and is playing many of the rest at USA Baseball’s Coleman Field in Cary, is hosting archrival UNC tonight in the opener of their three-game series. Yep, the weekend of the ACC Basketball Tournament.
And the rains seem to be ending just in time for the first pitch.
The Tar Heels, who are looking for their fifth straight trip to the College World Series, are 11-2 and ranked as high as No. 11 nationally. Duke, coming off its best season in 15 years last year, is 9-3.
The Tar Heels dominate a slugfest, winning 21-9 with their highest run and hit totals of the season as they snap Duke’s eight-game winning streak and give the Blue Devils their first home loss.
Continue reading »
ACC, Baseball, Duke, Durham Bulls, UNC-Chapel Hill, USA Baseball Ben Grisz, Brian Goodwin, Dennis O'Grady, Dillon Hazlett, Eric Brady, Jake Lemmerman, Jeremy Gould, Joe Pedevillano, Levi Michael, Matt Harvey, Michael Ness, Mike Carroll, Mike Fox, Ryan Graepel, Sean McNally, Tarron Robinson, Tommy Coyle, Will Currier, Will Piwnica-Worms
Mike Potter ·
26 Feb 2010, 6:48 PM ·
Comment
DURHAM BULLS ATHLETIC PARK/DURHAM Duke has a new primary home for its baseball team, and the Blue Devils are hosting their first home game on a very nippy afternoon.
For their sake, at least the sun is out.
The opponent is Fordham in the opener of a three-game series. It’s the first meeting with the Rams since the spring of 1941. Before World War II, even. History.
Duke will play 18 games at the Durham Bulls’ facility and 13 at Jack Coombs Field, with every home ACC series here except the one against Florida State April 16-18 during the Bulls’ opening homestand.
Duke will try to qualify for the ACC Tournament for the second straight season, making its first appearance since 2005 last season when the event was in Durham. The Blue Devils are 1-3 after playing in an event at Baylor last weekend that included a victory over No. 22 Georgia.
The park isn’t quite ready for prime time, as the concrete in the grandstands is being resealed and almost every seat in the primary seating bowl except for the box seats has been temporarily removed for the project. The Blue Devils’ first workout here was Thursday.
Duke goes today with Michael Ness (0-0, 1.80), while Max Krakowiak (0-1, 0.00) starts for the Rams. And the Blue Devils survive with a bottom-of-the-ninth rally in a 5-4 victory.
Fordham scores a run in the first when leadoff man Brian Kownacki doubles past first and scores on Chris Walker’s double to right.
Duke retaliates in the bottom of the frame, as Ryan McCurdy hits a one-out double to left and scores on Jeremy Walker’s two-out double to right.
The Blue Devils add a run in the third as Marcus Stroman leads off with a triple to left and scores on a wild pitch.
Fordham gets two in the fourth on Nick Martinez’s two-out single to left. But the Devils tie it in the bottom of the frame as Will Piwnica-Worms reaches on an error to shortstop Kownacki and later scores on Gabriel Saade’s single to third.
Duke scores a go-ahead run in the eighth off lefty Rich Anastasi. Dennis O’Grady draws a leadoff walk, then takes third on a single to left by pinch-hitter Will Currier. Saade’s fly ball to right scores the run. Continue reading »
ACC, Baseball, Duke, Durham Bulls Baylor, Ben Grisz, Brian Kownacki, Chris Walker, Dennis O'Grady, Florida State, Fordham, Gabriel Saade, Georgia Bulldogs, Jake Lemmerman, Jeremy Walker, Marcus Stroman, Matt DaSilva, Max Krakowiak, Michael Ness, Nick Martinez, P.J. Como, Rich Anastasi, Ryan Maghini, Ryan McCurdy, Will Currier, Will Piwnica-Worms
Mike Potter ·
19 Feb 2010, 5:04 PM ·
Comment
DURHAM ATHLETIC PARK/DURHAM There’s baseball back at the old yard again.
For the first time since the Durham Americans of the Coastal Plain League played here in 2003 the game is being played above the high school level on the spot where the Durham Bulls played from 1926-1994.
N.C. Central is taking on Iona in the first game of the inaugural Eagle Baseball Classic, a three-day event which also includes Navy and Delaware State. The refurbished facility is the new home of the Eagles, who played most of their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park for the previous three seasons.
It’s still cold out here in mid-February, but the sun is smiling on baseball in the Triangle. According to DAP manager Jill Rusinko there are over 100 games scheduled at the park this season, as the Durham Bulls will be here on May 10, and it’s the home field of both Durham School of the Arts and American Legion Post 7.
It should be an even kind of game. NCCU, in the third of its five seasons of transition from NCAA Division II to Division I, was 6-35 last year while Iona was 6-40-1. And it does turn out to be a pretty even affair, with the Gaels winning 4-2. Continue reading »
Baseball, Durham Bulls, N.C. Central Akeem Hood, Andrew Passerelle, Blake Murray, Brandon Oatis, Chris Burke, Chris Griffin, Coastal Plain League, Dean Dignelli, Delaware State, Drew Robinson, Henry White, Iona, Jill Rusinko, Navy Midshipmen, Nick Rossetti, Pat Carey
Mike Potter ·
19 Feb 2010, 1:01 AM ·
Comment
Don’t let those thermometers fool you.
The Boys of Spring hit the diamonds for real today.
Yes, it’s time for college baseball, and all four of the Triangle’s Division I teams will be in action.
N.C. Central (6-35 last season) moves into its new digs at the refurbished historic Durham Athletic Park, taking on Iona at 1 p.m. in the opener of the inaugural Eagle Baseball Classic, a three-day round-robin event in which the Eagles will also play Delaware State and Navy. Junior right-hander Drew Robinson (pictured), a transfer from Southeast Community College, will start for NCCU today.
UNC (48-18), which is seeking its fifth straight trip to the College World Series, will host George Washington at 3 p.m. in the opener of a three-game series at Boshamer Stadium. N.C. State (25-31), which aims to get back into the ACC Tournament, takes on LaSalle at 3 p.m. in the opener of a three-game series at Doak Field at Dail Park.
Duke (35-24) will open its season on the road today at 2, taking on host Baylor in the QTI Apparel’s Opening Weekend Classic which will also see the Blue Devils face Georgia twice. Duke’s home opener at its new primary home park at Durham Bulls Athletic Park will be on Feb. 26 against Fordham.
ACC, Baseball, Duke, N.C. Central, N.C. State, UNC-Chapel Hill Baylor, Delaware State, Drew Robinson, Fordham, George Washington Colonials, Georgia Bulldogs, Iona, LaSalle, Navy Midshipmen
Mike Potter ·
4 Dec 2009, 5:12 PM ·
Comment
FIVE COUNTY STADIUM/ZEBULON The Carolina Mudcats are doing a little outsourcing.
Don’t worry. They’re not taking any jobs out of the country.
But the club has sold its broadcast rights to Play-by-Play Sports Properties, LLC, of which veteran play-by-play man Patrick Kinas is president, and will also be picking up another radio station on its network.
Kinas (pictured), joined by company chairman Joe Bourdow and Mudcats general manager Joe Kremer, made the announcement at a press conference in the home clubhouse at the park.
The main aspect that will affect listeners is the addition of WDWG-FM 98.5 out of Rocky Mount as a co-flagship with Raleigh’s WDOX 570.
“As far as I know, this is the only minor-league team in the country that has agreed to license its broadcast,” Kinas said. “The bottom line is we’re all about the success of the Mudcats. What we bring to the table is that we’ll bring the Mudcats back to where they were a few years ago coverage-wise, and the bottom line is getting more people to this great stadium and watching the Reds’ players here.
“We’ve essentially quadrupled our coverage range. You can drive basically an hour and a half on I-95 and not lose our signal. That’s about 2/3 of a game, if you’re going the speed limit. Last year, you couldn’t even hear our games in our ballpark (without tuning in to Kinas’ 0.1-watt in-house FM broadcast.)” Continue reading »
ACC, Baseball, Carolina Mudcats, N.C. State Birmingham Barons, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, East Carolina, Florida Marlins, Joe Bourdow, Joe Kremer, Montgomery Biscuits, Patrick Kinas, Pittsburgh Pirates, Southern League, WDOX, WDWG
Adam Sobsey ·
26 Nov 2009, 8:57 AM ·
5 Comments
Fortunately, it’s Thanksgiving and we have an abundance of things to be grateful for—because, sadly, everyone’s favorite Bull, Jon Weber, is no longer a Durham ballplayer. In fact, he will be playing against the Taureaux in 2010. Weber has signed a minor-league deal with the New York Yankees, who are sure to install him as the starting left fielder for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The contract includes a spring-training invitation with its nominal opportunity to make the big-league club.
And all along we thought it was another left fielder property of the Rays, Carl Crawford, that the Yankees coveted.
Weber is a classic gamer who led the International League in doubles in 2009, placed in the top ten in several prominent hitting stat categories, was a superb clutch hitter, and was perhaps the Bulls’ MVP. He is an 11-year veteran of the minors who has never played a day in the major leagues, and he’s unlikely to break through in the Bronx, where the corner outfield positions are sure to be spoken for by multimillionaires like Johnny Damon. On the other hand, Damon is currently unsigned, Melky Cabrera has probably reached his ceiling and it’s lower than predicted, and Nick Swisher is the subject of trade rumors lately. You don’t think…?
Never mind. Pass the turkey.
Baseball, Durham Bulls Jon Weber, New York Yankees, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees
Adam Sobsey ·
18 Nov 2009, 11:40 PM ·
Comment
When it rains (which it is now doing, again) it pours. Soon after winning the Triple-A Baseball Championship, and then announcing a historic DBAP partnership with the Duke University baseball team, the Bulls chalked up more good news: manager Charlie Montoyo has won the second annual Coolbaugh Award, which “is presented to an individual who has shown an outstanding baseball work ethic, knowledge of the game and skill in mentoring young players on the field.”
The award is named for the late Mike Coolbaugh, the player and coach who in 2007 was struck and killed by a foul line drive as he stood in the first base coaches box of a Double-A Tulsa Drillers game. An absorbing, thorough interview with a journalist who wrote about the catastrophe and its aftermath can be found here.
Congrats to Montoyo from all of us Triangle Offenders. The award is well-deserved.
Baseball, Durham Bulls Charlie Montoyo, Coolbaugh Award, Mike Coolbaugh
