Photos by Chris Adamczyk and Karl Fisher.

Cary, NC – The 2010 NCAA Division II Baseball Championship is all wrapped up, with Southern Indiana defeating UC San Diego 6-4 in the final game.

It was a week of high drama and hard fought competition at the USA Baseball National Training Complex at Thomas Brooks Park in Cary. Chris Adamczyk and Karl Fisher covered the games for CaryCitizen.

Here’s a slideshow the best of the best from the tournament.

Final Game Story

David Shulimson of Mount Olive College, a co-sponsor of the tournament with the Town of Cary, filed this report on the championship game:

Brad Vance and Todd Martin – the Nos. 8 and 9 batters in the lineup – combined for five runs batted in as nationally ninth-ranked Southern Indiana rallied from a 2-0 deficit and claimed its first-ever national championship with a 6-4 victory over top-ranked UC San Diego in the Championship Game of the 2010 NCAA Division II Baseball National Finals Saturday at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. Southern Indiana pitcher Taylor Dennis, who posted a 2-0 record at the National Finals, including a win in Friday’s semifinal round to advance the Screaming Eagles to the title game, was named Most Outstanding Player.

Southern Indiana, which overcame a loss to Georgia College & State Thursday, finishes its season with a record of 52-14. After posting a 3-0 record at the West Regional and winning its first three games at the National Finals, UC San Diego finishes its season with a record of 54-8.

The National Finals followed a double-elimination format during bracket play, but Saturday’s championship was a one-game winner-takes-all contest, despite the teams’ record in the tournament.

Southern Indiana fell behind quickly, but took the lead for good in the top of the second. Two walks and two throwing errors led to USI’s first run and Martin’s two-out two-run double down the left field line put the Screaming Eagles on top 3-2.

USI extended the lead in the fourth inning as Adam Enright singled with one out and Justin Blinn followed with a double that one-hopped the third base bag. Both runners scored one out later when Vance lined an 0-2 pitch just over the outstretched glove of the UC San Diego second baseman to make it a 5-2 ballgame.

UC San Diego jumped out to an instant lead as Kyle Saul homered to left with one out in the bottom of the first. Aaron Bauman drew a walk and Brandon Gregorich doubled. Gregorich, who was limited to one hit in the Tritons’ first three games, went 3-for-5 in the championship game. Evan Kehoe gave the Tritons a two-run lead with a double to right, scoring Bauman and advancing Gregorich to third.

Southern Indiana’s infield helped starting pitcher Trevor Leach (12-1) get out of the inning without further damage as second baseman Vance fielded a ground ball and got Gregorich out on a rundown between third and home. A fly out to center ended the inning.

Leach, who was making his first appearance of the National Finals, went on to hold UC San Diego scoreless on three hits over the next six innings before running into trouble in the eighth. Leach and fellow Southern Indiana pitcher Dan Macacci both drew four-game suspensions from the NCAA after being ruled to have intentionally hit batters at the Midwest Regional. Macacci also made his first National Finals appearance Saturday.

UC San Diego starter Tim Shibuya (13-3) retired the side in order in the first before Southern Indiana’s outburst in the second. Shibuya, who went the distance in the Tritons’ opening-round win over Georgia College & State, was taken out after four innings. Three of Shibuya’s five runs allowed were unearned.

Matt Rossman, who pitched all 11 innings in UC San Diego’s second-round win Monday over Central Missouri, started the fifth inning, but went only 2/3 of an inning after loading the bases on a single, a walk and hit by pitch. Reliever Guido Knudson ended the threat on a strikeout.

Southern Indiana was able to add another insurance run in the top of the seventh as Martin drew a leadoff walk and Wandy Rosario followed with a single. After a force out put runners on the corners, a balk by Knudson allowed the Screaming Eagles to extend their lead to 6-2.

Gregorich chased Leach with a double to lead off the bottom of the eighth. Kehoe greeted Macacci with a single to put runners on first and third with nobody out. Gregorich came home on Danny Susdorf’s sacrifice fly to make the score 6-3. Kellen Lee singled Kehoe to second and one out later, Kehoe scored on Blake Tagmyer’s single to pull the Tritons within two runs.

Macacci retired the first two batters in the bottom of the ninth to put Southern Indiana within an out away from the trophy. Gregorich singled to keep UC San Diego’s championship hopes alive and bring the tying run to the plate. But Macacci induced a fly ball to right and Caleb Ehmke squeezed the ball for the final out.

The Screaming Eagle dugout emptied as the players dogpiled in the middle of the infield.

After the celebration and championship trophy celebration, Dennis was announced as the Most Outstanding Player. Dennis went seven innings in each of his two starts at the National Finals and posted a 1.29 earned run average in the absence of Southern Indiana’s top two pitchers.

Dennis was joined on the All-Tournament team by teammates Blinn (outfield), Martin (designated hitter), Rosario (shortstop/relief pitcher), Vance (second base) and third baseman Wes Fink. UC San Diego was represented by Rossman, outfielders Bauman and Saul, and shortstop Vance Albitz. Catcher Richard Pirkle of third-place finisher Georgia College & State and third baseman Derek Ingui of fourth-place finisher Franklin Pierce rounded out the All-Tournament Team.

Not only does the NCAA crown a first-time Division II Baseball National Champion for the third year in a row, Saturday’s contest also marks the third straight year the title game featured two teams that had never played in the championship game. Lynn defeated Emporia State last year in Cary and this year’s tournament host Mount Olive defeated Ouachita Baptist in 2008.

USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary will be the host site for the 2011 NCAA Division II Baseball National Finals. Town of Cary and Mount Olive College will co-host the championship for the third consecutive year.

All-Tournament Team

Richard Pirkle, Georgia College & State
Brad Vance, Southern Indiana
Wes Fink, Southern Indiana
Derek Ingui, Franklin Pierce
Vance Albitz, UC San Diego
Wandy Rosario, Southern Indiana
Aaron Bauman, UC San Diego
Justin Blinn, Southern Indiana
Kyle Saul, UC San Diego
Todd Martin, Southern Indiana
Matt Rossman, UC San Diego
Taylor Dennis, Southern Indiana

Most Outstanding Player: Taylor Dennis, Southern Indiana

NOTES
This year marked the first time since 1973 that no team reached the 10-run mark in a game during the National Finals. Georgia College & State had the highest single-game total in its 9-4 victory over Central Missouri.

Pitching and defense were dominant at this year’s National Finals with the lowest average combined scoring total per game since 1975. Teams averaged a combined total of 6.88 runs per game this year.

After entertaining the crowds in Cary with his dance moves during rain delays, UC San Diego pitcher Daniel Simmons saw his first action of the National Finals Saturday. Simmons pitched the final two innings of the championship game, striking out three and retiring all six batters he faced.

QUOTES
“I told them at Regionals when we got beat that we could come back and make it a story. And wow did they make it a story. I couldn’t be prouder, and I can’t single out one person because everyone did a great job.
Southern Indiana head coach Tracy Archuleta

“Our confidence level was right where it needed to be. We didn’t get too cocky, but we still walked with a little swagger and that’s what you needed to do. Whatever it took to win.”
Southern Indiana designated hitter Todd Martin

“Our kids battled until the very end. They stayed resilient, stayed loose. We just picked a bad day to make uncharacteristic mistakes. But our focus isn’t on the mistakes right now. Our focus is that these guys battled to make it to a championship ball game.”
UC San Diego head coach Dan O’Brien

“We set the table in a lot of innings, but couldn’t come through.”
UC San Diego first baseman Brandon Gregorich

All the Game Pictures

See all of game pictures from Chris and Karl in a collection on Flickr.

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CaryCitizen news is sponsored by FrantzForHouse.

Photos by Tom Mousseau

Cary, NC- This past Memorial Day weekend, the Triangle Aquatic Center (TAC) hosted the eighth annual Black Heritage Swim Meet attended by over 730 swimmers from 40 teams based all over the country. The race was hosted by the N.C. Aquablazers with 10 teams and 104 swimmers.

Swim Meet Slideshow

Tom Mousseau filed this photographic slideshow of the competition:

Even more photos (57 total) are in the Black Hertage Meet master set.

Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself

According to a U.S.A. Swimming survey, a very high percentage of minority children can’t swim. Black children aged 5-14 drown at 3.1 times the overall rate for white children.

“This (meet) would help us achieve our mission of lowering the drowning statistics for minority swimmers and encouraging more minority swimmers to swim competitively,” Meet Director Kathy Cooper said.

The study as reported in the Wall Street Journal on May 27, went on to cite that the biggest barrier to swimming proficiency isn’t just lack of pools but also parents’ fear of the water translating to not promoting swim lessons for their children. An event of this nature can help to turn that statistic around. The proceeds benefit swim lessons for those that can’t afford it.

The meet organizers  asked 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist Maritza Correia and 2008 Gold Medalist Cullen Jones to sign autographs and host several swimming clinics. Correia is the first black woman to win an Olympic medal in swimming; Jones, an N.C. State University graduate, is the first black athlete to win swimming gold.

]]> http://www.carycitizen.com/2010/06/02/black-heritage-swim-meet-at-tac/feed/ 0 http://www.carycitizen.com/2010/05/25/sports-girl-high-school-lax-championship/ http://www.carycitizen.com/2010/05/25/sports-girl-high-school-lax-championship/#comments Tue, 25 May 2010 23:14:33 +0000 Staff http://www.carycitizen.com/?p=9835

Photos by Karl Fisher for CaryCitizen

Cary, NC – The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) held their statewide lacrosse championships at Wake Med Soccer Park. Karl Fisher filed this slideshow of the drama as Charlotte Catholic triumphed over Wilmington Hoggard, 12-11.

Photo by Hal Goodtree

Cary, NC  – Grab your leashes and bring your four-legged friends to Bond Park for the Town of Cary’s Annual Dog Days of June festival on June 5 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m at Field #4.

Dog Lovers Unite

The event will offer rabies vaccinations and micro-chipping along with a variety of free activities that every canine will enjoy. Each year, the Town of Cary hosts the Dog Days of June to unite local dog lovers and encourage pet health and safety.

Rabies Vaccines & Micro-Chipping

Rabies vaccines and micro-chipping will be offered from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Rabies vaccines are $5 per pet and micro-chipping will be $10 per pet.

Please bring cash since credit cards cannot be accepted. Registration is not required for this element of the event.

Fun For Dogs

At 10 a.m., dogs can compete for a spot in the World Canine Frisbee Disc Championships during the Canine Frisbee Disc Competition. All dogs, regardless of lineage or experience, are invited to participate. Each participant will go home with a free official disc (while supplies last).

Prizes will be awarded to the top three competitors. Registration for this part of the even is required, free, and opens at 9:30 a.m.

“With our dog park, greenways and parks, Cary is a very pet-friendly community and our Dog Days event is an educational opportunity for area owners to network and learn more about these facilities and local pet businesses,” said Bond Park Supervisor Bill Eucker. “For you and your pet’s safety, when not competing in our disc competition, please make sure your dog is on a leash no longer than six feet.”

Dog Baths and More

Guests will be able to check out local pet-focused booths, many with giveaways and games, pet adoption and rescue group, pet photographers and enter a charity raffle. Before heading home, the Cary Teen Council will be giving dog baths. Prices are $5 for dogs 15 lbs. or under; $7 for dogs 16-35 lbs.; and $10 for dogs over 36 lbs. Owners are encouraged to bring their own towel for drying.

Event Info

Dog Days of June
Bond Park
801 High House Rd
Field #4
June 5, 2010
9 AM – 1 PM

The vaccine and micro-chipping clinic will occur rain or shine. All other Dog Days events will be canceled in the event of rain.

For more information, visit Dog Days or call (919) 469-4100.

Photos by Karl Fisher

Cary, NC – Our intrepid photographer, Karl Fisher, covered all kinds of sports in town last weekend. Here is a slide show of his images from Sunday’s Major League Lacrosse match between the Chicago Machine and the Toronto Nationals at Wake Med Soccer Park. Chicago triumphed 16-9.

Cary, NC – The Town of Cary’s Laze Daze Festival awarded $30,000 in grant money Thursday evening to 28 local arts and culture groups.

Lazy Daze is the largest event the town produces each year, bringing artists and visitors from all over the country. Last year’s festival, had 19 states represented with artists and more than 60,000 visitors.

33 YEARS OF SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY

Cary cultural arts manager Lyman Collins told the groups, who gathered for the 2009 grants reception at the Page-Walker House in downtown Cary, that in its 33-year history, Lazy Daze has granted $475,000 to community groups promoting arts and cultural projects and events.

Past community co-chair Paul Wasylkevych distributed the 2009 grant money with the assistance of town councilman Don Frantz, who thanked the groups for the work they do in the community.

“You all help make Cary the best place to live,” Frantz told them, as he prepared to hand out the funds.

Wasylkevych told the guests they had been selected from a large pool of groups who requested a total of $78,000 in funding from the festival committee. See below for a complete list of grant recipients.

3D ART PIECE IS A FIRST

As part of the reception, the grant recipients had a sneak peek at the official artwork for the 2010 Lazy Daze Festival, to be used in posters and promotional material, and met the artist who created the unique piece, Janet Lynn Burgess. This is the first time the festival has used a three-dimensional piece of art as its representative work.

Burgess, who was introduced by the Festival’s 2010 community co-chair Brenda Larson, has a studio in Statesville, N.C. She explained the technique used to create the unique enamel piece, glass melted on copper in several stages, swirled and managed to represent the vibrancy and liveliness of the Lazy Daze Festival.

MORE INFO

The 2010 Laze Daze Festival will be held Aug. 28, 2010, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., in downtown Cary.

Visit the Town’s website for more information.

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LAZY DAZE 2009 GRANT RECIPIENTS

Grants are awarded at the end of the Lazy Daze year. Here are the recipients for 2009:

The Associacion Puertorriquenos Unidos de Carolina del Norte focuses on promoting events that showcase the richness of the Puerto Rican culture such as last year’s Caribbean Festival held at Herb Young Community Center.  They will be using their Lazy Daze Grant to go toward general operating expenses associated with creating and promoting fun cultural events.

The Cary-Apex Piano Teachers Association represents over 1,000 youth and adult piano students comprising a vital part of this area’s cultural landscape.  The Lazy Daze grant will allow the Association to sponsor its annual guest recital, which is free and open to the public, as well as the annual student master class, which provides students with an opportunity for focused musical growth.

Cary Ballet will use the Lazy Daze grant to fund its annual “Celebration of Children in the Arts” festival this October.  This celebration showcases talented local youth in dance, martial arts, musical and various other performances, and allows families to create art to take home at a free, flexible-time festival.  Artwork by local students will be displayed and there will be wide range of craft activities.

The Lazy Daze grant to the Cary Community Choir is earmarked for their annual presentation of Handel’s Messiah, which, having taken place since 1971, is one of Cary’s oldest cultural arts events.  Local singers undertake a seasonal round of rehearsals that will improve their skills and knowledge of the music.  The Lazy Daze funds will be used for professional soloists, an organist, and the orchestra that help make this cherished holiday event such a valued community event.

The Cary Family YMCA will use its grant to support its Camp Y-Rageous program: an eight week summer day camp free to children who live in selected communities.  Many of these children would be home alone during the summer, but through Camp Y-Rageous they are able to participate in educational programs, assemblies, clinics, swim lessons, and other valuable activities at no cost.  The grant awarded here will go toward enhancing the arts & craft component of the camp.

Cary Photographic Artists focuses on introducing people to the art of photography and helping to sharpen their skills.  This past year they introduced a program with the help of Fellowship House in Cary to teach basic digital photography to those with moderate to severe mental illnesses.  They will use their grant to purchase additional equipment to expand the program and perhaps offer similar training to other interested groups.

The Cary Players’ mission is to produce family oriented theater— enjoyable for adults, yet appropriate for children— which enables Cary residents of all ages to enjoy live theater together.  The Lazy Daze grant will help underwrite the cost of their production of Love Bits and Bites 2010: The Fifth Dimension to be held at Page-Walker Arts & History Center for the Valentine’s Day holiday weekend.

The Cary Public Library offers a variety of adult programs throughout the year including the Aspiring Writer Workshop series featuring different authors and lecturers speaking on their genre specialties.  This year is also the 50^th anniversary of the library and a number of events are planned for the month of October to celebrate. Their grant will assist with implementing these programs.

Each year an outstanding graduating senior who has served the Cary Teen Council with distinction is awarded the Lazy Daze Scholarship.  The Teen Council initiates, organizes, supervises and conducts programs and civic projects of all types, benefiting the youth of Cary and surrounding communities and helping to develop leadership qualities in its members  – which are demonstrated each year at the Lazy Daze Festival through Teen Council Volunteer efforts. The Lazy Daze scholarship helps celebrate these leadership qualities.

The Cary Town Band is an important part of this community, as they regularly are requested to play special events for the Town and others.  This year they plan to present seven concerts at Bond Park and the Senior Center, as well as the annual patriotic concert on July 3rd at the Bond Park Amphitheatre, a pre-symphony performance on July 4th at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre, a performance at Lazy Daze and more.  The Band will use its grant for various expenses of its 2010 concert schedule.

Cary Visual Art will use its grant to partially fund its Public Art in Focus Lecture Series at the Page-Walker Arts and History Center.  This lecture series features nationally recognized public art professionals and is designed to increase community exposure to a variety of public art forms and to generate interest in Cary’s potential for more public art.

At The Carying Place working homeless families with children are given support and care needed to improve their financial situation, leading to permanent housing.  Funds received from the Lazy Daze grant will go toward the Children’s Program where kids are given the chance to create and experience art.

A beloved local institution, the Concert Singers of Cary produces a wide spectrum of concerts that address the vocal music interests of as many Cary-area residents as possible.  Their programs include concerts by the 120+ member symphonic choir and the chamber choir.  The Concert Singers’ grant will underwrite costs of all programs presented by the Concert Singers and the Cary Cary Children’s Concert Choir and Cary Youth Chorale.

Diamante, Inc. was founded to be a catalyst for change in our community by nourishing cultural and community participation among Hispanics and Hispanic-Americans.  They will be using their Lazy Daze grant money to sponsor a Latin night during the Twilight Concert Series held at Page-Walker that would coincide with the presentation of Ritmo Latino in August. This will present a great opportunity to expose a new audience to the Twilight Series and expand the audience reach of Ritmo Latino Festival.

Fine Arts League of Cary provides continuing education for its members through regularly scheduled programs and encourages artists by offering opportunities to exhibit their visual art and contribute to the cultural environment of the community.  They are planning to use the funds to pay for art materials for 9 monthly programs as well as honorariums to encourage artists to develop and conduct programs.

With the Kildaire Farm widening project coming to a close near the Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve, the Friends of Hemlock Bluffs, a group dedicated to supporting the nature preserve, are planning to install new gates in the now wider opening to the preserve.  Art will be incorporated into the new gates to showcase the bluffs and draw people in.

In order to better serve as the guardians of the Page-Walker Arts & History Center and advocate of preservation of all Cary historic sites The Friends of Page-Walker plan to use their grant money to better preserve and archive the artifacts and documents donated to them as part of Cary’s history.

Hum Sub, Inc. will be using funds from their grant to bring the Indian festival of lights celebration, Diwali, as well as the spring festival, Basant Bahaar, free to the people of Cary.  They will be promoting greater awareness of the Indian social and cultural traditions through family oriented cultural activities.

Kids Together, Inc was started in 1995 to raise funds and build public awareness for the Kids Together Playground, an interactive, handicap accessible park.  When it was originally built, there were plans for a water play feature that had to be cut.  Ten years after the park was built, the plans for the water play are now coming to fruition and the funds from the Lazy Daze Grant will be used toward this new interactive feature of the park.

Life Experiences is an organization that works to provide fulfilling employment for adults with developmental disabilities allowing them to function as independent, productive citizens.  By implementing an arts and crafts program using the Lazy Daze grant money, they hope to help these adults explore their creative side as well as expose them to cultural activities they may not have been able to experience before such as going to a play or visiting the art museum, enriching their lives and improving their quality of life.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Taskforce of Cary is a cultural organization whose purpose is to continue the tradition of annual observance celebrating the life, work and mission of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to dismantle racism and to promote the beloved community.  Funds from the Lazy Daze grant will be used to support events throughout the year commemorating Dr. King’s life, showcasing artists, performers, African Americans and other diverse people’s contributions to the world.

The NC Eid Festival, Inc will be using their Lazy Daze Grant to offer an opportunity for the community to learn a more about Muslim culture.  Eid, or the Festival of Feasts marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and this cultural festival will bring a Bazaar, food, music, arts and dance from all over the world to our corner of the Triangle.

NC Historical Enrichment Society focuses on the promotion and preservation of the arts, history, culture, fantasy and folklore of the Medieval and Renaissance eras.  They will be using their grant to improve their Environmental Theater program that trains actors to create an environment for patron interaction.

The Philharmonic Association has a mission to provide an opportunity for young musicians to learn, understand and perform great symphonic and jazz music.  This year, they have added a fourth orchestra, the Triangle Youth String Orchestra, open to musicians in the 4^th through 12^th grades.  The grant will help off set the costs of sheet music, financial aid for needy students, expenses for guest soloists, conductors and composers and rehearsal spaces.

Sister Cities Association is dedicated to fostering international understanding by establishing liaisons with cities in other countries and cultivating enhanced awareness of other cultures.  Part of this includes continuing established celebrations centered on each of Cary’s Sister Cities such as the Beaujolais Nouveau Celebration and the St. Patrick’s Day gathering but also expanding that to include a Canada Family Day Celebration and a Hsinchu City Celebration currently under development.

Over the past several years, the Triangle Brass Band has established a strong tradition of playing summer pops concerts in communities throughout central North Carolina.  This coming year they are planning three free performances at Sertoma Amphitheater in Bond Park during June and July. The Lazy Daze Grant will help fund these concerts.

The Triangle Wind Ensemble provides an outlet for skilled Cary musicians to perform quality and challenging music.  They perform all over Cary ranging from formal concerts to small ensembles.  Their Lazy Daze grant will be going towards the costs of renting rehearsal space and other standard expenses.

Western Wake Artists Studio Tour’s goal is to share the knowledge, involvement and appreciation for the visual fine arts and promote all those involved in the Arts community.  Starting in the spring, artists around Western Wake will be opening up their studios to those interested in viewing completed works and creative environments of participating artists.  The kick off reception will be held at the Cary Chamber of Commerce and funds from the Lazy Daze Grant will go towards promotion of the event.

• Amy Shair, Realtor - We’re pleased to welcome one of Cary’s most experienced real estate professionals as an advertiser.
• SHMaK - Cary’s rock and roll band, playing Friday January 8 at Rally Point.
• A Fifth of Blues – One of the top ten blues acts in the Triangle for over 68 weeks according to ReverbNation. Playing at Rally Point on Thursday January 14.
• CaryCitizen – Banner ads in the header at 50% off through Feb 1. As low as $20 per week.

If you’d like to advertise or sponsor CaryCitizen, email Vanessa Mouton.

Panther Creek Sophomore

A sophomore at Panther Creek died of injuries sustained in a wreck last week on Green Hope Church Road near Highway 55. The student, whose name has not been released, was on her way to school on Tuesday morning. Her sister, a senior at PCHS, remains hospitalized.

Deputy Injured on I-40

A Wake County deputy was injured early Monday morning when his cruiser was struck by another vehicle during a stop to help a disabled motorist.

The deputy’s name was not released, but the county sheriff’s office said the wreck occurred on Interstate 40 around 2 a.m. between Harrison Ave and Aviation Parkway. According the sheriff’s office, the driver was distracted by the GPS and struck the left side and rear of the police vehicle. Both the driver and the deputy were injured but are expected to recover. The motorist in the disabled vehicle was not injured.

Here’s NBC’s segment covering the team as they did their thing in front of America’s most famous department store.