JOSE VIZCAINO AT BEACH GAMES

                                                   

                                

  MYRTLE BEACH -- Every baseball player likes being in the right place at the right time because it could brings dividends and this is what Neversink resident and former Tompkins-Cortland Community College (TC3) infielder Rodney Taylor Jester is hoping for.
  While playing short stop for coach Luis Reyes league championship Riptide team in the six-week Beach League Junior College Player Showcase League in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Jester and his team mates were visually eyed by former 18-year major league veteran infielder Jose Vizcaino who presently works as a Special Assistant to Baseball Operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers working with minor league infielders.  
  Vizcaino in a personal interview with us noted that Jester has "excellent skills as an infielder" and wants to be kept advised of where he plays additional college baseball. 
  Jester noted "he even came out on the field and also worked with me in the batting cage."
  Vizcaino along with Darryl Strawberry and Ricky Ledee are the only Major League baseball players to have played for all four (one time) New York teams....the New York Yankees, the New York Mets the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants.
  This smooth fielding former major league infielder's career included stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1989-1990), Chicago Cubs (1991-1993), New York Mets (1994-1996), Cleveland Indians (1996), San Francisco Giants (1997), return to the Dodgers (1998-2000), New York Yankees (2000), Houston Astros (2001-2005), return to the Giants (2006) and St. Louis Cardinals (2006).
  Jose's last year of major league play was 2006 and he joined the Dodger's minor league operations in 2008.
  "I played for the love of the game," Jose noted "and the money comes after that."
  Vizcaino with the Yankees played in four of the five games in the 2000 World Series against the New York Mets but is most known for his dramatic hit on October 21, 2000, in game 1, when in the bottom of the 12th inning of the then longest game in World Series history, he hit the game winning RBI single.
  Jose is more well known for his great defense although he also  had the reputation of being a clutch hitter and mostly a singles hitter. He has an overall .270 Major league average.
  Vizcaino was also attending the Myrtle Beach Summer Collegiate league to watch his son Johnathon pitch and play third base for the Riptide team. Johnathon is a sophomore at Division III Susquahanna University in Pennsylvania but expects to transfer to another college soon.
  Jose's older son, Jose Jr. played college baseball for Santa Clara University and has been drafted by the San Francisco Giants and is presently playing third base in the Single A Northwest Minor league.
  The 47-year-old Vizcaino is married with three children and makes his home in San Diego, California.
  Jester is Tri-Valley Central School's 2013 MVP, one of the  top three hitters on the Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) 2015 team, was selected to play in the Myrtle Beach Collegiate League by TC3 assistant coach Billy Crowe as a result of his outstanding offensive and defensive play at the Dryden, NY community college where he was named co-captain and also received the honor of having his picture placed on the college's website header, facebook and twitter account which  honors the best returning player on each team."
  Jester is his freshman year at TC3 batted .333 with an On Base Percentate (OBP) of .349 and a Slugging Average (SLG) of .405.
  During his sophomore year at TC3 he ended as one of the top three batters with a batting average of 339, OBP of .402 and SLG of 458. His fielding percentage playing mostly second base was .887 and he completed 20 double plays. 

                                            
                                                          

Former Tompkins-Cortland Community College (TC3) infielder Rodney Taylor Jester, left, chats with former 18-year major league infielder Jose Vizcaino at this summers Myrtle Beach Junior College Collegiate Showcase league. Vizcaino is now a Special Assistant to Baseball Operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers working with minor league infielders. 

  

PHOTOS FROM THE MYRTLE BEACH JUNIOR COLLEGE COLLEGIATE SHOWCASE LEAGUE PLAY IN JUNE & JULY 2015

   

   

                                                        

  

  

                                                             

                       

                                                           

  

  

                                                             

    

   

                                                            

  

  

                                                                 

 

                                                                

   

             

                                                                

                                                                

                                                          

                                                        

                
            

                                                       

                                                          

                                                                              

  

   

     

                                                                          

   

  

          

                                                                                 

  

   

                                                                           

    
                     
                                                                              

   

     

                                                                          

                                                                         

               

                                                                             

                                 
                                                                         

 
                
                                                                        

                                                                                

                                                                          

                                                                        

      
                                                                            

  
                                                                            

                                                                             

                                                                                

B-METS DEFEAT TRENTON YANKEES

B-Mets Storm Past Thunder in Finale, 8-0

TRENTON, NJ – Seth Lugo fired seven scoreless innings and the Binghamton Mets pounded out a dozen hits in an 8-0 win over the Trenton Thunder on Sunday evening at ARM & HAMMER Park. Binghamton maintained sole possession of first place in the Eastern Division and closed a 5-2 week-long road trip with their ninth shutout win of the season. Travis d’Arnaud went 2-for-5 with a run scored as the designated hitter in his second rehab game with Binghamton.
Joe Benson started Binghamton’s big offensive day with a three-run blast off Eric Ruth in the second. After Brock Peterson and Josh Rodriguez started the inning with singles, Benson launched his second home run as a B-Met to left-field. The B-Mets added to their lead on a run-producing fielding error by third baseman Jose Rosario in the third.
Binghamton chased Ruth from the game and blew the game open with a four-run fifth. Benson and LJ Mazzilli each supplied RBI infield singles before Geoff deGroot took over and struggled to find the strike zone. The righty spiked a wild pitch to invite Benson home and walked three straight, forcing in Binghamton’s eighth run.
Trenton forced Lugo to clear some hurdles before he settled in. The righty stranded two in the first after surrendering a leadoff single and walking Tony Renda. The Louisiana native avoided harm in the second after issuing a pair of walks.
Lugo found a groove with a perfect third and worked around a two-out single in a blank fourth. He side-stepped a leadoff single in the fifth and struck out a pair in a scoreless sixth. Lugo capped his night with two more strikeouts in a shutout seventh.
Jeff Walters, pitching with Binghamton for the first time since September 2013, worked around two singles in a scoreless eighth. Akeel Morris closed Binghamton’s ninth shutout win with a blank ninth.
Lugo (6-4) stranded six and matched a season-high with eight strikeouts over seven scoreless innings to earn his fourth win in as many starts. Ruth (6-3) allowed season-highs with eight runs on eleven hits over 4-2/3 innings in the loss.
The B-Mets (55-45) return home to start a three-game series against the New Britain Rock Cats on Monday night at 6:35 PM. RHP Gabriel Ynoa makes the start against LHP Ryan Carpenter. The Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show can be heard starting at 6:20 PM on Newsradio 1290 WNBF and the Binghamton Mets channel on TuneIn.
POSTGAME NOTES: Eight of Binghamton’s nine starting position players recorded at least one hit…Walters’ last appearance as a B-Met came against the Thunder in Trenton on September 4, 2013 in Game 1 of the Eastern Division Championship Series…Seth Lugo has allowed one total run in his last four starts (25.0 IP)
  

JOHNSON WINS WOMEN'S TITLE

JOHNSON DOMINATES PWBA WICHITA OPEN TO CLAIM FIRST TITLE
 
WICHITA,
 Kan. - Stefanie Johnson of Grand Prairie, Texas, dominated the 
Professional Women's Bowling Association Wichita Open on Saturday, 
blasting the field in match play and taking the title in the stepladder 
finals.
 
Johnson, an 11-time Team USA member, defeated Kelly 
Kulick of Union, New Jersey, 247-221, in the championship match at 
Northrock Lanes to win her first career PWBA title.
 
Needing a mark and good count in the final frame, Johnson stepped up and delivered a clutch strike to lock up the win.
 
"After
 I threw that strike, I was holding back the tears because I knew I 
still had to make a couple more shots," said Johnson, who was the 
runner-up at last week's PWBA Lubbock Sports Open. "These are the 
moments you prepare for and it's amazing to make a good shot when you 
need one."
 
Johnson relished the opportunity to be among the 
first group of champions since the PWBA Tour relaunched this year thanks
 to support from the bowling industry.
 
"This is surreal," 
Johnson said. "This is my generation's tour and to already have a title 
is incredible. I'm just so excited to have this opportunity."
 
Leading
 up to the stepladder finals, the top 16 players bowled 16 games of 
round-robin match play and Johnson dominated the competition. She went 
14-2 in her matches and averaged 234 over the 16 games to earn the top 
seed by 359 pins.
 
Kulick entered the stepladder finals as the 
No. 3 seed and won her opening match against amateur Shannon Sellens of 
Copiague, New York, 246-172, before defeating Latvia's Diana Zavjalova, 
216-206, in the semifinal.
 
Johnson earned $10,000 for the title 
and a spot in the season-ending PWBA Tour Championship presented by 
GoBowling.com, which will be contested in Arlington, Texas, in 
September.
 
For more information on the PWBA, visit PWBA.com.
 
About the PWBA
The
 Professional Women's Bowling Association (PWBA) originally was formed 
in 1960. The PWBA Tour has events throughout the country, offering 
high-level competition and top prize money for women bowlers. The PWBA 
is supported by the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America (BPAA) 
and the United States Bowling Congress (USBC).
 
PWBA WICHITA OPEN
At Northrock Lanes, Wichita, Kan.
Saturday's Results
 
Final standings
 
1, Stefanie Johnson, Grand Prairie, Texas, 247 (one game), $10,000
2, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 683 (three games), $5,000
3, Diana Zavjalova, Latvia, 206 (one game), $3,500
4, Shannon Sellens, Copiague, N.Y., 172 (one game) $3,000
 
Stepladder results
 
Match One - Kulick def. Sellens, 246-172
Match Two - Kulick def. Zavjalova, 216-206
Championship - Johnson def. Kulick, 247-221
 
 
MATCH PLAY
(16 games, 30 bonus pins for a win, 15 bonus pins for a tie, top four advance)
 
1, Stefanie Johnson, Grand Prairie, Texas, 14-2-0, 6,776.
2, Diana Zavjalova, Beavercreek, Ohio, 8-8-0, 6,417.
3, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 8-8-0, 6,403.
4, Shannon Sellens, Copiague, N.Y., 9-7-0, 6,190.
 
DID NOT ADVANCE
 
5, Jazreel Tan, Singapore, 8-8-0, 6,165, $2,000.
6, Shannon O'Keefe, O'Fallon, Ill., 8-8-0, 6,162, $1,850.
7, Leanne Hulsenberg, North Ogden, Utah, 9-7-0, 6,135, $1,800.
8, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, Keller, Texas, 9-6-1, 6,115, $1,750.
9, Danielle McEwan, Stony Point, N.Y., 8-6-2, 6,095, $1,700.
10, Daria Kovalova, Wichita, Kan., 8-8-0, 6,058, $1,650.
11, Bryanna Caldwell, Red Rock, Ariz., 5-10-1, 6,022, $1,550.
12, Jennifer Higgins, Westerville, Ohio, 8-8-0, 6,021, $1,500.
13, Amanda Greene, Romney, W. Va., 8-8-0, 6,014, $1,450.
14, Lynda Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 7-9-0, 5,961, $1,400.
15, Kayla Johnson, Washington, Ill., 6-10-0, 5,957, $1,350.
16, Sabrena Divis, Gillette, Wyo., 3-13-0, 5,708, $1,300.
 

 

RAILRIDERS WIN OVER TOLEDO

RailRiders Stroll past Mud Hens

Mitchell Fans Seven, Earns Fifth Victory

Moosic, Pa. – The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) worked 10 walks, one off their season high, in a 10-2 thrashing of the Toledo Mud Hens on Saturday night at PNC Field. The RailRiders (55-47) won their fourth straight and claimed the series against the Mud Hens (43-58).

Bryan Mitchell (5-5) matched a season-high with seven strikeouts across five innings in the victory. The right-hander yielded two runs on five hits with one walk. Tim Melville (4-9) issued a career-high six walks and surrendered seven runs on six hits over five innings. He struck out three.

The RailRiders set the table for a four-run second inning by working three straight walks to open the frame. Ben Gamel then cracked his International League-leading 11^th triple of the year to right-center to plate all three runners. Jose Pirela followed with a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Gamel for a 4-0 advantage.

Pirela championed his four-RBI night with a long home run to left in the fourth. The blast, his third with SWB, scored Gamel and Juan Graterol and put the RailRiders up 7-2.

SWB capped the scoring in the sixth with three more runs. Ramon Flores scored Tyler Austin on a bases-loaded single and Rob Refsnyder reached on catcher’s interference to push across Graterol. Leading 9-2, Cole Figueroa drew a walk off Rafael Dolis to force in Pirela.

The RailRiders aim for a sweep of the Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit Tigers) on Sunday afternoon. First pitch at PNC Field is set for 1:05 p.m. Right-hander Kyle Davies (6-6, 4.03) opposes right-hander Thad Weber (6-6, 3.97). The first 2,500 fans entering the gates receive a RailRiders All-Star poster featuring Austin Romine and Kyle Roller. 

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HERE & THERE COLUMN

 Learned The Game Of Kornhole 

  Mulligan's is a popular golf phase but it's also the place where we were introduced to the game of Kornhole and had the opportunity to meet some great friendly folks at this sports bar and restaurant located on Highway 17 in Little River, SC about 20 miles north of Myrtle Beach.
  Shirley and I were attracted to this outstanding friendly restaurant  because we like sports and enjoy catching ongoing sporting events while enjoying good food.
  We soon found out that Mulligan's was much more than a sports bar as we quickly made friends with owner Phil Annie and manager Kristi Rosser and had our first evening meal which included water front dining on "Turtle Lake."
  I asked for turtle soup but the waiter said it wasn't on the menu.
  The next evening we tried patio seating on "Kristi's Porch" where we were introduced to the popular growing sport of Kornhole. We joined the many locals who made us feel at home as they demonstrated great skills in pitching a beanbag  27 feet to an elevated board with a hole near the top of the board.
  Shirley's great slow-pitch softball arc gave her success and second place in the tournament.
  In an upcoming column we will give full details on the sport of Kornhole.
  Dinner recommendations from Kristi included their Prime Rib which is second to none. Kristi noted it is Grand Strand Slow Cooked 14 hours and available seven days a week.
  Entertainment at Mulligan's includes Trivia on Monday, Karaoke on Wednesday, Kornhole Tournament on Thursday and live entertainment on Friday and Saturday.
  Check out the Seafood Bisque and Chicken Corn Chowder homemade soups.....yum..yum.
  It was very evident that Chef James takes pride in ensuring all of his kitchen help is knowledgeable on all menu items focusing on consistency.
  Phil is originally from West Virginia, has been in the restaurant business 30 years and opened up Mulligan's in 1987 in North Myrtle Beach and moved the business four years ago to the present location . Manage Kristi oversees all parties and is active in the same daily operations as Phil.
  We urge visitors traveling to the Myrtle Beach area to stop in and say Hi to Phil and Kristi at 1359 Highway 17, Little River, SC ...... and tell them Ed and Shirley sent them.
  We'll be back Phil.

                                                   

Mulligan's owner Phil Annie and manager Kristi Rosser.

 

 

OTHER PHOTOS TAKEN AT MULLIGAN'S

 

                                          

                                                                    

  

                                                         

       
           
                                                                                

    

GOLFING HIGHLIGHTS

  Thomas Scores 1st Hole-In-One 

 

 

  Thirty-seven year old Roscoe golfer Bryan Thomas scored his 1st career hole-in-one this past Monday night (July 13) in the Men's league at the  Roscoe Twin Village Golf Club.
  His ace came on the difficult 215-yard par 3 third hole using a five iron to land the ball on the green.
  There have been only six previous hole-in-ones scored on this hole which features a large trap fronting the green and a small stream directly in back of the green.
  Thomas has been playing golf for some 27 years and presently maintains a 2-handicap in this league.
  Playing in this league foresome and witnessing this ace were Bryan's league partner Al Madera and opponents Fred Tucker and Grady Mason.
  Thomas also plays in the Thursday Men's Travel League with league partner Chuck Husson IV and maintains a 3 handicap in this league. Husson and Thomas captured second place in the first half of the Travel League and presently are in first place in second-half play.
  Thomas is a graduate of Roscoe Central High School where he lettered in all sports.
  Bryan is married with two children and is employed by Liberty Shop Rite. 

 Ed's Outlook

  Wow..... been writing about this great game of golf for some 60 plus years and have never visited the "Golf Capital" of the world and what a world it is.
  In our upcoming columns we will talk about the area's of Calabash, NC,  Little River, North Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach all in South Carolina...... a lot different from where we play golf in the area of Florence, SC and Hartsville SC.
  The Woodloch Golf Academy located at Woodloch Pines near Hawley, Pa. has announced a Golf Show & Swing Analysis/Clinic.
  The Academy Golf Show is a complimentary instructional exhibition performed by the PGA Golf Professionals  of the Country Club at Woodloch Springs.
  The golf show will be performed every Sunday at the Woodloch Springs practice facility during the summer months.
  The Golf Show is set for 3:30 and the Swing Analysis for 4 (both are complimentary).
  From 4:30 to 5:30 a full swing golf instruction clinic will be held with a $40 per person fee
  Information may be obtained by calling 570-685-8102.
  Time is running out to book The Mansion Ridge Summer Fore Pack.
  The Pack includes 4 rounds of golf at their Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, 4 ice cold Budweiser draft berrs and 4 sleeves of Titleist DT Solo golf balls.
  Total price for the Fore Pack is $209. The Fore  Pack can be purchased online or call 845-782-7888 or nschremser@troomgolf.com
  An exclusive golf package (play and stay) is being offered by the Tarry Brae Golf Course in Fallsburg and The Sullivan Restaurant and Hotel at Rock HIll.
  The package offers a $209.99 per night midweek rate and a $239.99 per night weekend rate and includes one round of golf (18 holes) for each guest, overnight accommodations, a continental breakfast at The Sullivan and lunch at the Tarry Brae Golf Course.

The Golf Tip
By Robert Menges

  Even the longest hitters wouldn't complain if they picked up a few more yards.
  If you are losing distance with your driver, especially due to slicing, the following are a few tips to maximize distance.
  1. Get fit properly for your driver. Of all the clubs in the bag this one is worth spending a few bucks on. With today's technology you can buy a few yards. Make sure you go to a reputable club fitter who has a good launch monitor and works outdoors so you can see the actual bal flight.
  2. Tee the ball high. Teeing the ball higher not only make it easier to hit, it encourages the player to approach the ball from the inside, shallow angle which make efficient use of loft and promotes a slightly upward delivery of the club into the ball. Not all tour players swing up with the driver but most of the really long hitters do.
  3. Tilt your spine a bit to the right. By doing so you'll have the sensation that your head is slightly "behind" the ball at address and that your are "our of your own way" to start your backswing.
  4. Make a full upper body wind up...get the back and chest involved too......you should feel coiled and full of power.
  5. Maintain your spine tilt coming down....if you do the club will naturally approach from the inside and your head will remain to the right of the ball through impact.
  6. Swing freely to a full finish.....the swing doesn't stop at the ball. Allow it to continue to a full, balanced finish with your body facing the target. Your right shoulder (for right handed golfers) should be well beyond where the ball was at address.
  Robert Menges is the head golf professional at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club on Mt. Hope Road in Swan Lake. He is available for private lessons and if you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached at 845-292-0323 or via email at menges@hughes.net

 The Putting Tip
 By Joe Bermel Jr.

  Joseph Bermel Jr. "The Putting Doctor" was a top contender in the World Putting Championship. A Professional Putting Expert instructing for 28 years Joe wants everyone to score well but strongly points out to score well you must learn to putt well.
  Simple routines govern our lives and the game of golf is no different.
  Tee up your ball, check your alignment, waggle once or twice and go. These simple motions help you to perform the repeated action of your golf swing.
  It is important to get into a similar routine when you're reading the green.
  Start your read before you even reach the green. You can often get  good look as you're passing by on a previous hole...taking note of pin position and overall slope.
  As you approach the green on the hole you're playing, start taking another look at the slope of the green.
  It is usually easier to get a perspective of this from a few yards than actually standing on it.
  Make sure you're taking a look from both sides of the ball. That will help you to get an accurate read on side-hill breaking putts while also giving you more information on speed for putts uphill and downhill.
  Get in the habit of marking your ball. This not only allows you to use the ball's trademark to align your putts but gives you one last low-level look at the cup.
  Always take note of other putts from similar lines to gather more info and be sure to do your "reading" while others are putting or hitting from off the green so you are ready to play.
  Establish a routine and repeat those steps when you're on the putting surface. That familiarity will build confidence and increase your chances of success.
  Joe Bermel is available for private lessons, group, corporate, organization and golf shows/tournaments. His special edition DVD "How To Putt Well" and his 2015 Golf Tips Calendar are available by calling 631-589-1384, at his web site www.ThePuttingDoctor.com or by email at joe@theputtingdoctor.com 

PHOTO IDENTIFICATION

Byan Thomas holds his 5-iron which he used in recording his first career hole-in-one on the par 3 third hole during Monday Night's  Men's league play at the Roscoe Twin Village Golf Course.