Greater Akron AA Baseball League: AA League News
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Congratulations to the 2009 Greater Akron AA Baseball League Champions
Akron Lasiks
July 27, 2009 -- Tonight, Monday, July 27, 2009, the Akron Lasiks defeated the fourth seeded Northern Ohio Hurricanes, 8-1, in the championship game of the Greater Akron AA Baseball League tournament at The Ballpark at Hudson in Hudson, Ohio. With the win, the Lasiks improve 26-10 overall and have won their second consecutive league title. With the loss, the Northern Ohio Hurricanes fall to 19-13 overall and finish in second place in just their second season as a team.
Akron would fall behind in the top half of the first inning as the Northern Ohio Hurricanes took a 1-0 lead using a hit batsman and two singles, including an RBI single that yet again blooped down the right field line. The rally was stalled when second baseman Kevin Brown threw out the second runner at the plate attempting to score.
In the second, the Hurricanes put together another rally, but righty Dominique Rodgers worked out of the jam without allowing a run. After a walk and a single, an out was recorded, just before a groundball took a horrendous hop at second base to load the bases. However, Rodgers forced the next two batters to beat the ball into the ground getting force outs at the plate and at second base to thwart the rally.
From that point on, Rodgers was relentless, allowing just one hit while facing the minimum the remainder of the game. On the evening, Rodgers (6-0) earned his sixth win of the season while tossing seven complete innings, allowing just one earned run on four hits and one walk, fanning six; he also hit one batter.
Akron would finally get on the board in its own half of the second, nodding the score at 1-1. Third baseman Allen James tripled to lead-off the inning before being thrown out at home during a groundball off the bat of first baseman Ryan Petrusky. Catcher Anthony D’Attoma singled through the right side and right fielder Rob Beahn walked to load the bases. Left fielder Nick Jones would then come through with a sacrifice fly to left field to score Petrusky from third.
In the third, Akron would go ahead for good as center fielder Jamie Matvey used his speed to beat out a hard hit ball to second base. After a wild pitch moved Matvey to second, Brown used a groundball to the right side to move him to third with just one down. Designated hitter Casey Jirsa then singled through the left side to score Matvey for the 2-1 advantage.
The Lasiks’ big inning was the fourth as they scored five runs on six hits to take a 7-1 lead. Petrusky doubled and scored on a triple from D’Attoma, who subsequently scored on a line-drive single to left from Beahn. Jones then singled and moved Beahn to third, but before being thrown out trying to stretch the single into a double. Shortstop Anthony Longhitano singled in Beahn just before Matvey again used his speed, this time to produce a two-run inside-the-park homerun (3) to complete the scoring.
Akron picked up an insurance run to make it 8-1 in the sixth when Brown singled in Jones, who had led off the inning with a double.
Offensively for Akron, all nine batters had at least one hit, while Matvey, Jones and Longhitano each had two hits.
James was one-of-three in the game, extending his tournament hit streak to four games and winning the Dave Layton Award given to the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, as he was six-of-12 (.500) with three doubles, two triples, one walk, five runs scored and three runs batted in.
2009 AA League Award Winners
The Greater Akron AA Baseball League has announced it's award winners for the 2009 season.
Frank Garcia MVP Award - Danny Campfield, Portage South Black Squirrels & Craig Knott, Canton-Akron Legend
Dave Young Pitcher of the Year - Brian Lonjak, Northern Ohio Hurricanes
Don Lombardi Rookie of the Year - Craig Knott, Canton-Akron Legend
All-Star Game MVP - Danny Campfield, Portage South Black Squirrels & Todd Blackmon, Alliance White Physical Therapy
The AA League Tournament Most Valuable Player award has now been renamed the Dave Layton Award starting in 2008.
2009 League Tournament Results
Results:
Sunday, July 19th
Northern Ohio Hurricanes 10, Canton Crew 1
Monday, July 20th
Sharon Center Cox Painting 2, Alliance White Physical Therapy 1
Portage South Black Squirrels 6, Team Diesel 1
Akron Lasiks 8, Randolph Reds 0
Northern Ohio Hurricanes 5, Canton-Akron Legend 2 (10 inn)
Tuesday, July 21st
Team Diesel 11, Canton Crew 1
Wednesday, July 22nd
Canton-Akron Legend 9, Randolph Reds 8
Team Diesel 12, Alliance White Physical Therapy 5
Friday, July 24th
Akron Lasiks 2, Sharon Center Cox Painting 0
Northern Ohio Hurricanes 6, Portage South Black Squirrels 1
Saturday, July 25th
Sharon Center Cox Painting 9, Canton-Akron Legend 8
Team Diesel 6, Portage South Black Squirrels 5
Sunday, July 26th
Akron Lasiks 5, Northern Ohio Hurricanes 2
Sharon Center Cox Painting 15, Team Diesel 11
Northern Ohio Hurricanes 2, Sharon Center Cox Painting 1 (10 inn)
AA League Championship Game - July 27th
Akron Lasiks 8, Northern Ohio Hurricanes 1
Allen James (Lasiks) was named the Dave Layton Tournament Most Valuable Player.
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Congratulations to the 2008 Greater Akron AA Baseball League Champions
Akron Lasiks
Wednesday, February 25
2008 League Championship
Lasiks Take Home 2008 League Tournament Title in Inaugural Year
Defeat Portage South 5-2 as Petrusky Wins Number 8
August 4, 2008 -- Tonight, Monday, August 4, 2008, the Akron Lasiks played host to Portage South in the final and decisive game of the Greater Akron AA Baseball League tournament and came out ahead, 5-2, at the Ballpark at Hudson in Hudson, Ohio. With the win, the Lasiks improve to 26-10-2 overall in its inaugural season and will continue on early next week at the AABC East Central Regional tournament in Canton, Ohio, playing for a shot at the World Series in Huntsville, Texas.With the loss, Portage South falls to 18-13-1 overall; they will attend the Buckeye Baseball 18+ State tournament this weekend in Akron, Ohio.
Veteran righty Ryan Petrusky (8-2) would get the nod for the second consecutive night, picking up his eighth win while throwing six complete innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits and one walk, striking out seven. Petrusky’s six innings made it 15 consecutive innings in which he threw for Akron, spanning just two days of action.
During the tournament, Petrusky accumulated a record of 4-0 on the mound, winning the Lasiks’s first game over the Turf Guys and earning the decision in their final three victories of the tournament. His 0.82 earned run average in 22.0 innings pitched was remarkable over a span of exactly seven days. He allowed three runs (two earned) on just 13 hits, good for an opponent’s batting average of .167, walking six, hitting two, and striking out 20.
At the plate, Petrusky was just as impressive, batting a team best .471 (eight-of-17) with eight singles, six runs batted in, one run scored, a hit-by-pitch, and two very important sacrifice bunts, earning him the tournament’s Most Valuable Player Award.
“Anytime you win an award like this, it’s an honor,” said Petrusky. “But I am being completely honest when I say it means nothing without the tournament title. We came here to do one thing – win it all. We fell just short of a regular season title and I didn’t want that to happen again. I’m very proud of my teammates and honored to be the MVP.”
Dominique Rodgers would come back from his game two victory against Sharon Center to pick up his first save of the season, striking out the side in the seventh.
The Lasiks would get on the board first, scoring a single marker in the bottom of the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. Catcher Rob Beahn would start the rally with a double to deep left center. Courtesy runner, Rodgers would eventually come around to score on a line-drive single from right fielder Cory Eastgate.
Portage South would then take a 2-1 lead the very next inning as with two outs, Petrusky allowed a double, hit a batter, and then gave up a two-run double for Portage South’s only two runs of the game.
Center fielder Jamie Matvey would leadoff the home half of the third with a single and steal second before moving to third on a groundout from shortstop Kevin Brown. Petrusky would complete the manufactured run with a sacrifice fly on a diving catch from the center fielder, tying the score, 2-2.
Then in the fourth, the bottom of the Lasiks’ order came through again as first baseman Eric Serian singled to leadoff the inning and Eastgate reached base on an infield hit, advancing to second on a throwing error, which allowed Serian to score all the way from first for the 3-2 lead. Second baseman Dan O’Brien would single, moving Eastgate to third, who would eventually come around to score on an RBI-groundout from Matvey, putting Akron ahead 4-2.
Petrusky, who as expected, was not quite as sharp as the night before against the same Portage South squad, worked fiercely out of a couple jams enabling the Lasiks to get through six with the 4-2 advantage. They would pick up an unnecessary insurance run in their half of the six as Serian hit an inside the park homerun to deep left center field in which the center fielder made a diving attempt for, injuring his leg on the play.
Rodgers came on for the easy save as he struck out the side facing Portage South’s top third of the order, giving Akron the 5-2 win and the Greater Akron AA Baseball League title in its first season.
Leading the way for Akron offensively was Beahn, going three-of-three with a double. Matvey, Serian, and Eastgate each had two hits and one RBI and would account for four of the five Lasiks' runs.
2008 Greater Akron AA Award Winners
The Greater Akron AA Baseball League has announced it's award winners for the 2008 season.
Frank Garcia MVP Award - Sam Crea, Sharon Center Cox Painting
Dave Young Pitcher of the Year - Matt Brumit, Canton-Akron Legend
Don Lombardi Rookie of the Year - Jeff Speck, Portage South
All-Star Game MVP - Casey Jirsa, Akron Lasiks
The AA League Tournament Most Valuable Player award has now been renamed the Dave Layton Award starting in 2008.
2008 Dave Layton Award - Ryan Petrusky, Akron Lasiks
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Congratulations to the 2007 Greater Akron AA Baseball League Champions
Randolph Reds
Follow the link below to the AA League Stats, Leaders, and Standings
AA League Stats at My Stats Online
2007 Akron AA League Award Winners Announced
The Greater Akron AA Baseball League has announced it's award winners for the 2007 season. Follow the link below to see the full story on the Beacon Journal's website.
http://www.ohio.com/community/readernews/10741281.html
Frank Garcia MVP Award - Ron Spears, Sharon Center Cox Painting
Dave Young Pitcher of the Year - Dan Hepler, Randolph Reds
Don Lombardi Rookie of the Year - Jimmy Jamieson, Portage South
League Tournament MVP - Dan Hepler, Randolph Reds
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Silver Creek Bats
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Ritchie's Sporting Goods is offering a discount to AA League players on all in-store merchandise. When visiting Ritchie's just let the cashier know that you play in the Greater Akron AA Baseball League and they will give you a 25% discount. |
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2006 Award Winners Announced
Frank Garcia MVP
The votes are in and the 2006 Greater Akron AA League Frank Garcia MVP Award Winner is Jeff Forbes from Canton-Akron Legend. In 2006 Forbes hit .500 with 41 hits, 26 RBI, and 14 SB to go along with a 3-1 record on the mound with 43 strikeouts and a 0.98 ERA.
Dave Young Pitcher of the Year
The 2006 Greater Akron AA League Dave Young Pitcher of the Year is Nate Miller of Sharon Center Cox Painting. In 2006 Miller went 8-1 with 50 strikeouts in 63 innings pitched and had a 1.11 ERA.
Congratulations goes out to these players on great seasons and we also congratulate all of the finalists for the award.
Garcia Award Finalists
Ron Spears (Sharon Center), Sam Crea (Sharon Center), Dan Herbert (Portage South), Mike Darrah (Portage South), Andy Johnson (Akron A's), Mike Kruse (Valley City), Bruce Bailey (Delanie's Grille), Tom Lindhe (Delanie's Grille), Clay Watkins (Ellet Shockers)
Dave Young Award Finalists
Walt Samson (Green), Jeff Forbes (Canton-Akron Legend), Tom Lindhe (Delanie's Grille), Ryan Petrusky (Akron A's), Mark Bonfiglio (Portage South), Gary Kirchenbauer (Green), Tony Pierce (Ellet Shockers), Jason Springer (Canton-Akron Legend), Vince Donatelli (Storm)
All-Star Game MVP
Rocky Pfisterer of the Green Highlanders was named Greater Akron AA Baseball Interleague All-Star Game MVP. He was 2-5 with a double, 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs.
League Tournament MVP
Outfielder Sam Crea of Sharon Center Cox Painting was named the Greater Akron AA Baseball League Tournament.
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Friday, May 6
Greater Akron AA Baseball League History
For those that aren't familiar with the history and tradition surrounding the AA League, we will be posting information about past teams and players from time to time to help newcomers to the AA League familiarize themselves with the men that came before us.
A new history tidbit is in the works... update coming soon!
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