6:30 A.M. – Just outside Vauxhall.
 
It’s 6:30 a.m. and I’m already blogging, what a wonderful existence. Today marks the first day of the Jet’s 11-day road trip deep into the heart of the Midwest United States to play alotta baseball, have a little fun, and get some much needed sun. I’m Austin Cooper and I’ll be posting daily updates chronicling the Vauxhall Jets while on the road. Check here daily for game scores complete with player reaction, as well as a behind the scenes look at what your favorite players are up to throughout the day.
 
6:41 P.M. – Twin Falls, Idaho
 
As predicted, the ever reliable Terry got us to Twin Falls safely, we got our normal bus day lunch stop, and Victor Caruso didn’t muster up more then five words the entire twelve hour trip. The weather is suspect thus far with constant showers but the sun is beginning to peak out far to the west. A pretty uneventful day altogether; a much needed supper at Applebee’s tonight where we’ll be joined by former Jet Tanner Craswell (2008 graduate attending College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls) who also needs a meal pretty badly as he’s struggling to figure out how college life works. Curfew at 10 PM tonight and game time at 10:00 A.M. tomorrow for a doubleheader against a Twin Falls HS team with a 15-1 record thus far this year.
 
And remember today is Good Friday, so please take a small part of your day to be thankful for what you are blessed with each day.
 
-AC

Below is a press release from the tournament organizers in Kamloops.  Lets hope that the weather holds for us.

Good day Coaches, Managers, Parents and Players:

It’s the countdown to the 2009 KR3 Best of the West Tournament and weather
is looking good. REMEMBER, Kamloops and Penticton are part of the Sonora
Desert (the extreme north end) which means dryer climate and weather. It
is forecasted to be brisk for this time of the year, in Kamloops we are
looking at highs of 7 on Friday climbing to 12 by Sunday, but freezing in
the night, so early games and later games expect colder temperatures. In
Penticton,it will be much the same.

It’s springtime, so be dressed for it. I have included the link for
directions to the fields in Kamloops:

http://www.kamloops.ca/pdfs/maps/MacIsland.pdf

Vauxhall, AB –

The entire Jets organization is proud of the following 4 student-athletes who have commmitted to collegiate baseball programs for 2009/2010.  It is exciting for these young men to get one step closer to their dreams. 

C – Josh Stephenson – Strathmore, AB – has committed to play for Canadian Junior College powerhouse Prairie Baseball Academy Prairie Dawgs  in Lethbridge, AB.  Form more details on PBA: www.prairiebaseball.com

RHP – Jordan Wong – Calgary, AB – has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for NJCAA Division 1 – Hill College Rebels in Hillsboro, Texas.  For more details on Hill College: http://www.hillcollege.edu/athletics/?aid=1&dept=15

RHP – Tyler Vavra – Calgary, AB – has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for NJCAA Division 1 – College of Southern Idaho Golden Eagles in Twin Falls, Idaho.  For more details on the Golden Eagles: http://athletics.csi.edu/baseball/index.asp

C – Jean-Guy Bilodeau – Winnipeg, Manitoba has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for NJCAA Division 1 – College of Southern Idaho Golden Eagles in Twin Falls, Idaho.  For more details on the Golden Eagles: http://athletics.csi.edu/baseball/index.asp

Committs earlier in 2009

OF/3B – Adam Nelubowich – Stony Plain, AB – signed a National Letter of Intent with NJCAA powerhouse Midland College Chaps in Midland, Texas.   For more details on Midland College: http://www.midland.edu/athletics/baseball/

RHP – Cole Stober – Vauxhall, AB – signed a National Letter of Intent with the NAIA Minot State Beavers in Minot, North Dakota.  For more details on Minot State University:  http://www.minotstateu.edu/baseball/program.shtml

RHP – Brandon Petite – Glace Bay, Nova Scotia – signed a National Letter of Intent with NJCAA powerhouse Gulf Coast Commodres in Panana City, Florida.  For more details on Gulf Coast College: http://www.gcathletics.com/AthleticTeams/MensBaseball/Baseball-index.html

RHP – Steven Inch – Edmonton, AB – signed a National Letter of Intent with NJCAA powerhouse Midland College Chaps in Midland, Texas.  For more details on Midland College: http://www.midland.edu/athletics/baseball/

 

17th Annual Easter Classic Pairings (April 15-18)

POOLS:

• Pool A — Bishop Gorman; Churchill County, NV; Cornerstone Christian, TX; Highland, UT
• Pool B — Douglas, NV; Montclair Prep, CA; San Benito, CA; Bishop Gorman 2
• Pool C — Bishop Manogue, NV; Dublin, CA; Galena, NV; Newbury Park, CA
• Pool D — Damonte Ranch, NV; Irvine, CA; South Tahoe, CA; Vauxhall, Canada

Wednesday, April 15 Games (Home team listed second)

(Note: Please check back periodically, in case of changes; If there is a change it will be highlighted in blue)

(at Hadland Park):

• 8 a.m. — Galena vs. Bishop Manogue
• 11 a.m. — Dublin vs. Galena
• 2 p.m. — Irvine vs. Damonte Ranch
• 5 p.m. — Highland vs. Cornerstone Christian
• 8 p.m. — Bishop Gorman 2 vs. Montclair Prep

(at Peccole):

• 8 a.m. — Damonte Ranch vs. South Tahoe
• 11 a.m. — Douglas vs. Bishop Gorman 2
• 2 p.m. — Bishop Manogue vs. Newbury Park

(at Rivera):

• 8 a.m. — Churchill County vs. Bishop Gorman
• 11 a.m. — Cornerstone Christian vs. Bishop Gorman

(at College of Southern Nevada):

• 9 a.m. — Irvine vs. Vauxhall
• 6 p.m. — San Benito vs. Douglas

Thursday, April 16 Games (Home Team Listed Second)

(at Hadland Park):

• 8 a.m. — Vauxhall vs. South Tahoe
• 11 a.m. — South Tahoe vs. Irvine
• 2 p.m. — Bishop Manogue vs. Dublin
• 5 p.m. — Newbury Park vs. Dublin
• 8 p.m. — Churchill County vs. Cornerstone Christian

(at Peccole):

• 8 a.m. — Bishop Gorman 2 vs. San Benito
• 11 a.m. — San Benito vs. Montclair Prep
• 2 p.m. — Montclair Prep vs. Douglas

(at Rivera):

• 8 a.m. — Highland vs. Bishop Gorman
• 11 a.m. — Churchill County vs. Highland

(at College of Southern Nevada):

• 9 a.m. — Newbury Park vs. Galena
• 6 p.m. — Vauxhall vs. Damonte Ranch

Friday, April 17 Games

Note: Friday and Saturday home teams will be determined by coin flip, with the exception of Bishop Gorman, which will always be the home team)

(at Hadland Park):

• 8 a.m. — #4 (A) vs. #4 (B) (Game 1)
• 11 a.m. — #2 (A) vs. #2 (B) (Game 4)
• 2 p.m. — #2 (C) vs. #2 (D) (Game 6)
• 5 p.m. — #1 (A) vs. #1 (B) (Game 7)
• 8 p.m. — #1 (C) vs. #1 (D) (Game 8)  

(at Peccole):

• 8 a.m. — #3 (A) vs. #3 (B) (Game 2)
• 11 a.m. — #3 (C) vs. #3 (D) (Game 5)

(at Rivera):

• 8 a.m. — #4 (C) vs. #4 (D) (Game 3)

Saturday, April 18 Games

 (at Hadland):

• 8 a.m. — Loser Game 4 vs. Loser Game 6 (seventh place)
• 11 a.m. — Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8 (third place)
• 2 p.m. — Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 (championship)

 (at Peccole):

• 8 a.m. — Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 6 (fifth place)

Vauxhall, AB –

This weekends game vs PBA JV have been rescheduled tenatively for:

Sunday March 15th @ Lethbridge (Nolan Yard) – 1 pm (DH)

Monday March 16th @ Lethbridge (Nolan Yard – 2:30 pm (single)

Please stay tuned for additional updates as they occur.

Vauxhall, AB –

The Vauxhall Academy of Baseball is proud to announce 2 National Equipment Partnerships with Mizuno Canada and Rawlings Canada thru Sports Connection in Medicine Hat, AB.  Rawlings and Mizuno are world leaders in baseball and will provide Jet athletes with the best equipment on the market.  Coach McTavish had this to say about the new partnerships, “What can we say about Rawlings and Mizuno – the name, quality of product, and durability is second to none.  Our athletes will be wearing the best equipment on the market and the staff and players are very excited to work with such quality products.  Brian Bauman (Sports Connection), Jason Shipley (Rawlings), and Dave Bartlett (Mizuno) are quality baseball people who we look forward to being part of the Jets family.”

Both Rawlings and Mizuno have committed to a 3 year contract thru 2011/2012.  Details are as follows:

Rawlings Canada – Official Uniform, glove, bat, bag,  and apparel supplier of the VAB.

Mizuno Canada – Official Spikes, turf, running shoe, golf shirt, and tracksuit supplier of the VAB.

Spring is coming and we look forward to seeing everyone at the ballpark.

Vauxhall, AB –

The Vauxhall Academy of Baseball hosted several Major League Scouts today in Vauxhall as they get ready for the 2009 campaign.  Overall, there was 10 professional scouts in attendance from 7 Major League Teams as well as the Canadian Supervisor of Major League Baseball.

This is the first evaluation of the 2009 campaign and the Jets are excited about the opportunities that are ahead. 

For more infomation on the Jets 2009 spring schedule go to the homepage and click on Game Day.

Vauxhall, AB –

The Vauxhall Academy of Baseball is proud to announce 4 seniors who have signed National Letters of Intents. 

OF/3B – Adam Nelubowich – Stony Plain, AB – signed a National Letter of Intent with NJCAA powerhouse Midland College Chaps in Midland, Texas.   For more details on Midland College: http://www.midland.edu/athletics/baseball/

RHP – Cole Stober – Vauxhall, AB – signed a National Letter of Intent with the NAIA Minot State Beavers in Minot, North Dakota.  For more details on Minot State University:  http://www.minotstateu.edu/baseball/program.shtml

RHP – Brandon Petite – Glace Bay, Nova Scotia – signed a National Letter of Intent with NJCAA powerhouse Gulf Coast Commodres in Panana City, Florida.  For more details on Gulf Coast College: http://www.gcathletics.com/AthleticTeams/MensBaseball/Baseball-index.html

RHP – Steven Inch – Edmonton, AB – signed a National Letter of Intent with NJCAA powerhouse Midland College Chaps in Midland, Texas.  For more details on Midland College: http://www.midland.edu/athletics/baseball/

The entire VAB family is very proud of these 4 young men as they have reached one of their goals of obtaining a college scholarship.  Stay tuned for more signings soon.

Vauxhall, AB –

2006/2007 Infielder/RHP – Scott Hornstra (Rocky Mountain House, AB)  has been selected as a Pre-Season All-American at Colby CC in Colby, Kansas.  The entire Academy organization is very proud of Scott’s preseason accolades.

For more information: http://www.njcaa.org/Teams/baseball/2009/09%20D1%20Baseball%20PRESEASON%20AA%20Top%20Returning%20Players.pdf