Wayne Franklin, Daryl Harang, Sean Stidfole, Jason Aspito and Val Majewski are among the names coming back to York in 2013. Well, for one day anyway. The Revs revealed plans for this year’s 2013 Fan Fest event slated for April 13 at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

The 2013 Revolution squad will play an exhibition game against several Atlantic League alums.

Joining the names above on the alumni team will be pitcher Eric Ackerman, catcher Kevin Kotch, infielders Rayner Bautista, Travis Hake and current Revs’ third base coach Enohel Polanco. Also on the alumni team will be outfielder Justin Singleton and infielders Matt Hagen, Vito Chiaravalloti, Matt Cavagnaro and Matt Padgett.

For an alumni team, the list of players is pretty impressive when you consider all the parameters that go into finding guys willing to play on this one day. And from what I’ve been told, Revs’ play-by-play man Darrell Henry is responsible for that. So, shout out to DH on a bang up job.

Another interesting tidbit are the jerseys the alumni team will be wearing. The jerseys feature a logo from every Atlantic League team, past and present, with current franchise logos on the front and former franchise logos on the back. The jerseys will be auctioned off during the free event.

For more information on the event, including who will manage the alumni team, the time gates open, a special pre-game autograph session and country music concert, click here.

 

 

President’s Day: Speaking of Atlantic League alumni, check out former Somerset Patriots’ play-by-play man Adam Amin in this get-up on President’s Day while calling a college hoops game for ESPN. It caught the eye (or ire?) of Deadspin.com, but only because sideline reporter Joe Lunardi dressed as Ben Franklin for the event (I know. I had to hit myself in the head, too, when I realized Franklin was never the POTUS). Amin left the Patriots following the 2011 season to call various sports for ESPN. This makes me wonder…should Darrell Henry do something similar calling a Revs’ game on the Fourth of July? I mean, he wouldn’t be alone in the attire. Cannonball Charlie dresses like that for EVERY home game.

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Back in 2009, Travis Hake was just a couple years removed from playing in the Atlantic League. The Brogue resident was still staying involved in the game by playing in the local men’s Susquehanna/Central League.

And the York Revolution was set to play an exhibition spring training game against an all-star men’s league team for the 2009 Fan Fest event. But when Hake was approached about starring for the men’s league squad, he turned it down.

“I just wanted to let the other guys play because I played here before,” Hake said Saturday. “It’s a big deal to people. And I just got out of the league, so I figured I’d let them play.”

The infielder played in the Susquehanna League for three different teams after a stint in the Milwaukee Brewers’ minor league system in 2000 and 2001. He went to play for the Revs in 2007, and also spent two seasons with the Lancaster Barnstormers in 2005 and 2006.

It’s unclear if Hake’s presence would have made a difference in the 2009 game, as the Revs won, 18-1.

This time around, Hake didn’t turn down the offer to play for the men’s league team, dubbed the “York County All-Stars.” For the first time since that 2009 event, the men’s league team squared off against the Revs on Saturday in the 2012 Fan Fest event.

Coming into the contest, Hake reminisced about the time he played for Division II Carson-Newman College.

“When I was in college at Carson-Newman, we were Division II and we played Tennessee, they were D-I. And we beat them like 13-6, they were just livid,” Hake said.

The York County All-Stars weren’t able to have the same success against the Revs on Saturday, falling to the Revs, 10-1.

Still, the game provided plenty of entertainment. Starting for the York County All-Stars was Shawn Hedrick (Susquehanna/Red Lion), who had pitched for the Revs in 2009 and 2010, combining to start, allowing 16 earned runs over 26.2 innings (5.41 ERA) with a 1-3 record.

The Revs scored two runs, one earned off of Hedrick in one inning of work. Scott Grimes reached third on a double steal and came home on a throwing error for the game’s first run, and Chris Nowak posted his seventh RBI of the spring with a double to right-center, plating Stephen Douglas to give York the 2-0 lead.

York County’s Kyle Cook (Central, Mt. Wolf) surrendered a run on three hits in the second inning. An RBI single by Salvador Paniagua scored James Shanks to give the Revs a 3-0 lead.

York County drew to within 3-1 in the top of the third when Jason Aspito (Susquehanna, Red Lion) scored on an error by Grimes in center field.

The Revs’ second baseman Andres Perez made it 5-1 in the bottom half of the third with a two-run homer to left-center off of Austin Hinkle (Susquehanna, Red Lion).

York County pitchers Jake Schoelkoph (Hallam), Brian Bossom (Jefferson), Jason Enoch (Red Lion) and T.J. Thomas (Stoverstown) combined to hold the Revs scoreless the next four innings.

The Revs put up five runs in the eighth off of Chris Stoudt (Windsor) behind a two-run homer from James Shanks and a three-run homer from Scott Grimes.

Revs’ starter Corey Thurman allowed the unearned run on two hits while striking out two and walking two. Revs’ relievers Santo Luis, Kris Regas, Adam Thomas and R.J. Rodriguez held York County scoreless in the final five innings but did give up four hits.

Talent: The York County All-Stars entered Saturday’s match-up with a roster that featured seven players with pro ball experience.

That included Aspito, who went 2-for-2 at the plate and reached base on an error in another at-bat. The Revs’ franchise leader in home runs (42), Aspito retired from the pro game in 2009 and is in his second year coaching the Penn State York baseball program. Prior to the game, Aspito held a home run derby to raise money for PSY baseball. Fans could pledge a certain amount of money for each home run Aspito hit. He ended up knocking three out to right field, which raised a total of $407.

Hake ended up going 0-for-3 at the plate. Enoch once played for the Barnstormers. Hinkle had a stint in the Tampa Bay Rays’ farm system until playing for the Barnstormers for the entire 2010 season.

Trent Kline (Central, Mount Wolf) is a West York High School grad who reached High Class A San Jose as a San Francisco Giants prospect in 2009. Todd Meyer (Central, Pleasureville) is a former York College ballplayer who pitched a couple seasons in the minors for the Montreal Expos (sic Washington Nationals) in 2002 and 2003. Meyer reached base safely in all three of his plate appearances on Saturday, going 1-for-1 and reaching two other times on errors.

A total of $1,051 was raised Saturday for the Susquehanna and Central leagues.

York County manager Rod Seitz (Susquehanna, Hallam) said he would love to see the Revs welcome back the York County All-Stars again in the future.

“Absolutely. This gives the notoriety to York County baseball,” Seitz said. “It helps the Revs out a little bit, too. It’s their pre-season and it’s hard for them to find teams around here to play. As long as they keep wanting to have us we’ll keep coming back.”

American Idol: American Idol runner-up Lauren Alaina had an autograph signing outside the stadium before the game. She later threw out the ceremonial first pitch, but didn’t fair too well – it went over the head of catcher Travis Scott. Alaina didn’t sing the national anthem, though. Apparently she had to be in Harrisburg for a concert later in the night.

York Dispatch editor Mark Franklin, who blogs about American Idol, covered Alaina’s detail to York in full detail. Check out the full story here.

 

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Before we get to all the events of Saturday…York traveled to Southern Maryland on Friday for its fourth exhibition game of spring training. The Revs defeated the Blue Crabs, 6-5, to improve to 3-1 this pre-season.

FAN FEST: The York Revolution’s annual Fan Fest event is set to take place on Saturday at Sovereign Bank Stadium. In preparations for the event, the stadium this week has been getting somewhat of a facelift. The team’s new logos were being replaced this week pretty much anywhere the old logos could be found. Perhaps the biggest change are to those above the front  gates, where the old display included action shots of Revs’ players surrounding the old logo. Team officials were set to be putting up new stickers throughout the park later in the week, and the team store should be ready to go by Saturday. (Check out the pictures of the re-furbished store here). Upgrades to the store included new carpet, paint, and shelving – apparently some of the shelving is designed by a local company operated by the man who last year worked as the Revs’ mascot, Downtown.

As far as the schedule of events for Saturday, Fan Fest will include a country music show and an appearance by a special celebrity guest. The event is presented by Great Country 107.7 WGTY.

The day will kick off at 10:15 a.m. with a free concert on the Brooks Robinson Plaza featuring Mountain Road, a York County band which was a finalist in WGTY’s contest to play at the York Fair this past summer.

Former American Idol runner-up Lauren Alaina will then greet fans with a question-and-answer session following the Mountain Road show. That will begin at 11 a.m. on the plaza and last until 11:15 a.m., when she will hold an autograph session with fans until noon. Alaina will be unable to perform because she has a show later in the day in Harrisburg.

While the autograph session is going on, a group of Revs’ players will officially debut the team’s updated uniforms for the 2012 season on the plaza, featuring the new color scheme of navy blue and gold. Players will also model new-look Revs’ merchandise for the upcoming season.

Before Saturday’s game, the Jason Aspito Home Run Derby fundraiser will be held from 12:30 p.m. until 1 p.m., which will benefit the Penn State York baseball program.

Aspito is the Revs’ all-time home run leader who is now the Penn State York head coach. He will also be a member of the Central League/Susquehanna League all-star team. Aspito will take 30 swings, and fans will be able to pledge an amount of money of their choosing per home run that Aspito hits.

Aspito: Aspito played for York for a part of the 2007 season and all of 2008 and 2009, clubbing a total of 42 homers over that time. He retired from being a pro player after the 2009 season and has spent the last couple years playing in the local Central/Susquehanna League while also coaching the Penn State York baseball program. The Nittany Lions haven’t faired so well in either of the two seasons under Aspito – they’re currently 3-15 with four games left on the schedule.

When I caught up with Aspito earlier this season, he said the money raised Saturday will likely go towards funding a trip down south next season for PSY. He said most of PSY’s opponents are able to get games in earlier in the year by playing in warmer weather climates down south, such as when York College traveled to Georgia in late February to begin its season. PSY didn’t start this season until late March. It’s interesting that Aspito is set to take part in the game on Saturday, too, considering PSY is set to play a double-header at Penn State Brandywine beginning at 2 p.m.

Other notable players: Aspito isn’t the only former player with minor league experience who will suit up for the men’s all-star team on Saturday.

Former Revolution and Lancaster Barnstormers player Travis Hake (Susquehanna, Conrads) will also be participating in the game as part of the men’s league all-stars. Hake, born in York and a Brogue resident, played in the Susquehanna League for three different teams after a stint in the Milwaukee Brewers’ minor league system. He went to be the only former Susquehanna League player to play for the Revs in 2007, and also spent two season with the Lancaster Barnstormers in 2005 and 2006.

Former Revs’ pitcher Shawn Hedrick (Susquehanna, Red Lion) pitched for York in 2009 and 2010, combining to start five games, allowing 16 earned runs over 26.2 innings (5.41 ERA) with a 1-3 record.

Former Barnstormers pitcher Austin Hinkle will also return to York for the first time since 2010. A Hempfield High School grad, Hinkle had a stint in the Tampa Bay Rays’ farm system until playing for the Barnstormers for the entire 2010 season. That year, the righty went 0-2 with a 5.76 ERA in 29 relief appearances, striking out 33 batters over 45.1 innings of work.

Infielder Trent Kline (Central, Mount Wolf) is a West York High School grad who played a couple years at Division I South Carolina before being drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 2007. A catcher in the Giants organization, Kline reached High Class A San Jose in 2009. Infielder Todd Meyer (Central, Pleasureville) is a former York College ballplayer who pitched a couple seasons in the minors for the Montreal Expos (sic Washington Nationals) in 2002 and 2003.

Men’s league roster: The game between the Revs and the Central League/Susquehanna League all-star team is set to start at 1:15 p.m. This is the first meeting between the local all-stars and the Revs since 2009. In that first meeting, the Revs rolled to an 18-1 triumph over the local stars.

Tickets for the game are $3 for Revs’ season-ticket holders and $5 for the general public. Tickets may be purchased at the Apple Chevrolet Ticket Office or at YorkRevolution.com. With every ticket purchase, $1 will benefit the Susquehanna and Central leagues.

York Revolution right-hander Corey Thurman is set to start for the Revs on Saturday. Following is the 31-player roster for the local all-star team. Each player is listed with his team and league:

Pitchers

Brian Bossum, Central, Jefferson; Andy Clemens, Central, Manchester; Kyle Cook, Central, Mount Wolf; Jay Enoch, Susquehanna, Red Lion; Shawn Hedrick, Susquehanna, Red Lion; Austin Hinkle, Susquehanna, Red Lion; Jason Kelly, Central, Manchester; Jake Schoelkoph, Susquehanna, Hallam; Chris Stoudt, Susquehanna, Windsor; T.J. Thomas, Central, Stoverstown; Jarrod Yecker, Central, Mount Wolf.

Catchers

Ryan Meyers, Central, Glen Rock; Mark Schauren, Susquehanna, Columbia; Justin Seitz, Susquehanna, Hallam.

Infielders

Logan Allison, Central, Manchester; J.W. Beshore, Central, Stoverstown; Anthony Ferrell, Susquehanna, Conrads; Travis Hake, Susquehanna, Conrads; Trent Kline, Central, Mount Wolf; Dustin Kuhn, Central, Dover; Eric McNeil, Susquehanna, Red Lion; Todd Meyer, Central, Pleasureville; Jason Seitz, Susquehanna, Hallam; Rick Thompson, Susquehanna, Windsor.

Outfielders

Jason Aspito, Susquehanna, Red Lion; Mike Austin, Susquehanna, Jacobus; John Benchich, Susquehanna, Hallam; Brian Crimmel, Susquehanna, Jacobus; Steve Gentile, Central, Jefferson; Aaron Meyers, Central, Mount Wolf; Austin Rickrode, Central, Dover.

Coaching staff

Rod Seitz, manager; Chad Kennell, coach; Tim Poff, coach; Jeff Barkdoll, coach; Tim Brenner, coach.

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