PLEASE NOTE: The coaches of individual age groups may schedule a second day of tryouts in order to give those who were not able to make Sunday’s tryouts a chance to be evaluated by the coaching staff. Dates and times will be announced on our website as as decisions are made.

 

A player’s age by April 30, 2013 will determine age group eligibility. Players are asked to bring bats and gloves to the tryout as well as long pants. They will be put through a myriad of drills including fielding, throwing and hitting. Those interested in pitching for their respective teams will also have the opportunity to throw for the coaches.

Grand Blanc High School Varsity Baseball Field is located on Jewett Trail off Holly Road behind the main high school building.

The Grand Blanc Travel Baseball Association was created to provide a higher level of competition for talented and motivated area baseball players with a commitment to the improvement of their skills in a team focused environment. More information can be found at our website and in our Parent & Player Handbook.

The Grand Blanc Cats 12u team headed for the Wisconsin Dells Patriot Games for their first tournament of the season and came back home with a 2-2 record and a ton of fond memories of a great time in Wisconsin.

In game one, the Cats lost to the Mundelein Missile’s, 12 to 1. The Missiles came into the tournament posting a 51-10 record. Not to be intimidated, the Cats’ came out strong by perfecting a small ball strategy that had the Missile’s completely grounded. Logan Fleming walked, reached second, and then was sacrificed to third by Garrett Lesser. Nolan Lawrence then grounded out, but succeeded in knocking across Grand Blanc’s first run of the ballgame. Unfortunately, the Cats were only able to muster two additional hits the rest of the match and zero runs. One hit by Lesser and the other by Sean Seaton.

The second game pitted the Cats against the Frankfort Square Hawks from the Chicago area. The Cats’ offense came to life with an 11-1 victory in 5 innings. The Cats started the game with consecutive singles by Fleming, Lesser, Lawrence and Seaton to take a 4-0 lead after one. In the 2nd inning the Cats’ Fleming, Lawrence, Preston West and Bryan Lendzion plated four more runs. The Cat’s continued swatting the Hawks with 3 more runs scored by Lendzion, Andrew Morningstar and Dylan Cumming. Lawrence was the offensive star of the game going 3 for 3 and driving in four of the Cats runs while scoring twice.

Game three saw the Cats taking on the Hartford Orioles from nearby Milwaukee. After a scoreless first inning, the Cats erupted for 3 runs in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th innings to take a 9-4 lead. Logan Fleming was 3 for 4 with an RBI and 2 runs scored. Garrett Lesser was 3 for 4 with 2 RBI’s and scored 2 runs. The Cats added 4 additional runs in the 6th to close the game out. Sean Seaton was 3 for 3 with 2RBI’s including a triple. Justin Pijaszek was also 3-3 with 2 RBI’s and 2 runs scored. Andrew Morningstar, Grant Terwilliger, Bryan Lendzion and Preston West all added 2 hits apiece.

In the Cats final game of the day, under the lights on Saturday evening, they played the local Reedsburg, Wisconsin, All-Star Team. The Cats needed this win to advance to the semi-finals on Sunday morning. In the first inning, Garrett Lesser walked, stole 2 bases and was driven in by a sharp single by Nolan Lawrence to take a 1-0 lead. In the home half of the first, Reedsburg scored 2 runs off starter Justin Pijaszek who was called in to start in his biggest start of the year. JP pitched great under the lights allowing just 4 runs and giving his team a chance down only 4-1.The Cats scored again in the 5th on a Fleming single, Lesser sacrifice bunt and Seaton RBI single. They plated 2 more runs in the 6th on a 2 RBI triple by Grant Terwilliger driving in Lendzion and Cumming. The Cats had a chance in the 7th inning with bases loaded and down 8-4, but they couldn’t knock across any more runs.

The Tournament was a great success for the 12u team who then spent Sunday at the Waterpark bonding and having a great time just being kids after a long weekend of gut wrenching baseball against some very tough teams from the Midwest. The team had such a good time, they are looking to go back as a 13u team next year. Congratulations on a job well done!!

PLEASE NOTE: The coaches of individual age groups may schedule a second day of tryouts in order to give those who were not able to make Sunday’s tryouts a chance to be evaluated by the coaching staff. Dates and times will be announced on our website as as decisions are made.

 

A player’s age by April 30, 2013 will determine age group eligibility. Players are asked to bring bats and gloves to the tryout as well as long pants. They will be put through a myriad of drills including fielding, throwing and hitting. Those interested in pitching for their respective teams will also have the opportunity to throw for the coaches.

Grand Blanc High School Varsity Baseball Field is located on Jewett Trail off Holly Road behind the main high school building.

The Grand Blanc Travel Baseball Association was created to provide a higher level of competition for talented and motivated area baseball players with a commitment to the improvement of their skills in a team focused environment. More information can be found at our website and in our Parent & Player Handbook.

The Grand Blanc Cats 12u team, who decided to play in a more competitive bracket of GFBL this year, began their season against a strong New Lothrop team. The Hornets didn’t disappoint, posting 6 runs in the first 2 innings and never looking back in coming away with a 11-0 victory. Garrett Lesser provided some outstanding defensive plays including a catch in centerfield and a throw to the plate to double up a tagging runner from third. Nolan Lawrence had the only hit for the Cats offense that was rusty from the long winter/spring layoff.

Game two saw the Cats facing one of the area’s best teams in the Davison Cardinals. Logan Fleming started on the mound for the Cats, hurling four strong innings allowing three runs while striking out five. Down 3-0 to Davison, Justin Pijaszek, Fleming and Lawrence scratched across 3 runs in the fourth inning to tie the game. Grant Terwilliger pitched a perfect 5th on only 15 pitches. The game ended in a stalemate to be decided by International tie breaker rules. Davison scored their runner in the top of the extra inning. The Cats were unable to push across the tying run and Davison won 4-3, dropping the Cats’ record to 0-2 in this classic local rivalry.

The Cats went into the weekend with a double dip against the Linden Eagles, playing for better results. A little ‘small ball’ and timely hitting ignited a spark in the Cats. Fleming scored the Cats first run on a bunt single by Lesser. Cooper Prue then scored on an RBI ground out by Dylan Cumming and Brian Lendzion scored on an RBI single by Terwilliger. But, the Cats still found themselves down 6-3 after 5 innings. It was the sixth inning where the winter/spring rust wiped away, as the Cats’ bats of old came alive with 4 big runs, followed by an encore of 5 more in the seventh. Key RBI’s by Lesser and Sean Seaton, scoring Preston West and Andrew Morningstar got the Cat’s going. While Zach Wurtz also crossed the plate in the 7th inning on the way to a 12-7 Cats victory. Terwilliger and Fleming were lights out on the mound to secure the Cats’ first win of the season.

In the night cap, the Cats scored early with runs from Lesser and Fleming on a 2RBI single by Lawrence. The Cats added another in the 2nd inning when West scored on an RBI double by Morningstar. Morningstar also pitched 4 superb innings of 3 hit baseball while holding the Eagles offense to a single run. In the 3rd inning the Cats blew the game open with consecutive hits by Lesser, Lawrence, Seaton and Terwilliger to take a 7-1 lead. The Cats closed out the eagles 9-5 when Prue struck out the last hitter in the 6th inning as the time limit expired and pushed the Cats record to an even 2-2 in GFBL play.

Grand Blanc Travel Baseball will be holding tryouts for the 2012 season on August 20th and 24th at Grand Blanc High School’s varsity baseball field. Tryout times will be as follows:

Saturday August 20th

• 9U/10U/11U – 9am to 12pm
• 12U/13U/14U – 12:30pm – 3:30pm

Wednesday August 24th

• All ages – 6:30pm – 8:30pm

A player’s age by April 30, 2012 will determine eligibility. Players are asked to bring bats and gloves to the tryout as well as long pants. They will put through a myriad of drills including fielding, throwing and hitting. Those interested in pitching for their respective teams will also have the opportunity to throw for the coaches.

Grand Blanc High School Varsity Baseball Field is located on Jewett Trail off Holly Road behind the main high school building.

The Grand Blanc 12U Cats traveled across the state to play in the Grand Haven Summer Blast. A “blast” is what they had as they battled some tough competition and the heat to come back and earn a second place trophy.

In the first game of the tourney, the Cats defeated the Grand Haven Bucs 12-1. Brandon Bednar and Hunter Carnell combined to limit last years second place finisher and host team to two hits. Brendan Pedrin was 3 for 3, while Gage Sullivan, Lawson Bainbridge each had two hits. Bednar and Andrew Lannon walked 3 times a piece and scored 3 runs each.

The second game against the Dirt Dawgs was more of a battle as the Cats scored 4 runs in the third inning to take a 4-1 lead. Connor Carlson led off the inning with a walk, Carnell singled and Cal Smeets walked to load the bases. Blake Bogan was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Bednar singled to right field to drive in two more runs. Sullivan grounded into a fielders choice to drive in the fourth run of the inning. The Dirt Dawgs scored once in the fourth and once in the fifth to trail by one in the bottom of the last inning. The Cats recorded the first two outs and were within one strike of winning the game when a walk, a single and an error led to the tying run and the Dawgs scored another run in the extra inning (international tie-breaker rules) to steal a game from the GB 12U squad.

Following the heartbreaking loss, the Cats cleared their heads and handed Thornapple Valley, last years 11U tourney champion, an 18-0 defeat on Sunday morning. Nolan Hamilton and Connor Carlson combined for the no-hitter in a game that was called after 3 innings due to the mercy rule. Bogan led the Cats with 3 hits, while Lannon, Sullivan and Gavin Anderson recorded 2 hits each.

The win set up a match against undefeated Dewitt, with the winner going to the championship game. Anderson was called upon to take the hill in the 90 degree heat. The Cats jumped out to a 3-2 lead after one inning. Bogan walked and Lannon doubled him home. Anderson singled in Lannon and Carnell drove in the third run on an opposite field single. The Cats tacked on 3 more runs in the second inning on RBI singles from Carlson an Bednar to increase their to 6-2. Another 3 run inning in the fourth aided by another run scoring single from Anderson (3 hits in the game) built the lead to 10-4. The Cats defense helped Anderson combat the heat by turning two double plays, the second one started by Anderson to end the game and secured the 10-6 victory and a trip to the championship game.

Bogan started the game off against the well rested Dearborn Heights Knights on the right foot by doubling and scoring on Bednar’s single. Bednar and Lannon later scored on a single off the bat of Gavin Anderson which provided a 4-0 lead. Starter Pedrin made the lead last until the third inning when the Knights tied the game. The Cats scored twice in the 5th on singles from Lannon (4 for 4) and Carnell to take a 6-4 lead. The Knights scored twice in their half of the 5th to once again tie the game. The Cat’s ran out of gas after playing all day in the heat and the Knights scored 6 times in the sixth to seal the 12-6 win.

The GB 12U Cats wasted no time in completing their game to beat the approaching bad weather. A 13-1 victory in 3 innings ensured that there would be no wet fans at the game.

Lawson Bainbridge took the hill and recorded 5 strikeouts before leaving it in the hands of Cal Smeets to record the final two outs. The hitting attack was paced by Nolan Hamilton with a single and a triple, Blake Bogan and Gavin Anderson both went 2 for 2 and Gage Sullivan connected for a homerun. Connor Carlson and Hunter Carnell scored twice for the Cats.

The victory improved the 12U squads record to 10-1-1 with 3 key league games coming up next week including one against the Michigan Diamondkings which will go a long way to determine the division champion.

In their first meeting earlier this year, the 12U GB Cats and New Lothrop Hornets battled back and forth in a game that ended in a 10-10 tie that was called due to darkness. This time around, the Cats rallied late to post an 8-7 victory.

GB roared out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning with the key blow coming off the bat of catcher Andrew Lannon as he doubled into right field. The Hornets chipped away and tied the game at 3-3 in the third inning. The Cats regained the lead in the 4th inning by scoring 4 runs as Hamilton doubled into the left field gap to knock in 2 runs. Bednar lifted a sacrifice fly to score Hamilton and Lannon singled to right to score Smeets who was on base after one of his three walks in the game.

The Hornets came right back to record 3 runs in their half of the 4th inning to make it a 1 run ball game. Smeets then singled in Hamilton who was on base following his triple to give the Cats a two run lead heading into the bottom of the 7th. In this exciting back-and-forth contest, the Hornets scored yet another run and had the tying run stuck at third after a diving stop by Bednar at second base kept the Hornet runner from advancing to home. With runners at second and third and only one out, Pedrin struck out a Hornet batter and then snagged a ball headed for centerfield and tossed over to first base to end the game.

The Cats have now improved their record to 8-1-1 in GFBL play.

Twice was definitely nice for the GB 12U Cats baseball team as they took both ends of a double header against Lake Fenton in GFBL action. In the opening 13-5 victory, the Cats jumped out to a 5-0 lead and never looked back. Leading the offense were Gavin Anderson, Connor Carlson and Blake Bogan each with 2 hits in the game. Anderson also scored 3 runs while Bogan crossed the plate twice. Keeping Lake Fenton at arm’s length was lefty Nolan Hamilton, posting 4 strikeouts in 3 innings of work. Bogan recorded 3 strikeouts in two innings of relief.

In the second game, the Cats kept the bats humming on their way to a 19-4 victory in a game called due to run differential. Bogan, Carlson and Lawson Bainbridge each went 3 for 3 at the plate and each scored three times. Brandon Bednar and Brendan Pedrin chipped in with 2 hits a piece with Bednar knocking in 4 runs. Cal Smeets and Lawson Bainbridge took the mound and combined to limit the Lake Fenton team to 4 runs.

In their first meeting earlier this year the GB Cats and New Lothrop Hornets battled back and forth in a game that ended in a 10-10 tie that was called due to darkness. This time around the only difference was that the Cats came out on top to post an 8-7 victory.

The Cats roared out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning with the key blow coming off the bat of Andrew Lannon as he doubled into right field. The Hornets however chipped away and tied the game at 3-3 in the third inning. The Cats regained the lead in the 4th inning by scoring 4 runs. Nolan Hamilton doubled into the left field gap to knock in 2 runs. Brandon Bednar lifted a sacrafice fly to score Hamilton and Andrew Lannon singled to right to score Cal Smeets who was on base after one of his three walks in the game.

The Hornets came right back to record 3 runs in their half of the 4th inning to make it a 1 run ball game. Smeets singled in Hamilton who was on base following his triple to give the Cats a two run lead heading into the bottom of the 7th. The Hornets again came back to score a run and had the tying run stuck at third after a diving stop by Bednar at second base kept the Hornet runner from advancing to home. With runners at second and third and only one out, Brendan Pedrin struck out a Hornet batter and then snagged a ball at the mound and tossed over to first base to end the game.

The Cats have now improved their record to 8-1-1 and will take on Richfield on Monday evening.