Category: Featured

Strathmore Minor Ball and the Jets team up!

Strathmore AB, –

From January 13th – March 9th the VAB kicked off the inaugural Strathmore Minor Baseball (SMBA) Winter Camp under VAB Instruction.  Every Friday three VAB players along with assistant coach, Zane Anderson and Strathmore Reds coach/player Cody Bangen helped teach the young players of the Strathmore region valuable baseball skills. The Camp consisted of approximately 60 kids, broken up into three age groups. Pitching and hitting was the primary focus of the camp. Infielding, outfielding, catching, and base running were also covered during the eight-week camp.

 We would like to send our appreciation to the Strathmore Minor Ball Association for allowing the VAB the opportunity to run the camp. The camp wouldn’t have been possible without SMBA’s president Daren Kennett spearheading the project. We are excited for the continued SMBA & VAB relationship, committed to improving the grassroots baseball system in the Strathmore region.

Jets finish off a successful weekend!

Lethbridge, AB –

The VAB Jets finished off a successful weekend with a 9-5 victory over the PBA JV team.  The day consisted of many positional players getting their chance on the mound for both clubs.  Konner Lutz, Jose Calderon, Travis Wallace and Mitch McGeein took the mound for the Jets with Jose Calderon earning the victory.

Offensively, the Jets were led by by Konner Lutz who was 3 for 4 with an RBI and 2 runs scored.  Travis Wallace and Matt Benn also added 2 hits each.  Benn had 3 RBI’s and Wallace pitched in with 2 RBI’s.  Mitch McGeein and Dan Moro rounded out the offense with a hit each.

The victory pushes the Jets record to 3-0 overall this spring.   Next action is next weekend vs University of Calgary Dinos at Jets Stadium in Vauxhall.

Jets take 2 to open the spring season!

Lethbridge, AB –

The Jets opened the 2012 spring season with a come from behind victory over the Okotoks Dawgs Academy by a score of 6-4.  The Jets found themselves behind early by a score of 4-0 and came from behind to earn the victory by a score of 6-4.    Zach Mayo started on the mound going 2 inning allowing 2 hits, 2 unearned runs with 5 K’s and 2 BB’s.  Tanner Spencer earned the victory going 2 innings allowing 3 hits, 2 runs, 1 BB and 1 K.  Jesse Borden was solid in 2 innings allowing 3 hits, 0 runs with 3 K’s.  Nick Stobbe earned the save going the final inning with 1 K.  Offensively, the Jets were led by Matt Benn who was 2 for 3 with an RBI.  Jose Calderon was also 2 for 3 with a double.  Moro, Field, Thibideau, Wallace, Field and Lutz rounded out the offense with 1 hit each.

Game 2 saw the Jets get behind early again but came back to earn a convincing 16-10 slugfest vs a strong PBA JV club.   Brandon Radmacher started on the mound going 2 innings allowing 3 hits, 4 runs and 2 unearned runs with 2 K’s and 1 BB.  Luc Hebert threw 2 innings allowing 3 hits, 2 runs with 2 K’s.  Luke Whelpton threw 2 inning with 1 hit with 1 K and 1 BB.  Chris Thibideau rounded out the offense with 1 inning with 5 hits and 4 runs.  Offensively, the Jets were led by Chris Thibideau who was 2 for 4 with 4 RBI’s.  Matt Benn was 2 for 2 with 3 BB’s and a 3 run HR.  Dan Moro was 2 for 4 with 3 RBI’s and Travis Wallace also added 2 hits. 

Next action for the Jets is tomorrow at 2 pm vs PBA JV.

6th Annual Awards/Scholarship Dinner a Tremendous Success!

Vauxhall, AB –

The 6th Annual Awards/Scholarship Dinner was again a tremendous success raising over $30,000.00.  Featured speaker and Canadian Hall of Famer – Paul Quantrill electrified the crowd with stories of his 14 plus MLB years as well as inspired current Jets to battle through adversity.  The evening celebrates current and former Jets with several big awards being given out – including the Reno Lizzi Scholarships.   Again, Marty Baceda MC’d the evening and continued with the Hays – South Hays debate.  A highlight video created by former VHS student – Brock Skretting started the evening off in dramatic fashion – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fICD3lqEyCY&feature=youtu.be

Below is the award winners from the great evening:

Reno Lizzi Scholarship and Ring – Travis Wallace

Inch by Inch Scholarship – Tanner Spencer

Reno Lizzi Underclassmen Scholarships – Jager Toffan and Nick Stobbe

Jet of the Year presented by Don Groves Sunlife Financial – Konner Lutz

Wanda Stober Scholarship – Mitch McGeein

Leadership and Sportsmanship presented by Scotiabank – Matt Benn

Sports Connection Scholarship – Guillaume Gingras and Dan Moro

Coaches Award presented by Creative Awards – Zach Mayo

Doug Stephenson Scholarship – Travis Wallace

Jets open this weekend in Lethbridge!

 

Vauxhall, AB –

The VAB will open its spring season this coming weekend in Lethbridge with 3 games vs PBA and Okotoks.  The Jets will be a bit short handed as three Jets standouts are in Florida with the Canadian National Junior Team.  Guillaume Gingras, Logan Seifrit and Jager Toffan will be competing against professional teams, Dutch National Team and St. Pete JC as well as the Toronto Blue Jays.  Good Luck Boys!!

The weekend schedule is as follows:

Saturday March 10th

11 am vs Okotoks Dawgs @ Henderson Stadium

2 pm vs PBA @ Nolan Yard

Sunday March 11th

2 pm vs PBA @ Nolan Yard

Vauxhall, AB – 

The 6th Annual Awards/Scholarship Fundraising Dinner is quickly filling up.  The dinner is over 70% sold out with just under 1 month to go.  The VAB is honored to have one of the greatest Canadian pitchers of all time as our featured speaker – 14 year MLB Veteran – Paul Quantrill.

When: Saturday March 3rd – Vauxhall Community Hall

Time: 5 pm Cocktails and 5:45 pm Program Begins

Cost: $50.00/ticket or $350.00/table of 8

Contact: For tickets please contact Shannon Mossey at [email protected] or 403.654.2145

The evening will also include several big awards given out to current Jets totally over $12,000.00.   A silent auction, live auction and men’s and women’s draw will round out the evening led by MC – Global Sports – Marty Baceda.  Some of the big ticket items include: 6 night/7 day stay at a luxurious 5 bedroom home on the 15th hole of grey wolf golf course and Panorama ski resort, signed Robbie Alomar jersey, signed Brett Lawrie signed bat, signed and framed Nugent-Hopkins/Eberle picture, custom “VAB” solid wood poker table, signed Andre “The Hawk” Dawson signed jersey just to name a few.

If you are interested in finding out more of the auction items please contact Coach McTavish at [email protected].

Early 2012 gets the Jets excited!

 

 

Vauxhall, AB – 

The 2012 Jets were excited to be taking batting practice, fungos and working out on February 1st!  The Jets are busy getting ready for the start of the 2012 campaign.   To assist the Jets in their preparation they will take part of a simulated intra-squad game vs PBA Varsity Team in Lethbridge at Lloyd Nolan Yard at 2 pm on Friday February 3rd.

The PBA squad is getting ready to play some of the top NJCAA Division 1 teams in Las Vegas, NV later this month.  The Jets have the luxury of facing some of the top pitchers in Canada from the Prairie Baseball Academy.

 

Benn commits to play for Colby CC!

Vauxhall, AB – 

Another Jet has committed to play college baseball in the US.

OF/INF – Matt Benn – Teulon, MB –has accepted a scholarship and signed a National Letter of Intent to attend NJCAA Division 1 Colby Community College (Colby, Kansas).  The Trojans play in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference.

More information about the Colby CC Trojans: http://www.colbycc.edu/athletics/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=34&Itemid=59

Matt will be the 6th Vauxhall Jet in the past 5 ½ years to wear the Trojan jersey. Congratulations Matt!

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Other Jets to sign this season

C – Konner Lutz – Medicine Hat, AB –  has accepted an athletic/academic scholarship and signed a National Letter of Intent to attend NCAA Division 1 powerhouse Stetson University Hatters.  The Hatters play in the Atlantic Sun Conference and are the defending conference champions.  Stetson was ranked as high as #15 in the country last season and played in the NCAA Tournament in 2010.   Lutz is the second of 2 Jets to sign early this season.  For more information on the Hatters: http://www.gohatters.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=14600&SPID=6736&SPSID=69238

LHP – Zach Mayo – Mather, MB –  has accepted a scholarship and signed a National Letter of Intent to attend NCAA Division 1 North Dakota State University Bisons.  The Bisons play in the Summit Conference with the likes of South Dakota State, Oral Roberts and South Utah to name a few.  Mayo is the first of 2 Jets to sign early this season.  For more information on the Bisons: http://www.gobison.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=2400&SPID=706&SPSID=12103

 

 

 

 

Tanner Craswell and Mitch MacLean Memorial Fund!

Vauxhall, AB – 

The Lethbridge Bulls, the Prairie Baseball Academy, and the Vauxhall Academy of Baseball have come together to establish the “Tanner Craswell and Mitch MacLean Memorial Fund.” The fund has been established for anyone wishing to donate. All donations will go to help the families of Tanner and Mitch. Any remaining proceeds will go towards a legacy scholarship fund for Tanner’s and Mitch’s former teammates and future players of the 3 organizations the players have been members of. A representative from each organization along with the families will organize the disbursement of all funds donated. The entire Southern Alberta Baseball Community thanks you for your support.

There are 3 ways the public can donate:

1.       The fund will be established at the Bank of Nova Scotia, and anyone that wishes donate can go to any Scotiabank branch in Canada to donate.

Account Name: Tanner Craswell and Mitch McLean Memorial Fund

Account Number: 00059 0157317

2.       By email money transfer to [email protected]

3.       Or by cheque, the 3 organizations will also be accepting cheques made payable to the Tanner Craswell and Mitch McLean Memorial Fund and can be mailed to:

The Lethbridge Bulls

2425 North Parkside Dr.

Lethbridge, AB Canada

T1J 4W3

 

Prairie Baseball Academy

545 6th Avenue North

Lethbridge, AB Canada

T1H 6N8

 

The Vauxhall Academy of Baseball

Box 618

Vauxhall, AB Canada

T0K 2K0

 

Tragedy strikes the Vauxhall Academy

Vauxhall, AB –

The Vauxhall Academy would like to express our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Tanner Craswell (Jets alumni 2007-2008) of Charlottetown, PEI.  The Jets family is grieving the loss our former alumni.   Tanner just turned 22 years old and will be sadly and deeply missed by many.

Tanner was a stand out shortstop for the Jets (2007-2008) leading the team in many categories.  Tanner, an infielder, participated in the Fall Instructional League and Extended Spring Training with the Junior National Team in 2007 and also represented PEI at the Baseball Canada Cup (2004, 2005, 2006).

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Craswell family, his former teammates, coaches, classmates, billets and so many he touched.