Thanksgiving Day Showdown

Took me a while to upload this but here is my last video for the Gazette...

Sherry Webb Retires

After coaching the Smith Academy Field Hockey team for 37 years, Sherry Webb has decided to retire but not before playing in the Western Mass Finals.

Frontier v. Belchertown Football

Here's the Frontier v. Belchertown game from Friday October 29th.

Holyoke v. Northampton Football

On October 8th Holyoke hosted Northampton for some Division I Football action.

Fantasy Teams

Hey everyone! Here are the list of players for both of my teams. I'm not sure if I'm going to be winning any money but crazier things have happened. Not sure what to expect for fantasy football this year, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Team one - Easy's Riders:
Green Bay
(GB - DEF)
Jay Cutler
(Chi - QB)
Randy Moss
(NE - WR)
Larry Fitzgerald
(Ari - WR)
Frank Gore
(SF - RB)
Beanie Wells
(Ari - RB)
Antonio Gates
(SD - TE)
Dwayne Bowe
(KC - WR)
Felix Jones
(Dal - RB)
Ricky Williams
(Mia - RB)
Derrick Mason
(Bal - WR)
Heath Miller
(Pit - TE)
Chad Henne
(Mia - QB)
Mason Crosby
Sebastian Janikowski
(Oak - K)

Team Two - East Coast Playas:
QB Jay Cutler, Chi
RB Steven Jackson, StL
RB Ryan Grant, GB
RB/WR Joseph Addai, Ind
WR Steve Smith, Car
WR Joey Galloway, Was
TE Vernon Davis, SF TE
D/ST 49ers D/ST, SF D/ST
K John Kasay, Car K
Bench Donovan McNabb, Was QB
Bench Fred Taylor, NE RB
Bench Vincent Jackson, SD WR
Bench Alge Crumpler, NE TE
Bench Sammy Morris, NE RB
Bench Rashad Jennings, Jac RB
Bench Julius Jones


I am looking for any input/advice from you experienced fantasy players! Help me win some money!!

UMass Hard Knocks (ep. 2) Sean Smalls

Sean Smalls is trying to make his way to the NFL but coming back from an injury was harder than he thought. Smalls is now part of Hartford's UFL team the Colonials which is Smalls' opportunity to make it to the NFL level.

UMass Hard Knocks (ep. 1) - Kyle Harrington

UMass' former defensive tackle Kyle Harrington is now playing for Hartford's UFL team the Colonials to keep his NFL dream alive.

Going for Gold

Here is my new video about U.S. Paralympians playing and teaching wheelchair basketball at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Sprinfield, MA.

Summer Camps in the Valley

Here's a video from GazetteNET I did on summer camps in the valley!

NOT SPORTS RELATED

WARNING: THIS VIDEO IS NOT SPORTS RELATED. I AM POSTING IT BECAUSE I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO POST THIS WEEK AND THIS IS WHAT I WORKED ON AT THE GAZETTE.

All For One and One For All

Here is another video I did for GazetteNET about fencing in Easthampton, MA. Check it out!

My Photo Was Published

My photo was used in Monday's Gazette. First time one of my photos was used outside the Foghorn!

In this picture: Kevin Ziomek in his semi-finals win against Cathedral on Friday, June, 12th.

Mike Drowne Signs Deal with Dodgers

My first sports article for the Gazette! Check it out

Drowne Signs Minor-League Deal with Dodgers
Erika Heyer
Contributing Writer

Mike Drowne will not be donning the red and white uniform of Sacred Heart University's baseball team again next year, but he will be wearing Dodger blue after signing a post-draft deal over the weekend with Los Angeles.

The former South Hadley High School pitcher and center fielder decided to forgo his fifth year of eligibility at Sacred Heart in Fairfield, Conn., and instead reported to a Dodgers' mini-camp for rookies during the weekend in Arizona.

The decision means Drowne will not follow through on his original plan to play this summer in the New England Collegiate Baseball League for the new Bristol team in Connecticut.

The decision to sign was not a fast or easy one for Drowne, he said.

"My parents and I talked about it and weighed the pros and cons of either going back to school and signing," said Drowne, who described his contract as a "typical minor-league deal."

"When we were done talking, we realized that there were a lot of benefits to signing and (that) if I didn't sign then, it would have been hard for me to get drafted again next year due to the fact that I would be almost 23 at that point," he said.

Drowne was selected in the 28th round of the Major League Baseball draft on June 8. Because Drowne has chosen to sign this quickly, fans of the Dodgers' minor league teams may see the 22-year-old play this season.

At Sacred Heart, Drowne was the leadoff man and center fielder and started every game for the Pioneers his senior year. Drowne led the team in stolen bases, hits, and runs scored.

Vautrin Brothers On and Off the Field

Check out my video featured on GazetteNET about Nick and Kenny Vautrin

Amherst's Kevin Ziomek Going to the Sox?

That was NESN's

This is my editing skills...

My Photos

I write and take videos but I bet you didn't know that I love taking pictures. Here are some photos I took of the USF Dons Baseball Team during their 2008 season.

Viva Las Vegas

This past week I spent six days in Vegas covering the WCC Championship Tournament sponsored by Zappos.com for WCCtv. I did some work in front of the camera and a lot of behind the camera work including editing, shooting, and writing scrips. Some of my footage and footage from my colleagues was even used on ESPN! It was such a great experience and I met the best people from all over the WCC. Here are all the videos we shot throughout the week. I am so proud and impressed with all of my fellow members WCCtv.

Cape League Finale

The Cape Cod Baseball League came to a close on August 12th, 2009 as the Bourne Braves took their first Cape Cod Baseball League Title in their team’s history in a 3 – 1 victory over Cotuit. Pierre LePage, Kyle Roller, and Raynor Cambell were the players that got them to the playoffs and to the title this summer. The last games of the regular season were played on August 5th but the playoff teams were selected and by a different format this summer. Normally the top two teams with the most points from the East and West are chosen to enter the playoffs, but this summer the Cape League chose to take the six top teams overall which resulted in the Chatham Anglers, the Bourne Braves, the Orleans Fire Birds, the Cotuit Kettleers, the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, and the Wareham Gatemen. Three teams from the East and West were chosen after the points were tallied up and the 6th seed team played the 4th seed team for a one game elimination. That team would then advance to play the number 2 seed for a two game elimination. The 5th and 3rd seed teams would play each other for a one game elimination and that team would play the number one seed for a two-game elimination series. The two teams who won those 2-game elimination series would then match up in the final championship game.
The Chatham Anglers were seemingly a shoe-in for the playoffs this summer going 10 – 1 in their first 11 games. But as the season grew the Anglers’ hitting and pitching began to diminish and they ended their season with a 21 – 23 record and put them in 3rd place in the East giving them the 6th slot in the 2009 playoffs. Producing only two All Star players, catcher Mike Murray and closer Russell Brewer, the Anglers did not keep their hot streak alive and almost missed the play offs. The Brewster Whitecaps started to win games and caught up to the Anglers tying them in the final weeks of the season in points. But a crucial two game series against the Harwich Mariners proved why the Anglers deserved a spot in the 2009 playoffs. Right handed pitcher Jake Thompson pitched for the Anglers on their playoff clinching win against the Mariners at Whitehouse Field earning his only win of the season. Russell Brewer came into the game in the 8th inning to close out the game and preserve the Anglers’ one run lead. Brewer earned his 10th falling short just two saves from his previous season at the Cape with the Hyannis Mets.
The Bourne Braves were the number one team for the West for the Cape League and got the two seed for the playoffs which came as no surprise to Cape League fans. The powerhouse running the Braves’ offense was Kyle Roller. Roller lead the league in homeruns, RBIs, doubles, slugging percentage, extra base hits, and runs scored. His batting average, on base percentage, and hit total were second in the league. Roller is a returning player this year to the Cape League and his experience definitely paid off for the Braves.
The Orleans Fire Birds were the second seed chosen out of the East and it is due to their pitching. Orleans pitchers went 25 – 17 and a 2.72 ERA on the season leading the Cape League before entering the playoffs. The Fire Birds’ most impressive pitcher for the 2009 season was Casey Gaynor who pitched 41.1 innings and had a 1.74 ERA. Although Orleans never led any hitting categories but with their consistency at the plate to drive in runs and the controlled performances on the mound Orleans found themselves just behind Yarmouth-Dennis in the Eastern standings and were given the 3rd spot in the Cape League playoffs.
The Cotuit Kettleers trailed the Bourne Braves by six points and led the Cape League with 6 ties due games being called short due to darkness or weather. Cotuit’s pitching was also impressive in the 2009 season and their right hander Jake Buchanan led the Cape League with an ERA of 0.84 in 43 innings pitched. Cotuit was third in the Cape League in team pitching with a team 3.05 ERA. Cotuit also had speed on the bases. Chris Bisson stole 36 bases for Cotuit this season leading the league this summer. Cotuit smart base running and effective use of bunts and sac flies won them games this summer and also the 4th spot in the playoffs.
The Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox seemed to be unbeatable by the end of the summer. Leading the Cape League with 57 points, they clinched the Eastern Division title and received the number one seed for the playoffs this summer. They finished with a record of 28 – 15 with one tie. The Red Sox had an impressive batting line up this summer but the hitter that stood out the most for Yarmouth was Austin Wates. He finished with a .312 batting average and was a clutch hitter for Yarmouth throughout the season. Yarmouth’s best pitcher for them this season was Chris Sale. He ended the regular season with a 4 – 2 record and a 1.47 ERA in 55 innings pitched. Sale led the Cape League in strikeouts with 57 on the season. Yarmouth was the heavy favorite to win the Cape League title for its second in three years.
The 5th playoff spot went to the Wareham Gatemen. The Gatemen finished 19 – 19 with 6 ties like Cotuit and were short just two points of tying Cotuit in the rankings. Wareham never stuck out as a team who showed dominance in one area. They played consistent baseball and benefited from other team’s losses. Wareham was last in their team’s batting average with a .211 average overall and was 5th in league pitching with a 3.31 team ERA. Right hander Jack Armstrong was Wareham’s best pitcher for the 2009 season going 4 – 1 with a 2.57 ERA.
In the first round of play Chatham faced Orleans at the Fire Birds field. Orleans took an early 4 – 0 lead but Chatham cam roaring back within 1 going into the top of the 9th. Chatham’s Tom Belza hit a long deep fly ball that missed being a homerun by a few feet and was caught by a Fire Bird. Orleans left with a 4 – 3 win and would play Cotuit in the next round. Bourne fared better than Chatham against Orleans in the first game of the next round beating them in a come back win in the first of the two-game series. Bourne was down 2 – 0 but in the bottom of the 9th racked up three runs to give them a walk-off victory. Bourne used that momentum to beat Orleans again the following night in an 8 – 0 victory eliminating the Fire Birds and clinched a spot in the championship game for Bourne.
On the other side of the Cape, Cotuit was able to beat Wareham in the single elimination series and went on to face the heavy favorite Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. In the first game Cotuit trailed to Yarmouth 2 – 0 going into the 9th inning, but were able to rack up three runs in the 9th to have a walk off victory. Yarmouth-Dennis then was able to extend the series one more game the following night beating Cotuit 10 – 5. But Cotuit proved to be the better team contrary to regular season stats in their final game when they beat the Red Sox 18 – 4 winning the series to go on to face Bourne in the championships.
This is the first time two West teams face each other for the title. After the first game, Bourne led the two-game elimination championships after beating Cotuit 15 – 5 in a fog-shortened 5 inning game in Bourne. Bourne went on to the next day’s game to bring home the Cape League title for the first time in Bourne Braves history. Raynor Cambell (Baylor) from Bourne won the Championship MVP Award in Bourne’s 3 – 1 victory over the Cotuit Kettleers.

Derek Poppert Drafted in the 28th Round by Cincinnati Reds

On June 9th, the Major League Baseball draft released the names of the lucky college and high school baseball players that were chosen in the 50 rounds of the draft. USF’s senior shortstop Derek Poppert was one of the chosen names on that coveted list in the 28th round. The Cincinnati Reds offered Poppert a spot for their 2010 farm system, but for Poppert, this decision on whether or not to accept was not all that easy to come to.
Poppert ended his season with a .352 batting average and a .483 slugging percentage. He also had a .919 fielding percentage at shortstop in 148 chances. Since his freshman year Poppert has stood out as one of the better players on the diamond for the Dons. His freshman year Poppert had to step up and start at third base after an injury put his teammate out for the season. Poppert excelled at the position and proved to his team and USF fans that he could hold his own on a Division 1 baseball team. Poppert has definitely improved his game since his freshman year after only having a .297 average at the end of the 2007 season, and that did not go unnoticed. In the summer of 2008 Poppert was invited to the Cape Cod Baseball League to play for the Brewster Whitecaps. This league only takes the best of the best college students from across the nation to play on 10 teams. After being noticed at the Cape and Poppert’s impressive 2009 season with the Dons, the Cincinnati Reds saw what everyone at USF already did: this kid can play baseball. This summer was different for Poppert as it was his first summer he did not play summer baseball. It gave him a chance to spend time with his family and friends and work out from home. Being relaxed while making the decision that would affect the rest of his life seemed imperative for this incoming senior. For most college athletes going to the pros is their dream since they first put a ball in their hand, but Poppert decided to turn down his offer by the Reds and return for one more year at USF.
Unlike other sports, baseball is the hardest sports to make it to “the show” as the insiders like to say. With basketball or football, once you are drafted there is a spot for you on the team, but in baseball, a player could be in the minor leagues for years before they ever get to put on the uniform for the team they were set to play for. Sometimes choosing to leave college can be a gamble for students and the decision process can be mind racking, like it was for Poppert.
In Poppert’s online summer blog he describes this decision the hardest one of his life. “It was a pretty exciting time,” said Poppert. “It is something you work for your entire baseball career but it is also a very stressful decision to make.” For this senior he was looking out for his best interest and for him going to the Reds was not the route for him to take. “It was the best decision for me personally and for my baseball career. It took a lot of soul searching, I talked to my parents about it a lot, and my present and past coaches,” said Poppert. “I even made a pros and cons list and finally came to the decision that it was the best decision for me to make.”
From past interviews with Poppert, his definite goal was to be a professional baseball player. Having this opportunity and letting it go was definitely the hardest thing for him to do. “I realized the dream for me wasn’t to play in the minor leagues,” said Poppert. “My dream is to play in the major leagues. If that is really what I want to do coming back to school and getting drafted again next year would be my best path.”
Poppert says that if he is drafted again in 2010 then he will sign and play. “If it doesn’t work out I still have my degree to fall back on,” said Poppert. “It definitely leaves me with a lot of options.”
Poppert’s fellow teammate senior catcher Ryan Lipkin was also drafted in the 2009 draft in the 43rd round by the Oakland Athletics. Lipkin has also decided to come back to USF. He was unavailable for comment.