Frederick Flying Dogs Semi-Pro Baseball Club

2010 Season Comes to an End at Maryland State Tournament

2010 came to an end Sunday with a heartbreaking loss to the eventual State Champion Perdue Chicks. The Dogs drew the 4^th seed in the tournament meaning they would need to win 3 consecutive 9 inning games for their first state championship. In game one they squared off against the Baltimore Baseball League Champions the Cancun Cantina Bulls. Matt Buchholz took the mound for the Dogs and in his typical fashion racked up 13 K's over 7 complete innings of work. With the Dogs trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the 8^th, Buchholz lead the inning off with a double, Sherwood singled and Roebuck walked to load the bases for Rich Ropp all with 2 outs. Ropp came through with bases clearing 3 RBI double to the left center field gap to put them back on top 4-2. Jason Christenberry, who came on in relief in the 8^th picked up the win hurling the final 2 frames allowing only 1 hit and no runs.

In game 2 the Dogs' went against the 1 seeded Perdue Chicks of the Eastern Shore League. Rich Ropp again provided the offensive spark picking up the teams only RBI in the top of the 6^th driving a single into left field. Ropp would later swipe 2^nd and advance to third on the errant throw and then score on a wild pitch. Jason Christenberry got the start and pitched the complete game picking up the hard luck loss as Perdue battled back in the bottom of the 9^th with one out stringing together a hit batter, an error, a single, a double and a suicide squeeze for the walk off win. Perdue advanced to the Championship game were they defeated the Tri-State Titans for their first State Championship.

Maryland State Tournament Schedule Set

12:00 NOON QUARTERFINAL - 5TH SEED CANCUN CANTINA BULLS AT 4TH SEED FREDERICK FLYING DOGS
ARTIFICIAL TURF INFIELD - EAST END OF CAMPUS

3:00 PM SEMIFINAL - 3RD SEED TRI-STATE TITANS AT 2ND SEED PUTTY HILL SELECT
ARTIFICIAL TURF INFIELD - EAST END OF CAMPUS

6:00 PM SEMIFINAL - 12:00 NOON WINNER AT 1ST SEED PERDUE CHICKS
LIGHTED GRASS FIELD - WEST END OF CAMPUS

9:00 PM STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME XV - LOWEST SURVIVING SEED AT HIGHEST SURVIVING SEED
LIGHTED GRASS FIELD - WEST END OF CAMPUS

For additional information, visit Maryland Semi-Pro Baseball.

Flying Dogs Changing Their Name in 2011?

2009 marked the end of the Flying Dog Brewery's support of the ball club. With a changing corporate atmosphere and a shift in priorities we were unable to garner their support for the 2010 season. The team has been discussing the possibility of a name change for 2011 with many believing that we should no longer bear their name if they are not going to sponsor the team. Some veterans, however feel that the Flying Dogs is the clubs identity and we should keep our name. What is your opinion? Take our poll.

2-1 Record Not Good Enough for the Flying Dogs at NABF Regional

The Flying Dogs turned in their best performance yet in the NABF Regional, winning 2 of 3 games in pool play. On day one the Dog's were matched up against a local rival in the Brunswick Orioles from the Blue Ridge Adult League. The Dogs came out swinging in the 1st sending 10 batters to the plate and stringing together 5 hits and 5 runs in the inning. Chris Fulda and Seth Sherwood had back-to-back doubles in the inning. The Dogs tacked on additional runs in the 3rd, 5th and 6th innings while allowing only a lone run to the visiting Orioles in the 5th. Matt Buchholz was masterful on the hill going the complete 7 innings allowing only 1 run on 2 hits while striking out 8.

Game 2 was a different story as the Dogs fell 9-2 to the eventual champions Murray's Diesel out of Buffalo, NY. Flying Dogs starter Erik Hufnagel struggled to find the strike zone issuing 8 free passes but was able to minimize the damage by allowing only 4 runs on 2 hits and striking out 8 over 4 2/3 innings of work before succumbing to a blister that opened up on his index finger. Steven Shriner, Chris Fulda and Matt Buchholz all had doubles and the Flying Dogs offense stranded 8 runners in scoring position throughout the game.

In game 3 the Flying Dogs offense chased down the lead in the bottom of the 6th having played from behind the entire game. Rich Ropp when the distance on the hill scattering 8 hits and 5 K's over 7 innings of work. After allowing a 2 run homerun in the 2nd Ropp was able to hold the local Tri-County Titans to a single run in each of the 4th and 5th innings. The Dogs offense pounded out 7 hits in the game, 5 for extra bases. Chris Fulda had a double, a homerun and 2 RBI. Brandon Roebuck had 2 doubles and an RBI and Steve Canale added a double and 2 RBI.

The 2-1 record would not be enough to advance the Flying Dogs as two other teams, Buffalo and Brunswick also finished with a 2-1 record. The tie breaker could not be determined by head-to-head so it was determined by runs allowed, Buffalo with 6 runs allowed advanced to the semi-final round as did Brunswick with 9 runs allowed. The Dogs just missed the cut with 10 runs allowed.

Next up is the Maryland Semi-Pro Baseball State Tournament to be held at Harford Community College on Saturday August 28th. For additional details, visit www.marylandsemiprobaseball.com.

Dogs Capture Third Consecutive MMSPBL Crown

The Flying Dogs capped off their 2010 Mid-Maryland Semi-Pro Baseball League season on an 11-0 run with their final victory earning them their third consecutive league title. The Flying Dogs went 5-0 in the new pool-play playoff format implemented this season. They dismissed a tough Carroll Spartans team in the semi-final 4-2 and rolled through the Baltimore Bobcats 11-1 in the final. The Dogs finished the MMSPBL season with a 25-4 league record and a 9-3 record in interleague play, 34-7 overall.

The next stop for the Flying Dogs is the National Amateur Baseball Federation regional tournament in Salisbury, MD beginning Thursday August 5th. The tournament is an 8 team pool-play format, the winner moves on to the NABF World Series in Louisville, KY the following week. Then the team will represent the MMSPBL in the Maryland State Tournament hosted by Maryland Semi-Pro Baseball at Harford Community College on Saturday August 28th. The one day tournament will be a single elimination format and will host up to 6 league champions from all over Maryland.

Steven Shriner after hitting a homerun in the Championship game. He had 2 on the day.

Flying Dogs No-Hit Express

Matt Buchholz, Matt Conway and Nick Bourque combined to throw 7 innings of no-hit baseball Friday against the Brunswick Express. Matt Buchholz allowed the loan Express run after hitting 3 batters in the top of the 3rd and allowing a sacrifice fly. Conway came on in relief to throw 2 no-hit innings and was followed by Bourque who threw the final frame and picked up the win.

The Flying Dogs offense got on the board in the 1st after Abe Buckman walked and later scored on a fielders choice. With the game tied and 1-1 going in to the bottom of the 7th, Rich Ropp lead off the inning with a double and later scored the winning run on a bases loaded walk.

Flying Dogs Beat Spartans

Frederick took sole position of 1st place in the Mid-Maryland Semi-Pro Baseball League on Thursday knocking off the only other undefeated team the Carroll County Spartans 4-0 at Hampstead Municipal Park. Chris Fulda’s RBI double in the 3rd inning proved to be all the Dogs would need as Matt Buchholz fired 7 scoreless innings while striking out 13. Buchholz added an RBI double to help his cause in the 5th. After 3 league games the Flying Dogs are yet to allow a run to score.

The team will not play this weekend, a scheduled off weekend for the league to observe Mothers Day. They will hold a field day to prepare Husky Park for their home opener against the Sykesville Bulldogs on Thursday 5/13 at 6:00PM.

Flying Dogs Top Seed After Day 1 of Heritage Classic

The Flying Dog's started the 2010 season off on the right foot winning their first two games of the Heritage Classic early bird tournament in Woodbridge, VA. The Dog's are the top seed entering the semi-final round of the tournament after defeating Ermi's Baseball from the host Blue and Grey League 4-0 in game one and shutting out the VA Diamondbacks, also of the Blue and Grey League 17-0 in game 2. Matt Buchholz picked up the win in game one and was followed in relief by Erik Huffnagel and Ray Riggles. The Dog's plated 3 runs in the first inning and were led offensively by Fulda and Roebuck who had 2 hits apiece.

In game 2 the bats came to life against the Diamondbacks pitchers, led by Chris Fulda who had 2 homeruns and 5 RBI in the game. Brandon Roebuck also had his first homerun of the 2010 season. Tim Martin had a dominant start on the hill for the Dogs allowing only 1 hit over 3 innings while picking up the win. Steve Canale pitched the following 2 innings in relief in the 5 inning contest shortened by the mercy rule.

The Heritage Classic will continue on Saturday April 10th. The Flying Dogs will take on the 2 seed of the Signal Hill Pool the Potomac Hawks at 12:45 at Heritage Field.

Flying Dogs Seeking Sponsors

The Flying Dogs are seeking sponsors and individual donors for the 2010 season. Individual games may be sponsored at a cost of $75 per game, we are also seeking sponsors for tournaments in April and May. Sponsors will be recognized with a logo and website link / contact info on the Sponsors page of our website. In addition, sponsors will be featured on the front page of the website on the days leading up to their sponsored game(s). Join Hollow Creek Golf Club, Interconnex Networks, Inc, Hawaiian Limousines and Charlie and Suzanne Sherwood by becoming an official Flying Dogs sponsor today!

For additional information, please contact Nick Collingham at 301-524-5997.

Spring Training is Under Way

Spring Training began for the Flying Dogs Sunday February 14th at the LUYAA indoor facility on East Street. The Dogs will continue their indoor workouts until the weather and field conditions permit the move out to Husky Field. The team aims to capture their 3rd consecutive Mid-Maryland Semi-Pro Baseball League title this year and to improve their showing at area tournaments including the NABF Regional tournament in Salisbury, MD and Hagerstown’s Reno Powell Memorial Tournament. The entire core of 2009’s championship squad will returning and several new prospects will be joining the team to add rotation depth and some pop to the lineup.

The Dogs have enrolled in two tournaments so far this season and are considering the addition of one or two more. They will take part in the Heritage Classic early bird tournament in Woodbridge, VA over two weekends between March 27th and April 3rd. They will also participate in Hagerstown’s Reno Powell Memorial Tournament for the 5th consecutive season.