Baseball in Fort Wayne

Archive for February, 2008

This Saturday morning on Talkin’ Sports on Y-100 (WNUY 100.1 FM) we’ll be talking Mad Ants NBDL Basketball and get an update on how the first year club has fared in the Summit City. They’re preparing for a big home game Sunday at the Coliseum. We’ll also run down the IHSAA Boys Sectional pairings as well as the Girls Semi-State basketball matchups.

Of course we’ll be taking your calls and getting your opinion on sports of all sorts, including the Kelvin Sampson situation at IU, still unfolding as of Thursday evening.

This month’s Poll Question: Of these 4 Indiana NCAA basketball teams, IU, Purdue, Notre Dame or Butler, which team would be most likely to be snubbed for an at-large bid by the NCAA basketball tournament selection committee?

Call in Saturday with your opinion at 1-800-946-9689 or simply e-mail your response to this e-mail address or talkinsports@wnuy.com, Please indicate Poll Question in the subject line.

We’ve also launched the Talkin’ Sports Top 5 High School Athletes of the Week. If you know of a high school athlete who had an outstanding week, detail the accomplishments and nominate them at talkin’sports@wnuy.com.

If you have any guest suggestions or an upcoming local sports event that needs publicized, let me know at this e-mail or talkinsports@wnuy.com.

Tune in Saturday morning at 10:00 A.M, we’re Talkin’ Sports on Y-100, WNUY 100.1 FM.

[tags]Talkin Sports, Jim Shovlin, Radio[/tags]

Looks like there are a lot of Fort Wayne related items on the net and blog-o-sphere at the moment. Here’s a rundown:

• Oliver Perez Wins: Former Wizards pitcher lands $6.5MM in his arbitration hearing. No big thing, but judging by the number of sources linking it, it is big news. Read more at: MLBTradeRumors, ESPN, SI, and any sports site really.
• Wedge sets pace for hopeful Tribe [MLB.com]: The Indian’s skipper looks to write a new chapter through hard work, avoiding complacency and living up to standards.
• Chase Headley: The former Wizard talks about his transition to outfield at MLB.com and SignOnSanDiego [hat tip to Ducksnorts].
• Wade LeBlanc: The former Wizards pitcher is also mentioned in the MLB.com article with Headley – as are a couple others

[tags]Eric Wedge, Chase Headley, Wade LeBlanc, Oliver Perez, Baseball in Fort Wayne[/tags]

Here’s a couple Wizards related stories you may be interested in reviewing:

• Hunter fondly recalls Puckett [mlb.com]: The former Wizards and Twins star outfielder reflects on the mentorship from the late Kirby Puckett.
  

  Hunter made his Major League debut on the same Metrodome turf Puckett had graced for a pair of World Series champions. They were inseparable, the man and his protégé, two generations of center fielders providing thrills for Twins fans.

• Community Open House [Fort Wayne Wizards]: Hardball Capital, owners of the Fort Wayne Wizards, along with Barry Real Estate Companies, White Lodging Services and the City of Fort Wayne will host a community open house to update the Harrison Square project currently underway in downtown Fort Wayne. The community is invited to an open house from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 21 in the Jefferson A room of the Grand Wayne Center, located at 120 West Jefferson Boulevard.
• New Harrison Square Hotel Will Open Later Than Projected [Indiana's News Center]: The headline pretty much is the lead. Click the link to read the story.
• College Night! Cinco de Mayo Celebration [MySpace]: The Wizards will host a College Night/Cinco de Mayo in one Celebration on Wednesday May 21, 2008 at 5:00 PM.

[tags]Baseball in Fort Wayne, Harrison Square, Torii Hunter, Kirby Puckett, Grand Wayne Center, Hardball Capital[/tags]

Lots of local ties news this time of year. Marc Katz (Springfield News Sun) recently wrote about the Wright State University baseball team’s attempt to return to the NCAA tourney field as they prepare for their March 14th home opener against Valpo. This ambition is despite the difficult time that Midwest teams typically have in recruiting baseball players due to the cold weather climate.

One player that looks to be a big part of the team’s efforts is Fort Wayne native and former Wayne High School standout, Justin Parker. He lettered all four years for the Generals and was a two-time All-Summit Athletic Conference selection. As a senior, he was named to the Division 3A All-State team as he hit .498 with six home runs and 22 stolen bases

Parker also holds the school record for batting average in a season, which he set as a senior while leading his team to the sectional championship. Upon graduation, he was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 43rd round of the 2005 Major League draft but chose Wright State over going pro. While in school, he has earned honors as 2007 Second Team ABCA All-Region, 2007 First Team All-Horizon League and 2006 Horizon League All-Newcomer Team.

Image from Wright State’s Website.

[tags]Wayne High School, Wayne Generals, Justin Parker, Baseball in Fort Wayne, Wright State university[/tags]

John Conniff at MadFriars.com recently posted a interview with Kevin Goldstein, who previously wrote for Baseball America and was a featured commentator on MLB.com’s first extended coverage of the 2007 amateur draft.

He talks about many former Fort Wayne Wizards:

• On Chase Headley: There are people out there that will tell you they always thought Headley would start to hit for power but I don’t think anyone thought he would put together the season that he did.
• On Matt Antonelli: “I think he can play second. I don’t think he’s going to be a gold glover, but with his offensive profile an average second baseman is all he needs to be. As for centerfield – his speed will play . . . but I think he will be the everyday second baseman in Portland this year. “
• On Cedric Hunter: “I thought he was disappointing . . . I went to a few games with scouts in the Midwest League this year, and I just don’t know how much there is there. I just didn’t see a ton of upside, he’s not really that big, and not a lot of power and his swing are designed for straight contact. He does have some ability but is very much a tweener, not a power hitter but not a slap hitter either. He’s kind of fringy in center field. He does a lot of things pretty well, there is some gap power, decent approach, decent runner – I just don’t know what he does that blows anyone away. He doesn’t have any single tool that “wows” you.”
• On Chad Huffman:“[H]e can hit and has some power, but I think he has some positional problems. If he’s limited to left field he’s going to have to have an elite level bat, and I’m not sure that he has that. He could become a solid player; I’m just not sure he’s going to be a star.”
• On Wade LeBlanc: “He’s a solid back of the rotation starter, left-hander with some size, very good changeup, fastball in the upper-80s with command. His command is much better than someone like Brad Baker, who was a prospect in the Padres organization a few years ago, but he can’t be the real deal when he throws in the upper-80s . . . I think profiles as a #4 starter.”
• On Kyle Blanks: “. . . there are really an incredible amount of varied opinions on him, so it’s difficult to get a great read on him. He’s a big guy with monster power potential and a good hitter. A decent first baseman and athlete for his size. I know guys who think he’s going to become a good first baseman in the big leagues and others who see him as a “4A” player.”

Read the full interview here.

[tags]Chase Headley, Matt Antonelli, Cedric Hunter, Chad Huffman, Wade LeBlanc, Kyle Blanks[/tags]

Former Snider High School standout, Kyle Day was mentioned in today’s CSTV profile of the Michigan State baseball squad. They write:

With Kyle Day returning, the Spartans have one of the top returning catchers in the Big Ten. The Fort Wayne, Ind., native battled injuries for most of his sophomore season; however, when healthy he has shown the ability to be one of the top hitters in the conference. He batted .295 three home runs and 26 RBI and scored 26 runs, adding a .438 on-base percentage. Day, who was named to the all-star team in the prestigious Cape Cod Summer League, was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 19th round of the MLB draft last June.

You can learn about other baseball players with local ties by visiting the recently reintroduced Local Ties page.

[tags]Kyle Day, Baseball in Fort Wayne, Snider baseball, draft picks, Cape Cod Summer League, CSTV[/tags]

When Tom Nichols takes the microphone to announce the 2008 home opener for the Dayton Dragons there will be a bit of familiarity. The Dragons opponent will be the Fort Wayne Wizards, one of Nichols’ former teams.

The Dayton Dragons recently announced that the veteran broadcaster — who has served in broadcasting capacities with the Indianapolis Indians, Kinston Indians, Peoria Chiefs, Fort Wayne Wizards, Mobile BayBears, and Gary SouthShore RailCats — has been hired to replace Mike Vanderwood as the club’s radio announcer and Director of Media Relations/Broadcasting.

Nichols, 43, is a 1986 graduate of Ball State University and a native of Muncie. He enters his 20th season as a minor league baseball broadcaster in 2008. During his career he has called nearly 2,500 games. He is a former Broadcaster of the Year in the Double-A Southern League with the Mobile BayBears. He served as Director of Broadcasting for the Fort Wayne Wizards from 1993 to 1996.

[tags]minor league baseball, Tom Nichols, Fort Wayne Wizards, Dayton Dragons, broadcasting[/tags]

From CSTV:

PREP/PERSONAL Kyle Leiendecker is the lone Hoosier on the roster that was selected in the 2007 MLB Entry Draft. The freshman southpaw was a 25th-round selection (767th overall) of the Cleveland Indians, but elected to come to IU to compete for the Hoosiers.

Leiendecker earned all-state status in 2007 after striking out 58 batters in 35 innings and posting a .506 average at the plate. The Fort Wayne, Ind., native helped Homestead to a 26-5 record and a spot in semi-states.

As a junior, Leiendecker guided Homestead to a 21-9 finish in 2006. He finished third in the Northeast Hoosierland Conference with 58 strikeouts that season, and hit .404 at the plate.

The son of Mark and Deb Leiendecker was born on Sept. 29, 1988, and is undecided as to his major at Indiana.

[tags]Indiana University, IU, Kyle Leiendecker, Homestead, Hoosiers, Baseball in Fort Wayne, prospects[/tags]

One of the great things about this time of year is following the developing story lines out of Spring Training. Certainly, there will be many involving former Wizards and other local ties. For instance, a few days ago I mentioned that the Padres may be considering trading Paul McAnulty. Today, MLB.com has picked up on the “human interest” story that’s brewing. In “Rededicated McAnulty aims for rebound” Corey Brock discusses the seasoned minor leaguer and his likelihood of a future within the Padres organization. After a disappointing 2007 that was sidelined by injuries and falling placement on the depth chart as a result, McAnulty spent the off season getting into what he believes is the best shape of his career.

He worked out three times a day — that’s right, three times a day — six days a week, an arduous mix of weight training, conditioning, riding the stationary bike and, of course, hitting, at his home . . . Can he realistically win a job with the Padres? McAnulty is out of Minor League options, which means he might have greener pastures with another organization if the Padres opt to go with prospect Chase Headley or non-roster invitees Jody Gerut or Jeff DaVanon as their backup outfielders to Scott Hairston, Jim Edmonds and Brian Giles.

McAnulty was selected by San Diego in 12th Round (355th overall) of 2002 amateur entry draft. As a member of the Fort Wayne Wizards in 2003, he appeared in 133 games and hit .273 with 7 home runs and 73 runs batted in over over 455 at-bats.

[tags]Paul McAnulty, MLB, Padres, San Diego, Baseball in Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne Wizards[/tags]

The Taylor University Baseball Team put two marks in the win column after Saturday’s doubleheader at Asbury College by defeating the Eagles 14-1 and 7-3. It was the first two games of the 2008 season for Taylor.

The games saw a strong showing from Fort Wayne native, Taylor Kinzer (Homestead).

Kinzer came up big in his Taylor debut, smacking a three-run homer in his first at bat as a Trojan to give Taylor an early 3-0 lead. The Fort Wayne, Indiana native tallied two singles and a double to finish the game 4-for-5. [source: Taylor University]

Kinzer also came in to pitch the final two innings of game two, allowing no runs on just one hit, to earn his first save. The Taylor University team also features local standouts; Nathan Hillery (North Side) and Chris Howell (Bishop Dwenger).

Photo lifted from Taylor University’s website.

[tags]Taylor Kinzer, Taylor University Baseball, college baseball, baseball in Fort Wayne[/tags]