Springing into Action

Welcome back to the Diamond! Since last I left you, the Defiance College and Defiance High School baseball teams had just officially announced their second straight Northwest Ohio Baseball Day w/ the Pros. The event was another huge success, with upwards of 200 people in attendance - all enjoying the fan fest atmosphere with big leaguers Jon Niese & Marc Krauss, as well as seven other minor leagues and 2 former pro-ballers. One of these two included local legend, Ned Garver - Garver who pitched 14 years in the big leagues from 1948-1961(including a 20-win season in 1951). I dare to say that Ned stole the show, with his stories of baseball's storied past and tales of losing out on the MVP award to Hall-of-Famer, Yogi Berra!


Mets LHP Jon Niese (left) & Indians minor league RHP Dace Kime (right)


Hit the jump to read about the Yellow Jackets' countdown to Spring Training!

 

Pro Day Preview

On Sunday, November 17th the Defiance College and Defiance High School baseball programs officially announced their second straight Northwest Ohio Baseball Day with the Pros. This year's event will be held on December 26th from 6pm-8pm in the George Smart Athletic Center (on DC's campus). Last year, twelve (12) professional baseball players and one (1) former pro-baller; including New York Mets pitcher and Defiance native, Jon Niese - spent the afternoon snapping photos, signing autographs and doling out baseball instruction to benefit the Christmas for Kids charity of Northwest Ohio.

For the second go-round, all proceeds from the event will benefit the newly founded Defiance Baseball Endowment Fund (est. 2012). This fund serves to support all Defiance baseball programs; from little league through high school and beyond. It's mission is to provide facility additions or upgrades; equipment, sponsorships and scholarships for the Defiance city youth.

Eleven (11) players have already committed to being in attendance the day after Christmas, including headliners Niese and Houston Astros OF Marc Krauss (Patrick Henry HS). The list of attendees include:

• Ross Gerdeman - Ft. Jennings HS; Arizona Diamondbacks
• Matt Wisler - Bryan HS; San Diego Padres
• Justin Hancock - Defiance HS; San Diego Padres
• AJ Meyer - Patrick Henry HS; Toronto Blue Jays
• Christian Snavely - Defiance HS; [Former] Toronto Blue Jays
• Brian Garman - Wapakoneta HS; Milwaukee Brewers
• Matt Bischoff - New Haven HS; Baltimore Orioles
• Tyler Burgoon - Defiance HS; Seattle Mariners
• Dace Kime - Defiance HS; Cleveland Indians

Snow Day? How about a Pro Day - Part II

Cold weather and a little snow could not stop the first ever Northwest Ohio Baseball Day with the Pros from going off without a hitch. This past Thursday (12/27) the Defiance College and Defiance HS baseball teams paired up with Defiance, OH native and New York Mets LHP, Jonathon Niese - all in order to benefit the NW OH Christmas for Kids charity.

Defiance HS HC Tom Held introduces Jon Niese and company.

With a little over two-hundred (200) in attendance, people from all over the Northwest Ohio area received instruction, question & answer, autograph and picture opportunities with ten (10) different professional baseball players (who all hail from NW OH). The Diamond has put together some video footage featuring each player in attendance and an overall highlight of the event. Enjoy!

*Special thanks to all the players who lent their time to benefit the Northwest OH youth and to all of the event's sponsors!

Stay up to date with all things Defiance Baseball here.

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Snow Day? How about a Pro Day

In conjunction with the Defiance High School baseball program and a Northwest Ohio charity organziation - the Defiance College baseball team has announced its first annual Northwest Ohio Baseball Day with the Pros! The event will be held on DC's campus in the George M. Smart Athletic Center on December 27, 2012.

Twelve (12) current and one (1) former professional baseball player(s) will be in attendance to provide the NW Ohio youth with baseball instruction, autograph sessions, Q&A, photo opportunities and more! This list of 13 ballplayers will be headlined by New York Mets pitcher and Defiance, OH native - Jonathon Niese. Other attendees include:

Chad Reineke - Ayersville HS, Cincinnati Reds
Ross Gerdeman - Ft. Jennings HS, Arizona Diamondbacks
Kolbrin Vitek - Bryan HS, Boston Red Sox
Matt Wisler - Bryan HS, San Diego Padres
Justin Hancock - Defiance HS, San Diego Padres
AJ Meyer - Patrick Henry HS, Toronto Blue Jays
Marc Krauss - Patrick Henry HS, Houston Astros
Christian Snavely - Defiance HS, Toronto Blue Jays
Matt Bischoff - New Haven HS, Baltimore Orioles
Brian Garman - Wapakoneta HS, Milwaukee Brewers
Austin Blaski - Pandora Gilboa HS, Milwaukee Brewers
Tyler Burgoon - Defiance HS, Seattle Mariners

All registration will take place on the day of the clinic - the cost is $20 per person or $50 per family (max of four members). Proceeds made from the event will go directly toward the Northwest Ohio Christmas for Kids charity fund.

For more information on the NW OH Baseball Day with the Pros contact DC Head Baseball Coach Derek Woodley at dwoodley@defiance.edu, Defiance HS Head Baseball Coach Tom Held at theld@defcity.org and/or visit DC's school athletics' website.

Stay up to date with all things Defiance Baseball here.

Follow DC Baseball On and Off the Diamond on Twitter: @OnOffTheDiamond