Spaghetti Dinner to Benefit Longtime Amateur Baseball Umpire George Villarini

Dec. 12, 2013

MANCHESTER, Vt. -- The Manchester area Little League and Youth Baseball organization is holding a spaghetti dinner to benefit longtime  baseball umpire  George Villarini, who is battling liver cancer. The dinner will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 13, 2013 at the Hoosick Falls Youth Center located at the Armory at 80 Church Street (Rt. 22),  Hoosick Falls, New York.

Villarini has been a long-time active member in local sports for area youths and has made many lasting impressions on friends, family, and coworkers in the community while unselfishly donating his time. 

The cost for the dinner will be $5.00 for ages five-to-12 and $10.00 for ages 13 and up. Children under ages four and under are free. Donations will be accepted if you can't make it to the dinner. Please send a check payable to Manchester Youth Baseball with 'For George' in the memo line to:

Manchester Youth Baseball

PO Box 463

Manchester VT 05255

Thanks very much for any support!  More information on this cause is available on the Manchester Youth Baseball Facebook page at:

https://www.facebook.com/mvtyb?ref=stream

 

Saint Michael's, Lyndon State Name New Head Baseball Coaches

September 12, 2013

Saint Michael's College, Lyndon State Name New Head Baseball Coaches

Two Vermont collegiate programs will have new head coaches with Matt Rodovick rejoining Saint Michael's College as its head baseball coach and Tom White was named the new mentor at Lyndon State. 

Named to the post on August 9, Rodovick was a member of the Saint Michael's coaching staff during parts of the three previous years, and last season was on the staff at Plattsburgh State. He served as the Purple Knights interim head coach in the spring of 2012 guiding the team to 11 victories that year, the program's first back in the Northeast-10 Conference since 1998. The 11 wins included an upset of nationally-ranked Franklin Pierce, 5-3. A native of Stamford, Vermont who is a graduate of Springfield College, he also has been the pitching coach for the Colchester Cannons American Legion program the last three seasons.

Click HERE for the press release on Rodovick from the SMC Athletics website: 

White, who was named the Hornets head coach on August 16, comes to Lyndon State after serving as a three-year assistant at D-III Plymouth State College primarily as the team's recruiter and hitting coach. His contributions played a significant role in Plymouth's most recent 20-win season and runner-up finish in the powerful Little East Conference. Prior to that he was a high school coach in Reading, Mass. A native of Lisbon, N.H., White is a graduate of  Colby-Sawyer College where he was a baseball and soccer standout. In addition to his coaching duties at Lyndon, White will also serve as a counselor and recruiter with the Lyndon Admissions Department.

Click HERE for the full release on White from the Lyndon State athletics website.

Bruce Bosley

Executive Director, VBCA

bbosley.vbca@gmail.com

Rosters Announced For Annual North-South Baseball All-Star Game

Vermont Senior All-Stars Meet Saturday, August 10 in Doubleheader

RUTLAND, Vt. -- Many of the finest high school baseball seniors in the state make up the rosters for the 2013 Vermont Baseball Coaches Association North-South Senior All-Star game, announced today by the coaches of both squads. The annual doubleheader will be held this Saturday, August 10, 2013 at Saint Peter's Field in Rutland. Game one first pitch is at 11 a.m. and admission to the twinbill is free.

Coaching the North all-stars will be Roy Sargent of Missisquoi and George Ringer of Vergennes. Assisting them will be Brooks Sturtevant of Missisquoi and Peter Stapleford of Vergennes. The North roster is made up of: Kris Wehner, BFA Fairfax; Davis Mikell, CVU; Caleb Lothian and Matthieu St. Amour, Missisquoi; Greg Gosselin and Monte Green, Mount Mansfield; Jacob Sprague, Randolph; Charlie Boardman, Rice Memorial; Dylan Watts, Spaulding; and Devin Hayes, Charlie Stapleford and Wade Steele, Vergennes. Sargent stated that another player or two could be added on Friday.

Leading the South is Kevin Bellomo of Rutland who is assisted by Bellows Falls' Bob Lockerby and Tim Mitchell of Otter Valley. Members of the South squad are: Evan Parro of Brattleboro; Robert Englund, Jake Stalcup and Zach Stewart, Burr and Burton; Dakota Euber and Matt Graziano, Fair Haven; Justin Devoid and Dylan Terino, Hartford; Justin Owen, Brett Patterson, Tom Roberts and Jim Winslow, Otter Valley; Zach Bahan, Cameron Bow and Weston Lozier, Mount Anthony; Ryan Bellomo and Austin Cozzins, Rutland; and Tyler Bathalon, West Rutland.

August 8, 2013

Bruce Bosley, VBCA Executive Director

bbosley.vbca@gmail.com

Annual North-South Senior Baseball All-Star Game Slated For Saturday, Aug. 10

Annual North-South Senior Baseball All-Star Game Slated For Saturday, August 10

RUTLAND, Vt. -- The annual VBCA North-South Senior All-Star Game will be held Saturday, August 10, 2013 at St. Peters Field in Rutland (rain date is Sunday, August 11). First pitch of game one of the doubleheader is at 11 a.m. and admission to the twinbill is free.

Leading the South senior all-stars will be Rutland's Kevin Bellomo who will be assisted by Bob Lockerby of Bellows Falls and Tim Mitchell of Otter Valley. Heading up the North coaching staff will be Roy Sargent of Missisquoi Valley and he will be assisted by George Ringer of Vergennes. Also on the North staff will be Brooks Sturtevant of Missisquoi Valley and Peter Stapleford of Vergennes.

Rosters will be announced on Wednesday, August 7, 2013.

National Federation Announces 2014 Baseball Rules Changes and Points of Emphasis

Baseball Rules Committee Addresses Batter Interference with Catcher and Recommends 2014 'Points of Emphasis'

From National Federation of State High School Associations Baseball Rules Committee Press Release

July 8, 2013

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Changes to high school baseball rules will include an additional example of how a batter can interfere with the catcher's ability to field or throw.

This year's rules changes were approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Baseball Rules Committee at its June 2-4 meeting in Indianapolis. The rules changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors. 

"The committee felt that the game is in a very good state," said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports and educational services and staff liaison for baseball. 

The committee voted to added "including backswing interference" to Rule 7-3-5c to address that specific type of batter interference. The rule now reads, "A batter shall not interfere with the catcher's fielding or throwing by making any other movement, including backswing interference, which hinders action at home plate or the catcher's attempt to play on a runner.

The committee also revised Rule 6-1-3 to state that the pitcher's entire pivot foot must be in contact with or directly in front of and parallel to the pitcher's plate.

The committee also established several points of emphasis for the 2014 season, including malicious contact, coaching attire and umpire authority and enforcement.

"These are topics that I get calls and e-mails about during the course of a season," Hopkins said. "I share those with the committee and if they are seeing the same types of problems, then the red flag goes up."

Contact or a collision is considered to be malicious if:

1. The contact is the result of intentional excessive force;

2. The contact occurs close to the bag or home plate or above the waist of the receiving player; or

3. There was intent to injure.

Malicious contact can occur without these conditions if determined by the umpire, but these provide a starting point.

Even with cutbacks for uniform funds, coaches should still be dressed in a similar fashion to the players as a means of helping umpires recognize members of the coaching staff.

The final point of emphasis deals with umpires' authority. The committee noted that coaches must set the example of appropriate behavior so the team and its fans can follow. 

Disputing the umpire's calls, failing to comply with an umpire's command, exaggerating the time for offensive conferences, gamesmanship and challenging the umpire's authority cannot be tolerated, the committee stated.

"We want coaches to be role models for civility," Hopkins said. "The umpire has to make a final decision and the coach has to handle it with class and character."

Baseball is the fourth-most popular sport for boys at the high school level, according to the 2011-12 NFHS Athletics Participation Survey, with 474,219 participants nationwide. The sport ranks third in school sponsorship with 15,838 schools offering the sport.

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2013 All-League Teams and Awards

Below are the 2013 All-League Teams and Awards, selected by each league's coaches (updated July 15, 2013).  Coaches of other leagues: please send complete all-league teams to Bruce Bosley at bbosley.vbca@gmail.com

2013 Marble Valley League All-Stars and Awards

2013 A Division Coach of the Year: Tony Cirelli, Burr and Burton

2013 B Division, Coach of the Year: Tim Mitchell, Otter Valley

2013 C Division, Coach of the Year: Dan Williams, Poultney

2013 Marble Valley League A Division, First Team

Zach Bahan, Mt. Anthony

Ryan Bellomo, Rutland

Dan Blanchard, Mill River

Cameron Bow, Mt. Anthony

Robert England, Burr and Burton

Dakota Euber, Fair Haven

Matt Graziano, Fair Haven

Pat Mumford, Mill River

Noah Rizio, Burr and Burton

Jake Stalcup, Burr and Burton

Zach Stewart, Burr and Burton

Dylan Terino, Hartford

Matt Upright, Mt. Anthony

2013 Marble Valley League B Division, First Team

Dougie Avellino, Woodstock

Drew Barnum. Leland and Gray

Tyson Boudro, Windsor

Jake Cavacas, Green Mountain

Ethan Hill, Windsor

Ryan Kelley, Otter Valley

Mike LaBeau, Bellows Falls

Michael Muther, Springfield

Justin Owen, Otter Valley

Brett Patterson, Otter Valley

Thomas Roberts, Otter Valley

Zach Wilkins, Leland and Gray

Jim Winslow, Otter Valley

2013 Marble Valley League C Division, First Team

Tyler Bathalon, West Rutland

Brandon Davenport, Poultney

Olden Dwyer, Arlington

Colin Gilbert, MSJ

Brandon Groh, West Rutland

Alex Hawley, Arlington

Brett Kelley, Poultney

Kyle Miles, Proctor

Sam Molner, Twin Valley

Joey Noble, Black River

Lincoln Pritchard, MSJ

Matt Sanborn, MSJ

Sean Shepardson, Poultney

2013 All-Mountain League Baseball Teams and Awards 

2013 Mountain League Player of the Year: Kris Wehner, BFA-Fairfax, Sr.

2013 All-Mountain League, First Team

Alex Chapman, BFA-Fairfax

Alex Duca, Peoples Academy

Brett Elliott, Danville

Asa Hoover, BFA-Fairfax

Derrick Langlois, Winooski

Ian Machia, Enosburg

Brett McAllister, Richford

Matt Messier, Lake Region

Ben Pomichter, BFA-Fairfax

Kris Wehner, BFA-Fairfax

2013 All-Mountain League, Second Team

Colton Boylan, Enosburg

Jacob Bray, Winooski

Kyle Combs BFA-Fairfax

Thomas Hakey, BFA-Fairfax

Nick Jettie, Enosburg

Kyle Johnson, Danville

Evan McGregor, BFA-Fairfax

Jake Mills, Danville

Kiley Moody, Peoples

Pat Morrisey, Hazen

2013 All-Mountain League, Third Team

Eli Appleton, Hazen

Dustin Bathalon, Lake Region

Cam Caforia, Enosburg

Jacob Cunningham, Richford

Jesse Larose, Enosburg

Luther Larsen, Hazen

Colton Laura-Bumps, Danville

Jake Learned, Winooski

Eric Remick, Danville

Zac Roy, BFA-Fairfax

2013 Capital League All-Stars

2013 All-Capital League, First Team:

Ross Caswell, Randolph

Davis Guyer, Lyndon

Ben Jickling, Randolph

Nick Jickling, Randolph

Zach Laperle, Randolph

Nate Lynch, Lamoille

Nick Lynch, Lamoille

Dylan MacIsaac, Harwood

Jacob Sprague, Randolph

Jack Thompson, Lamoille

2013 All-Capital League, Second Team:

Ben Brooks, Lyndon

Matt Fischer, Harwood

Riley Fitzgerald, Lamoille

Nolan Howard, Thetford

Dominic Moreno, Harwood

Brandon Pedley, Northfield

Mackenzie Poirier, Randolph

Luke Russell, Harwood

Nate Severance, Lamoille

Nat Swyer, Montpelier

2013 Capital League All-Stars, Honorable Mention: 

Dylan Bailey, Tyler Atwood, Harwood; Eric Hoadley, Lamoille; Matt Valentine, Lyndon; Brandon Bova, Montpelier;  Sully Caster, Andrew Lyman, Oxbow; Andrew Cawley, Jordan Eastman, Aiden Cleaves, Thetford.

2013 All-Metro League Baseball Team and Awards

2013 Metro League Awards

Coach of the Year: Chris Richard, Essex

Player of the Year: Charlie Boardman, Rice, Sr., C/RHP

Most Runs Batted In:  Charlie Boardman, Rice (28)

Most HR: Charlie Boardman, Rice (4)

Most Strikeouts-pitching: Will Conroy, Rice (79)

Most Stolen Bases: Matt St. Amour, Missisquoi (22)

2013 All-Metro First Team:

1B:  Connor Bradley, South Burlington, So.

2B:  Tyler Warren, Essex, Sr.

3B:  Joey Robertson, Essex, So.

SS:  Josh Baez, Essex, Sr. ;  Nick Berno, BFA St. Albans, Jr.

DH: Justin Ward, Essex, Sr.

C: Ben St. Clair, Mt. Mansfield, Sr.;  Wade Steele, Vergennes, Sr,

OF:  Dylan Callan, BFA St. Albans, Sr.; David Lacroix,  Colchester, Sr:  Jonathan Palmer, Essex, Jr.; Josh St. Clair, Mt. Mansfield, Sr.; Matt Baechle, So. Burlington, Jr.; 

Pitchers:  Ryan Connor, BFA St. Albans, Jr.; Davis Mikell, Champlain Valley, Sr.; Sean Callahan, Colchester, Sr.; Luke Salerno, Sr., Steve Jurkiewicz, Sr., Essex;  Matt St. Amour, Missisquoi Valley, Sr.; Will Conroy, Rice, Sr.; Devin Hayes, Vergennes, Sr. 

2013 All-Metro Second Team:

1B:  Noah Lipman, Burlington, Jr.; Kevin Guild, Spaulding, Sr.

2B:  Cory Benoit, Colchester, Sr.; Colin Hanson, South Burlington, Sr.

3B: Josh Rylant, Colchester, Sr.; Cameron Bourbeau, Rice, Jr.

SS: Tommy Fitzgerald, Rice, Jr.; Nick Richer, Vergennes, Sr.

C: Kirk Fontana, Champlain Valley, Sr.; Hudson Seman, Essex, Sr.; David Laroche, Missisquoi Valley, Jr.;  Cody Alexander, Mt. Abraham, Sr.

OF: Darren Callan, BFA St. Albans, Sr.; Ryan Boera, Burlington, Sr.; Luke Dolan, Mt. Mansfield, Sr.; Max Smith, Jr. and Paul Valgoi, Jr., South Burlington; Jordan Godfrey, Spaulding, So.

Pitchers:  Rayne Supple, So., Dylan Ireland, Sr. and Kyle Stanley, Jr., Champlain Valley; Devin Dessormeau, Colchester, Sr.,  Sawyer Kamman, Mt. Abraham, Jr.; Greg Gosselin, Mt. Mansfield, Sr.; Jarrett Bridges, Jr. and Colton Hudson, So., St. Johnsbury; Patrick McMackin, So. Burlington, So.; Charlie Stapleford, Vergennes, Sr. 

2013 All-Metro Honorable Mention:

Doug Saffo, Josh Waite, BFA St. Albans; Holden Ackerman, Holden Jones, Burlington; Hayden Smith, Champlain Valley;  Brandon Arel, Cassidy Moore, Colchester; Jeremy LeClair, Frank Puleo, Essex; Taylor Patterson, Tyler Provencher, Middlebury; Elijah Eaton, Caleb Lothian, Missisqoui; Austin Lafayette, Mt. Abraham;  Josh Fitgerald, Greg Gosselin, Mt. Mansfield; Anthony Philip, Tim Shea Jr., Rice; Zach Hale, Moises Nurko, St. Johnsbury; Jason Gaines, Gabe Simpatico, South Burlington; Matt Goldsworthy, Josh Kennison, Spaulding; Zach Ouellette, Justus Sturtevant, Vergennes

VBCA Members Needed for 2013 VPA State Championships

VBCA Members Needed for 2013 VPA State Championships

Updated Championship Schedule (all games at historic Centennial Field):

Division IV: No. 1 South Royalton (16-1) vs. No. 3 Danville (12-6), 7 p.m. Friday

Division II: No. 1 Burr and Burton (17-2) vs. No. 2 Otter Valley (18-1), 7 p.m. Saturday

Division III: No. 1 BFA-Fairfax (18-0) vs. No. 2 Randolph (16-3), 4:30 p.m. Monday

Division I: No. 1 Essex (16-2) vs. No. 3 Champlain Valley (15-4), 7 p.m. Monday

A reminder that the VBCA will need its members to volunteer at the 2013 VPA Baseball State Championships this weekend at historic Centennial Field. Coaches are needed to staff the t-shirt table and sell 50-50 raffle tickets at all four state title games. This is a great source of revenue for the VBCA and members are needed to help at any or all the games. The Vermont Lake Monsters have assured us that this season the t-shirt table will be in a prominent spot where coaches will be able to watch the games.

If anything, please come out to see the tremendous improvements to historic Centennial Field. Among them are new plastic seats in the concrete grandstand areas, new dugouts, new box seats (cutting down the room behind home plate by at least 15 feet), new bullpens, new field surface and the new video scoreboard will be in use for all four games.

If you're driving from out of town and you are concerned about the weather, please call Bruce Bosley at 802-324-8334.

2013 VBCA Junior Showcase To Be Held Wednesday June 19 at Castleton

The second annual Vermont Baseball Coaches Association Junior Showcase will be held on Wednesday, June 19 at 1 p.m. at Castleton State College's Spartan Field in Castleton, Vt.  

Vermont high school baseball student-athletes who are in the 11th grade in 2012-13 will have the opportunity to display their skills in pro-style workouts and participate in a controlled game for New England and Northeast region collegiate baseball coaches. The showcase will be administered by VBCA member coaches.

The cost per student-athlete is $25, payable to the VBCA. Student-athletes can contact their coach for registration forms and more information, or click HERE to download the 2013 registration form in PDF format. The deadline for registration is June 15, 2013 and the registration form needs to be filled out in advance. 

Close to 90 former Vermont high school players were represented on 2013 NCAA Division I, II and III baseball rosters. Several earned all-conference honors or participated on teams that advanced to the NCAA Baseball Championship.

The first annual VBCA Underclass Showcase was held at Castleton State College's Spartan Field in June 2012. Close to 50 underclass student-athletes showcased their skills in front of coaches from eight collegiate baseball programs.

Other questions can be sent to Bruce Bosley, VBCA executive director, at bbosley.vbca@gmail.com. 

Strike Out Cancer Vermont Underway Statewide In May

The Vermont Baseball Coaches Association is combining efforts with several cancer-related charities with a statewide fundraiser, 'Strike Out Cancer Vermont', that is underway at high school baseball games this month. In addition to raising needed funds, VBCA member schools are using these games to raise awareness in the fight against the deadly disease.

In addition to the student-athletes and coaches, the Vermont Baseball Umpires Association is a proud supporter of the event with umpires throughout the state wearing pink gear.

'Strike Out Cancer Vermont' opened in East Montpelier earlier this month with U32 raising over $500 for the American Cancer Society. The Raiders are wearing pink caps all season in support of a classmate's family that was affected by cancer. Other organizations in addition to the American Cancer Society that VBCA members are raising funds in support of the battle against cancer research are the Vermont Cancer Center in Burlington, the Norris Cotton Cancer Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, the national St. Baldrick's Foundation for childhood cancer research and the SVHC Foundation (Southwestern Vermont Health Care) in Bennington.

To have your game listed on the schedule of Strike Out Cancer Vermont events and for more information, please contact Bruce Bosley, VBCA executive director, at bbosley.vbca@gmail.com

2013 Strike Out Cancer Vermont games:

May 2 Lamoille at U32

May 9 Mt. Mansfield at Mt. Abraham

May 11 Enosburg at Oxbow

May 11 Burlington at Colchester  

June 1  CVU at South Burlington (rescheduled from May 23)