• Aug. 3, 2012 • Volume 34 Beac on • Issue 5 A publication of the Ban Johnson Amateur League Kansas City Sports Club Blues win title The Kansas City Sports Club Blues made bottom of the seventh to tie the game with quite an impression on the league in their the BJ Raiders and push across the winning first year in the Ban Johnson League. run in the bottom of the ninth in a 4-3 victo - Trailing defending champion Seaboard 2-0 ry. in the bottom of the fifth, they sent 13 batters They scored the only run of the game in the to the plate with 11 of them reaching base. bottom of the seventh against the Milgram The result was the Blues’ biggest inning of Mustangs. the year - eight runs and an 8-2 win to cap - The Sports Club Blues ended the season on ture the championship tournament title. an 19-game winning streak. They didn’t have an easy road to the cham - See Sports Club Blues, page 5 pionship. They had to score two runs in the

NEAR PERFECTION - The Kansas City Sports Club Blues beat Seaboard, 8-2, in the Ban Johnson League Tournament finals July 28 at Mid-America Sports Complex, to take the league title. The first- year entry in the league finished the season with a 29-1 overall record.

All-Star Game set for Sunday The 44rd Ban Johnson League All-Star Champions, Milgram Mustangs, MSBL Game hosted by the Royals is set for Royals, NKC Apartments, Midwest Sunday at Kauffman Stadium. Orioles, Regal Plastics and Seaboard. The game will follow the Royals- The rosters are on page 3. Rays game and the Fun Run after the Adam Cla y of the UMB Bank is the contest. B All-Stars manager, while NKC The B All-Stars are from the Apartments’ Tom Dailey is the J All- Bandits, KC Barnstormers, BJ Raiders, Stars manager. KC Blues, Kansas City Sports Club Blues, The umpires are Ralph Willcot (HP); Natural Baseball Academy and UMB Bank. Mario Gonzalez (1B); Tim Cordill (2B) and The J All-Stars are from the Building Ray Grenke (3B). Notable Numbers presented by Independence Ridge Apts. (FINAL UNOFFICIAL) 1. Jordan Miller, Milgram Mustangs 14 2. Caleb Baker, NKC Apts 12 Batting Average 3. Kirk Pruitt, UMB Bank 11 3. Jeremy Monty, KC Barnstormers 11 (based on a minim_ um of 60 at bats) 5. Spenser Augustine, Midwest Orioles 10 1. Jeremy Monty, KC Barnstormers .464 5. Chase Rader, KC Sports Club Blues 10 2. Dean Long, KC Barnstormers .457 7. (for tied with nine each) 3. Alex Drew, UMB Bank .443 4. Michael Wasche, Regal Plastics .422 Pitching 5. Ian Robinson, Natural Baseball .386 5. Jordan Miller, Milgram Mustangs .386 7. Adam Burns, Regal Plastics .378 (based on a minimum of 26 innings) 8. Kyle Clifton, UMB Bank .377 9. Poncho Amaya, Regal Plastics .375 1. Steven Johnson, KC Blues 0.54 9. Anthony Saladino, BJ Raiders .375 2. Patrick Brady, Milgram Mustangs 0.65 9. Joshua Zach, Natural Baseball .375 2. George Brandecker, Seaboard 0.42 4. Dustin Hurlbutt, Seaboard 0.75 Home Runs 5. Matt Eckelman, KC Sports Club Blues 0.81 1. Kyle Clifton, UMB Bank 4 8. Justin Williams, KC Sports Club Blues 0.82 2. James Hood, NKC Apartments 2 7. Jake Jones, Milgram Mustangs 0.92 2. Brad Law, NKC Apartments 2 8. Jacob Dahlgren, BJ Raiders 1.15 2. Chase Rader, KC Sports Club Blues 2 9. Mark Biesma, Regal Plastics 1.17 2. Jeudys Garcia-Fortuna, KC Blues 2 10. Drew Noble, KC Sports Club Blues 1.20 2. Ryan Johnson, KC Blues 2 Strikeouts 2. Clarke O’Dowd, Milegram Mustangs 2 1. George Brandecker, Seaboard 62 8. (17 tied with one each) 2. Patrick Brady, Milgram Mustangs 54 3. Dustin Hurlbutt, Seaboard 51 Runs Batted In 4. Jake Jones, Milgram Mustangs 46 1. Clarke O’Dowd, Milgram Mustangs 23 5. Ryan Kendall, KC Blues 45 2. Kyle Clifton, UMB Bank 20 6. Aaron Kurtz, Bandits 41 2. Chase Rader, KC Sports Club Blues 20 7. Cade Brummer, MSBL Royals 40 4. Jeudys Garcia-Fortuna, KC Blues 19 8. Justin Williams, KC Sports Club Blues 39 5. Josh Dennett, Seaboard 16 9. Nathan Reuter, Midwest Orioles 38 5. Brad Law, NKC Apartments 16 10. Nathanial Horton, BJ Raiders 37 5. Dean Long, KC Barnstormers 16 10. Steven Johnson, KC Blues 37 8. Three tied with 14 each) Stolen Bases Ban Johnson League Standings FINAL WL GB KC Sports Club Blues 25 1 ---- Seaboard 21 5 4.0 Beacon KC Blues 17 9 8.0 at Milgram NKC Apts. 16 10 9.0 Publishers: Nancy Milgram, N BJ Raiders 14 12 11.0 Advertising Manager: Sally Milgram Milgram Mustangs 14 12 11.0 Executive Director: Bob McFarlane MSBL Royals 14 12 11.0 Head Scorer: Richard Dawson Natural Baseball 12 14 13.0 Ban Johnson League office: (913) 383-7765 UMB Bank 12 14 13.0 Regal Plastics 11 15 14.0 P.O. Box 7869; Shawnee Mission, KS 66207 Building Champions 9 17 16.0 E-Mail: [email protected] Midwest Orioles 7 19 18.0 Web site: www.banjohnson.com KC Barnstormers 7 19 18.0 Rainout line: (913) 383-4044 Bandits 3 23 22.0

Page 2 BJ Beacon Aug. 3, 2012 All-Star Game Rosters B All-Stars J All-Stars Syklar Geissinger Barnstormers 1B Clarke O’Dowd Milgram 1B Dean Long Barnstormers 1B Brad Law NKC Apts. 1B Ben Cox KC Blues 1B Andrew Blackwell Milgram 2B Bryan Rezin BJ Raiders 2B Brandon Huske MSBL Royals 2B Alex Drew UMB Bank 2B John Oropeza Seaboard 2B CJ Faddis KCS Blues 2B Spenser Augustine Orioles SS Kyzer Hoover KC Blues 2B Kegan Knight Regal Plastics SS Jake Wodtke KCS Blues SS Darius Hampton Seaboard SS JD Weyer Milgram 3B Zach Kroymann Natural BB SS Poncho Amaya Regal Plastics 3B Adam Valencia KCS Blues 3B Josh Dennett Seaboard 3B Kyle Clifton UMB Bank 3B Joey Goodwin Milgram C Chase Graskewicz KC Blues C Payton Scarbrough NKC Apts. C Tyler Moore KCS Blues C Michael Wasche Regal Plastics C Ian Robinson Natural BB C Kyle Pener Seaboard C Alec Witt Bandits DH Michael Yeager Seaboard DH Charlie Krueger BJ Raiders DH Dylan Christie Building Ch DH Chase Rader KCS Blues DH Kyle Hartman Regal Plastics DH Austin Evans Bandits OF Jordan Miller Milgram OF Jeremy Monty Barnstormers OF Jacob Loucks MSBL Royals OF Anthony Saladino BJ Raiders OF Caleb Baker NKC Apts. OF Jeudys Garcia-Fortuna KC Blues OF James Hood NKC Apts. OF Jacob Spring KCS Blues OF Nicholas Lichtenberger NKC Apts. OF Joshua Zach Natural BB OF Benjamin Loughman Regal Plastics OF Jacob Dahlgren BJ Raiders P Alex Lahasky Seaboard OF Billy Kirkpatrick Building Ch P Nathanial Horton BJ Raiders P Ryne Dowling Building Ch P Steven Johnson KC Blues P Patrick Brady Milgram P Ryan Kendall KC Blues P David Collins Milgram P Nick Kolarik KCS Blues P Jake Jones Milgram P Drew Noble KCS Blues P Cade Brummer MSBL Royals P Justin Williams KCS Blues P Evan Bell NKC Apts. P Matt Eckelman KCS Blues P Josh Smetana NKC Apts. P Ryan Taylor Natural BB P James Fitzgearlds NKC Apts. P Derek Gordon UMB Bank P Nathan Reuter Orioles P Johnnie Johnson UMB Bank P Jacob Stevenson Regal Plastics P George Brandecker Seaboard P Dustin Hurlbutt Seaboard P Brett Pener Seaboard P

B Team All-Stars - Nate Horton , BJ Raiders (left) and Nick J Team All-Stars - Brandon Huske , MSBL Royals (left) and Kolarik , KC SportsClub Blues Jake Jones , Milgram Mustangs. Page 3 BJ Beacon Aug. 3, 2012 First tournament highlights presented by NKC Apts. The first tournament held at the Mid-America July 19 Sports Complex featured the seventh through 14th Building Champions 2, UMB Bank 1 ranked teams. The teams were seeded by their regular Dylan Christie went the distance, scattering 10 hits. He fanned three and didn’t walk a batter. season record. John Stoothoff and Tim Mahoney had the RBIs. July 17 MBSB Royals 4, Natural Baseball Academy 2 Natural Baseball Academy 10, KC Barnstormers 4 The Royals won the tournament and advanced as the sev - Christian Patterson was three-for-four with a double, triple enth seed. and three RBIs. Tyler Meeks was three-for-four . Trevor Maifes, Kevin Joyce and Cole Brummer were The Barnstormers’ Dean Long was two-for-four. each two-for-three with an RBI. UMB Bank 9, Midwest Orioles 2 Regal Plastics 9, Midwest Orioles 0 Lance Kays was three-for-four with a double, and Kyle Kelly had the complete game shutout. He fanned three RBIs while Kyle Clifton was three-for-four and Chris three, walked one and allowed six hits. Booth went two-for-two with two RBIs. John Christopher went three-for-four with two RBIs and Johnnie Johnson went the distance for UMB allowing one Poncho Amaya was three-for-four. earned run on two hits. He fanned four and walked three. July 20 MSBL Royals 9, Bandits 0 Regal Plastics 12, Building Champions 2 (5) Patrick Swain was three-for-four with two RBIs and Cole Michael Wasche was three-for-three with three RBIs and Brummer , two-for-four with three RBIs. Benjamin Loughman , three-for-four with an RBI. Montana Kiler didn’t walk a batter in tossing a four-hitter. Regal Plastics 4, Natural Baseball Academy 0 He fanned five. Regal won the loser’s bracket and the eighth seed in the Regal Plastics 4, Building Champions 2 championship series with an impressive pitching performance by Benjamin Loughman was two-for-three with a triple and Mark Biesman . He tossed a complete game no-hittter. He two RBIs and Poncho Amaya , two-for-three with an RBI. struckout seven and walked three. July 18 Adam Burns was one-for-three with a double and two RBIs MSBL Royals 1, Regal Plastics 0 and Kegan Knight was one-for-two with a double and an RBI. Cade Brummer tossed a one-hitter. He struckout four and didn’t walk a batter. Patrick Swain was one-for-two. Building Champions 5, Bandits 4 Building Champions scored four runs in the bottom of the Enjoy the best seventh for the victory. Mexican food Dylan Christie was three-for-four with an RBI and Danton

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Page 4 BJ Beacon Aug. 3, 2012 Championship tournament highlights sponsored by Stillwell’s BV Bushidokan July 24 July 26 MSBL Royals 2, Seaboard 0 Seaboard 4, BJ Raiders 3 The defending champion Seaboard got knocked into loser’s The defending champions stayed alive in the tournament scor - bracket. ing three runs in the bottom of the seventh for the win. Montana Kiler tossed a two hitter. He didn’t walk a batter Braden Brown was three-for-four, Michael Yeager , two-for- and struckout three. four with an RBI and Juan Bowers , one-for-three with two Jesse Castro was one-for-three with both RBIs. RBIs. Milgram Mustangs 3, KC Blues 1 The Raiders’ Anthony Saladino was two-for-four with two The Mustangs only had one hit, but took advantage of three RBIs and Matthew Hinkley , three-for-four with two triples and Blues’ errors. an RBI. KC Sports Club Blues 2, Regal Plastics 1 Regal Plastics 3, MSBL Royals 1 Drew Noble went the first five innings, fanning eight and not Kyle Kelly scattered six hits, while fanning seven and walk - walking a batter. ing two. Jake Wodtke and Chase Rader were two-for-four with Regal only had three hits with Poncho Amaya, Kegan Rader getting an RBI. Knight and Adam Burns going one-for-three each. BJ Raiders 6, NKC Apartments 0 KC Sports Club Blues 1, Milgram Mustangs 0 Jacob Dahlgren tossed a no-hitter. He walked one and The Sports Club Blues scored a run in the bottom of the sev - struckout six. enth on a double by Jacob Spring and run scoring single to left Charlie Kreuger was three-for-four with a double, triple and by Mack Preston . an RBI while Nathaniel Horton went two-for-four with an RBI. Matt Eckelman hurled a two-hit shutout. He didn’t walk a July 25 batter and fanned 10. KC Sports Club Blues 5, BJ Raiders 4 The Mustangs’ David Collins only allowed three hits, striking The Sports Club Blues scored two runs in the bottom of the out 11 and walking one. seventh to tie the game and won the game with a run in the bot - July 27 tom of the ninth. Seaboard 1, Regal Plastics 0 Jake Johnson tossed the seven-hit shutout. He walked two Alex Wilson was two-for-three with an RBI while CJ and struckout one. Faddis went one-for-three with an RBI and Jacob Spring one for Braden Brown and Tim Lewis were each one-for-two. They four with an RBI. had the only hits for Seaboard. Regal Plastics 9, NKC Apartments 4 Seaboard 3, Milgram Mustangs 2 Michael Wasche went four-for-four with a double and an Braden Brown and Michael Yeager were two-for-three each RBI while John Christopher was two-for-three with an RBI. while John Oropeza went two-for-three with a double. Milgram Mustangs 1, MSBL Royals 0 David Jacobs went the distance, allowing just four hits. He Jake Jones went the first six innings allowing three hits fanned four and didn’t walk a batter. while Brett Winfrey worked the seventh for the save. July 28 JD Weyer was two-for-two with the lone RBI. KC Sports Club Blues 8, Seaboard 2 Seaboard 2, KC Blues 1 The Sports Club Blues scored all eight runs in the fifth inning. George Brandecker scattered three hits, fanned 13 and did - Jake Wodtke and Jacob Spring had two RBIs each. C.J. n’t walk a batter. Faddis was two-for-two with an RBI. Tim Lewis was one-for-two with a triple and two RBIs. Drew Noble worked the first six innings allowing one earned run on seven hits. He walked one and fanned five.

Page 5 BJ Beacon Aug. 3, 2012 Continued from page 1 juniors and seniors. It gave our guys confidence “It was a total team effort to win the BJ title,” that they could be successful and perform against manager Chris Faddis said. “We had so many college players.” one-run games, three in the tournament.” Shortstop Jake Wodtke was named the MVP of This was a young team with just six players the championship tournament. with college experience on the team. “He had a great year at shortstop,” Faddis said. “To win the title this first year was a surprise,” “Whatever he gave us hitting was a bonus.” Faddis said. “I thought we would be good but this Wodtke ended the season hitting .373. exceeded my expectations. This league is the pre - Infielder Chase Rader led the team with two mier college baseball league in Kansas City. A 29- home runs and 23 RBIs. 1 record is incredible.” The big key for the Sports Club Blues was pitch - There were 11 players on the team that had just ing. graduated from high school. The entire pitching staff had an earned run “Playing in the BJ really gave our players a average of 1.16. They fanned 231 hitters and only jump start for college,” Faddis said. “Playing walked 64 in 30 games. against college pitchers is big with many of them Righthander Drew Noble hurled a perfect game against Seaboard in the regular season. And he was the winning pitcher in the title game. He had an 8-1 record with a 1.21 ERA. He struckout 46 batters and just walked 12. Matt Eckelman had the best ERA of the starters at 0.84. He struckout 35 and walked just nine.

TURNING POINT - Jake Wodtke , Kansas City Sports Club Blues shortstop (left), was introduced to the crowd by Blues manager Chris Faddis as Ban Johnson League Tournament MVP July 28 at Mid- America Sports Complex. Wodtke drove in two runs in the fifth inning with a double to right field. The RBIs gave the team the lead.

Page 6 BJ Beacon Aug.3, 2012 Alumni Corner presented by Moe Lago A look at All-Star Game memories The 44rd Ban Johnson League All-Star ence to play in Kauffman Stadium and will Game will be played Sunday at Kauffman never forget the feeling of being on a big Stadium. league mound where so many great pitchers For the vast majority of the players in had been before me.” these games, this is the only chance they And how about winning the MVP Trophy? will have to play on a “I struck out three in my inning (of pitch- diamond. ing),” he said. “After the game at the awards J.P. Bartmess was the MVP of the 2009 presentation, Wally Joyner presented me All-Star Game playing for NKC Apartments. with the MVP Trophy and my name was in “Getting a chance to play in a big league lights on the scoreboard.” ballpark with my friends and teammates Lincoln still remembers his days in the from NKC Apartments and with my team- Ban Johnson League. mates at William Jewell would not be the “My experience of playing in the league same if I did it by myself,” he said. “It is a was a great one,” he said. “I made life long memory I will have and be able to share friends that I still have today. Even if I with them forever.” haven’t seen them for awhile, we pick up Thad Lincoln played in the 1995 and where we left off 16 years ago. 1996 All-Star Games. He was the MVP of “They are great memories.” the 1995 All-Star Game. Lincoln played for the KC Creekers. He remembers that the 1995 game was played on turf while the 1996 game was on grass. “Both games were a great experience,” he said. “I remember specifically the smell of the grass, the way it felt and the feeling of being able to play in a big league stadium. “Baseball in a big league stadium is one of those great experiences that most people never forget. I’m greatful I got the experi-

Page 7 BJ Beacon Aug. 3, 2012 Notes from around the league presented by Salty Iguana BJ alums in Major League Baseball There are a number of Ban Johnson League end of the game, including; Jeff Cornell , alumni active in Major League Baseball in ; Mike Grouse , Texas various capacities. Rangers; Mike Hankins , Detroit Tigers; Here is a look at a who’s who of alums in Darryl Monroe , NY Yankees; Paul Provas , the bigs: and Mike Roberts of the Keith Lieppman i s the Oakland A’s direc - St. Louis Cardinals. tor of player development. Part-time scouts are Karl Carswell of the Mike Rojas is the bullpen for the Chicago White Sox and Brittan Motley, Detroit Tigers. . Russ Morman is the hitting coach for the There are two alums that are TV analysts: ’ AAA club in Fresno. David Cone with the NY Yankees. Cullen McRae is the video coordinator for Rick Sutcliffe with ESPN the Florida Marlins. And who will be the next alum to make it to There are a number of alums in the scouting the big leagues? Only time will tell.

Pre-Game Festivities - Seven Ban Johnson alums threw out ceremonial first pitches prior to the Ban Johnson League Tournament Finals July 28 at Mid-America Sports Complex. Participating in the Opening Ceremony were, from left, Don Saint (Milgram), Ron Zuber (Western Auto), Moe Lago (Western Auto), Mickey Smith (Milgram), Paul England (Butternut), Bill Fenton (Country Club) and Chris Halford (KC Life), who also sang the National Anthem.

Page 8 BJ Beacon Aug. 3, 2012 Previous All-Star Game MVPs Here is a look at the All-Star Game Most 2002 - Shawn Stillwell , BJ Raiders Valuable Players since 1992: 2003 - Shawn Stillwell , BJ Raiders 1992 - Joe Renzi , Westport 2004 - Dan Rezin , KC Bulldogs 1993 - Toby Ciochon , UMB Bank 2005 - Shawn Stillwell , BJ Raiders 1994 - Jay Burkhart , Lloyd’s 2006 - Jake Bradshaw , MSBL Royals 1995 - Thad Lincoln , KC Creekers 2007 - Bryan Moore , KC Blues 1996 - David Goodwin , Milgram Mustangs 2008 - Jerry Mancusco , Building Champions 1997 - Steve Kosa , NationsBank 2009 - J.P. Bartmess , NKC Apts. 1998 - Steve Roldan , Regal Plastics 2010 - Cody Cobb , Vipers 1999 - Clint Kaeding , NKC Apts. 2011 - Andrew Kreiling , Building 2000 - Robbie Ward , UMB Bank Champions 2001 - Zac Ruff , UMB Bank 2012 - ????? Page 9 BJ Beacon Aug. 3, 2012