Due to a poor weather forecast on the weekend the series between PBA and VAB has been changed.  The schedule change is as follows:

Saturday and Sunday (DH) – cancelled

New Schedule

Friday – March 12th – 1 pm (DH) @ Lloyd Nolan Yard.

Tuesday – March 16th – 3 pm @ Lloyd Nolan Yard – 9 inning game.

GO JETS!!!!!

Due to some poor weather there may be changes to the opening weekend scheduling.

Option 1

Friday 1 pm (DH) @ Lloyd Nolan Yard vs PBA

Saturday 1 pm @ Lloyd Nolan Yard vs PBA

Option 2

Saturday 12 noon (DH) @ Lloyd Nolan Yard vs PBA

Sunday 12 noon @ Lloyd Nolan Yard vs PBA

A final decision will be Thursday evening.

The 4th Annual Awards/Scholarship Dinner was a great success again!  MC – Marty Baceda from Global Sports in Lethbridge and Featured Speaker “Denis Boucher” put on a great show with stories and a strong message to the Jets student-athletes.  With the Honorable Premier Ed Stelmach in attendance and a packed hall of 320 plus people with the evening raising close to $20,000.00.  The evening was highlighted with a cheque presentation from Premier Stelmach and MLA – Little Bow – Barry McFarland to assist in the building of the new Community Facility (consisting of the a dormitory, state of the weight room, state of video room, lockerroom, manager’s suite, athletic therapy room, players lounge and much more).  Thank you for all who attending the banquet, donated auction items and supported the program by buying raffle tickets and auction items. 

The banquet also consisted of many annual awards/scholarships being handed out:

Reno Lizzi Scholarship – $2000.00 plus a gold ring – Shane Zimmer

Reno Lizzi “Inch by Inch Award” – $1000.00 – Taylor Simmonds

Reno Lizzi Underclassman Awards – $1000.00 – Brendan Hendriks & Chad Hodges

Jet of the Year Scholarship – sponsored by Don Groves – $1000.00 – Luke Barry

Wanda Stober Scholarship – $1000.00 – Ben Dartnell

Fitting into VHS – Kym Barthel

Leadership and Dedication Scholarship – sponsor by Scotiabank – Matt Clark – $500.00

Sport Connection Scholarship – Greg Adams & Ben Douglas – $500.00/each

Coaches Award – sponsor by Doug Jones & Creative Awards -  Brody McDonald – $500.00

Congrats to all the Award Winners on a great evening.  Go Jets and see you around Jets Stadium

For photos and videos from the night please go to Youtube.com and search Vauxhall Academy of Baseball.

A busy week began with the 4th annual MLB Scouts Day in the indoor.  There was representation from 6 Major League clubs (Phillies, Brewers, Padres, Mariners, Reds, Blue Jays) and the MLB Scouting Bureau.  In total there was 10 professional scouts in attendance.  The Jets pitchers threw bullpens and the hitters took batting practice – overall the event was again a success.  The day ended with Walt Burrows – Canadian Supervisor with the MLB Scouting Bureau addressing the group.

With the Scout Day behind us we now focus our attention to the 4th Annual Awards/Scholarship Dinner – March 6th.

The Vauxhall Academy is proud to announce their upcoming spring schedule.  The schedule is again very challenging with games against College Baseball Teams, American Legion Teams, High School Teams, Academy Programs and a WMBL game.  The schedule consists of 61 total games between March and the end of May – 28 games on the road and 23 games at Jets Stadium.  The spring schedule also consists of 2 – MLB Bureau Camps that are held in Vauxhall each spring – March 2nd (indoors) and May 4th (Jets Stadium).  The schedule also consists of 5 tournaments:

Best of West Tournament in Kamloops, BC

Bishop Gorman High School Easter Classic – Las Vegas, Nevada (Defending USA High School National Champions)

Bozeman Bucks American Legion Classic – Bozeman, Montana

Haven Agencies Invitational Tournament – Vauxhall, AB

Great Falls Tournament – Great Falls, Montana

For details on the Spring Schedule: http://www.vauxhallbaseball.com/news/game-schedule-scores/

Please mark March 6^th on your calendar.  The Vauxhall Academy of Baseball is excited to share with you news about our 4th Annual Academy Scholarship Awards and Fundraiser Banquet.  Our event showcases our student-athletes and features good food and fun.  Cocktails and appetizers will be served at 5:00 PM and the program will begin at 5:45 PM.  Tickets are $45.00/plate or $300.00/table of 8 and can be purchased by emailing Shannon Mossey at shannon.mossey@horizon.ab.ca.

Our featured speaker will be Canadian – Denis Boucher, former Major League Baseball pitcher and current Team Canada coach.  Read below for a complete bio on Mr. Boucher.  A silent and live auction including unique items (golf packages, Fairmont condo weekend, signed jerseys, signed prints, signed baseballs/bats, concert tickets to name a few.  Raffles and door prizes will also be included to give all guests a chance to bid and win.  8 Scholarships and 4 additional awards will be presented, the most significant of these will be the prestigious $2000 Reno Lizzi Scholarship and commemorative ring.

Denis Boucher from Montreal, Quebec was signed as a free agent by the Toronto Blue Jays in August of 1987.  He was a minor league All-Star in 1988 and 1990 before making his major league Debut in April of 1991. Denis was a starting pitcher in the big leagues for 4 seasons…. the Toronto Blue Jays (1991), Cleveland Indians (1991-92), and Montreal Expos (1993-94).  Denis is one of only three Canadians to have played for both the Toronto Blue Jays and Montreal Expos, the others being Matt Stairs and Rob Ducey.  Over his career, Denis pitched professionally for 10 seasons and he took the mound for an astounding 20 different professional teams over his career.  He also served as an ambassador for the Montreal Expos between 1998 and 2005 and special assistant to the coaching staff.  

Denis has now focused his attention to his family and coaching.  Denis currently serves as a Coach with Team Canada which has included the pitching coach for the last 2 World Baseball Classics, pitching coach for Team Canada at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games and Professional Scout with the Washington Nationals. Denis also serves as the President of Minor Baseball in his area and coaches minor hockey throughout the winter.  He spends most of his time with his wife Isabelle Fornier and 4 children.

Banquet Ticket

For the 3rd year in a row Coach McTavish has been listed in the top 100 Most Influential Canadians in baseball.   Once again it is Canadian Baseball Network and Sun Columnist – Bob Elliot posting the list.  Coach McTavish was ranked 48th on the list of the top 100 moving up 2 spots from 50th last year and 60th in 2007.

For the complete article http://www.canadianbaseballnetwork.com/node/10379

• 4 Current and 2 Former Jets drafted in the 1^st Year MLB Entry Draft.
  • Steven Inch – 6^th round — Phillies
  • Adam Nelubowich – 14^th round – Mariners
  • Jay Johnson – 25^th round – Orioles
  • Brandon Petite – 30^th round – Astros
  • Dale Anderson – 45^th round – Rangers
  • Jordan Wong – 46^th round – Brewers.
• 4 Jets sign NCAA Division 1 letter of intents, 9 others commit to college baseball programs (2008-2009 roster). Making it 36 student-athletes beginning our 4th season.
• 2 more Jets make the final roster of Team Canada (Nelubowich and Inch) pushing the total to 14 who have been invited to try out for Team Canada in 4 years.
• VAB wins a provincial award for prevention of spit tobacco.  Barb Tarbox Award.
• $15,000,000 facelift to Vauxhall High School announced.
• 10,0000 square foot – Multi-purpose Community/Baseball Facility announced (residency, weight room, offices, training room, manager’s suite, video room, player lounge, showers, locker room, study area)
• $10,000.00 upgrade to field equipment (7 screens, professional hitting bubble)
• 1^st international athlete accepted (New Zealand)
• Canadian Baseball Network lists the Vauxhall Academy as the top high school program in Canada.
• 80% of athletes on academic honor roll. 
• Right View Pro video system added as a teaching tool for all Jet athletes.
• 41 wins – 18 losses – 4 ties for a .695 win percentage while playing athletes fairly. 
• Best of the West Tournament Champions, Haven Agencies Invitational Champions. 
• New Era, Mizuno, Rawlings Contract extensions as official partners of the VAB. 

Merry Christmas to everyone and all the best in 2010!  GO JETS!

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