Author: Greg Farries

Jets finish the weekend with a couple of victories to win series!

Although short handed with several players away with the JNT in Florida and a couple of injuries the Jets managed to take both from the Dawgs to finish off the series 3-1.  We are proud of the boys effort and compete level with 4 games within 26 hours.

Game 1 saw the Jets win by a score of 8-3 and game 2 by a score of 9-7.  Game 1 saw Ben Erwin start on the mound going 3 2/3 innings allowing 2 hits with 3 BB’s and 7 K’s.  Chase Florendine threw 2 2/3 innings allowing 2 hits, 3 runs, 2 earned runs with 1 BB and 1 K.  Owen Harms finished things off going 2/3 of an inning allowing 1 hit with 1 K.  Offensively, the Jets were led by Liam Vulcano who was 1 for 3.  Owen Harms was 2 for 2 with an RBI.  Jared Binsfeld was 1 for 4 with a double and 2 RBI’s.  Cooper Jones was 1 for 3 with a double.  Kaiden Cardoso was 1 for 4 with a 2 run HR.  Matt Rath was 1 for 4 and Matt Gough rounded out the offense going 2 for 4 with 2 RBI’s.

Game 2 saw the Jets win by a score of 9-7.  Garrett Hawkings threw 4 1/3 innings allowing 7 hits, 3 runs with 1 BB and 3 K’s.  Thomas Little threw 1 2/3 innings allowing 4 hits,  runs with 2 K’s. Levi Abbott threw 1 inning allowing 1 BB.  Offensively, the Jets were led by Liam Vulcano who was 1 for 2 with an inside the park HR.  Owen Harms was 2 for 3 with an RBI.  Zach Newman was 1 for 2 with RBI.  Jared Binsfeld was 2 for 5 with a double and 2 RBI’s.  Cooper Jones was 1 for 4.  Kaiden Cardoso was 1 for 4.  Matt Rath was 1 for 2.  Matt Rath was 1 for 3 and Ben Erwin rounded out the offense going 1 for 4 with 2 RBI’s.

The Jets may be playing this week before heading to Las Vegas, Nevada for the 11th year and the Bishop Gorman Classic.

Jets split in Lethbridge with 2nd weekend series!

The Jets opened up their 2nd season series in Lethbridge.  Originally scheduled for Vauxhall the series was moved to Lethbridge to ensure good field conditions.  The Jets were also excited to following 5 teammates in Florida with the Canadian Jr National Team.

Game 1 saw the Jets get out to a 10-2 lead before hanging on for a 10-8 victory.  Game 2 saw the Jets take a 7-6 lead with 2 – 2 out hits in top of the 7th before fall 8-7 in the bottom of the 7th.

Game 1 saw Zach Newman get the start earning the win going 4 innings allowing 4 hits, 2 runs with 1 BB and 3 K’s.  Kaiden Cardoso went 2 innings allowing 3 hits, 4 runs with 2 K’s. Cooper Jones went 1 inning allowing 1 hit with 2 unearned runs.  Offensively, the Jets were led by Liam Vulcano who was 1 for 4.  Owen Harms was 2 for 4 wwith a double and an RBI.  Jared Binsfeld was 1 for 3.  Brett Mercier was 1 for 3 with an RBI.  Dayton Peters was 1 for 3 with an RBI.  Cooper Jones was 2 for 3 with a double and 3 RBI’s.  Kaiden Cardoso was 1 for 3 with an RBI.  Matt Gough was 1 for 3 with a double.  Matt Rath rounded out the offense going 1 for 3.

Game 2 saw the Jets get walked off on in the 7th.  The game was back and forth throughout.  Adam Macko started on the mound going 3 2/3 innings allowing 3 hits, 3 unearned runs with 2 BB’s and 6 K’s.  Connor Green took the loss going 2 1/3 innings allowing 5 hits, 5 runs with 5 BB’s and 3 K’s.  Offensively, the Jets were led by Liam Vulcano who was 1 for 3.  Owen Harms was 1 for 3 with a double and an RBI.  Jared Binsfeld was 1 for 4 with an RBI.  Brett Mercier was 1 for 4 with an RBI.  Kaiden Cardoso was 2 for 4 with a double and and RBI.  Cooper Jones was 2 for 3 and Dayton Peters was 1 for 3 with 2 RBI’s.

The Jets will finish up the 4 game series with a DH in Lethbridge at 11 am Saturday.

Jets open 2017 spring season with a couple of victories!

It was a great March day to open the season for the Jets with 18 degree temperatures.  Game 1 saw the Jets jump out to an early lead and never looked back beating the PBA JV 8-1.

Wesley Moore started on the mound going 3 innings allowing 1 hit with 4 K’s and 0 BB’s.  Garrett Hawkings threw 2 2/3 innings allowing 1 hit with 4 K’s and 2 BB’s.  Chase Floredine threw 1 1/3 allowing 1 K with 1 BB.  Conner Green finished things off going 2 innings allowing 1 hit, 1 run with 1 BB and 1 K.  Offensively, the Jets were led by Matt Rath who was 1 for 6 with an RBI.  Owen Harms was 1 for 6.  Damiano Palmegiani was 2 for 4 with a double.  Victor Cerny was 1 for 4 with a triple and an RBI.  Jared Binsfeld was 1 for 3 with an RBI.  Dayton Peters was 2 for 5 with 3 RBI’s and Kaiden Cardoso rounded out the offense going 1 for 4.

Game 2 saw the Jets take on the Prospects Academy winning by a score of 16-3.  The game was tight until the 5th when the Jets broke it open.  Garrett Nicholson started on the mound going 3 innings allowing 1 hit with 3 BB’s and 3 K’s.  Ben Erwin threw 2 solid innings allowing 2 hits with 3  K’s and 1 BB.  Jaden Griffin threw 1 inning allowing 1 hit, 2 runs with 3 BB’s and 2 K’s. Adam Macko threw 2 innings allowing 1 hit, 1 unearned run with 4 K’s and 2 BB’s.  Zach Newman rounded out the staff going 1 quick inning with 1 K’.  Offensively, the Jets were led by Liam Vulcano who was 2 for 2 with 2 RBI’s and 3 BB’s.  Owen Harms was 3 for 6 with 2 doubles and an RBI.  Damiano Palmegiani was 1 for 5.  Victor Cerny was 4 for 5 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI’s.  Brett Mercier was 2 for 6 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI’s.  Cooper Jones was 2 for 4 with an RBI and Matt Rath rounded out the offense going 1 for 5 with an RBI.

The Jets will not be playing Sunday due to the cool weather forecast and played 2 – 9 inning game today instead.  Next action is this week vs PBA JV – dates TBD based on weather.

11th Annual Awards/Scholarship Fundraising Dinner a success!

The 11th Annual Awards/Scholarship Fundraising Banquet was once again a tremendous success.  Keith Miller led the evening again as our MC.  Former Blue Jay and Yankee as well as MLB HR Champ Jesse Barfield talked to the crowd about his childhood and the daily adventures of being a Major League baseball player.  He spoke to the players and coaches about being a good teammates, hitting philosophies and the game within the game (pitcher vs hitter).   Several Awards and Scholarships were handed out highlighted by the Reno Lizzi Scholarships.  Barbara & Yukio Kitagawa continued to inspire the entire Jets organization as they matched all donations to Pennies for K’s to $20,000.00.

2017 marked the 2nd Annual induction into the “Wall of Excellence.” Peter & Connie Van Uden of Haven Agencies were inducted into the Wall of Excellence.

The Award winners are listed below:

  • Reno Lizzi Scholarship – Garrett Nicholson
  • Reno Lizzi Underclassman – Damiano Palmegiani & Cooper Jones
  • Coaches Award (newly named Blaine Burbank Coaches Award) – Victor Cerny
  • Sports Connection Scholarships – Conner Green & Ben Erwin
  • MacLeod Family Scholarship (trip to Japan) – Liam Vulcano & Dayton Peters

Thank you to everyone who attended, donated and sponsored the Banquet.  All donations go along way in assisting our student-athletes in Live Their Dreams.  Once a Jet….Always a Jet!

The Jets are also excited about taking our Celebration in Achievement Dinner in June to the next level with several awards and scholarships presented at the event.  Date will be announced soon.

11th Annual Awards/Scholarship Fundraising Dinner!

The VAB is excited for the 11th annual Awards/Scholarship Fundraising Banquet March 4th, 2017 at the Vauxhall Community Hall (5 pm cocktails and 5:45 pm program begins).  Jesse Barfield will be our featured speaker at this years event following his 12 year career with the Yankees and Blue Jays.  Jesse’s career was highlighted with winning the 1986 American League HR crown, 2 X Gold Glove winner and allstar.

The evening will once again be highlighted by the Reno Lizzi Scholarships as well as several other Awards and Scholarship presentations. A silent auction, live auction and raffles will be going on throughout the evening

Some of the highlight auction items will be posted prior to the banquet.

Please contact Lynda Unruh at [email protected] for tickets.  Tickets cost is $60/ticket or $450/table of 8.

Jets enjoy some culture at the Christmas Carol!

Calgary Theatre and the 30th running of “The Christmas Carol” live theatre production has become an annual holiday tradition for the Jets. 2016 marks the 11th consecutive year that Yukio and Barbara Kitagawa have treated current Jets as well as many Academy supporters to a great day of holiday celebration and cheer. In total 53 Jets supporters enjoyed the holiday tradition.

On behalf of the entire Jets organization we would like to thank Barbara and Yukio Kitagawa, Ken and Susan Scott as well as Shirley from Theatre Calgary for the great day.  We would also like to thank Donna Brown from Intact Insurance for the special gift for each of the boys.

4 Jets commitment to college baseball programs!

The Vauxhall Academy is proud to announce 4 Jets have committed to US schools on scholarship for the 2016-2017 season.  All 4 players will finish up their spring in Vauxhall and will join their respective college programs in the fall of 2017.  We are very proud of all of these young men and look forward to sharing additional college commitments soon.

The following is a list of Jets who signed:

LHP – Wesley Moore – Surrey, BC  – has accepted an NCAA Division 1 athletic scholarship to attend California State University Northridge in Northridge, California.  The Matadors play in a very challenging  Big West Conference.  Moore will join former Jet Nolan Bumstead who is currently in his Junior year. For more details on Cal State Northridge Baseball: http://www.gomatadors.com/sports/m-basebl/index

RHP – Ben Erwin – Spruce Grove, AB  – has accepted an NCAA Division 1 athletic scholarship to attend Niagara University Purple Eagles in Niagara, NY .  The Purple Eagles play in the competitive MAAC Conference.  For more details on Niagara U Baseball: http://purpleeagles.com/index.aspx?path=baseball

LHP – Garrett Nicholson  – Sidney Mines, NS – has accepted an NCAA Division 1 athletic & academic scholarship to attend Central Michigan University Chippewas in Mount Pleasant, Michigan .  The Chippewas play in the challenging Mid American Conference.  For more details on Central Michigan University: http://www.cmuchippewas.com/sports/m-basebl/cmu-m-basebl-body.html

C – Brett Mercier  – Lutes Mountain, NB – has accepted an NJCAA Division 1 athletic scholarship to attend Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, Florida .  The Pioneers play in one of the top junior college conferences the FCSAA.  For more details on Indian River State College Baseball: http://www.irsc.edu/athletics/baseball/baseball.aspx?id=1336

The entire VAB organization is very proud of all 4 Jets and we look forward to following their very bright futures moving forward.  Stay tuned for additional signings throughout the winter and spring months.