Thanks once again to all of the players and parents who made last Saturday’s Kid’s Night Out event such a great success. As a result of your hard work we were able to raise $1,320.00 for the baseball program. My hearfelt thanks goes out to each and every one of you for your unselfish commitment to our program goals. There are only 58 more days until opening day when the varsity will play host to the Warriors of Western Michigan Chrisitian High School on Monday, March 29th.  Check the blog later this week when 2010 schedules for all levels will be posted.

The Baseball Program is planning a Kid’s Night Out for Saturday, January 30, 2010 from 6:00 – 9:00 pm.  Mike Walukonis has created a page on Facebook  to help “spread the word” and I will be sending information to the elementary schools the week of January 11th.  Let’s hope for a large turnout and a successful evening. I will contacting many of you soon to help with the planning. More information to follow in the coming days.

Please accept my heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped with last Saturday’s can drive. While the effort was somewhat “impromptu,” I am pleased to tell you that we raised $552.00 for the baseball program in three short hours. Those dollars will go a long way towards meeting our supply and equipment needs for the 2010 season. Thanks again! In other fundraising news, I  have tentative plans to host a Kid’s Night Out on Saturday, January 30th, from 6:00-9:00 PM.  More details will follow once I finalize the availability of the facility.  I’m certain to be calling on many of you to assist me that evening.  That is all the news for now. Whenever this winter weather gets you down just remember – only 84 days until opening day when the Varsity Sailors will play host to the Western Michigan Christian Warriors. 

“People ask me what I do in winter when there is no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.”

- Rogers Hornsby

Hello baseball fans! While the Yankees and Phillies are battling each other for a World Championship we have been busy putting our own ballpark to rest for yet another long Michigan winter. With the help of last year’s Service Award winner Mike Walukonis, we have continued to work hard at improving the infield surface. Hopefully,  the aeration, fertilization, frequent mowing, and seeding that has taken place will pay big dividends next spring.

I am excited to tell you that work on the concession stand/restroom faciltity is progressing nicely. While we will be sharing this facility with the tennis program it will add much to that area of our campus and of course the concession stand will serve as an important source of revenue for our program. In addition to that new construction, we will be moving our backstop approximately 11′ closer to homeplate and placing cement behind the home plate screen. This will be in preparation for what I hope will be a new bleacher system placed behind home plate sometime in our future.  There will be more news forthcoming on that particular project.

Enjoy the World Series – only 151 more days until the Sailors open at home v. the Montague Wildcats.

The 2009 Mona Shores Baseball Awards Ceremony was held recently. Congratulation to our four graduating seniors: Dan Bloom, Johnny Childers, Zack Graham, and Chad Karnitz. All of us associated with Sailor Baseball want you to know that you will be sorely missed. Congratulations also to the following award winners:

Most Valuable Player – Johnny Childers

Most Improved Player – Dan Bloom

Gold Glove Award – Zack Graham

Coach’s Award – Zack Graham

Please be reminded that  Scrip is still available throughout the summer months. Sales take place each Thursday in the main lobby of the high school from 5:30 – 7:00 PM.  Simply let it be known that you would like your purchase(s) to benefit the high school baseball program. Your support will make an important difference.

The 2009 Baseball Awards Ceremony for all levels is scheduled for Thursday, June 11, 2009 at 6:00 PM in the High School Media Center. Additional information has been sent home to all of the families. 

The Varsity Baseball team saw its season come to a close on Saturday with a 4-1 loss to West Ottawa in the MHSAA District Tournament. The Sailors were held to only three hits with Dan Bloom’s RBI double leading the way. Jake Waalkes pitched well in defeat. The Sailors ended their season with a record of 15-12.

The 2009 MHSAA District Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, May 30, 2009 at West Ottawa High School. Saturday’s schedule is as follows:

Mona Shores v. West Ottawa 10:00 AM

Reeths- Puffer v. Grand Haven 12:15 PM

Championship Game 2:30 PM 

The Varsity Baseball Team downed the Muskegon Big Reds last night 12-3 in a MHSAA Pre-District Game. Johnny Childers led the Sailors with three hits while Nate O’Brien, Sam Sherburn, and Derek Parker added two each. The Sailors now advance to Saturday’s District Tournament where they will face West Ottawa High School at 10:00 AM on Saturday. The game will be played at West Ottawa.