ESPN extends new-media deal for baseball coverage
NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - ESPN and Major League Baseball Advanced Media announced Thursday that they have extended their new-media rights deal.
Financial terms of the agreement, which run through 2013, weren't announced. The deal will significantly increase ESPN's ability to put MLB content onto any number of platforms and, for the first time, allow ESPN to stream live games and the Home Run Derby telecast on ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV. The live streamed games available will be "Sunday Night Baseball," "Monday Night Baseball" and "Wednesday Night Baseball." They will appear on ESPN360.com, ESPN's online broadband service, which is different from ESPN.com.
Also included in the deal are online and mobile highlights and interactive TV applications. It will encompass other platforms, too, like Apple iTunes and Microsoft's Xbox Live.The deal also includes fantasy baseball and data rights for ESPN's popular GameCast.
Thomson Reuters 2008 All rights reserved
Officials praise Jeff/GRC Little League team
Officials offered World Series-bound little leaguers from the city's George Rogers Clark baseball league verbal back pats and fond wishes during an event at Jeffersonville City Hall Monday night. The league is on its way to Williamsport, Penn., following a Great Lakes Regional-clinching win in extra innings late Saturday night.
"This is the big dance," said Jeffersonville City Councilman Ron Grooms. "You will always look back at this as a highlight of your life."
"It's great for the city of Jeffersonville and it's great for baseball in the city," said Ed Zastawny, council president. Councilman Keith Fetz told the youngsters to make the best of it. And Councilman Nathan Samuel called the group a class act. The body also approved a USD 5,000 donation to the league to assist with the costs of their travel.
"It's a lifelong dream of every little leaguer," assistant coach Dave Shahroudi said in an interview prior to the send off.
"It's been a whirlwind of everything, every emotion," he said.
Mayor Tom Galligan attributed the team's success to good fundamentals in what he described as textbook baseball. "We are very proud of you. I don't think words can express it," the mayor said, noting that the team put Jeffersonville on the map. "And when you come back as winners we're going to celebrate again."
CNHI News Service Associated Press content 2008.
Baseball, a church and a building get the nod from commission
OTTUMWA. The baseball league wants lights for night games, the church needs more room, and someone is interested in Building 52 at the airport. The Plan and Zoning Commission gave the unanimous nod to all three endeavors during Monday's meeting. Terry Smith of American Little League told the commission the league is requesting a variance for installing lights at Field No. 1, 1010 W. Williams St. (and is closest to Williams Street).
In his letter to the board, Smith said lights would "allow us to give the kids a chance to play more games and to help with our parking problem."
Smith said the field is landlocked and when all teams come in at once the parked cars overflow into the area around the ball field. The lights would allow for night games and expand a crunched schedule. The league will put in four 60-foot steel poles and Musco Lighting would install the lights, according to Smith.
"With the new technology, the light doesn't travel much beyond the field," Smith said. "It's almost like there’s a curtain around the field."
The league's property is zoned R-1 single-family residential district and members are requesting an amendment to the league's conditional use permit so lights may be installed for night games. Northgate Alliance Church, 2707 N. Court Road, is also requesting an amendment to its existing conditional use permit. Pastor Doug Grogan said the church had applied for permits in 2003 and 2006 in hopes of expanding.
Grogan said the earlier plans were too costly and now church leaders want to build an addition to the current sanctuary building. The proposed addition would add 8,350 square feet and the space would serve as a worship and fellowship center.
"In other words, a multi-purpose facility," Grogan said. "We would also be adding a new kitchen and additional restrooms."
Grogan said additional space is desperately needed to "properly accommodate all ministries of the church." The 300 members can't attend all at the same time but extra space would allow members to worship as one group on occasions and to host fellowship or funeral dinners. The church's proposed facility would also be used by adults or youths as a gym, Grogan added.
Before the meeting, Planning Director Dave Shafer said a business is interested in Building 52, a city-owned structure at 14548 Third St., Ottumwa Airport. Shafer told the commission the building is on a three-sided lot, which is to the left "as you access the airport from the four-lane" highway, and is near Cadbury-Schweppes.
CNHI News Service Associated Press content 2008.
Fall Baseball League
The Norwood Diamond Club will be sponsoring our Fall Baseball League for Babe Ruth age boys who played Babe Ruth baseball this year or will be eligible to play Babe Ruth in 2009 (players born between May 1, 1992, and April 30, 1996). The league is looking for both players and coaches.
Each team will play 12 games over 6 weekends beginning in September. Games will be scheduled on Friday nights, Saturdays, and Sundays. There is also a year-end cookout. In addition to the scheduled games, there will be clinics held by the Norwood High School baseball staff and members of the NHS baseball team.
The cost is USD 125 per player ($120 registration feem plus USD 5 Town of Norwood field usage fee). Checks should be made payable to the Norwood Diamond Club.
Registration forms are available at the Norwood Recreation Department, Kelley Field, or contact: Ed Hickey 617-759-3472, Tracey Black 781-762-9931, or Bill Marchant 781-762-5411. Registrations must be received by Aug. 15.
Copyright 2006-2007 GateHouse Media, Inc.
Mark-ed Man
Mark Lacerenza wants to stress that he is no savior, no white knight riding in on a horse. As the new coach of Stamford's 18-and-under Babe Ruth team, the former Westhill High School star is going to stick to a simple philosophy.
"First and foremost I want the kids to have an enjoyable summer and improve playing baseball," Lacerenza said. "The goals on a day to day basis are to get better with each game."
Still, as the new leader of the team with the highest profile in a city that considers baseball part of its fabric, Lacerenza will be under a microscope in the upcoming weeks. And those who have watched his rapid rise in the baseball community are predicting the fans are going to be pleased with the results.
"He's a young guy with an intensity and a passion for the game," said Mark Smith, a new board member who was instrumental in bringing Lacerenza into the Babe Ruth fold. Smith's son, Greg, played on Lacerenza's AAU team last summer. "He's committed to doing things right," Smith said. "There are no shortcuts and the kids buy into it. He's a very good teacher and he's into every aspect of the game."
Lacerenza, 27, is a homegrown product. He graduated from Westhill in 1998 and went on to pitch at the University of Pennsylvania. He played in some professional independent leagues and then got a job as a part-time teacher at Westhill, where he also ran the in-school detention program. Wanting to stay involved in baseball, Lacerenza through a college roommate went out to California and worked at the National Pitching Association run by Tom House, a former major league player and coach. Now employed by Source Trading as an equities trader, Lacerenza worked for two years as an assistant coach for the Connecticut Giants AAU team. He took over the program last summer. When the Giants were unable to find a home field for this season, Lacerenza assumed he was going to take the year off. At the same time Babe Ruth did an administrative housecleaning that included many of its coaches. Babe Ruth needed a coach for its premier team. Lacerenza was looking for a job.
"I've been lucky enough to work with Stamford kids over the last few years and I was fortunate to know people in Babe Ruth," Lacerenza said. "When the changes were made and word got out that I was not going to run a travel team, it seemed like a perfect fit."
Lacerenza is a former Babe Ruth player, so in a sense this will be a homecoming. "It's great to coach in Stamford," he said. "Obviously I'm a Stamford guy and I want to stay close to Stamford baseball. I'm excited to get involved and give back to Stamford Babe Ruth."
Lacerenza's assistant will be D.J. Mulvany, who last month coached Westhill to the CIAC Class LL championship. The two met while Lacerenza was working at Westhill. "I think this is exciting for the kids," Mulvany said. "It's a win-win. I think the kids can see he is in it strictly for them. He has no ulterior motives."
Smith observed Lacerenza's work with the Giants last summer and jumped at the opportunity to bring him over to Babe Ruth. "He didn't need to impress me," Smith said. "The feedback I got from the kids was all good. They responded to him and love his ethic and demeanor on the field."
Lacerenza will have a talented roster to work with. He has Smith, Jon Rather, Sean Moynihan, David Fogel and Joey Comunale from the state champion Vikings, as well as Gavin McCullough, Sean Cribbin, Anthony Pandone, Matt Gencarelli, Carl Battinelli, Tim Giuliano and Bryan Cooper, who helped Stamford High School to the state semifinals and the top seed in the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference playoffs. "It's a good group," Lacerenza said. "They are guys, if I haven't coached them I know from the area. It's a pretty balanced team. There are no guys who are just going to hit the ball out of the park or front-line pitchers."
Because Babe Ruth is the most established baseball league in the city and the older players garner the greatest attention, Lacerenza will be more carefully scrutinized than in the past. He is anxious to take advantage of his new position. "I don't feel any pressure except for trying to prove myself to my 18 players and earn their trust and show that I have nothing but there best interests in mind," Lacerenza said. "Babe Ruth is obviously a bigger organization with more kids and more help and a support system. There's a lot of tradition."
Babe Ruth has developed a reputation in recent years for having a leadership fueled by self-interests and fewer accomplished strategists in the dugouts. Lacerenza will be one of the faces of what the new regime hopes will be a return to the organization's glory days. "I can't tell you how it was in the past," Lacerenza said. "I try to be as honest and direct as I can. I've found out over the last few years that the players are your most honest critics in the world. As long as you are honest, you will have kids that respond."
Lacerenza is also at the vanguard of the rapprochement currently taking place between Babe Ruth and American Legion, Stamford's other summer baseball league. The two groups had a frosty relationship, but both sides are now taking strides to work together. The Legion team is coached by Chris Sabia, who played with Lacerenza at Westhill. "Chris and I usually speak a few times a week," Lacerenza said. "I don't mean to speak for him, but I think we're both supportive of Stamford baseball as a whole. I think we're both really focused on making this the best possible experience for the athletes."
Right now Lacerenza's top concern is getting his players ready for a tournament season that begins July 11 and, he hopes, will run deep into the summer. "We're excited," he said. "We probably have the hardest three weeks ahead of us and need to log in 30 hours worth of practice before now and then. My goal right now is the same as the players set for themselves, to try and get to be a better coach."
Copyright 2008 MediaNews Group
Braves win Exeter Junior Baseball League majors championship
Brendan Keach and Nick Cilia delivered. Keach's grand slam in the fourth inning delivered the runs and Celia provided six strong innings on the mound in leading the Braves to the Exeter Junior Baseball League Major League championship Tuesday evening at the new baseball complex in Kensington. The Braves went on to defeat the Cubs, 9-5. A day earlier it was Keach's fastball that helped deliver a 4-2 victory over the Cubs in the second game of the best-of-three series. The Cubs opened up the series on Saturday with a 21-6 victory.
"Two good teams," said Braves coach Kevin Keach, noting his respect for the Cubs and their coach, Don Perreault. "Just a good hard game."
It was the eighth EJBL championship for the Braves. Their last one came in 2005. Monday evening it was Keach's fastball that snuffed out a Cubs bases-loaded rally in the sixth and final inning.
"It was scary," said Keach, a 12-year-old from Newfields. "I thought I was going to blow it. Keach said he only has one pitch, the fastball, and "I just threw it as hard as I could."
A two-RBI single by James Peel gave the Braves a 2-0 lead to work with. Garrett Pietz cut the Braves lead to 2-1 with a home run. Keach made it 3-1 with an RBI single and Matthew Perry made it 4-1 when he got hit by a pitch. An RBI single by Ben McConnell in the sixth cut the Braves lead to 4-2 in the sixth. Members of the championship Braves include: Matthew Bozek, Cody Brackett, Kevin Civiello, Silas Jackson, Joel Johnston, Matthew Perry, Graham Peterson, Jordan Roberts, Cilia, Keach and Peel. Coach Keach was assisted by Paul Civiello and Eric Peterson.
Members of the runner-up Cubs include: Kolton Baker, Michael Bronson, Patrick Carignan, Grant LaButte, Will Matlack, Ben McConnell, Brian Mello, Tyler Mezquita, Jack Perreault, William Perreault and Pietz. Coach Perreault was assisted by David Baker and Chris Matlack
Copyright 2008 Seacoast Media Group
Minor league to pitch for a Point team
For the second time in eight months, a startup professional baseball league is taking a close look at Johnstown. At tonight's City Council meeting, an administrator with Old Time Baseball LLC is scheduled to pitch the possibility of basing an independent minor-league team at Point Stadium.
"What we hope to do is get support from the council to move forward with this," said Larry Faulkner, a Virginia resident and partner in Old Time Baseball. In October, a representative from a new organization dubbed the Atlantic Coast League contacted the city about a possible team. That squad never materialized. Old Time Baseball's proposal seems more organized, with league officials already having visited Johnstown and talked with city leaders.
"What we've told them is, we're open to listening," City Manager Curt Davis said. Like the Atlantic Coast League, Old Time Baseball, which is incorporated in Delaware and has offices in Maryland, has not signed a player or scheduled a game. But Faulkner, a retired Internal Revenue Service employee, has baseball experience and is majority owner of a Texas-based professional team in the Continental Baseball League. He and Walter Finkelstein, Old Time Baseball's chief executive officer, envision a mid-Atlantic league that initially would begin next year with four teams. They are focusing on Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio and possibly Virginia. They hope to have eight teams by 2011.
"From a business standpoint, it is better to start slowly," Finkelstein said. Administrators are planning a 60-game schedule with 30 home dates. And as the company's name implies, they want to practice traditional baseball with wooden bats, low prices and heavy involvement with fans.
"Our thoughts are to make this completely community-oriented," Finkelstein said. He added that he is impressed with Johnstown. "No. 1, the population is right," Finkelstein said. "No. 2, they have a facility in place, which is extremely important."
City officials likely will approach the league's proposal cautiously. They have expressed concern about relinquishing any control over advertising, concession and scheduling rights at the Point after investing about USD 11 million in the stadium during the past few years. And memories of the Johnnies still linger. The Frontier League team, originally dubbed the Steal, encountered perennial financial problems and last played at the Point in 2002. Finkelstein is aware of those concerns. He said that Old Time Baseball's teams would be centrally owned and controlled by the league, a setup that he says would ease resolution of problems or disputes.
"I've talked to six or seven cities so far,"he said. "I've gotten very positive responses from everyone I've talked to."
2008, The Tribune-Democrat
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