Why Shohei Ohtaniโs heavily-deferred contract could be model pro athletes ask for going forward
Ohtani has decided to defer $680 million of the contract until after his playing days are over, meaning heโll take in roughly $2 million of salary each year for the duration of the contract that will run through 2033.
Is this prep baseball team from Michigan REALLY countryโs best? Evidence suggests yes
Whenever any high school baseball rankings come out, itโs hard to ever see a team in those rankings not from states such as Florida, Texas, California, Arizona, Mississippi or Georgia. But for most of the year, St. Maryโs was ranked No. 1 in the country by MaxPreps.
Light of inspiration: Detroit Edison baseball team advances to state championship against all odds
Itโs hard enough for any school to get to a state baseball final, let alone a school in a city where prep baseball is an afterthought. But the improbable nature of Edisonโs run goes even further than that.
5 reasons we might not see another 3,000-hitter in baseball for a while, if ever
The camera phones were raised high and the anticipation was buzzing through the stadium. When it finally happened, nearly 40,000 fans in Detroit cheered, got goosebumps, and even cried tears of joy that they got to be part of baseball history on Saturday.
WATCH: Amherst softball beats Liberty, Franklin County baseball beats William Byrd
On Tuesday night, Franklin County defeated William Byrd 3-0 in a Blue Ridge District matchup in Vinton. Terriers ace pitcher and Virginia Tech commit Tyler Dean had nine strikeouts in the first 4 innings of play, while Franklin Countyโs Preston Crowl held the Terriers scoreless.
Roberto Clemente: More than Latin Americaโs baseball star
Roberto Clemente was the first Latino to be inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The legacy of Roberto Clemente is still treasured today, proven nearly 50 years after his death. In fact, the Orange County School Board unanimously voted to rename the facility Roberto Clemente Middle on Sept. 21, coincidentally during Hispanic Heritage Month. Becoming baseballโs most prominent Afro-LatinoRoberto Clemente started his Major League Baseball career with the Pittsburg Pirates. The son of a sugarcane worker, Clemente began his professional baseball career just after finishing high school.
Baseball legend, former home run king Henry โHankโ Aaron dies at 86
Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron has died. WSB-TV in Atlanta reports that the one-time home run king died on Friday morning, according to his daughter. Aaron, who was inducted into the hall of fame in 1982, played 23 MLB seasons, from 1954 to 1976. In that time, he hit 755 home runs, a record he held for 33 years until it was broken by Barry Bonds. The 25-time All-Star was also a three-time Gold Glove winner and won one World Series in 1957 with the Milwaukee Braves.
Lynchburg Hillcats likely to remain Cleveland Indians affiliate, but at a different level
LYNCHBURG, Va. โ Baseball players in the Hill City could still end up playing home games in Cleveland. The Lynchburg Hillcats announced Wednesday that theyโve been formally invited by the Cleveland Indians to become their new Low-A affiliate. โWe appreciate Clevelandโs commitment to top-notch player development and working with us to keep professional baseball in Lynchburg for years to come. We canโt wait to host baseball games again at Bank of the James Stadium and do what we do best -- provide affordable family fun to our passionate fans.โThe announcement comes as Major League Baseball has altered the minor league structure. Lynchburg was last a Low-A club in 1989 as a Boston Red Sox affiliate.
'An undeniable void in Hokie Nationโ: Longtime Virginia Tech baseball coach Chuck Hartman dies at 85
BLACKSBURG, Va. โ Longtime Virginia Tech baseball head coach Chuck Hartman died Monday at 85 while living at a local assisted living facility. 2, 2020 marked the curtain call for Chuck Hartman. Robertson said Hartman left in 2006 as the all-time winningest coach in Virginia Tech history in any sport. Robertson said Hartman had been in poor health for a while before he died. In total, Hartman coached college baseball for nearly half of a century.
Teams to rebrand as Appalachian League transforms into a collegiate wood-bat league
ROANOKE, Va. โ Say goodbye to the Pulaski Yankees, Danville Braves and the other familiar monikers of the Appalachian League. Major League Baseball and USA Baseball jointly announced a new format for the league, on Tuesday, which will feature the nationโs top rising college freshmen and sophomores in wood-bat play each summer. โThe communities of the Appalachian League have supported baseball since our founding in 1911. This new Appalachian League format will continue that tradition, ensuring that high-level baseball will continue being played in our state for the long-term. We look forward to a new team as part of the community.โ Danville Parks and Rec director Bill Sgrinia
Appalachian League to become a college baseball developmental league
ROANOKE, Va. โ The Appalachian League will look different when it returns. On Friday, Major League Baseball and USA Baseball announced a plan to transform the Appalacian League into a college summer league. Rather than being professional players at the rookie-level, the league would be comprised of the nationโs top rising college freshman and sophomores. The plan is to โretain high-caliber baseball in the communities where it is currently being played under the Appalachian League brand while bringing new, modern approaches to player development and exciting partnerships and opportunities for teams, fans and communities,โ according to Major League BaseballMore details will be released during a Zoom meeting on Tuesday at noon.
Cardboard fans? Masks? MLB is back, but it doesnโt look real -- these photos might weird you out
(2020 Getty Images)A lone Boston Red Sox employee eats a hot dog in the stands before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on July 26, 2020 in Boston. (2020 Getty Images)A peek at Tropicana Field during a game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Atlanta Braves on July 27, 2020 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (2020 Getty Images)A mask is placed on the Teammates Statue on Opening Day at Fenway Park on July 24, 2020 in Boston. (2020 Getty Images)A general view of of cardboard cutouts placed in the seats before the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on July 25, 2020. (2020 Getty Images)With information from the Associated Press.
Roanoke area athletes start baseball practice ahead of Saturdays senior games
SALEM, Va. The Salem Red Sox will be hosting Roanoke area seniors on Saturday for a doubleheader honoring the players who didnt get a final season. There will be four teams with games at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. The rosters were set up to put players on the same high school team together and Salem has the biggest group with nine. It will be fun, getting out here with the guys, catcher Michael Morrison said. Went separate ways to play this summer but to get back here and play with them will be fun.A firework show will happen after the games as well.
Salem Red Sox now selling season tickets for 2021 season
SALEM, Va โ The start of the Major League Baseball season has the Salem Red Sox preparing for next season. Tickets for the 2021 baseball season went on sale Thursday. This comes just weeks after Minor League Baseball canceled its season amid COVID-19 concerns. Staff with the Red Sox said it hasnโt been an easy summer without baseball, but they are eager to welcome guests back for a home game next season. The team is also donating tickets in the name of season holders from this year to front line workers so they can come to games next year.
Powering thru perceptions: Alternative Baseball changing lives across the country
ROANOKE, Va. Everyone deserves the chance to play traditional baseball free of judgement.24 year old Taylor Duncan is an energetic, zealous lover of baseball who lives in Dallas, Georgia. I was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 4 where I had a lot of speech issues, sensory issues and anxiety issues, Duncan said. It isnt just a baseball program. It isnt just a baseball team but its a baseball experience where you get to form friendships with others just like yourself, said Duncan. If you have interest in volunteering to help the initiative to start a program here locally, click here.
Were the only game in town: Martinsville Mustangs begin their baseball season
MARTINSVILLE, Va. Baseball is back in Virginia, a day after Minor League Baseball cancelled its season due to COVID-19. The Martinsville Mustangs of the Coastal Plain League played their first game on Thursday against the High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms. Were the only game in town, said Mustangs assistant general manager Connor Akeman. The Coastal Plain League is able to play on since it is a collegiate league independent from the MLB. Mustangs head coach Jake Marinelli believes the season will be good for fans, but even better for the players who had their college seasons cut short.
High school baseball seniors to get one last chance to step up to the plate
SALEM, Va. While the Salem Red Sox will not be taking the field in 2020, some high school seniors will play on the diamond one final time. Four teams comprised of seniors from at least 20 high schools will be competing. Theyll get the full-player experience with announcements and headshots to be shown on the video board when theyre at bat. Several of them are going on to play college ball but, for the most part, theyre not. One player even made a comment, Im going to be able to pitch at a minor league park.
Martinsville Mustangs ready to provide โThe only game in townโ
MARTINSVILLE, Va. โ While baseball may be in flux in other parts of the area, the Martinsville Mustangs are getting ready to open their 16th season in the Coastal Plain League. After a brief delay to the start of the season, the premier collegiate summer league is ready to get into the swing of things and provide some action for guys who had a short, unexpected college season. The Coastal Plain League has no affiliation with Major League Baseball, which is why the Mustangs never had any doubt that they would take the field to play this summer. โGreg Suire, our owner, is really involved with the Coastal Plain League,โ said Marinelli. โHe assured us the whole time โWeโre playing, weโre playing.โ Us getting out here was never a question.
Roaming mountain lion caught in downtown San Francisco
In this image from surveillance camera video provided by KGO-TV/ABC7, a young mountain lion wanders through the station's parking lot in San Francisco Tuesday, June 16, 2020. The disoriented cougar roamed the streets of the city for two days until he was spotted by a police officer near Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. Campbell said officials get reports of cougars in San Francisco about once a year. We never had a mountain lion right in the middle of downtown San Francisco, Campbell said. If approached by the mountain lion, make yourself appear big and shout."
Salem Memorial Ballpark hosts USSSA Tournament
SALEM, Va. More than a dozen 13-and-under baseball teams that are part of the Virginia United States Specialty Sports Association have taken to Salem Memorial Ballpark for a tournament this weekend. With ongoing discussions about major and minor league baseballs return, Haley Toyota Field was available for use this weekend. Salem Red Sox general manager Allen Lawrence said they were happy to welcome the youngsters. While the Salem Red Sox dont make profit from ticket sales, they do benefit from concession sales which is pivotal during the clubs uncertainty for a 2020 season. We havent had a Red Sox game since last August so every little bit of revenue helps.
Skiing in Colorado to resume amid coronavirus pandemic
The ski resort will open for limited spring skiing and riding on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. At least one resort high in the Colorado Rockies is planning to reopen after a more than two-month hiatus caused by the coronavirus. Jared Polis is expected to make an announcement involving all Colorado ski resorts Monday. Still, some are choosing not to allow late spring skiing. Kate Brown signed an executive order allowing skiing and snowboarding to resume across the state.
โI found out my family was gone over a Facebook headlineโ: Blake Bivens relying on faith after wife, son and mother-in-law were murdered
DANVILLE, Va. โ For the first time, Tampa Bay Rays minor league baseball player Blake Bivens opened up about the murder of his wife, son and mother-in-law. Bivens, 24, had his life forever changed on Aug. 27, when his wife, 14-month-old son and mother-in-law were all allegedly murdered by his brother-in-law in Pittsylvania County. When he checked Facebook, he saw a headline that police were looking for his brother-in-law, Matthew Bernard. Then, within 30 minutes of reading the headline, he had talked to his teamโs manager and was at the airport. Nothing will ever come close to feeling how I felt that day, and how I felt in that moment," said Bivens.
Roanoke Rising Stars prep for year two of operation
ROANOKE, Va. โ The NBA and college basketball seasons are right around the corner, and the same can be said for the Roanoke Rising Stars. The team is preparing for year two of operations in the American Basketball Association. "Just the opportunity to play the game and give back to a few of the guys that are on here. We made it to second round of the playoffs and of course we want to get one or two games better," said head coach Eric Walker. The season-opener for the Rising Stars will be Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. at Faith Christian School in Roanoke as they host the Hub City Hogs.
Cave Spring prepares for River Ridge final Friday night
ROANOKE, Va. โ Cave Spring hasn't run into many teams that can match them but their opponent in the River Ridge District final is one of them. The Knights have been battle tested all season and feel confident heading into Friday nights contest against Patrick Henry. Now sitting at 19-4, with a regular season district title already in the case,this once-young team is showing poise to make a deeper run. "These guys have been battle tested," said head coach Jacob Gruse. Cave Spring will battle Patrick Henry for the River Ridge District Tournament title at 6 p.m. Friday.
Salem-Roanoke Baseball Hall of Fame inducts four
SALEM, Va. โ The 28th annual Salem-Roanoke Baseball Hall of Fame banquet and induction ceremony was on tap Thursday evening. The 2019 inductees include current Radford head coach Joe Raccuia, former Virginia Tech player and assistant coach Jay Phillips, current Franklin County head baseball coach Barry Shelton, and longtime sports official Ernie Bradd. "This thing is more of a reflection on the university and baseball program. "I don't know that there's a better vehicle than baseball to be a servant to your community and especially as a coach now to the kids of our community specifically Franklin County. The guest speaker was former major league pitcher Cla Meredith from Richmond, and Mike Deneka from Cave Spring little league receives the community service award or his tireless work.
Pulaski Yankees drop series opener with Johnson City
PULASKI, Va. โ Reigning Appalachian League Player of the Week Alexander Vizcaino took the mound for the Pulaski Yankees, but a four-run third inning led the Johnson City Cardinals to a 9-3 win on Tuesday night. Brandon Riley doubled off the wall in right field followed by a RBI single by Donivan Williams to make it 1-0. In the ninth, Michael Perri doubled home two runs followed by a Moises Castillo RBI single to round out the scoring. The Pulaski Yankees return to Motor Mile Field at Calfee Park tomorrow, July 25 for the second of three against the Johnson City Cardinals. The first 100 fans who bring a toy donation will receive a GA ticket good for any remaining 2018 Pulaski Yankees home game.
Roanoke College sweeps baseball doubleheader from Lynchburg
ROANOKE, Va. โ Roanoke College swept a pair from Lynchburg college to advance in the ODAC baseball tournament. The wins were 10-1 and 10-4 over the Hornets. The Maroons advance to the double elimination final four bracket in Lynchburg next weekend.
Hillcats handle Winston-Salem 7-3
Mitch Roman led off the inning with a single to right field, and then he advanced to third on back-to-back flyouts. The Hillcats responded right away in their half of the third. Emmanuel Tapia followed with an RBI groundout to give the Hillcats a 2-1 lead, and then Jodd Carter walked to reload the bases. The six-run third inning was most runs that the Hillcats had scored in an inning this season. The Hillcats continue their homestand on Friday night, when they welcome the Potomac Nationals to City Stadium for a three-game series.
Corey Kluber wins his second Cy Young Award
Cleveland Indians right-hander Corey Kluber won his second American League Cy Young Award in four seasons on Wednesday. Finishing a distant second was Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale, who earned two first-place votes and 28 second place votes for 126 points. The New York Yankees' right-handed rookie Luis Severino was third with a total of 73 points. Kluber, who was an All-Star the past two seasons, won his first Cy Young Award in 2014, his first full season in the majors. The Indians lost the ALDS to the New York Yankees in five games.
Pulaski outslugs Danville for 6-4 win
PULASKI, Va. โ The Pulaski Yankees handled rival Danville 6-4 on Thusday night in Pulaski. The Yankees hit three home runs in the game, including a pair by Saul Torres, and one by Danienger Perez for the win. The Yankees broke open a 4-4 tie with single runs in the 6th and 7th innings for the deciding margin. Pulaski hosts Bristol and Danville is at Burlington on Friday night.
Roanoke College baseball has sights set on College World Series
The program has many firsts this year, first ODAC championship, first regional championship and first College World Series berth. "Five-year plan was by the time we get to year five, with our first recruit class seniors, we'd be competing for an ODAC title. Getting to the World Series I think a team that gets hot, gets there. Coach McGuire said after the ODAC championship that the team wasn't done, now that they have a regional title, they have their eyes set on the College World Series. With College World Series play starting Friday, the Maroons look to bring the heat to Wisconsin.