METS STAYING IN BINGHAMTON

100 Days Away from Opening Day, B-Mets Announce They are Here to Stay

BINGHAMTON, NY - Evans Street Baseball Inc., headed by John Hughes, announced today that they have completed the purchase of the Binghamton Mets from the Binghamton Mets Baseball Club, Inc. The Double-A baseball team, affiliated with the New York Mets, is a member of the Eastern League and has been based in Binghamton, New York, for 24 years. 

Broome County's favorite Binghamton Mets are here to stay well beyond the current 25 Year Silver Anniversary. New ownership has pledged to keep the team in Binghamton and expand the B-Mets' experience for families, students, businesses, and the New York Mets. Evans Street Baseball is thrilled the management team will be kept in place.

"We are excited to have been able to secure Jim Weed and the staff to ensure continuity and the opportunity to grow from a solid foundation," noted Hughes.

The Binghamton Mets will continue to play at NYSEG Stadium and provide an exciting atmosphere for loyal fans. Mr. Hughes said, "Having a Double-A, New York Major League Baseball affiliate in the Southern Tier is a tremendous opportunity, so great attention will be focused to ensure the team has top-grade facilities and the infrastructure necessary to develop Major League talent."

 "We want to be a contributor to the rebirth of the Southern Tier and create a memorable, unique, fun, and affordable fan experience each and every time," said Mr. Hughes. "As a leader who takes an active hands-on approach, I am committed to upgrading the fan experience, improving community outreach programs, and establishing NYSEG Stadium as a community jewel."

Exciting improvement plans will be announced over the next few months with several presented during the Hot Stove session for season ticket holders and corporate sponsors in March.

Retiring B-Mets President Michael Urda and partners Bill and David Maines and George Scherer expressed their thanks to all the B-Mets' local fans, sponsors, players and coaches, New York Mets front office staff, dedicated B-Met staff led by General Manager Jim Weed, and local political leaders for their overwhelming support over the past 20 years.

Michael Urda said, "It has been an honor to be the guardian of the B-Mets baseball franchise for the past two decades, and we are pleased to turn over the keys to a man with great values: John Hughes."

Hughes, a husband and father of three children, owns a successful international consulting company. The attraction of owning a team near family in Buffalo, NY and Westchester County, NY, was a compelling draw during the acquisition process. He and his family plan to spend parts of the summer in the area enjoying the Finger Lakes.

With its storied tradition, the Binghamton Mets have been a part of the fabric of the Southern Tier for generations and one of the driving forces behind the New York Mets.

The 25-man 2015 Mets World Series roster consisted of 16 individuals who played in Binghamton. Since 1992, over 250 Major League players wore a B-Mets uniform at some point in their career. Along with numerous division championships, the team won the Eastern League Championship in 1992, 1994, and 2014.

The B Mets open the silver season on Thursday, April 7, 2016 at 6:35 at NYSEG Stadium against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Season tickets and mini packs are on sale now and may be purchased in person at NYSEG stadium or by visiting www.bmets.com or calling (607) 723-METS.

Be sure to follow the B-Mets all offseason long on Facebook, Twitter and at the team's official website (www.bmets.com).

PINSTRIPE PALS PROGRAM RETURNS

Pinstripe Pals Program Returns

RailRiders Seek to Sponsor Local Youth Teams Once Again

Moosic, Pa. – The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) love baseball, families and NEPA. In 2016, they will continue to combine all three loves into the Pinstripe Pals, presented by Maines Food & Party Warehouse. A youth baseball/softball sponsorship initiative, the Pinstripe Pals program includes a $500 sponsorship from the RailRiders and a $500 gift card to Maines Food & Party Warehouse for each selected league.

The program is open to Northeastern Pennsylvania area youth baseball or softball leagues. Other benefits include:

-          The chance for each selected league to be honored at a RailRiders game with a pre-game parade on the field.

-          The league’s ability to place an approved photo in the RailRiders’ game-day program, GuideRail.

-          A mascot appearance and giveaways for the league’s opening ceremonies.

-          One of the league’s teams can serve as the “Field of Dreams” squad that takes PNC Field with the RailRiders.

For consideration, a league representative should fill out a form found on the RailRiders website and mail it along with a 500-word (or less) essay describing why the RailRiders should choose his/her league. The completed forms and essays should be sent to SWB RailRiders, Attn: Pinstripe Pals, 235 Montage Mountain Rd., Moosic, PA 18507.

"We are excited to continue our partnership with the RailRiders and the Pinstripe Pals program," said Chris Mellon, president/CEO of Maines. "Maines cares deeply about the children in our community and we are delighted to help in any way that we can."

Please note that the sponsorship preferably includes a team within each selected league adopts the nickname “RailRiders” and uses the RailRiders logo on team jerseys/shirts.

“The holiday season might be over but giving is a year-round activity for the RailRiders,” said RailRiders community relations director Rachel Mark. “We started this program to benefit NEPA’s baseball/softball stars of tomorrow.”

The defending IL North champion RailRiders open their 2016 season on Thursday, April 7 with a two-game homestand against the Rochester Red Wings (Minnesota Twins). For tickets or more information, please call (570) 969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.

- SWB RailRiders Baseball – The Place to Be! -

TRYOUTS FOR SINGING NATIONAL ANTHEM

Oh Say Can You Sing?

Fans Invited to National Anthem Auditions

Moosic, Pa. – The SWB RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) welcome the NEPA area to audition to sing the National Anthem before RailRiders games this upcoming season at PNC Field. The Viewmont Mall in Dickson City will host the tryouts in the court space next to Macy’s on Saturday, Feb. 27 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Soloists, duets, groups (of 10 or fewer), and instrumentalists are welcomed to audition. A celebrity judge panel will select the lucky contestants who will get to showcase their talents in front of thousands at PNC Field. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s favorite mascots, Champ and Quills, will be on hand to entertain fans. Due to a conflict of interest, they cannot try out themselves, but they will sign autographs, pose for pictures and partake in all the fun.

Reservations to try out will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Those interested in trying out can e-mail RailRiders community relations director, Rachel Mark, at rmark@swbrailriders.com or call her directly at (570) 969-2255 ext. 3140. Reservations will be taken until Feb. 26, but they will close once spots fill up. There will be a stand-by line for those who did not register in advance, however registered performers will be the only ones guaranteed an audition.

The defending IL North champion RailRiders open their 2016 season on Thursday, April 7 with a two-game homestand against the Rochester Red Wings (Minnesota Twins). For tickets or more information, please call (570)-969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.

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BOWLING HIGHLIGHTS

 Local Tournament Dates Announced

  The Tri-County NY United States Bowling Congress {USBC) Association Men's, Women's and Youth annual tournaments will be held this year at Walden Lanes on Route 52 in Walden, NY.
  The 9th Annual Youth Championship (team event only) will  be held January 24 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
  Entries close January 18.
  Bantam teams bowl two games. There are four bowlers of any gender per team. Bantam team is for bowlers eight and under. Entry fee is $32 per team.
  Prep, Junior and Major/Senior teams will bowl three games and the fee is $48 per team.
  Bowlers will be placed in the division of the eldest bowler on the team.
  Prep division is ages 9-11, Junior division is 12-14 and the Major/Senior ddivision is 15-20.
  The snow date is Sunday, January 31 with same times.
  Events for both the Open (Men's) tournament and the Women's championship are team event (four member teams) March 12 and 20 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and doubles and singles March 13 and 19 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
  Entr fee for the Open tournament is $28 per person per event. Entry fee for the Women's tournament is $25 per person per event.
  All events, which is optional,  for Women is $2 and for the Men $5.
  Pre-paid entries for both tournaments close on March 1.
  There is a re-entry rule subject to availability but there is no walk-in allowed. All walk-in enries must be received before the dates highlighted. See the entry form for re-entry and lineup rules.
  Entry forms are available online at www.tri-countynyusbc
  Entry forms with check or money order must be mailed to Tri-County NY USBC Association. 405 Ave. E, Matamoras, Pa. 18336.
  Informaton may be obtained from Association Manager Michele Bensley at 845-784-6630. 

 

Ed's Outlook

 

  One of the most popular area tournaments is the annual South Side Bowl team and doubles No-Tap Tournament held at 125 Beech Street in Scranton, Pa.

  The event is for men, women and mixed teams and doubles and also offers mega series jackpots that in 2015 paid out over $10,000.

  This tournament paid out a total of over $98,549.00 in 2015.

  The tournament runs five weekends starting April 16 and ending May 15. Sevral of the weekends include Friday competition.

  In both team and doubles events, better that 1 out of every 5 entries placed in the prize list.

  Entry fees per bowler per event is $30.

  The first place team event is $5,000 and first place doubles pays $2,000.

  Tournament application forms are available at www.southsidebowl.com

  Information and questions available at ssbnotap@southsidebowl.com or 570-961-5213.

 

 Johnson, McEwan Join

 The PBA League

 

  The first highlight of the recent draft for the Professional Bowlers Association league competition was the selection of two women who have had success in PBA competition.

  Professional Women's Bowler's Association Player of the Year Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, NY was selected in the final round of the draft by the Portland Lumberjacks.

  Motown Muscle selected Danielle McEwan of Stony Point. NY to their roster.    

  Johnson is the winner of the 2015 USBC Queens and Bowlmor AMF U.S. Women's Open and she is the only woman ever to advance to two PBA Men's television finals.

  McEwan won the PWBA Tour Championship and was a recent PBA Regional titlist.   

  The PBA league will return to Portland, Maine, for two days of competition on April 2 and 3. There will then be four delayed telecasts April 17-May 8 at 1 p.m. on ESPN.

  Teams in the league include the GEICO New York City WTT Kingpins, Barbasol Motown Muscle, Philadelphia Hitmen, Portland Lumberjacks, Brooklyn Styles, L.A. X and Silver Lake Atom Splitters.     

 

                                                                                                  Durland Continues

His Hot Streak

 

   Wurtsboro bowler Donald Durland  continued his hot streak last week with a 279, 248, 279, 806 in the Monday Men's league at Kiamesha Lanes.

  Then on Wednesday night at Patel's Kingston Bowling Lanes he blasted the maples for a 273, a perfect 300 game and a 242 for a nice 815 series. 

  Durland has established himself as one of the top premier bowlers in the Tri-County area and will most likely compete in the PBA Professional U.S.Open again this year. This tournament produces the most difficult lane conditions to bowl on.

  Donald competes on the Monticello Greenhouse team in the Kiamesha Lanes Monday league with team mates Jaryl Scott, his father Paul Durland and Vinny Collura.

  He maintains a 240 plus average at Kiamesha Lanes.

 

  Ed Townsend, a PR Consultant to the Sport of Bowling, writes and compiles the information for this column. If you have league scores, tournament information, score a 300 game or 800 series, or even bowl your age, give Ed a call at 845-439-8177, 845-866-0333, email at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com or fax at 845-205-4474. View this column at http://bght.blogspot.com We are also on Facebook and Twitter.

 

 

                                                                                                               Bowling Tip

By Mike Luongo

 

  When you go to the pro shop and look for a great hooking ball think twice about the ball you already have.

  Your ball may be trying to tell you that it is you and not your ball that needs adjusting.

  Chasing the big hook ball is a mistake a lot of good bowlers makes when trying to up their game and bowl strikes.

  If you own a good hook ball you may just need a ball that will help to fill the gap in the balls that you may already own.

  Make your purchase count instead of hoping to gt a miracle ball to fix your problems reading the balls you have.

  Changing your ball properly and upping your average do go hand in hand for good bowlers, and will help you get those multiple strikes.

  Using your ball to your advantage is really the key to learning to bowl strikes and practicing with the lane oil and surface materials.

  Choosing the right ball for the lane conditions and shot performance can only improve your game and deliver strikes.

  Choose your ball wisely and experimenting with your throw can only help your game.

  Mike Luongo is a certified IBPSIA Pro Shop Operator, Master Instructor, USBC Silver Level Coach and an Advisor-Special Events Assistant with the Storm and Roto Grip Bowling Ball Company. Have a question, call him at 435-720-7939 or email at mikel@stormbowling.com

 

                                                                                                        Local Scores

 

(Compiled by Ed Townsend)

 

  Due to the holidays many leagues do not bowl and  some league secretaries with their busy holiday schedules forget to send in their weekly scores.

  We will resume full individual league score coverage next week.

  Thank you to all the league secretaries and we do hope everyone enjoyed their holidays and look forward to a great New Year of bowling in 2016.

 

                                                                                                                

 

 

 

                                                                             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

    

TRI-VALLEY GIRLS DEFEAT LIBERTY

                                  

  GRAHAMSVILLE--"This team is a work in progress," Tri-Valley  coach Jason Closs explained in post-game comments Tuesday night following the Bears 50-43 win over Liberty.
  A close game that might have gone either way was decided in the second quarter of play as Tri-Valley outscored the Indians 18-11 off five points by Jackie Musa, five points including a tray by Katie Jester, four points by Autumn Bender and foul shots by Kacie Allison and Kayla Butler.
 First quarter scoring gave Tri-Valley a 9-8 one-point lead, both teams scored 12 points in the third quarter and Liberty edged Tri-Valley in the final eight minutes of play 12-11.
  Tri-Valley took an eight-point half time lead of 27-19 and was able to keep that lead as Liberty's freshman guard Kelsey Morgans lit up the scoreboard for a total of 22 points off 3 trays, five 2's and three foul shots.
  Morgans started slow with no points in the first quarter but added eight in the second quarter, nine in the third quarter and five in the fourth quarter.  
  Kelsey showed poise in her ball handing, dribbling, penetration to the basket and outside scoring.
  Liberty coach Beth Quatrale noted that for a freshman Morgans "is coming along nicely."
  Additional scoring for Liberty had Karisa Yoli with nine points off three 2's and three foul shots and Olivia Racette with eight points off two trays and two foul shots.
  Quatrale in post-game comments pointed out "as a team we put a few more free throws in it makes a whole difference in a game but that's a maturing thing and an experience thing."
  "We've come a long way and I started two girls tonight that this is their first year playing basketball," coach Quatrale said.
   Jackie Musa led Tri-Valley's scoring with 12 points off five 2's and two foul shots followed by Elizabeth Hannold with 10 points off three 2's and four free throws. Morgan Shamro added six point off three 2's. Adding five points each were Katie Jester and Samantha Raymond.
  Both teams committed numerous turnovers with Liberty giving up the ball 32 times and Tri-Valley 27.
  Following this non-league game Tri-Valley's record is now 2-3 and Liberty falls to 2-8.
  Coach Closs felt the Bears "had more energy in this game and have had a real good series of practices where I saw some things I hope would translate to the floor."
  "Our bench energy was also good and this showed up with players coming off the bench in the second quarter where we scored 18 points," Closs added.
  Coach Closs had high praise for Liberty's Morgans calling her "scrappy, athletic, physical and she not only scores but does a lot of other things too."
  Tri-Valley has a heavy schedule this week, facing Eldred at home last night, at Saugerties today and at home against Middletown Monday.
                                                                        

                                           

Tri-Valley senior Katie Jester (11) shoots a three-pointer as Liberty's Kelsey Morgans attempts the block. Morgans was the high scorer for the night with 22 points as the Bears won 50-43.                                  

                                                  

                                  

Tri-Valley's Elizabeth Hannold (20) is fouled by Liberty's Evelyn Baragan in the Bears 50-43 win Tuesday.

                                     

    

HERE & THERE COLUMN

 The Creamery....A Southern Tradition

  Our Here & There travels this past New Year's week took us to one of our favorite vacation sports on the border of North and South Carolina.
  Labeled "The Seafood Capital of the World," Calabash North Carolina sits just about three miles from South Carolina and the communities of Little River and North Myrtle Beach which offer you the best of both worlds.
  We stay in the condo at the Calabash Brunswick Plantation golf resort and travel daily the Route 17 route south and north to Sunset Beach which has been labeled by many as the best beach on the East Coast.  
  Currently Calabash has over 30 restaurants with many offering the greatest seafood menu's in the world but today we're going to talk about satisfying your taste buds at the Calabash Creamery where cool treats are their passion and you definitely get more than a desert at what has become a "Southern Tradition."
  While visiting with folks at the Creamery some say they travel 100 miles to get "the best ice cream treats on the East coast."
  Greg and Kristi Hansen opened the Creamery in 2003 after enrolling and graduating from the Carpigiani Ice Cream College where they leaned the tricks of the trade.
  Since then they have been featured in  several magazines and newspapers and awarded the Best ice cream award in Brunswick County.
  Their only goal is to serve a superior product, using the very best ingredients to serve a premium homemade ice cream which has 16% butterfat cream and the finest ingredients to make their numerous flavors. Just a few of their great flavors include chocolate peanut butter, red raspberry, cream de mint, marshmallow, pineapple and butterscotch.
  In addition to traditional ice cream treats they also make and sell ice cream cakes and ice cream pies. Gift cards and t-shirts are also available.
  If ever in that area of the country make sure you stop at the Calabash Creamery......your taste buds will thank you.                                            

                            

The famous Calabash Creamery.