Frederick Flying Dogs Semi-Pro Baseball Club

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.

Flying Dogs Fall Short in Regional Tournament

The Flying Dog fell short of their goals at the NABF Regional Tournament in Salisbury, MD last weekend. The Dogs posted a 1-2 record in pool play failing the make the semi-final round. Errors in key situations along with several runners left in scoring position contributed to the losing record.

Thursday 8/6
Flying Dogs 5 - Newark Royals 6
The Flying Dogs overtook the lead with 3 runs in the top half of the 7th thanks to a 2 RBI double from Brandon Roebuck and an RBI single from Steve Canale all with 2 outs. With a 2-run lead going in the the bottom of the seventh the Dogs were unable to close the door on the Royals allowing 3 unearned runs. Erik Hufnagel got the hard luck loss in relief. Fulda, Morse and Ropp each had 2 singles in the game, Sherwood and Roebuck each had a double.

Friday 8/7
Atlantic Coastal Drillers 2 - Flying Dogs 6
The Dogs jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first and never looked back as Erik Hufnagel, again battling a blister on his pitching finger, dominated the Drillers lineup. Rich Ropp picked up the save in 2 innings of relief and provided 2 base hits and an RBI on offense. Fulda provided 2 hits and Sherwood provided a hit and 2 RBI.

Saturday 8/8
Bamboo Bats 4 - Flying Dogs 2
Battling the Bamboo Bat ace the Dogs could only manage 2 runs on 4 hits and 4 walks. Buckman, Fulda, Sherwood and Stup picked up the hits for the Dogs while Buchholz managed 2 free passes. Rich Ropp was the hard luck loser on the hill allowing only 6 hits over 4 innings and allowing only 2 earned runs.

The Flying Dogs will go on to represent the Mid-Maryland Semi-Pro Baseball League in the Maryland State Tournament on Saturday August 29. The single elimination, 9 inning game tournament will be held in 1 day at Thomas Run Park at Harford Community College in Harford County.

Flying Dogs Sweep Falcons to Repeat as Champions

The Frederick Flying Dogs captured their 2nd straight Mid-Maryland Semi-Pro Baseball League Championship Sunday defeating the Westminster Falcons in 3 straight games in the best of 5 series. Weather conditions in Frederick delayed the start of the series and forced the opening game to move to Taneytown for a double header on Saturday. The Dogs completed the sweep at home at Husky Field on Sunday afternoon.

Game 1 – Westminster 3, Frederick 5

Chris Fulda led the offense going 2-3 with 2 HR's and 3 runs scored. Former Falcon Rich Ropp pitched a complete game allowing 3 runs on 5 hits while striking out 6.

Game 2 – Frederick 5, Westminster 2

In the second game of the double header Matt Buchholz followed with a complete game on the hill allowing only 1 run on 2 hits while striking out 7. Rich Ropp had 3 hits in the game, Steven Shriner, Chris Fulda and Seth Sherwood each had 2 hits.

Game 3 – Westminster 0, Frederick 2

Erik Hufnagel was dominant on the hill allowing only 3 hits over 6 innings while striking out 10. Huff gave way to Spencer Cox who recorded the save in the 7th. Hufnagel developed a blister on his pitching finger that tore in the 5th inning and he was unable to continue after the 6th. The Flying Dogs runs came off a solo homerun from Steven Shriner in the 4th and a solo homerun from Steven Canale in the 6th.

The Flying Dogs will play the Brunswick Express on Thursday and then take a week off before heading to the National Amateur Baseball Federation Regional Tournament in Salisbury, MD beginning on Thursday August 6^th.

Flying Dogs Finish #1 in MMSPBL Regular Season

The Frederick Flying Dogs wrapped up the 2009 regular season with a 23-1 record, not recording a league loss since the 3rd game of the season on April 26. The Dogs only other loss of the season came in the semi-final of the Reno Powell Memorial Tournament in Hagerstown. Over all the Dogs hold a stellar 27-2 record on the year. The regular season title guarantees the Dog’s a berth in the NABF Regional Tournament in Salisbury, MD beginning on Thursday August 6th.

The Mid-Maryland Semi-Pro Baseball League playoffs begin on Thursday July 9 and run through the end of the month. In round one the Flying Dogs will square off against the 8 seed in the MMSPBL, likely to be the Sykesville Bulldogs or Maryland Outlaws once all postponed games are completed. The Dogs are looking forward to defending their title as League Champions.

Seven Flying Dogs Selected to All-Star Team

Flying Dogs Erik Hufnagel, Chris Fulda, Richie Ropp, Matt Buchholz, Spencer Cox, Seth Sherwood and Steven Shriner were all selected to represent the Mid-Maryland Semi-Pro Baseball League when they take on the South Penn League in the All-Star Game on Friday June 26 in Littlestown, PA. Hufnagel, Fulda and Ropp all made the starting lineup as pitcher, catcher and shortstop respectively. Buchholz, Ropp and Cox will all pitch out of the bullpen while Sherwood and Shriner will provide relief behind the dish and in the outfield. As the championship manager in 2008, Flying Dog Manager Nick Collingham will be the skipper of the MMSPBL All-Star squad.

All-Star Game
Mid-Maryland League vs. South Penn League
Friday June 26^th, 7:30 PM
Littlestown Memorial Field
Littlestown, PA