Dutchmen Excited for Wednesday Exhibtion

By: Ryan Murphy

For the first time in franchise history, the Albany Dutchmen will take part in an exhibition game against a professional team, as Wednesday morning will see the Dutchmen face the Tri-City ValleyCats, the short-season A affiliate of the Houston Astros. First pitch at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium is scheduled for 10 a.m.

The ValleyCats, who play in the New York Penn League, are hosting their second Education Day, and a capacity crowd is expected in Troy. The game matches two successful baseball teams in the Capital Region, with the Dutchmen qualifying for the PGCBL Playoffs in consecutive years and the ValleyCats winning a league title in 2013 and making the playoffs four out of the last five years. The teams’ ballparks- Tri-City’s Joe Bruno Stadium and Albany’s Bob Bellizzi Field- are separated by less than ten miles.

The exhibition will allow multiple local Dutchmen players the opportunity to take on their local professional baseball franchise. Three Albany players hail from the Capital Region- outfielder Eric Mueller (UAlbany) and pitchers Nick Cioffi (Towson) and Chris Amorosi (Siena).

The game will also feature a battle between two Ole Miss Rebels, as Albany third baseman Mike Fitzsimmons will face collegiate teammate Scott Weathersby, who was drafted in the 10th round of the recent MLB Draft.

Dutchmen mascot Benny will be on hand to interact with the young fans in attendance, as well as his counterpart Southpaw from the ValleyCats. Dutchmen promotional materials will also be available on the concourse of Joe Bruno Stadium.

The Dutchmen are excited for the opportunity to take the field against a professional franchise, and give Albany’s players a chance to experience professional baseball, and allow baseball fans in the Capital District a chance to see top professional and collegiate talent on the same field. The opportunity to see a summer collegiate team face a Minor League franchise is uncommon, and the Dutchmen are eager for the chance to battle the ValleyCats.

For fans that cannot make it to The Joe Wednesday morning, the game will be broadcast live online by Dutchmen broadcasters Ryan Murphy and Jeremy Meyer at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/albany-dutchmen. Dutchmen fans can purchase $5 tickets behind the Albany dugout at http://tv1.glitnirticketing.com/tvticket/web/logingroup1.php?refresh= using the password “Dutchmen”.



Search Archive »





Browse by Month »

March 2024
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
January 2022
July 2021
June 2021
March 2021
May 2020
March 2020
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
November 2018
October 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
February 2017
January 2017
November 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
October 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
Ignite Business Solutions