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| Members of Norwell's 1973 and 1988 boys' basketball teams were honored before the varsity boys' game Saturday night at Norwell. |
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| Members of Norwell's 2011-2012 boys' basketball team, which finished runner-up in the Class 3A state finals, receive their runners-up state rings, during the same game. |
"It is truly hard to believe we are already planning for the fifth season downtown," said TinCaps Team President, Mike Nutter. "It seems like just yesterday that we opened the gates to the ballpark and welcomed in our first fan. Now, nearly 300 TinCaps games and four seasons later, we've welcomed well over 1.5 million fans. That isn't a number we take lightly. We feel we owe this community an affordable, fun, family-friendly entertainment option every summer. The 2013 season will be all of that and more."
In addition to all home game dates and times, the team also announced fireworks dates, day-of-the-week promotions, theme nights, and special entertainment. "We have an amazing 30 firework shows scheduled for 2013," said Nutter, "that is a record for us. We are also bringing back fan favorites such as Family Feast nights continuing on Mondays with a $1.00 food menu, Thirsty Thursdays with $1.00 beer, Theme Night Fridays, and Player Autographs on Sunday afternoons."
Other regular season highlights include Opening Day 2013 on Thursday, April 11th, which will include a post-game fireworks show. "Opening Day has become a tradition at Parkview Field, with sell-outs each of the last four seasons" said Nutter. "We will continue to commemorate the start of the season with unique promotions."
The TinCaps are expanding post-game fireworks dates by including shows on a record 7 Thursday nights and 4 Monday nights. The schedule also includes 8 Friday firework dates and 8 shows on Saturdays. "We saw tremendous positive feedback from our midweek firework displays during the 2010, 2011, and 2012 seasons," said Nutter. "With almost 70 sellouts over the last three years there was a need to add additional shows for next season to keep up with demand."
Entertainment acts for the 2013 season were also announced, including appearances by Myron Noodleman, BirdZerk, the ZOOperstars, QuickChange, Christopher, and Jake the Diamond Dog. Additional promotional and entertainment announcements are expected in the coming months as plans continue to be finalized.
2013 Season ticket packages - Existing season ticket holders will have a priority period to renew and reserve their same seat locations for 2013. Following that period season tickets will be available to the general public.
Groups who enjoyed outings and picnics during the 2012 season will have an early period for booking an outing for next season, which will begin in the coming weeks. Groups that did not have an outing in 2012 are welcome to contact the team to be placed on a waiting list.
For more information about the TinCaps 2013 season please contact the Fort Wayne TinCaps Administrative Office at (260) 482-6400. Additional information is available online at TinCaps.com.
Individual tickets for TinCaps home games in 2013 are not yet released for sale.
The Norwell Middle School students above recently participated in the Bellmont Conditioner. Pictured are front row, left to right, Morgan Markley, Ashley VandenBoom, Kayla Detrick, Claire Johnson; back row, Libby Kemper, Hannah Worden, Megan Theisman, Allison Topp, and Coach Scott Hanni.
"For me, if I start looking at a scouting report too much, start thinking about things up at the plate, I really psych myself out sometimes," Myers said. "I do like to know the velocity of [the pitcher's] fastball. The only thing I look for up there is the fastball and adjust to the off-speed. Every now and then, we'll talk about what he throws in different counts, but really I just want to go up there and look for a fastball."
The simple approach has proven affective. In case you haven't heard, Myers has been the Minors' best player (sorry, Dylan Bundy) if not biggest story (OK, Billy Hamilton). This can be found in the numbers, from Double- and Triple-A: a .314 average, a Minors-leading 37 home runs and those 109 RBIs. And that's with a mid-August 1-for-18 skid that dropped his Omaha average 10 points to, briefly anyway, below .300.
"I changed my approach to stay to the middle of the field. It's more mental. Whenever I think about pulling balls too much, I start rolling over on ground balls, pulling off [the ball], not able to get to the outside [pitches]." said Myers, who has also stood up in his stance to increase his power this season. "I was getting a little pull-happy in August, trying to hit too many home runs. I just want to stay through the middle of the field these last couple of weeks. That really works for me."
So does facing the pitching of Albuquerque, Omaha's first-round postseason opponent. The right-handed-hitting outfielder/third baseman was 17-for-35 (.486) against the Isotopes, and the one pitcher he didn't enjoy facing, PCL Pitcher of the Year John Ely, was promoted to the Majors this week.
"I have swung the bat pretty good against these guys," he understated. "They like to challenge hitters with the fastball. They try to get ahead in the count early. That's something I like, when pitchers try to do that."
Playoff thought: "[The Royals] have already told me I am not coming up, so I am just worried about going out and winning the PCL. Obviously, I'd rather be up there, but since I'm here, I'm really looking forward to playing in these playoffs. I have played in one playoffs before -- last year -- but this team is a lot better than the team I had last year."
"Lately, I have been seeing the ball well. Jeff Brandon, our hitting coach, and we have been fine-tuning my mechanics, getting me into a stronger position. My swing works all around my hands, and my hands start my movement -- that's what gets me into a good position."
In August, his third full month at Triple-A, Sanchez batted .271. He wasn't shabby in July either, hitting six home runs in 23 games. He is just 2-for-19 against Knights pitching this season, but the Indians catcher is comfortable entering his club's first September series.
"We will go over what we have seen from their guys in the past, but there's only so much you can do with a scouting report. A guy can be on or off a certain day, certain pitches will be there and certain pitches won't be. I go out trying to figure out how he is attacking me that day and go from there," he said. "For me, less is more. 'Velo' on the fastball and what his out-pitch is -- that's all I need. I think a lot of guys feel that way. The less information we have, the less we think about it, the more we just go up there and hit."
Playoff thought: We have lost a lot of talent, but we are just as strong as were earlier this season. There will be a little bit more on the line -- we're playing for a ring -- but I'll still try to drive in runs for my team and have good at-bats no matter what the game is."
"We'll see who the pitcher is for the day. We'll ask our coach, 'What do you think we need to be aware of?' Everyone throws out comments [like] what pitchers go to [in situations]," Wong said. "At this point in the season, we have probably faced him five to seven times already. I have an idea of how he likes to pitch me and what his pitches are."
Wong has not done as well against Springfield's first playoff opponent, Tulsa, (22-for-104, a .212 average) as he has against the field (.287). "They always come with a different gameplan. Even though each gameplan is similar, when I think a pitch is coming, they go with a different pitch," the second baseman/leadoff man said. "That's the one thing that's hard about playing in the Texas League. There are only eight teams, so you're constantly playing the same people. By the second or third series, they know what your weakness is."
Wong, St. Louis' first-round pick in 2011, has made slight adjustments to his mechanics -- specifically, altering his hand path and increasing the load into his swing -- but hasn't change much else.
"The numbers are sort of where I expected them to be," he said. "I didn't really expect to come out hitting .340 this year 'cause I knew I was going to be a lot more games."
Playoff thought: "The intensity is going to be different. There is a lot of intensity when we're playing during the season, but it's playoff time."
Schoop, the 20-year-old Curacao-born infielder and the Robin to Manny Machado's Batman, batted .290 in 2010 and again in '11 but finished '12 at .245. He collected 39 extra-base hits but also struck out 103 times in 124 games. He too battles the information age. He wants to know the opposing pitcher's velocity, his out-pitch and more specific data (like what pitch he throws most often with runners in scoring position), and yet he wants to keep his mind quiet. He can't have it both ways. "Putting pressure on myself," he said of his woes. "When I think too much, I lose my concentration."
Schoop's physical goals at the plate are two-fold: Keep his swing short and find a way to hit the baseball with the thickest part of his bat's barrel. He rarely accomplished both against the Baysox's first September stumbling block, Akron. The Aeros limited the right-handed hitter to 13 hits in 62 at-bats, or a .191 average. At least they no longer boast starter Steven Wright, who was traded midseason (to the Red Sox organization.
"That was the key guy for them, because he threw like 85 [mph], but he had the knuckleball and a good slider," Schoop said. "I actually liked the challenge of facing him."
Playoff thought: "We don't want to change anything just because it's the playoffs. We'll treat it like the normal season."
"I have carried that through this season," the right-handed hitting shortstop said.
Owings, a first-round draftee in 2009, began 2012 for a second tour at the Class A Advanced level, where he would bat .324 with 11 longballs in 59 games. In 69 since at Double-A, his numbers have come down some. He went 13-for-58 (.224) against Montgomery and batted .263 with six homers overall. One pitcher he's glad he won't have to prepare for: former Biscuits ace Alex Colome.
"We're going to have a meeting before the series starts, but I have my notes from facing these guys throughout the year," he said. "More mental notes on what their game plan is. I like to keep things simple but also have a plan on what they got. Velocity isn't too big of an issue. Knowing pitches is more important."
Playoff thought: "It will be a little bit better atmosphere, but we have played Montgomery a lot since I've been up here."
The Norwell Middle School boys cross country team continued its early season success by placing 2nd at the Manchester Invitational Saturday. The Crusaders tied with Westview Junior High, but they lost the tie-breaker to place 2nd.
Norwell Middle School opened its 2012 cross country season with the Norwell Middle School Invitational with 11 teams attending. Pictured are front row, left to right, Austin Mounsey, Ethan Todd, Will Zimmer, Connor McCabe, Brandon Runyon; middle row, Nick Tarr, Nick Whitney, Caleb Kohler, Greyson Mishler, Garrett Weybright, Caleb Torson, Kyle James; third row, Paul Turrin, Josh Whitney, Gabe Smith, Dustin Haiflich, Zach Geiger, Noah Steffen, Austin Boucher, Trevor Prough, Quentin Middleton, Caleb Puch.
Southern Wells faces off against Shenandoah at Fred F. Park Field. The Southern Wells football team can't play on its own field due to the drought from this summer. (Photo by Dick Green)Frank Garces, who had won eight of his last nine starts, allowed three runs over his two innings of work, which was his shortest outing of the season. He left in line for a loss, his team trailing, 3-1. Fort Wayne (29-21, 60-60) pulled to within one, at 3-2, in the third inning on an RBI groundout by Mike Gallic.
In the top of the sixth, Dayton (21-27, 51-67) starter Stalin Gerson (6-8) began to falter. He allowed back-to-back singles to Yeison Asencio and Lee Orr to begin the inning. Austin Hedges then laid down a bunt, which Gerson fielded, but his throw sailed over first baseman Sean Buckley, allowing Asencio to score and tie the game at three. Kyle Gaedele then walked, and Gerson was removed from the game in favor of reliever Carlos Gonzalez.
Gonzalez uncorked two wild pitches, which brought both Hedges and Gaedele in to score, and gave the TinCaps a 5-3 lead. While Fort Wayne was building its comeback, the bullpen was compiling scoreless innings. James Jones (2-3) worked three scoreless frames, Johnny Barbato twirled two more scoreless innings and Matt Stites retired the side in order in the eighth and ninth innings, earning his 12th save.
The TinCaps added their final run of the night in the eighth inning on an RBI single from Travis Jankowski. Five of the six runs scored by Fort Wayne were unearned runs, due to three errors committed by the Dragons.
Fort Wayne has the day off on Tuesday, and will begin a three-game series at Lansing on Wednesday night. The scheduled starters are Colin Rea for the TinCaps and Aaron Sanchez for the Lugnuts.
