The VAB Jets beat the Rams 13-2 to advance to the semi – final of the Bishop Gorman Easter Classic.  Luke Whelpton started on the mound going 4 innings allowing 5 hits, 2 runs, 1 BB and 7 K’s.  Nick Stobbe threw a solid inning allowing a BB.  Offensively, the Jets were led by Chris Thibideau who was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI.  Guillaume Gingras was 2 for 4 with a run scored and RBI.  Mitch McGeein was 1 for 2 with an RBI and run scored.  Travis Wallace was 1 for 2 with a 2 run HR and 3 runs scored.  Matt Benn was 1 for 2 with an RBI.  Devan Thomas was 1 for 3 with a 3 run HR.  Dan Moro was 1 for 2 with a run scored.  Jason Field was 1 for 3 and JG Weeks was 2 for 2 with an RBI and Jose Calderon was 2 for 2.

The victory puts the Jets record to 2-1 in the tournament and 9-6 overall.  The Jets will face Gloucester HS, NJ.  They are a Nationally ranked HS in the USA

The VAB bats came alive in a big way pounding out 15 hits and Spencer was very solid on the mound only allowing 3 hits.  Chris Thibideau was 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI’s.  Jager Toffan was 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored and 2 RBI’s with a triple.  Mitch McGeein was 2 for 5 with a grand slam.  Konner Lutz was 1 for 3.  Matt Benn was 1 for 3 with an RBI.  Guillaume Gingras was 2 for 3 with a run scored.  Devan Thomas was 2 for 3 with a HR and 3 RBI’s.  Jason Field was 1 for 4 with a double and 2 runs scored.  Dan Moro rounded out the offense going 1 for 1 with 3 BB’s and a run scored.

Tanner Spencer threw a complete game going 5 innings allowing 3 hits, 2 runs with 4 BB’s and 4 K’s.

The win puts the Jets record at 1-1 in the tournament and will face Gloucester, NJ tomorrow at 1:30pm at Buckholder Park in Henderson, NV

TheVAB Jets came out flat and battled from behind most of the day losing 7-0 and12-8 to Treasure Valley Junior College from Oregon.  Game 1 saw Luke Whelpton start on the mound going 4 innings allowing 5 hits, 3 runs, 2 K’s and 6 K’s. Nick Stobbe threw the final 3 innings allowing 5 hits, 4 runs, 1 K and 5 BB’s.

Offensively, the Jets were led by Dan Moro whowas 1 for 3. Jager Toffan was 1 for 3.  Konner Lutz was 1 for 2 and Jason Field was 1 for 2 to round out the offense. 

Game 2 saw some more offense but the Jets could not hold TVCC late in the game.  Luc Hebert started on the mound going 4 innings allowing 4 hits, 1 runs, 1 earned run, 1 K and 3 K’s.  Jesse Borden went 2 innings allowing 8 hits, 9 runs, 7 eared runs, 1 K and 5 BB. 

Offensively, the Jets were led by Anthony McKinley who was 3 for 3 with a big 2 run HR, double, 5 RBI’s and 2 runs scored.  JagerToffan was1 for 3 with a doule, run scored and RBI.  Devon Thomas was1 for3 with an RBI.  Mitch McGeein was 1 for 3 with a double and 2 runs scored.  Jose Calderon rounded out the offense going 1 for 4 with a run scored. 

The 2 loses puts the Jets record this fall to 8-8-1 overall.  The Jets have now played 11 of their 17 games vs college baseball teams.  Next action is tomorrow in Boise vs a very tough College of Southern Idaho team.  Former Jet Ben Douglas (2008/2009) will be suited up for the Eagles

It took a fourth try but the Jets recorded their first win of their Vegas/Phoenix trip this afternoon against Valley HS from right in Las Vegas. The final score would end up being 9-7. After a few close losses left the Jets in a rut, they responded and found a way to win today. Zach Mayo started for the Jets and pitched really well throwing 5 strong innings, taking the win. He constantly got ahead of hitters and showed command of three solid pitches. The runs he allowed would come in the 4th with three quick hits scoring 2 runs and in the 5th inning a few errors attributed to 4 unearned runs but Mayo beared down and finished the inning on his own. Archie Davis would follow and battle through 2 tough innings mired by a few errors, but hang on to record the save.

On the other side of the ball, the Jets put together 10 hits and would take 8 free bases on 6 hit batsmen and 2 walks for their 9 runs. Blair Balog led the way with a big 4 for 4 day highlighted by a bunt base hit that kickstarted the Jets offense and an RBI double later in the game. Tyler Kendall (Estevan, SK) had a classic Southeast Royals Kendall game getting hit in each of his first three at bats to raise his team leading total. The Jets continue to pound out hits game in and game out with 10 this game.

The Jets stand at 1-2 for the Bishop Gorman Easter Classic and wrap up the tournament tomorrow afternoon at 1pm against Bishop Gorman’s #2 team at Hadland Park. The game will be a rematch of the 13-13 tie of Wednesday’s game. Keep following on Twitter @VABjets.

VAB 9 Valley HS 7
Mayo: 5 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Davis: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Zarowny 2-4 2 RBI; Adams 1-3 RBI; Fagnan 1-3 3B, 2 RBI; Benn 0-3 RBI; Kendall 0-1 3 HBP; Mazurkewich 0-3; McGeein 0-3 BB; Balog 4-4 3 runs, 2B, RBI; St. Jean 2-4 RBI

The Jets opened day 1 of the spring with a 4-3 comeback victory and a tight loss 5-3 to National Team pitcher Jake Hansen of the PBA.  The doubleheader was the first games played in all of Alberta and a cool and windy start to the 2011 spring season.

Game 1 saw Chad Hodges get the start on the mound and struggled a little bit after striking out the lead off hitter going 1 inning allow 1 hit, 3 runs,  4 BB’s and 2 K’s.   Mark Baigent thru a very solid 2 innings of relief allowing 2 hits, 0 runs, 1 K and 1 BB.  Tanner Spencer also thru 2 solid innings allowing 1 hit, 1 unearned run, 3 K’s and 0 BB’s.  Archie Davis threw the final 2 innings and earned the victory allowing 2 hits, 0 runs and 2 K’s.    Offensively, the Jets were led by Marc St. Jean who was 1 for 4 with a double, game tying RBI and run scored.  Jeremie Fagnan was 1 for 2 with a double, game winning RBI and a run scored.  Brendan Hendriks was 1 for 4 with a run scored.  Curtis Mazurkewich was 1 for 3 and Blair Balog was 1 for 2 with a double and run scored. 

Game 2 saw Zach Mayo get the start and took the loss going 2 innings allowing 2 hits, 3 runs, 1 earned run, 2 K’s and 3 BB’s.  Anthony McKinley threw 2 innings of solid relief allowing 0 hits, 1 run, 4 K’s and 2 BB’s.    Logan Seifrit threw 1 solid inning of scoreless baseball with 2 K’s.  Ben Dartnell threw 1 inning of relief allowing 1 hit, 1 run and 1 K.    Offensively, the Jets were led by Tyler Kendall who was 2 for 4 with 2 doubles.  Jeremie Fagnan was 2 for 3 with a double, RBI and run scored. 

The split opens the Jets season with a 1-1 record.  Next action is this coming weekend vs University of Calgary Dinos.  Stay tuned for changes to the schedule.

OF – Jeremie Fagnan – Calgary, AB -  becomes the 4th 2010/2011 VAB Jet to accept a scholarship.  Fagnan has accepted a scholarship to attend the NJCAA Division 1 - Midland College Chaps in Midland, Texas.  The Chaps play in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference.   For more information on the Chaps: http://www.midland.edu/athletics/baseball/

Fagnan becomes the 2nd player in Jets history to attend Midland College.  (Levi Westerlund 2009/2010).  (Adam Nelubowich 2007/2009 and Steven Inch 2007/2009 also committed to the Chaps but Nelubowich choose to attend Washington State University and Steven Inch choose to committ to the University of Kentucky and later signed with the Phillies)

The Vauxhall Academy is proud to announce that 4 Jets have been selected to tryout for the Canadian National Junior Program.  24 selections were announced by Head Coach - Greg Hamilton at the Baseball Canada Cup in Kinderley, SK.  The 4 selections now makes an amazing 18 Jets being selected to tryout for Team Canada in the past 5 years.

Grade 12 – 3B – Brendan Hendriks (Cochrane, AB)

Grade 11 – RHP – Tanner Spencer (Craik, SK)

Grade 11 – RHP – Logan Seifert (Spruce Grove, AB)

Grade 11 – RHP – Anthony McKinley (Dartmouth, NS)

A special congrats also goes out to Team Alberta on a 3rd place finish.  Team Alberta lost a tight one in the semi-final vs Ontario but went onto shutout Quebec in the Bronze Medal game.

3 More Jets have made committments to play college baseball in the fall of 2010 – overall this makes 7 Jets so far!   Simmonds, Barry and Clark join 4 other Jets who have committed to schools so far.  See below for details:

LHP - Taylor Simmonds – St. Albert, AB – has committed to attend  NCAA Division 2 powerhouse Wayne State College Wildcats in Wayne, Nebraska.    The Wildcats play in the very tough Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.  For more details on WSC: http://www.wscwildcats.com/index.aspx?tab=baseball&path=baseball

C/OF – Luke Barry – Swift Current, SK – has committed to attend Canadian College Powerhouse – Prairie Baseball Academy Dawgs in Lethbridge, AB.  The Dawgs play in a very tough Canadian College Baseball Conference.  The Dawgs have won the League Championships 5 years in a row.  For more details on PBA: www.prairiebaseball.com

OF – Matt Clark – Woodstock, NB – has committed to attend NCAA Division 2 Concord University Mountain Lions in Athens, West Vigina.  The Moutain Lions play in the very tough West Virgina Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.  For more details on Concord University Baseball: http://www.cumountainlions.com/index.aspx?tab=baseball&path=baseball

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RHP - Levi Westerlund – Oyen, AB – has committed to attend  NJCAA Division 1 Midland College Chaps in Midland, Texas.    The Chaps play in the very tough Western Junior College Athletic Conference.  For more details on Midland: http://www.midland.edu/athletics/baseball/

LHP - Paul Schaak – Winkler, MB – has committed to attend  NJCAA Division 1 College of Southern Idaho Golden Eagles in Twin Falls, Idaho.  Schaak follows 6 other Jets who are currently playing with the Golden Eagles (Morrill (2007-2008, Anderson 2007-2008, Craswell 2008, Paquin 2008, Bilodeau 2008-2009, Vavra 2008-2009).  The Golden Eagles play in the very challenging Scenic West Conference.  For more details on CSI: http://athletics.csi.edu/news/2009/11/4/BB_1104093045.aspx?path=baseball

RHP - Derek Grubel – Lethbridge, AB – signed a National Letter of Intent with the NJCAA Division 1 Muscatine Community College Cardinals in Muscatine, Iowa.  The Cardinals play in the very challenging ICACC conference.  For more details on Muscatine College: http://www.eicc.edu/athletics/mcc_baseball/index.html.

The 2009-2010 college committment campaign starts off with a bang as 2nd year standout Shane Zimmer has committed to Canisius College Griffins in Buffalo, NY.  Zimmer is just coming back from ACL surgery last May. 

OF - Shane Zimmer - St. Albert, AB – signed a National Letter of Intent with the NCAA Division 1 Canisius College Griffs in Buffalo, NY.  The Griffs play in the MAAC conference.  For more details on Canisius College: http://www.gogriffs.com