Friday C&C SportsROC Report
The Rochester Red Wings continued their road trip on Friday night with a 5-0 victory against the Louisville Bats.
Kennys Vargas blasted his first grand slam of the season to key a 5-run third inning for the Red Wings. Adam Brett Walker accounted for the final run with a sacrifice fly that scored Eddie Rosario.
The Red Wings collected 10 hits and stranded 13 runners on base.
Andrew Albers (4-1) threw 7 innings, scattering 5 hits, walking 1, and striking out 5. Marcus Walden and Sean Burnett each hurled 1 inning apiece for the combined shutout.
The weekend series continues on Saturday evening in the Blue Grass State.
The victory kept pace with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre as the two teams not only are flat-footed co-leaders in the International League North Division, but they also have the best records (31-24) in the IL.
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Former Bills quarterback and NFL Hall of Famer Jim Kelly will be at Frontier Field on Thursday, August 18 presented by Rochester Regional Health.
Kelly will participate in a question and answer session conducted by Neurosurgeon, Dr. Anthony L. Petraglia from Rochester Regional Health to discuss the seriousness of concussions and the importance of proper treatment. The Q&A will take place from 6:48-6:53 p.m. with Kelly throwing out the first pitch prior to the game between the Red Wings and Buffalo Bisons.
Kelly will also sign autographs from 6-6:45 p.m. and 7:10-8 p.m. Rochester Regional Health will have tables within the autograph line to disperse information to fans about concussions and their new concussion program.
Rochester Regional Health has developed a first-of-its kind Concussion Program designed for all members of the community. The new program is part of the Neuroscience Institute and is also closely aligned with Rochester Regional Health Sports Medicine. It offers customized care plans from a team of skilled experts (including neurology, neurosurgery, neuropsychology, orthopaedics, physical medicine, rehabilitation and vestibular therapy), so patients can recover as quickly and safely as possible.
Dr. Petraglia on the Concussion Program:
“The Rochester Regional Health Concussion Program is a collaborative effort that includes expert care from specialists across the spectrum of the health system,” says Petraglia. “We are able to provide comprehensive management for this increasingly prevalent and complex brain injury. Your brain doesn’t know if it was injured on the baseball field, on the playground or in a car accident. This concussion program offers the finest care available using the best science, latest diagnostic tools, and cutting edge treatments.“
To contact the Concussion Program, call 585-922-1212. The clinic is located at:
2655 Ridgeway Ave.
Suite 420
Rochester, NY 14626
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From sabres.com – Only one day remains at the 2016 NHL Scouting Combine, and, by the sounds of it, Buffalo’s second turn as host is going just as well – if not better – than when the city impressed the League as a first-time host one year ago.
It’s going so well, in fact, that Director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr reiterated his hopes for the Combine to remain in Buffalo beyond 2016 on Friday.
“Last year was a successful event,” he said. “This year, with the full complex being made available to us, it’s a fantastic venue here for us. The hospitality throughout with the Sabres, First Niagara Center, HARBORCENTER, has been great for us there.
“We are going to be sitting down and talking with [the Sabres] … we do have to do a new financial deal, it was a two-year deal, so we are going to be sitting down talking with them to see what their interest level is and we’ll go back and the National Hockey League will make its decision sooner rather than later is what I hope.”
The Combine was stationed at a hotel in Toronto prior to 2015, but Buffalo’s advantage of having neighboring facilities had streamlined the process for the NHL. Testing is conducted at HARBORCENTER while interviews are done throughout the week on the PremCom Suite Level at First Niagara Center, with each club receiving its own suite.
This year, the completion of the Buffalo Marriott at HARBORCENTER has added even more convenience as the players can now stay in the same building where their testing will take place.
“We’ve found that the all under one roof concept works and so far no one else has presented us a venue that would allow us to do that,” Marr said. “But obviously if the financial arrangements and the teams are in favor of another venue that comes to our attention then we’d have to consider it.”
Sabres President Russ Brandon confirmed with The Buffalo News on Friday that talks with the League are ongoing and said that the team has been pleased with the experience of hosting the event thus far.
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Rex and Rob Ryan did not have their best seasons as NFL defensive minds in 2015. That’s part of why they’ve joined forced in Buffalo to restore the family name. Bills Insider Chris Brown provides the details. Here is his report:
Here is the Bills news of note for June 3rd.
1 – Out to restore Ryan name
It’s no secret that Rex Ryan and Rob Ryan did not have their best seasons as defensive orchestrators in 2015. Rex Ryan’s defense in Buffalo finished 19th overall and Rob Ryan’s, though there were some extenuating circumstances, saw his New Orleans defense finish last in the league. Now the Ryan brothers have joined forces and there is absolutely a chip on their collective shoulder to restore the family name as it pertains to defense in league circles.
“I think last year was a blow to the Ryan name. I don’t think there’s any doubt about it,” said Rex Ryan. “Now when you look through the history of this game, I think we rank up there. Just because you have one off year maybe doesn’t knock you all the way to the bottom like that has maybe been reported. But I think we’re okay. I think the Ryan name is pretty good. But, do I want it to be where I think it needs to be and to be right there at the top? And when you think of defense do you think of the Ryans? Absolutely. That’s a pride thing, that’s a family pride thing and it’s certainly a big deal for me.”
That’s chiefly why the Ryans intend to implement a more traditional 3-4 defensive scheme this year in Buffalo that is more in line with what they’ve coached their entire careers.
2 – Ragland ranked as one of NFL’s top offseason adds
Bills second-round pick Reggie Ragland was ranked as one of the league’s top 20 offseason additions by ProFootballFocus this week. In a list of top 20 offseason additions, PFF ranked Ragland fifth overall. Here was their reasoning as to why they think Ragland will be an immediate contributor for Buffalo’s defense.
5. Reggie Ragland, ILB, Bills
How he got here: 2016 NFL draft (Round 2, pick No. 41 overall, Alabama)
Last season, the Bills’ defense was not of the standard Rex Ryan expects, particularly in the front
seven. Ragland will have to prove himself capable of handling his coverage responsibilities in the NFL, but he’ll be a dramatic upgrade from day one against the run. Ragland’s instincts and burst to close sideline to sideline stand out. He should make an instant impact for Buffalo.
3 – Dez Lewis showing promise
He was an afterthought in 2015 after the Bills made him a seventh-round pick. Wide receiver Dez Lewis knew seeing the field as a rookie was unlikely so he focused on his personal game last year. He worked to make plays on scout team offense and became somewhat of a pet project for more experienced receivers like Robert Woods and Sammy Watkins.
“Last year was a good start for me to get used to the system and playing in the NFL,” said Lewis. “So I’ve got a good understanding of everything now and I’m working with the coaches to get better.”
Now in his second season, Lewis has filled out physically adding some quality lean muscle mass and looks stronger at 6-4 and 214 pounds. He also spent time in the offseason working with other NFL receivers and defensive backs. Tennessee WR Rishard Matthews and Denver CB Chris Harris were some of the more notable names.
“I trained a lot in the offseason with my trainers and they really helped me out a lot. So I tip my hat to them,” Lewis said in an appearance on the John Murphy Show. “I got in the lab with a couple of NFL wide receivers to kind of picked their brain a little bit and got some pointers and tips from them a bit.”
“He has taken a big leap forward,” said head coach Rex Ryan. “He started off very raw, but he got better and better as the year went on. He knows the system now, so he has a physical chance to compete.”