London Badgers Baseball - News Archives 2010 - 2011

LONDON BADGERS BASEBALL CLUB

For the third time in their history and the second time in the past three years the London Badgers have captured the Gold Medal at the Baseball Canada Midget Championships.

The Badgers finished the week in Regina with a 5-1 record including a semi-final win over Quebec by a 3-0 score that featured a strong pitching performance by Tim Black and timely hitting by Byron Reichstein and Mike Ambrose. Quebec who were undefeated going into the semi-final game but were held hitless by Black went on to take the Bronze Medal with an 11-1 win over Saskatchewan.

In the championship game, the Badgers were down early as Alberta scored a pair of runs in the first inning. That lead didn't last long as the Badgers started to pick away at the lead with single runs in each of the second and third innings. Brendan DeClark led off the second with a single and after he stole second was driven by a Taylor Carr single. Nolan Anderson who would play a significant role in the championship game tripled in the third inning and then scored on a passed ball to tie the score at 2-2.

With a pair of runs in the fifth and sixth innings it looked like London might have the game in hand with Taylor Carr on the mound. Carr provided a big RBI triple and then scored himself in the top of the sixth to put the Badgers into what appeared to be a comfortable 6-3 lead, but Alberta scratched away with a single run in the sixth and a pair in the bottom of the seventh inning to send the game to extra innings.

The eighth inning proved to be very intense. The Badgers loaded the bases with none out with the help of a pair of Alberta errors, a balk and a base on balls. After David Logan hit into a fielder's choice forcing Brendan DeClark at the plate for the first out of the inning, Mike Ambrose was hit by a pitch to force in the winning run and then Nolan Anderson walked to score the insurance run and put London up 8-6 going into the bottom of the eighth inning.

Alberta refused to go quietly in the eighth against Jeff Prouse who had come on to start the final inning on the mound for the Badgers. With two out and a runner on first Alberta put together their own combination of hit batter and a walk to load the bases. At this point Nolan Anderson was called upon to close out the game, and he did just that by getting the Alberta batter to pop up to Taylor Carr at first on the only pitch he threw the entire tournament.

Badger tournament award winners for Most Valuable Player included in Mitch Lumley (MVP game 1), Taylor Carr (MVP game 3), Matt Smith (MVP game 4), Tim Black (MVP game 5) and Nolan Anderson MVP in the gold medal game.

Three straight medals at Midget Nationals, two Gold Medals in three years, and the third Gold in the history of the organization speaks volumes to the quality of the program and the quality of coaching provided by head coach Mike Lumley.

The London Badger are without a doubt among the most respected Midget baseball programs in the entire country of Canada, and the planning for another trip to Nationals has already begun.

Congratulations to the London Badgers...

2011 BASEBALL CANADA MIDGET GOLD MEDALISTS!

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PEEWEE BADGERS WIN ICBA CHAMPIONSHIP
by Dan Haugh, Badger Media Liaison

The London Pee Wee Badgers came up with their best baseball of the season at a very opportune time as they captured the ICBA Pee Wee playoff championship over the weekend of August 26-28.

The Pee Wee Badgers went undefeated in the playoff tournament beating Hamilton by a 10-4 score in the final game to capture the ICBA playoff championship. The final game was close throughout with the Pee Wee Badgers breaking it open in the top of the seventh inning with a five-run rally highlighted by Carter Sanderson’s two-run single and Alex Lamont’s two-run double. Sanderson went 4-for-4 in the game that saw Justin McDonald, Spencer Bak and Alex Lamont combine for the pitching win.

Because of their third place finish in the regular schedule the Pee Wee Badgers faced first-placed Brantford in the opening game of the double-knockout tournament. The Badgers fell behind 3-2 in the Brantford game, and they had to come up with a three-run sixth-inning rally that was started with Daniel Lichty’s single. Lichty tied the game on a passed ball after Jordon Ellis’ sacrifice bunt. Adam Keyes reached base with a walk and Alex Lamont singled. Both Keyes and Lamont scored on Kevin Bowden’s two-RBI single for a 5-3 win. Travis Keys and Alex Lamont were on the mound.

From that point on the Pee Wee Badgers defeated Hamilton 6-3, Guelph 5-3 and 2-1 to set up the championship game against Hamilton.

The 2-1 win over Guelph was a very close game. The Badgers broke a 1-1 tie when they scratched out a run in the fourth inning. Daniel Lichty reached first on a walk and Tyler Champness hit a single to set up a sacrifice bunt by Kevin Bowden that scored Lichty all the way from second base to put the Badgers ahead to stay 2-1. Travis Keys went the distance on the mound for the Pee Wee Badgers as he allowed only one Guelph run on four hits, and it set up the rematch against Hamilton that saw the Badgers claim the title.

This was the first year that the Badger program had a team of players born in 1998, and it completed the transition that began in 2009 that now sees a Badger team at every level from Minor Mosquito to Major Midget.

The London Pee Wee Badgers – 2011 Inter-County Baseball Association Pee Wee Playoff Champions.

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MIDGET BADGERS CAPTURE BASEBALL ONTARIO MIDGET ELIMINATION TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP
by Dan Haugh, Badger Media Liaison

The London Badger Midgets won the Baseball Ontario Midget Elimination tournament that was held on Civic Holiday weekend in Sarnia.

A 2-0 win over Hamilton in the final of the elimination tournament locked up a third consecutive Baseball Canada Championship appearance.

After winning the elimination tournament in 2009, the Badgers traveled to Fredericton NB where they captured the Gold Medal by winning an exciting semi-final game over British Columbia and then handing Quebec a defeat in the championship game.

In 2010 the Badgers hosted the Midget Nationals and came away with the Bronze medal.

The win in the Baseball Ontario elimination tournament earns the Badgers a trip to Regina, Saskatchewan for the Midget Nationals August 18 – 22.

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MIDGET BADGERS GETTING READY FOR BASEBALL ONTARIO MIDGET ELIMINATION TOURNAMENT
by Dan Haugh, Badger Media Liaison

The London Badger Midgets are gearing up for the Baseball Ontario Midget Elimination tournament that will be held on Civic Holiday weekend in Sarnia. The elimination tournament will be the first step in the Badgers’ attempt to make a third consecutive Baseball Canada Championship appearance. After winning the elimination tournament in 2009, the Badgers traveled to Fredericton NB where they captured the Gold Medal by winning an exciting semi-final game over British Columbia and then handing Quebec a defeat in the championship game.

In 2010 the Badgers hosted the Midget Nationals and came away with the Bronze medal. The winner of this year’s Baseball Ontario elimination tournament will earn a trip to Regina, Saskatchewan for the Midget Nationals August 18 – 22.

In their preparation for eliminations the midget Badgers finished up the week with a doubleheader sweep of the Hamilton Cardinals minor midget team at Bernie Arbour stadium on Thursday July 21. The Badgers won the first game 11-6 and completed the sweep with a 5-1 victory. Jeff Prouse started the opener pitching three innings before Mike Ambrose took over in relief to finish the game. Brendan DeClark went deep with a solo home run.

The second game saw Mitch Lumley start on the mound and turn in six strong innings, giving up only a couple of hits before giving way to Sean Refflinghaus who came on to close out the game in the seventh inning.

That doubleheader win capped a 6-0 week in ICBA play for the Badgers. The week was highlighted by a marathon contest at Dan Pulham Field on Tuesday July 19 with the Hamilton Cardinals Major Midgets. Dan Parson was on the hill and went six innings. The Badgers led early, but Hamilton clawed their way back to tie the score in the ninth inning of a game that went 12 innings before a winner was decided. Eric Barnier came on in relief. In the bottom of 12th Brendan DeClark led off with a single and was driven in by Mackenzie Maxwell’s triple off the centerfield fence to secure the 7-6 win.

In preparing for Elimination tournament and hopefully Nationals the midget Badgers have combined ICBA and PBLO play with a very aggressive U.S. tournament schedule that has seen them post an 18-5 record including a 3-1 record in their most recent tournament in Dayton, Ohio.

Next action for the Midget Badgers is Saturday, July 23 when they host the Toronto Mets for a PBLO doubleheader at Labatt Park and then travel on Sunday to Toronto to meet the Mets again.

The Badger Pee Wees started off tournament action with a 13-0 win over the Cambridge Cubs, but things got a little tougher after that as they recorded victories over Vaughn Vikings and Brampton Braves by identical 8-7 scores before handing the hometown Brantford Red Sox a close 3-0 semi-final defeat.

In the championship win over Barrie, the Badger Pee Wees overcame an early 4-1 deficit as final game MVP Kevin Bowden drove in the winning run in the top of the sixth inning. Adam Keyes pitched the first five innings for the Badgers while Jordan Ellis came on to finish off the final two innings to seal the victory.

The Pee Wees are in action this weekend at Stronach Park with an ICBA doubleheader versus Brantford on Sunday July 17.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 13, 2011

BADGER LOTTERY DRAW WINNERS...

The London Badgers conducted a licenced lottery (Licence M626185) and the draw occurred Friday June 10, 2011 at 5:00PM 1223 Sandford Street London, Ontario.

The draw winners are as follows...

1st Prize - ($1000) - Lucy Gellner

2nd Prize ($750) - Mike Mikolajczak

3rd Prize ($500) - JD Lund

4th Prize ($100) - Andrea Willoughby

Congratulations to the winners!

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LONDON BADGERS BASEBALL CLUB

MINOR PEEWEE BADGERS WIN ST. THOMAS TOURNAMENT
Dan Haugh, Badger Media Liaison

The Minor Pee Wee Badgers traveled to St. Thomas this past weekend and came away with the St. Thomas Major Pee Wee tournament championship. The Badgers posted an undefeated record on their way to capturing the championship with a 16-4 victory over Oshawa in the final game.

Overall throughout the tournament the Badgers received a balanced offensive attack highlighted by Adam Hall’s two home runs.

In round-robin action the Minor Pee Wees defeated North York 9-3, Oakville 19-0 and tied Stratford 6-6. In the victory over Oakville, Badger right-hander Austin Young had a no-hitter going into the fifth inning.

The Minor Pee Wee Badgers defeated St. Thomas in semi-final play by a 11-7 score and then in the championship game the Badgers got 3 1/3 strong innings from Adam Hall. Thomas Henderson came on to go 1 2/3 innings to pickup the save.

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COLIN DEMAN NO-HITS WATERLOO IN 12-0 WIN
Dan Haugh, Badger Media Liaison

The Bantam Badgers defeated Waterloo in five innings by a 12-0 score on Tuesday, May 24 at Norm Aldridge Field, but the big story on the night was the no-hit pitching of Colin Deman.

Colin said that he thought early in the game that he was going to have a good night, “I knew that it would be a good night after my team started hot on the bats with a few runs in the first inning. That gave me confidence, but I feel like I hit a good rhythm after striking out the side in the second inning.”

Deman faced 14 batters in recording 13 outs before being relieved by Nathan Phelps in the top of the fifth when his pitch count reached 60 and Head Coach Steve Cochrane decided to save the young pitcher’s arm for an upcoming tournament. Phelps retired the final two Waterloo batters to complete the no-hitter.

Only two Waterloo players reached base safely in the game. The lead-off hitter reached on a walk, and attempted to steal on the first pitch, but was gunned down easily by catcher Kyle Nesbitt. The other base runner reached base safely on a base on balls in the third inning.

When asked what pitches were working for him on the way to the no-hitter Colin said, “They seemed to have trouble catching up to my fastball, but the coach picked good locations for the pitches and the catcher set up really well. It was a team effort.”

Head Coach Steve Cochrane spoke about Colin’s success, “Colin has continued to develop as one of our top pitchers on the Bantam team. We have focused on locating his fastball early and working ahead. He is starting to have success at this. Our team defense assisted Colin in this great performance so really everyone needed to pull their weight... and they did.”

Zach Desa was the hitting star in the game for the Bantam Badgers with two hits including a big double which powered a three-run first inning.

In an earlier ICBA start on May 9 against Woodstock Deman pitched three innings without allowing a hit.

The Bantam Badgers will be competing in a tournament in Brampton this weekend.

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QUINN LITTLE SIGNS AT MACOMB C.C.
by Dan Haugh, Badger Media Liaison

London Badger player Quinn Little has signed a letter of intent to play baseball and further his education at Macomb County College in Warren Michigan for the next two years. Quinn who is finishing up his studies at Glencoe District High School, played in the St. Thomas Minor Baseball system before joining the Badger midget team last season.

When asked why he chose Macomb College, Quinn said, "It seemed to be a good fit for me both academically and athletically. They have a great facility to practice in during the winter months and a very supportive coaching staff. It's only a few hours from my home, so everything seemed to just fall into place."

Quinn gives a lot of credit to the coaches he has had along the way in St. Thomas, at Centrefield Sports and last season with the London Badgers. "They have all really helped me develop my skills in all aspects of the game, both on and off the field. Being a part of the Badger program has not only taught me the physical skills of the game, but more importantly aspects such as work ethic and discipline."

Adam Stern who has worked with Quinn at Centrefield Sports over the past couple of years or so commented on what type of player he is, "Quinn is a very hard worker, and he has put in huge amounts of time and dedication to baseball and his strength training. It is definitely paying off, as it has resulted in him getting a scholarship to play in the states."

Another of Quinn Little's trainers at Centrefield Sports, Jamie Romak, had this to say about the progress Quinn has made over the past couple of years. "I believe Sterny first saw Quinn two years ago when he came in for a hitting class. We all thought he was a diamond in the rough so to speak, having come from a small town without much experience. He also showed a lot of attributes in his swing that we teach on a daily basis. In short, there was something there to work with. Since that time I've seen a very intense and hard working kid. I believe the college route he has chosen will be excellent for his development and I really believe his best days are ahead of him."

When asked what he would consider to be his strengths and weaknesses Quinn said, "I think my strengths are my solid work ethic and my willingness to learn. I think you can always improve on the physical aspects of baseball. I will be looking to improve all aspects of my game, but I really want to focus on increasing my speed, fielding mechanics and consistency of quality at bats."

Moving on to college baseball in the United States presents challenges in terms of both the level of baseball and the transition to living away from home, but Quinn is looking forward to the challenge, saying, "The Badger program prepares its athletes well for the transition from midget baseball to college baseball. I think the major difference will be the speed of the game in all aspects. I think the transition to the game and to living away from home will be difficult, but I think it will be a great growing experience that I am really looking forward to."

Before heading off to school in Michigan this fall Quinn will be an important part of the Midget Badgers' attempt win a third consecutive Baseball Canada Championship medal. The journey to the Midget Nationals in Regina in August, is scheduled to begin this weekend with a doubleheader at Aldridge Field versus the Toronto Mets on Saturday, April 30 at 1 p.m.

ERNEST TAGERE PITCHES NO-HITTER FOR MINOR BANTAM BADGERS

Only four days after he came into record the final out of Broderick Refflinghaus' no-hitter, Ernest Tagere pitched a no-hitter of his own.

Ernest went seven innings without allowing a hit in a 9-1 victory over Ancaster at Norm Aldridge Field on Saturday June 4. He struck out seven Ancaster batters while walking only three and allowing one unearned run.

The Minor Bantams will be taking part in the Annual Badger Tournament this weekend. The annual tournament will have Minor Mosquito, Mosquito, Minor Pee Wee, Pee Wee, Minor Bantam, and Bantam divisions at parks throughout the city June 10-12.

The Midget Badgers will be hosting the Oakville Royals in a PBLO doubleheader at Labatt Park, Saturday June 11 at 1 p.m. while the Minor Midget Badgers have a PBLO doubleheader on Sunday June 12 at Norm Aldridge Field.

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MITCH LUMLEY SIGNS WITH LAKE MICHIGAN COLLEGE
by Dan Haugh, Badger Media Liaison

London Badger infielder Mitch Lumley recently signed a letter of intent to play baseball for the next two seasons at Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor, Michigan which is located just east of the southeast corner of Lake Michigan.

Mitch is about to begin his sixth year in the London Badger program and provided us with some insight into what he feels his years in the program have taught him, "My years with the Badgers have taught me loyalty. In the sense that you have to be loyal to your teammates and coaches. Our coaches put everything they have into the team to make all of us better players and allow us to make it to the next level. You don't play for yourself. You play for your teammates."

Mitch says he is excited about making the big step to the next level, and he had some comments about what he expects and why he feels Lake Michigan is a good fit for him, "Honestly I think that Lake Michigan College is a good fit for me because I know I will be playing, and that's the only thing I could have wished for. I would rather go to a school where I am going to start, than to a top ranked D-1 school where I may not play much."

Head baseball coach at Lake Michigan College, Scott Ponegalek says that Mitch will fill a void in his lineup next season, "I am losing most of my infield next season, and have a need for middle infielders. He has great character and desire, and he knows the game very well. I also see him as a hard worker. I think he will fit in as the type of player I am looking for."

The only coach Mitch has had growing up, his father Mike Lumley commented on Mitch's progress and how prepared he feels Mitch is for college baseball, "Obviously this is a proud day for me both as a coach and a father. Not just because he is furthering his dreams by playing baseball in the U.S., but just for the sheer fact that he is choosing to further his post secondary school education. This will be the first time that he has played baseball on a team without me being his coach, which in one way it is a little scary, but I feel confident that he is ready to take that next step."

Mitch says that he plans to work on consistent hitting throughout his final season with the Badgers to prepare himself for college.

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LONDON BADGERS TRIP TO CUBA
Dan Haugh, Badger Media Liaison

London Badger head coach Mike Lumley describes the annual Badgers Spring Trip as a "Life Experience.” While there may not have been goats herded through the outfield during games nor did the team bus catch on fire as had happened on past trips, this year’s Badger Spring Trip still provided memories that the 16 players who made the trip to Cuba will hold with them for years to come.

Mitch Lumley described the trip in one word … ‘surreal.’ “It was unlike any other spring trip I have been on in the past. The highlight for me wasn’t a diving catch or a line shot, it was the excitement on the Cuban player’s faces when we literally gave them the shirts off our backs after the game, as well as pants, gloves, hats, and shoes etc.” What Mitch was referring to was the fact that the Badgers took as much used equipment as the airline would allow and gave it away to the very grateful Cuban players.

Another Badger player who made the trip, Nolan Anderson says that he enjoyed the opportunity to see first hand the Cuban culture. “The overall experience was great. It was amazing to experience the Cuban way of baseball. On the field I enjoyed hitting off the Cuban pitchers the most. They all had different windups and release points from what I am used to, so it made for a great experience. Off the field I enjoyed being with my teammates and getting to see and experience the Cuban culture. Some of the old buildings we were able to see in Havana were timeless pieces of architecture.” Nolan said.

Nolan also commented on how things were in Cuba compared to what he expected, “Cuba was much different than I thought it would be. The people were needier than I expected, but they seemed very happy and friendly. I also thought that they would have cars similar to what we have, but almost every car we saw in Cuba was from the 1950s.”

Mitch Lumley had some final observations on the overall experience of this year’s Badger Spring Trip ”What I enjoyed most about the trip was getting out there and playing everyday without worrying about the score and this and that, but I have a different impression of Cuba now that I have been there. One major thing would be how we take things for granted while the Cuban players were happy to get our old spikes or anything we gave them.” said Mitch.

The trip provided the players and the family members who joined them a chance to experience a different culture, but one common thing is a passion for baseball.

Everyone has brought back countless stories, and if you listen closely around the dugout this summer I am sure you will hear some of them.

You might even hear some Spanish spoken.

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TWO BADGERS OFF TO TEXAS
Dan Haugh, Badger Media Liaison

London Badger teammates, Byron Reichstein and Matt Hexter will be heading to Texarkana, Texas in September to attend Texarkana College on baseball scholarships.

Texarkana's head baseball coach Will Bolt who was a teammate of former Badger player Adam Stern at the University of Nebraska had this to say about his newest recruits, "We are very excited about these two guys. Adam Stern gave us a heads up on them, and they recently visited our campus and practiced with the team. They both fit right in talent-wise with the guys we currently have on the team. We are very impressed by their work ethic and their athleticism. Byron has a chance to hit for power and has a very strong arm and can run. We feel Matt is a plus defender in the middle infield and will be a top of the order type of hitter. Both of these guys were clocked at a 6.6 at a recent workout. We feel that they will be able to step right in and make an immediate impact as freshmen next season."

Matt is currently in Grade 12 at Catholic Central H.S. while Byron attends St. Joseph's H.S. in St. Thomas. Both Matt and Byron were members of the Badger team that won Bronze at the Baseball Canada Midget Championships at home in London this past August.

They have also spent extensive time training at Centrefield Sports and their personal trainers had some positive things to say about their progress over the past couple of years.

Matt's trainer Jamie Romak, says, "I have worked with Matt for the last three winters. I have had the pleasure of watching him develop as a player and mature as a person during that time. This past year especially, Matt made significant strides on both sides of the ball, and coupled with his maturation, he turned himself into what we believe will be a very solid college player. His work and ability also made scouts and coaches take notice at the MLB camp in February. I am proud to have been involved with Matt's development over the years and will be expecting more success from him down the road."

Byron was on the Ontario Youth team that captured a silver medal at the Canada Cup last summer, and his coach Adam Stern also provided us with some positive comments, "Byron has really progressed over the past few years and has turned himself into one of the premier players in Ontario as well as Canada for his age. He is a strong, athletic kid with a nice left handed swing as well as arm strength and some speed. His swing has really come along way in the past two off seasons with the added strength he has put on through his weight training and commitment to getting better. He has worked extremely hard this off season to help his defense as well as his speed. Texarkana CC will provide him with a great avenue to further his game and play against some good competition."

Byron spoke briefly of his experiences with the Badger program and his development to where he is now, “Every coach I've had has taught me not to give up and give 100% no matter what. Mike Lumley has been my coach for the past five years, and I owe a lot to him. He's helped me to be a better player and person. I've also learned that when you hear something negative, there is always something positive you can take from it.”Matt had similar things to say about the Badger program and coaching staff, “Mike Lumley and the Badger program have really helped me progress my baseball skills greatly. It has shown me what hard work gets you and it has shown me how I've progressed as a player.”

Matt Hexter and Byron Reichstein will both be members of the 2011 London Badger Midget team that will open the PBLO season with a doubleheader against the Toronto Mets at Labatt Park on April 30 at 1 p.m

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PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT! ...OR ...DO IT UNTIL YOU GET IT RIGHT!
Dan Haugh, Badger Media Liaison

That is pretty much the approach that Adam Stern has taken over the past five years or so as he has worked to create a vision that will be on display at the Grand Opening of the newest version of Centrefield Sports at 25 Midpark Crescent in southeast London on October 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This new 35,000 square foot training facility will be the largest indoor baseball training facility in Canada and one of the largest of any kind as it will be able to host many sports besides baseball. Including, slo-pitch, football and soccer.

Adam spoke of the vision that was in the back of his mind for the past four or five years,"I knew there was a need for some indoor batting cages, so we leased a 1,500 sq ft spot in Northwest London and just used it for our own training as well as a few kids. It gradually progressed to our spot on King St. in 2008 which was 7,000 sq. ft., and then last year our 12,000 sq. ft. facility in south London. I always wanted a training complex that could house multiple sports and allow kids or anyone to take their training year round, which has now lead to the near 40,000 sq. ft. place we are opening this fall. This new spot is a huge jump for CentreField Sports but this space became available and I couldn't turn it down.”

Adam Stern and his two close buddies Chris Robinson and Jamie Romak have just returned from a two week stint in Puerto Rico where Team Canada qualified for next year's Pan American Games. All three played major roles in Canada's success with Robinson and Romak being named tournament all-stars and Jamie Romak being named overall tournament MVP., but they are all ready for the grand opening of Centrefilds Sports where they take on significant roles and trainers and teachers.

Chris Robinson commented on the progress of the new Centrefield Sports, “The new facility is going to be unbelievable. Just seeing where it is now in September from where it was last year when we left for spring training is night and day. Adam has put a ton of time and effort into making this facility one of the best in Canada if not the best and I think that now with the vast open space, the opportunities are truly endless. Add this facility to the professional instruction we offer and the equipment we use, these players are getting the most elite winter baseball experience available in the country. I can only imagine how much time I would spend at Centrefield Sports if there was something like it when I was growing up.”

Romak who hit a tournament-high five home runs on his way to being named MVP in the Pan Am qualifier also had some comments about Centrefield Sports, “Every year all of us at Centrefield Sports learn more about the game, and we get to bring it back home and pass it along to the next generation. I look forward to seeing all the kids again and hopefully being able to help them along in their own baseball careers.”

Adam Stern had some final comments about the work that has gone into turning his vision into reality, “Trying to set up the new facility while also playing during the spring and summer is a tough balancing act. Luckily I have a good support staff of my father Joe, my General Manager Tracy Regan as well as all the trainers, Chris Robinson, Jamie Romak and Mike Lumley and of course my very supportive wife Jenna. Without everyone carrying the load this wouldn't be possible.”

Although he has had a lot of fun getting to where he is, Adam says, “This is hopefully my last move and a facility where I can be for many years to come. It has the size that I wanted to give me flexibility for multiple sports including soccer, football and any sport that uses grass to train or play.”

Don't miss the Open House at Centrefield Sports on Saturday October 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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HARD WORK EQUALS SUCCESS
Dan Haugh – Badger Media Liaison

In 1999 Baseball Canada put together a selection process that each year since then has been used to form a Junior National Team comprised of the very best under-18 aged players in the country. Baseball Canada’s Junior National program has become recognized as one of the best programs in North America. For players in Ontario that process starts with the Ontario Cup in June of the previous year which selects the best under-17 players to represent Ontario in the next step of the selection process, the Canada Cup. It is at the Canada Cup where Greg Hamilton and his coaching staff select a group of players to try out and eventually play for the Junior National Team.

The list of players who have played on the JNT includes numerous players who have signed Major League contracts and players such as Russell Martin, Ryan Dempster and Matt Stairs who currently play in MLB.

This year two London Badgers players, Dayton Dawe and Byron Reichstein have gone through the early stages of that selection process and are in the midst of experiencing what the previously mentioned players and several Badgers before them have experienced.

Former London Badger Jamie Romak played on the JNT for two years, and had an opportunity as a 16-year-old outfielder to represent Canada in the 2002 World Junior Championships in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Romak recently commented on his experience in 2002 and what it means to represent Canada, “It was an amazing experience. In my first at bat I hit a home run, and as I rounded third base I remember looking into the stands and seeing thousands of Canadians waving our flag. It still gives me goose bumps.”

Dawe and Reichstein will have memories similar to Romak’s that they will take with them well beyond their baseball playing days. Dayton Dawe spoke of his very busy summer that included winning the TVRAA baseball tile with his Lucas Vikings teammates, trying out for and making the Ontario Youth team and earning the right to represent Ontario in the Canada Cup in Kindersley Saskatchewan in early August and eventually be chosen to try out for the Junior National Team. “Canada Cup was a great experience. To be able to play with and against the best baseball players across Canada was a great experience. Not only did I meet new friends, but it also made me want to get better at the game. Going to Orlando, Florida to try out for the JNT was by far the greatest experience I have had throughout my baseball career. Not only was it the most talented players from across Canada, but also some of the most experienced coaches as well.”

Byron Reichstein also has fond memories of his experiences at both the Canada Cup and his trip to Orlando for the JNT tryouts. “It was a surprise and an honour making Team Ontario's 20-man roster to represent Ontario in the Canada Cup. It was a great experience, and I came home with a Silver Medal and an experience I'll never forget. The JNT tryouts at Disney were also a great experience. I met a lot of guys from all over Canada who are working toward the same goal as I am in baseball. I hope to play against them in the future and along side them in the near future.”

Dayton spoke of the coaching he has received up to now in his baseball career and specifically the coaching he received while at the Junior National Team tryouts, “There is no question my career would not be where it is today without the London Badgers baseball organization and their coaches. Under the guidance of Mike Lumley and his senior coaching staff we were able to compete with some of the top teams across North America. The Badger coaches demand a very disciplined commitment which enables me to better focus on my career.

JNT coaches definitely know what it takes for me to take baseball to the next level, during the 10 days with them I learned a lot about the whole pitching aspect of the game.”

Byron Reichstein also had comments about what the near future holds for him and about the coaching he has received throughout his baseball career. “If you work hard and never give up, great things can happen. Have patience and determination. Anything can happen. Every coach I've had has taught me not to give up and give 100% no matter what. Mike Lumley has been my coach for the past five years, and I owe a lot to him. He has helped me to be a better player and person. I have also learned that when you hear something negative, there is always something positive you can take from it.”

If Dayton and Byron are named to the Junior National Team at the end of November it will mean another very busy summer of baseball. They will be making another trip to Florida in late February and early March, 2011 to play a series of games against the Toronto Blue Jays and the National teams of Australia and the Netherlands. After that they will return with the JNT to Florida for a week of Spring Training and then a week in May in the Dominican Summer League.

It will be a very busy summer indeed and a great opportunity to hone their baseball skills. We asked both Dayton and Byron about their goals and what they feel they need to work on.

Dayton Dawe had this to say, “I feel like I need to work more on my off-speed pitches and try to gain a couple MPH on my fastball. In the short term I plan to workout and train hard to better my chances of achieving my long-term goals of making Team Canada and to possibly get drafted out of high school. My #1 goal is to make it to the MLB."

Byron Reichstein who is from St. Thomas and a product of the St. Thomas Minor Baseball Association had a similar response when asked about short-term and long-term goals. “In the short term I want to do well in school this year, to work hard in the gym and the batting cages at Centrefield Sports, and to continue developing and improving my skills on the field. I feel I need to work on my strength, my agility and my studies to be successful in school and baseball and reach my long-term goals of playing baseball for a living and getting an education at the same time.”

Some final comments from Jamie Romak put things into perspective and give us all an idea of what this opportunity represents for Byron Reichstein and Dayton Dawe.

“Dayton and Byron now have the opportunity to play for their country and hopefully get the same experience that Chris Robinson and I had years ago. We are all pulling for them both. Over the past years at Centrefield Sports they have been a pleasure to work with and they both possess the necessary talents to play on the world stage. Aside from the strong work ethic demonstrated by these young men, I would also credit their families, who I know are all good people, and the Badger Program, for their assistance in their development.” Romak said.

Every story of success could end with the same sentence, and this story is no exception!

Hard work equals success!

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LONDON BADGERS BASEBALL CLUB

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 3 , 2011

The London Badgers held their annual awards banquet on December 20, 2010 at the Greek Canadian Club, and the evening was once again a huge success. The guest speaker was Tom Valcke, the CEO of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. Tom provided the attendees with a mixture of trivia, inspiration and just some good old baseball talk.

The 2010 Graeme Nicole Scholarship award was presented to Cam Firth, along with two new 'Alumni' scholarship awards that were presented to Ryan Zimmer and Josh Tetreau.

One award that always creates a lot of interest is the 'Club of Thieves' which pays tribute to players who accumulated at least 20 stolen bases throughout the season.

The 2010 'club of thieves' is made up of the following: Alex Orenczuk, Thomas Henderson, Logan Muttersbach, Tyler D'Alessandro, Kian Bukala, Kale Bilger, Will Bibbings, Tyler Foslett, Braydon Giesbrecht, Ernest Tagare, Broderick Refflinghaus, Tyler Friesen, Matthew Thomson, Mitch Willoughby, Zach Desa, Josh Ramsay, Garan Stevens, Andrew Warner, Nolan Anderson, Matt Hexter

Following is a list of award winners:

Minor Mosquito Most Valuable Defensive Player: Daniel Battel
Minor Mosquito Most Valuable Offensive Player: Colin Carruthers
Minor Mosquito Most Valuable Pitcher: Cameron Sanderson

Major Mosquito Most Valuable Defensive Player: Kian Bukala
Major Mosquito Most Valuable Offensive Player: Tyler D'Alessandro
Major Mosquito Most Valuable Pitcher: Thomas Henderson

Major Peewee Most Valuable Defensive Player: Tyler Foslett
Major Peewee Most Valuable Offensive Player: Matthew Thomson
Major Peewee Most Valuable Pitcher: Alex Imeson

Minor Bantam Most Valuable Defensive Player: Chris Cochrane
Minor Bantam Most Valuable Offensive Player: Garan Stevens
Minor Bantam Most Valuable Pitcher: Josh Ramsay

Major Bantam Most Valuable Defensive Player: Quinton Twohey
Major Bantam Most Valuable Offensive Player: Kyle Zimmer
Major Bantam Most Valuable Pitcher: Kyle Zimmer

Minor Midget Most Valuable Defensive Player: Sean Refflinghaus
Minor Midget Most Valuable Offensive Player: Chris Mc Queen
Minor Midget Most Valuable Pitcher: Matt Smith

Major Midget Most Valuable Defensive Player: Cam Firth
Major Midget Most Valuable Offensive Player: Cam Firth
Major Midget Most Valuable Pitcher:Ryan Zimmer

Graeme Nichol Scholarship Award: Cam Firth

Alumni Scholarship Award: Josh Tetreau

Alumni Scholarship Award: Ryan Zimmer

Volunteer of the Year: Dan Haugh

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MINOR BANTAM BADGERS WIN 2010 ICBA CHAMPIONSHIPS
by Dan Haugh, Badger Media Liaison

The London Badgers Minor Bantam team have won the 2010 Intercounty pennant and they have now added the InterCounty AAA Tier 1 playoff championship to their laurels by defeating Cambridge by 3-1 score in Kitchener on August 25. Josh Ramsay turned in an excellent pitching performance in a game that had to be delayed by rain for four days before completion.

Throughout the playoff tournament the Badgers Minor Bantams were undefeated with a 5-0 record. In the 3-1 championship win over Cambridge the Minor Bantams scored all of their runs in the first inning.

With two out, Garan Stevens singled and Zach Desa walked. Chris Cochrane drove in Stevens and Desa with a huge double and then came home himself on Colin Deman's triple. That was all the scoring that starter Josh Ramsay would need as he allowed only one run on three hits, and got solid defense from all of his teammates, but in particular Garan Stevens and Colin Deman were outstanding defensively.

Next scheduled action for the Minor Bantam Badgers is the Baseball Ontario AAA championships on Labour Day weekend in Etobicoke.

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THE LONDON BADGERS STAGED A FIRST CLASS EVENT FOR ALL OF CANADA TO WITNESS AND STILL TAKE HOME THE BRONZE MEDAL.
by Dan Haugh, Badger Media Liaison

Cam Firth, Baseball Canada Midget Championship tournament ‘Top Hitter’ describes what the bronze medal that he and his London Badger teammates won by defeating British Columbia 5-2 at Labatt Park Sunday evening means, “It feels amazing to say that we won a medal in back-to-back years at a national championship. This team was a little different than last year’s team in the sense that we had a bunch of different personalities, but we meshed very well at the same time. We fought hard the entire tournament, and we felt like we really deserved that bronze medal.”

Firth who will be leaving soon to attend the University of British Columbia on a baseball scholarship, went on to comment on his feelings after winning bronze, “As a graduating senior it was very emotional to finish my Badger career. The four other seniors (Josh Tetreau, Ryan Zimmer, Brent Greenway, and Kyle Reid) felt this way as well. It was truly special to say goodbye to the Badger family at Labatt Park. Coach Mike Lumley has been amazing. He really put the tournament in the hands of us seniors for us to control. It was a very memorable tournament.”

It was a memorable tournament for all players and followers. The organizing committee led by Mike and Cindy Lumley did an amazing job of organizing this event with relatively short lead time available.

Baseball Canada representative, Tom Valcke had these thoughts about the organization of the tournament as a whole, “"It is one thing to coach a top-notch, nationally-respected baseball team. It is another to govern an organization with the size and scope of the London Badgers. It is yet another to run a National Championship baseball tournament. To run all three simultaneously, and with the success that Mike and Cindy Lumley pulled off this weekend, is incredible." Valcke continued his praise of the volunteers, "The quantity and quality of volunteers that London provided to slam dunk this championship, proved yet again that this city is capable of hosting anything. I even mean an international championship, with first class professionalism while maintaining ‘true Canadiana wholesomeness.’ Add to this the three fields that were utilized, and the support provided by the city crews in London and St. Thomas, and you have the recipe for success."

Gold-medal winning Tecumseh Thunder head coach Dave Cooper says, “We had a great experience here in London. The parks were top notch and the organization of the tournament was as good as and probably better than any I have been to.” That is no small recommendation coming from a man who has as a junior and senior player and as an assistant coach and head coach been to a total of 23 Baseball Canada National Championships. Cooper has won 17 medals (12 Gold medals, three Silver medals and four bronze medals).

The Thunder head coach who helped the Windsor seniors to nine Gold medals, three Silver medals and three bronze medals in 17 trips to Nationals had this to say about his team and their victory at the Midget Nationals held in London and St. Thomas this past weekend, “As a coach I was lucky to have some talented athletes who were willing to work at their skills and had a desire to learn the game. As it turned out they were rewarded handsomely. Any time you can participate and win a National tournament it is most likely the highlight of most player’s careers.”

The Midget Badgers ran up against the tough Tecumseh team in the semi-final and lost a tight 3-0 decision that sent the Thunder to the Gold Medal game and the Badgers to the Bronze medal game that they eventually won 5-2 over British Columbia, a team that after round-robin play was considered to be one of the tournament favourites along with Tecumseh who also finished round-robin play undefeated.

Tecumseh head coach Dave Cooper commented on what both the Thunder and Badger teams and tournament organizers had hoped would become a reality, “We were hoping to play the Badgers in the Gold Medal game in front of 5,000 fans at Labatt Park, but it didn't happen.”

Despite the absence of the ‘Dream Matchup,’ the final that pitted Ontario against arch rival Quebec was a very entertaining and exciting contest.

There is no doubt that considering the tenaciousness, competitive spirit and will to succeed that Mike Lumley possesses, the Baseball Canada Midget Championships will be returning sooner than later to London, Ontario. The 2011 Midget Championships will be in Regina, but knowing Mike Lumley’s foresight, don’t rule out 2012.

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August 23, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BADGERS TEAMS READY FOR OBA CHAMPIONSHIP ACTION

The London Badgers 16U team travelled to Whitby last weekend to compete in the Baseball Ontario Midget AAA championships. Although they didn't come home with the championship, Dale Prouse's team proved to be very competitive in their three games. The Badgers won their opening game over Newmarket by a 2-1 score. Matt Smith and Dave Panchyshyn shared the pitching duties.

In their second game on Saturday morning the Badgers lost to the eventual champions from Etobicoke by a score of 10-6. Owen Boon and Aaron Jackson shared the pitching in the loss to Etobicoke, and then in the next game London lost a tight game to East York by a 2-1 score. Jeff Prouse started and went five innings while Kyle Frey finished off the game with two innings of relief pitching.

Several of the Badger teams will be competing in OBA championships on Labour Day Weekend.

Minor Mosquito - Mississauga
Major Mosquito - Riverside
Major Pee Wee - Oakville
Minor Bantam - Etobicoke
Major Bantam - Leaside

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LONDON BADGERS BASEBALL CLUB

August 23, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TECUMSEH THUNDER BREAK THROUGH IN LAST AT BAT TO DEFEAT QUEBEC 6-2 AND EARN THE GOLD MEDAL AT 2010 MIDGET NATIONALS

Michael Foster's clutch sixth inning bases-loaded triple was all the offensive power that the Tecumseh Thunder needed in knocking off Quebec 6-2 and capture the Gold Medal at the 2010 Baseball Canada Midget Championships in London, Ontario.
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Not only did Foster provide Tecumseh with the key hit in the championship game, he was the pitching star in a 3-0 shutout of London in the semi-final game that sent the Thunder to the Gold Medal game. He allowed only four hits while striking out 10 Badgers hitters.

The host London Badgers midgets defeated British Columbia 5-2 to take home the Bronze Medal. Badger catcher Cam Firth who went 3-for-4 with a long double in the Bronze Medal game was named top hitter of the tournament with a .522 average.

Tecumseh's Eric Cunningham was named top catcher of the tournament while Quebec's Mathieu Paradis was named Top Pitcher.

While the bronze-medal winning London Badgers failed to repeat as Baseball Canada Champions, their organization proved to be superior hosts for this National event.
Mike Lumley and the entire Badger 'family' can take great pride in the fact that they sent a lot of young baseball players home with very fond memories of their stay in London.

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FORGING MEMORIES AROUND THE BASEBALL DIAMOND
Upcoming midget baseball championships will create memories for players and fans alike

Posted By Dan Haugh Special to Londoner

Paul Lytwynec referred to it as, "Without a doubt, the best hit under the circumstances that I have ever seen."

Matt Hexter recalled the moments leading up to it. "Me and a couple of the guys had our arms locked around our shoulders. We knew something was going to happen."

Cam Firth said, "I told myself if I had a chance to get up, I was going to win it."

The moment that they all were referring to was the bottom of the seventh inning of the semi-final game against British Columbia in the 2009 Baseball Canada Midget Championships. Cam Firth stepped to the plate with Trevor Barton on second in a scoreless tie and zoned in on a first pitch fastball. He hit a gigantic home run that sent the London Midget Badgers to the final game that they eventually won over Quebec, making them 2009 Baseball Canada Midget Champions.

It is this kind of memory that the organizing committee the 2010 Baseball Canada Midget Championships hope to create along with many more that the participants from each province will be able to take back home with them

The London Badgers baseball program and the London and District Baseball Association are hosting the 2010 National Championships Aug. 18-23, in London and St. Thomas.

This is a tournament that will create many long lasting memories. Former London Badger Chris Robinson who is currently with the Chicago Cubs Triple-A affiliate in Des Moines Iowa speaks of his recollections and memories of winning the 2001 Baseball Canada Midget Championship with the Badgers in Stonewall, Man.

"Believe it or not, even though our experience was almost 10 years ago, I can recall pretty much all the details about the entire tournament," Robinson says. "I remember the hotel we stayed in, I remember all the games we played, and especially I remember the bus rides from the field to the hotel each night."

The Badgers won the 2009 championship last August in Fredericton, NB and are all geared up to defend that championship and give the London Badger program their third Canadian Championship since their inception in 1994.

Second-year midget player Matt Hexter who made the trip to the nationals last season also talked about the excitement of last year's semi-final thriller when Cam Firth broke a scoreless tie with a two-out home run in the bottom of the seventh inning. "It is something I don't think I will ever forget because it was such an incredible moment."

The on-field memories will begin on Aug. 19, at 9 a.m., with games at Labatt Park, Dan Pulham Memorial Field and Emslie Field, in St. Thomas.

The Badgers will be playing twice on opening day. They will play Manitoba, at 9 a.m., and following the opening ceremonies they will face Alberta, at 6 p.m. Both of those games will be at Labatt Park.

There will be many lifelong memories for those who will participate in this important tournament, but as Robinson said, it is more than just the memories of winning. It is about the total experience, and the organizing committee has plans in place to ensure that everyone who visits London for the event will go home with a positive experience that they will never forget.

The action begins on Thursday Aug. 19 with the gold medal game being held on Sunday, Aug. 22, beginning at 6 p.m., at Labatt Park.

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LONDON BADGERS BASEBALL CLUB

August 15, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ONTARIO LOSES TO B.C. 4-0 AND SETTLES FOR SILVER MEDAL AT CANADA CUP

BYRON REICHSTEIN AND DAYTON DAWE NAMED TO JUNIOR NATIONAL TEAM

Ontario left a total of five runners on base in the first two innings, and then allowed British Columbia to score three times in the third inning of the Gold Medal Game at the Canada Cup in Kindersley, Saskatchewan. That was about all that B.C. needed as they cruised to a 4-0 victory in what was the third game the two teams played at the 2010 Canada Cup. B.C. won 3-2 the first time the two teams met in double-round-robin action and Ontario won by the same 3-2 score the second time they played.

After the Gold Medal game, London Badger players Byron Reichstein of St. Thomas and Dayton Dawe of London were named to the Junior National team.

Reichstein and Dawe will be returning home with teammate Mike Ambrose of London who also represented Ontario at the Canada Cup to join their Badger Midget teammates to launch their bid to defend the Baseball Canada Midget Championship they won last year in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Action in the Baseball Canada Midget Championship starts August 19 in London and St. Thomas.

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LONDON BADGERS BASEBALL CLUB

August 15, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ONTARIO WILL FACE BRITISH COLUMBIA IN GOLD MEDAL GAME AT CANADA CUP

Ontario will face British Columbia for the third time in the 2010 Canada Cup tournament in Kindersley, Saskatchewan, and this time the winner will go home with Gold Medals around their necks.

British Columbia defeated Quebec 5-0 in one semi-final game while London Badgers Byron Reichstein, Dayton Dawe and Mike Ambrose and their Ontario teammates defeated Alberta 3-2 in the other semi-final.

The Gold Medal game which will take place tonight at 9:30 EDT will be a rematch between the rivals who split 3-2 decisions against each other in round-robin play.

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LONDON BADGERS BASEBALL CLUB

August 12, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ONTARIO EVENS RECORD AT CANADA CUP IN KINDERSLEY, SASKATCHEWAN BEHIND ANOTHER TWO-HIT PERFORMANCE BY BYRON REICHSTEIN.

London Badger outfielder Byron Reichstein of St. Thomas had two hits including a run-scoring triple in a four-run fourth inning to propel Ontario to a 5-0 win over New Brunswick. The win evens Ontario's record to 1-1 after an earlier 3-2 loss to British Columbia at the Canada Cup in Kindersley, Saskatchewan on Day One.

Ontario will play Quebec on Day Two of the Canada Cup.

NOTE*** Baseball Canada Midget Championship in London is one week away. Action starts August 19 in London and St. Thomas. For more information on the Midget Nationals check out http://www.baseball.ca/midget/ or the Midget National Championships tab on the Badger website.

BYRON REICHSTEIN GOES 2-FOR-3 AT THE PLATE IN A DAY ONE LOSS TO BRITISH COLUMBIA 3-2 AT CANADA CUP IN KINDERSLEY, SASKATCHEWAN

London Badger outfielder Byron Reichstein of St. Thomas had two hits in a 3-2 loss to British Columbia at the Canada Cup in Kindersley, Saskatchewan on Day One.

Another Badger Michael Ambrose who was the starting designated hitter went hitless, while pitcher Mike Clouthier of Guelph who will be joining the London Badgers in defence of their National title next week, pitched two innings of relief.

Play continues for Ontario this afternoon when they face New Brunswick.

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LONDON BADGERS BASEBALL CLUB

August 10, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THREE BADGERS WILL REPRESENT ONTARIO AT CANADA CUP

Outfielder Byron Reichstein of St. Thomas will join Catcher Michael Ambrose of London at the Canada Cup in Kindersley, Saskatchewan August 11-15.

The two members of the London Midget Badgers will be very busy over the next two weeks. After representing Ontario at the Canada Cup they will return home to join their Badger teammates as they defend their National Championship at the Baseball Canada Midget Championship that takes place in London and St. Thomas August 19-22.

London and District Baseball Association Umpire-In-Chief Rob Companion will also be in Kindersley at the Canada Cup as an umpire.

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LONDON BADGERS BASEBALL CLUB

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 14, 2010.

FIVE BADGERS ON 40-MAN ONTARIO YOUTH TEAM ROSTER

Ontario Youth Team head coach Marc Picard and his coaching staff have chosen a list of 40 players who will take part in a tryout camp on August 6 to select a final roster that will represent Ontario at the Canada Cup in Kindersley, Saskatchewan August 11-16.

From a previous tryout camp held in early June five London Badgers have been selected to attend the tryout camp in Pickering. They are Michael Ambrose, Taylor Carr, Dayton Dawe, Byron Reichstein, and Cole Stewardson.

Last season Cam Firth and Ryan Zimmer went to the Canada Cup while in 2008 Andrew Firth ad Trevor Barton were on the final roster that represented Ontario.

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PEEWEE BADGERS WIN TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP

The London Badger 2010 Major Pee Wee team overcame a couple of close early losses to emerge as champions in the Annual Badger Pee Wee Tournament.

On Friday night, the Badgers lost a tight low-scoring affair to North Toronto 2-1 before turning things around on Saturday with a 4-1 win over Riverside Royals, a team they lost to in the final of the Windsor Walker Homesites tournament over the May long weekend.

In the semi-final on Sunday the Pee Wees faced the Whitby Chiefs and came away with a 9-6 victory and a spot in the final against Guelph Royals.

The Pee Wee Badgers received a strong pitching performance from Lawson Burnett in the final to defeat Guelph 4-2 and take the championship.

Congratulations to the Peewee London Badgers....2010 Tournament Champions!

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JON FITZSIMMONS RE-SIGNS AT CANISIUS COLLEGE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 28, 2010.

Life is full of ups and downs.

That is a fact of life that is learned over time, but for one young member of the London Badger under-18 team, the lessons have come relatively early in his life.

Jon Fitzsimmons was riding a high less than a year ago, anticipating starting his college education at Division 1 Canisius College, and moving closer to his goal of playing baseball at the highest level he could.

The route to that goal took what at the time, appeared could possibly be a major detour when he suffered a labrum tear and rotator cuff damage to his right arm.

The college baseball scholarship was put on hold and months of hard work and rehabilitation began for Fitzsimmons. He underwent arthroscopic surgery in July followed by six months of physiotherapy and a strenuous throwing program which began in November and continues to the present time.

Head baseball coach at Canisius, Mike McRae, says that he had no doubts that Jon would recover from the injury, “The reason for his deferment was to allow for Jon to have a greater chance at a successful college experience, both mentally and physically.”

Jon spoke of the work he had to put in on the road to recovery, “Mentally, it was something tough to work through, but it has given me a lot of confidence knowing that I was able come back from an injury like this.”

He went on to acknowledge some of the people who helped him along the way, “I received a lot of support throughout my recovery process. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help I got from some people over the winter. My parents were there to support me from the start and they’re still here to encourage me. All of the people who worked with me at the Fowler-Kennedy Clinic made sure my recovery went smoothly, and Coach Mike Lumley guided me through my throwing program. Adam Stern, Jamie Romak, Chris Robinson, and Adam Arnold over at Centrefield sports gave me confidence by sharing their experiences with injuries.”

Fitzsimmons threw for the Canisius College coaching staff last week, and he hit 93 mph on the radar gun. Coach McRae had these comments about Jon’s performance, “From what I witnessed last week, Jon appears to have recovered very well. In fact, he has matured some, which can only assist him in the developmental process. We have high hopes and expectations for Jon. I believe he will log innings as a freshman. We sure hope he does. Jon may actually benefit in the long-term from this experience. He knows the importance of work ethic. Plus, by experiencing some adversity, he should know what it takes to overcome troubled times. I think he will be much hungrier.”

Some final comments from Jon, “It feels great to finally get back on the mound and know that my arm is healthy again, but I still have the rest of the season to work through before I get to college. My goal has always been to play at the highest level of baseball that I can, and that’s going to require a lot of hard work. I’ve overcome a small obstacle in what I hope is a long baseball career.”

The road to recovery is not over, but Jon Fitzsimmons has come a long way and we all will be watching his career as he moves on in the fall of 2010 to Canisius College in Buffalo, NY.

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MIDGET BADGERS STARTING TO PERFORM

As the 2010 Midget Badger team prepared for its quest to repeat as National Champions the road was a little bumpy. The Badgers lost five games within the first couple of weeks and had nine games cancelled due to rain, making it hard for the team to finds its groove.

With two disappointing Saturday losses to Team Ontario from the Premier League, the coaching staff decided to change their approach. It obviously did some good as the Badgers had a decisive win over Team Ontario in game one on Sunday and a well played 3-2 loss in the second game. Since that time the Midget Badgers have gone 6-0 by beating the Terriers (PBLO) 7-2, Sarnia 10-0 and 12-4 and the Ontario Blue Jays 17u team 3-0, 3-2 and 8-7.

The key during this winning streak was strong pitching by the entire pitching staff anchored by two no-hitters by Baird Kelly and Ryan Zimmer. On the offensive side the Badgers did a far better job of advancing runners into scoring position, and an even better job of driving in the runs. Here are some highlights of the past week.

Baird Kelly - No Hitter vs. Sarnia Braves (5 innings with 11 Strikeouts)

Ryan Zimmer - No Hitter vs. OBJ 17u (7 innings with 8 Strikeouts) plus a save vs. Terriers

Dayton Dawe - 6 for 14 with 3 singles, 2 doubles, a triple and a homerun. (Dayton Dawe threw 92mph)

Cam Firth - 8 for 19 with 2 singles, 4 doubles and 2 homeruns.

Jon Fitzsimmons - 4 innings, 1 hitter, 5 strikeouts (93mph). Jon Fitzsimmons threw 93 mph in front of Canisius University Coaches. Head coach confirmed Jon's attendance for this fall.

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LONDON BADGERS BASEBALL CLUB

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 20, 2010

Left-handed pitcher Baird Kelly has signed a letter of intent to play baseball and continue his education at Lake Land C. C. in Mattoon, Illinois.

Kelly who attends Stratford Northwestern S.S. is a current member of the London Badger midget team that is setting their sites on a second straight Canadian Midget Baseball Championship when they are held in London later this summer.

We had an opportunity to speak with Lake Land’s head baseball coach Tony Simmonds who had some interesting comments about Baird, but also some comments that future prospects coming through the London Badger system can remember and use.

Coach Simmonds had this to say about how he sees Baird Kelly fitting into his program at Lake Land., “Baird will be a great addition to our team as we are headed in a different direction by expanding our recruiting base.”

Simmonds continued to talk about how Baird actually ended up on his recruiting radar, “It was not the usual path when it comes to how I recruited Baird. I actually first received an e-mail from Badger coach Mike Lumley that was most likely sent to many JUCO’s in the United States. I noted it because it said he was a Left-handed-pitcher who threw in the mid to upper 80s. I receive emails all the time, but I keep a separate file on players who I want to follow up on. A left-handed pitcher in the upper 80s is a definite follow-up. As the winter and early spring progress I work my way through my files on prospect and narrow down the ones I wanted to pursue.”

“I called Baird’s coach. I liked what Mike had to say, and I was impressed with his stats, so I asked Baird to come down for a visit.”

Coach Simmonds described Baird’s visit to Lake Land, “Baird visited the campus, and I was impressed with him as an individual. He threw for us, and we liked what we saw. Our Athletic Director, Pitching Coach and myself were there to watch him throw. His ball had movement, his slider looked good and his velocity was in the upper 80s as billed.”

“We offered him a scholarship and he accepted while he was here on his visit.”

Everyone in the London Badger organization would like to wish Baird luck in his future endeavours, and for young Badger players, be persistent in pursuing your dreams, and you never know what might come of them.

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MAJOR MOSQUITOS DROP OPENER IN LATE INNINGS

The Major Mosquito Badgers were unable to hold a one-run lead after six innings and dropped an 11-7 decision to the EBBA Minor Pee Wee Tecumshs in the first game on the LDBA schedule.

Brett Reid started the game and went three strong innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out six EBBA batters.

Logan Muttersbach had two hits and reached base safely in all four of his at bats while Kale Bilger, Austin Young, Kian Bukala and Brady Fata had one hit each. Ray Robbins and Cody Kunder led the Tecumseh attack with three hits each.

The Major Mosquitos are playing this season in the LDBA Minor Pee Wee division. Their next action is Sunday May 16 at 3:30 p.m. when they travel to Kiwanis Park for a re-match with EBBA.

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LONDON BADGERS BASEBALL CLUB

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ryan Zimmer signs at Lee University in Cleveland, TN.

Ryan Zimmer of the London Badgers midgets has recently signed a letter of intent to play baseball and further his education at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee.

The left-handed pitcher who was named Baseball Ontario Player of the Year in 2009 will be attending Lee University in September after spending the upcoming summer trying to capture a second consecutive National Championship with his Badger teammates as they host the Midget National championships at Labatt Park in August.

Mark Brew the head baseball coach at Lee University had the following comments when asked about Ryan. “Ryan has made two visits to our campus. The first was during his junior year of high school and the second was during his senior year. It gave us an opportunity to see him throw twice and the improvement he showed from the first visit to the second visit is what really caught our eye.” Coach Brew went on to talk more about Ryan and his background, “We are excited to get Ryan to commit to our program here at Lee. He is a quality person from a quality family, and we are excited to see what the next four years hold for Ryan and the Lee program.”

Cleveland, Tennessee is just off of I-75 near Chattanooga and the Lee University Flames play in the NAIA. The Flames have made it to the NAIA World Series all three years Mark Brew has served as head coach, and are currently ranked sixth in the nation among NAIA baseball programs. UBC Thunderbirds and former Badger Andrew Firth are currently fourth in NAIA rankings.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 18, 2010

London Badgers off to good start on North Carolina Spring Trip

After a couple of days of unwanted rain and a pair of one-run losses the London Badgers got the first win of their spring trip to North Carolina.

The Badgers defeated New Bern H.S. 1-0 on the strength of five strong innings from starting pitcher Dayton Dawe and two innings from Spencer Marentette. Dawe struck out six while allowing no hits and Maretette only allowed one run in his two innings of relief to protect the shutout. Mitch Lumley and Steve Adam led the offense with a pair of hits.

The first two games of the North Carolina trip saw the Badgers drop back-to-back one-run games to Craven Community College. In the first game, a 6-5 loss, Baird Kelly struck out five in four innings. Mitch Lumley again led the offense with a single, two doubles, four RBI, and two stolen bases in four at bats. Dom Bucci also chipped in one single, two walks, two RBI, and one stolen base.

The second game saw the Badgers drop a 5-4 decision to Craven C.C. despite four strong innings of pitching by Taylor Carr. Carr struck out three and allowed only one earned run. Brendan DeClark went three-for-four and scored once. Byron Reichstein and Mike Ambrose were both two-for-four in leading the Badger attack.

Game four saw the Badgers on the wrong end of a 12-6 score with New Bern H.S. Dan Parsons struck out four New Bern batters and Taylor Carr led all hitters with a pair of singles.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 4, 2010

LDBA AND LONDON BADGERS SUCCESSFUL IN BID TO HOST 2010 NATIONALS

The London Midget Badgers will have the opportunity to defend their Baseball Canada Midget Championship at Labatt Park, August 19-22, 2010.

The London and District Baseball Association and the London Badgers organization submitted a bid to host the 2010 Midget champions. That bid was accepted by the Baseball Canada board during a recent meeting.

The tournament will feature the top team from each of the 10 provinces along with the host team which will be the London Badgers.

The diamonds presented in the bid are Labatt Park in London and Emslie Field in St. Thomas, with Dan Pulham Memorial Field (LDBA Park) and Norm Aldridge Field to be used as backup facilities.

The organizing committee is currently working hard to finalize sponsors and coordinate volunteers for this event.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 10, 2010

LUMLEY ON "100 MOST INFLUENTIAL CANADIANS IN BASEBALL" LIST

Bob Elliott of the Canadian Baseball Network has released his annual list of the 100 Most Influential Canadians in Baseball List.

The list which is topped by notable names such as Paul Beeston, Greg Hamilton, Alex Anthopoulos, Doug Melvin and Pat Gillick also includes London Badgers Technical Advisor and Head Coach Mike Lumley.

Lumley who led the London Midget Badgers to the Baseball Canada Midget championship, the Baseball Ontario Midget AAA and Midget Elimination championships also was named OUA Baseball Coach of the Year in 2009 for leading the Western Mustangs baseball team to the OUA championship.

Coach Lumley has also been named to the Table Of Honour at the upcoming Sports Celebrity Dinner on Monday January 18, 2010.

The entire list may be viewed at the Canadian Baseball Network.