Showing posts in the “Durham Bulls” category
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
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
Adam Sobsey ·
18 Nov 2009, 2:26 PM ·
1 Comment
DBAP/ DURHAM—Standing right under the snorting Bull just beyond the DBAP’s Blue Monster, a.k.a. the left-field wall, grand poobah Jim Goodmon surveyed the crowd gathered at yesterday’s press conference and led off with, “This is another really great thing that’s coming to downtown Durham.”
The thing in question is a three-year agreement between the Durham Bulls and the Duke University baseball team. Beginning in February of 2010, a new partnership will see the Blue Devils play several series at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park each season for the next three years. The 2010 schedule, which will be released next week, includes games against UNC, Clemson, Miami, Florida State and Virginia, plus a couple of non-conference games TBA. Duke baseball coach Sean McNally and catcher Ryan McCurdy, who both attended yesterday, expressed unalloyed excitement and said all the right things, and why wouldn’t they? The DBAP is a beautifully maintained, gleaming ballpark that holds well over 10,000 fans (the Blue Devils hope to draw at least 2,000 per game); and although there’s nothing wrong with Duke’s own park, this is an upgrade of major proportions. For the next three seasons—more if things go well—there will be ACC baseball at the DBAP to keep up with.
Continue reading »
ACC, Baseball, Duke, Durham Bulls, N.C. Central DBAP, Durham Tobacconists, Jim Goodmon, Kevin White, Mike Birling, Richard Brodhead, Ryan McCurdy, Scott Strickland, Sean McNally
Mike Potter ·
5 Nov 2009, 5:46 PM ·
2 Comments
The Koreans are coming to the Triangle.
USA Baseball has announced that its Collegiate National Team will square off in a five-game friendly series with the Republic of Korea from July 14-18, with the first two of five games in Cary and the final two in Durham.
Korea, currently ranked No. 3 in the world, will be the highest-ranked visiting team in the Triangle since USA Baseball’s headquarters relocated here in 2003. The USA is ranked No. 2 and Cuba No. 1.
Korea’s last visit was in 2006, when the Americans won two out of three games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
Korea’s Collegiate National Team last visited North Carolina in 2006, playing the U.S. in a three-game series at the DBAP. Team USA took the series two games to one.
The Triangle games will be July 14 at 7 p.m. and July 15 at 7:30, both at Cary’s Coleman Field. Games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park - which will be part of the Bulls’ season-ticket and some mini-plan packages - are July 17 at 7:05 p.m. and July 18 at 5:05. The location for a July 16 game has not been announced.
USA Baseball has also announced some name changes for its top teams. The former National Team will now be known as the Collegiate National Team, partly to avoid confusion with various youth age-group and women’s “National Teams” sponsored by the organization.
There will also no longer be an entity called the “Professional Team;” instead the World Cup Team and World Baseball Classic Team will simply be referred to by the primary event in which they will participate.
The organization also had two personnel transactions, as Nate Logan was named Director of the 14U National team and Ashley Bratcher Director, Operations & Women’s National Team.
Baseball, Durham Bulls, USA Baseball Ashley Bratcher, Cuba, Japan, Korea, Nate Logan
Adam Sobsey ·
21 Oct 2009, 4:00 AM ·
1 Comment
Apparently just discovering that they won the Triple-A championship a full month after it happened, the Durham Bulls are throwing a party tonight at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, from 6-8 p.m.
Highlights: The trophy will be on display, as will the International League Governor’s Cup trophy, which the Bulls also won. Bulls utilityman Elliot Johnson and first baseman Chris Richard—the latter is, don’t forget, the Bulls’ all-time home run leader—will be on hand to sign autographs (both players live in Durham in the off-season). The first 500 fans get early-bird perks, and everyone gets free hot dogs, chips, cookies and soda. You can also bring a glove and play catch under the lights. No word on whether you’ll be charged with an error if you drop a pop-up.
It’s only too bad that Scott Kazmir, who won one of the Bulls’ regular-season games this season, took the loss for the Los Anagram Gleans of Anywhoo last night. Otherwise, tonight’s party offers unalloyed good vibes. Spend your twilight at the DBAP and celebrate your champions.
Baseball, Durham Bulls Chris Richard, Elliot johnson, Governor's Cup, party, Scott Kazmir, Triple-A championship
Mike Potter ·
27 Sep 2009, 3:39 PM ·
Comment
Maybe the Cuban baseball dynasty is beginning to crumble a little bit.
Lucas May blasted a three-run, second-inning homer and Team USA poured on six more runs in the seventh, topping the Cubans 10-5 to win the IBAF World Cup in Nettuno, Italy.
It was the 14th straight win for the Red, White and Blue, which had also beaten the Cubans on Thursday and lost just one of its 19 games after the group of top-level minor leaguers was assembled for the first time earlier this month.
The USA was the defending champion of the tournament, also defeating the Cubans in 2007. Team USA has won the World Cup four times, including its other back-to-back titles in 1973-74.
Tournament MVP Justin Smoak, former Durham Bull Jon Weber (pictured), Terry Tiffee and May all had RBI singles in the seventh-inning spree. Weber and Tiffee joined Smoak on the all-tournament team.
Brad Lincoln was the winning pitcher in relief of Cory Luebke.
Baseball, Durham Bulls, USA Baseball Brad Lincoln, Cory Luebke, Cuba, Italy, Jon Weber, Justin Smoak, Lucas May, Terry Tiffee
