Compiled by Craig Potter
Today’s SportsROC Report includes stories on the Rochester Red Wings pitcher to start the All-Star game, 2 Rochester natives to play in the Danielle Downey Classic going on this week, a WNY Flash player named an alternate to Team USA for the Olympic Games in Rio, and the date of the Amerks Street Hockeyfest is set.
Jason Wheeler to start for IL in Triple-A All-Star Game
Rochester Red Wings left-handed pitcher Jason Wheeler has been named the starting pitcher for the International League in Wednesday’s Triple-A All-Star Game in Charlotte, N.C.
Wheeler, who was selected to the IL squad in late June, will start in place of Indianapolis’ Tyler Glasnow, who was promoted to start for Pittsburgh in the big leagues on July 7. Wheeler is expected to throw 2.0 innings.
This will be the first start in an All-Star Game for the 25-year-old left-hander. He tossed 0.2 innings of relief in the 2012 Midwest League All-Star Game, his only previous All-Star experience. Wheeler will become the first Red Wings starting pitcher to start an All-Star Game since Josh Towers at Frontier Field in 2000.
Rochester infielder Jorge Polanco will start at second base while right-hander Jose Berrios and pitching coach Stu Cliburn also will represent the Red Wings. This season will mark the first time the Wings have had two starters in an All-Star Game since Towers and outfielder Karim Garcia in 2000.
The International League All-Stars take on the Pacific Coast League All-Stars at BB&T Ballpark. The game can be seen on MLB Network beginning at 7 p.m.
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Webster’s Teachman knows importance of Downey Classic
There may not be anyone in the field who understands the importance of the Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic more than Tessa Teachman, who grew up in Webster and was a standout at Webster Thomas and winner of the 2003 New York State Amateur Championship.
“Rochester is a wonderful golf city and it’s great to see the community support golf the way it has for 40 years,” said Teachman, who played in the Corning Classic on a sponsors exemption in 2005 and 2008 and the Wegmans LPGA in 2005. “There is something special about playing golf in front of a Rochester crowd and you can feel the support and excitement surrounding the tournament.”
Downey, who won the New York State Amatuer three times from 1999-2001, was a role model for many young golfers coming behind her, including Teachman.
“Danielle was a role model of mine who I looked up to while growing up in Rochester,” said Teachman, now 26-years-old. “I admired her golfing skills, but also learned what an even better person she was when she took the time to encourage me as a junior golfer. I think it’s very fitting that I get to play in a tournament honoring her.”
Teachman made the cut at the inaugural event last year and finished in a tie for 52nd. She was most impressed, but not surprised, with how the community embraced the Symetra Tour.
“Brook-Lea and the tournament committee have done an amazing job organizing the Danielle Downey Classic,” Teachman said. “This tournament is an event that the community can enjoy as well as a memorable tournament for the players. I’m looking forward to playing in this second year event because I’m sure the tournament committee and Brook-Lea will only go above and beyond the success of last year.”
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Native-born Rochesterian also gains Downey Classic field
Jillian Fraccola, who was born in Rochester and grew up in Manlius, got into the Daniell Downey Classic field off the alternate list on Monday. She was a 4-year letterwinner and team captain as a senior at Fayetteville-Manlius High School. Fraccola won the New York Public School Championship and the New York Public School Section Tournament as a senior in 2007.
A college golfer at the University of Richmond, Fraccola has played in three Symetra Tour events this year. She played in one Tour event in 2015.
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Flash player named alternate to USA Olympic Team
U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Jill Ellis has named the 18-player roster for the 2016 Olympic Games, and Western New York Flash midfielder Samantha Mewis was named an alternate to the roster. She will travel with the team to Rio.
Seven players make a return to the Olympics after helping the USA to the gold medal in 2012 in London while 14 players who were members of the USA’s 2015 Women’s World Cup championship team were named.
Ellis will bring the Olympic team plus the four alternates to Kansas City, Kansas, for a final Olympic Send-Off Match on July 22 against Costa Rica at Children’s Mercy Park.
“We’ve got excellent balance in the squad, and with some injuries lately to some major players, it has allowed us to get experience for a few newer players which helped them in their cases to make the team,” said Ellis. “Now the task is getting our team 100% healthy and finalizing our preparations during the next camp.”
The U.S. will open Group G play on Aug. 3 – two days before the Olympic Opening Ceremonies – against New Zealand at Mineirão Stadium in Belo Horizonte. The USA will stay in Belo Horizonte – which is 270 miles north of Rio de Janeiro – to face France at Mineirão Stadium on Aug. 6, and finish group play against Colombia on Aug. 9, at the Amazônia Stadium in Manaus, the same arena in which the U.S. Men’s National Team tied Portugal 2-2 during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and the furthest soccer venue from Rio (more than 1,700 miles).
The Flash will continue their season on the road this weekend as they take on Seattle Reign FC on Saturday, July 16 at 10 p.m. EST. A live stream of the match will be available at youtube.com/NWSL.
The Flash will return home to Rochester Rhinos Stadium on July 23 when they host FC Kansas City at 7 p.m. Tickets for the match are available at wnyflash.com/tickets
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Amerks Street Hockeyfest set for Aug. 28
The Rochester Americans announced on Tuesday that the team will host its fifth annual Amerks Street HockeyFest for kids ages 18 and under on Sunday, Aug. 28 at the Bill Gray’s Regional Iceplex, located in Brighton on the campus of Monroe Community College (MCC).
Registration for the street hockey tournament is now open at www.amerks.com/StreetHockey. The coed tournament is open to boys and girls ages 18 and under at a cost of $125 per team. Each team will consist of up to five players and will be guaranteed at least three games in the all-day, rain or shine event, which begins at 9 a.m. (Registration begins at 8 a.m.).
Every player will receive an Amerks Street HockeyFest t-shirt and ticket vouchers (five total per team) for tickets to the Amerks 2016-17 Home Opener on Friday, Oct. 14. Registrants of the tournament will also be able to purchase additional vouchers to the Amerks Home Opener at a discounted rate.
Registration for the tournament is open on a first come, first serve basis. The tournament will consist of six divisions based on USA Hockey guidelines for the upcoming season.
• 6 or Under (2010-present)
• 8 or Under (2008-2009)
• 10 or Under (2006-2007)
• 12 or Under (2004-2005)
• 14 or Under (2002-2003)
• 18 or Under (1998-2001)
Games will be played 3-on-3 plus a goaltender and one optional substitute on the parking lot surface at Bill Gray’s Regional Iceplex. Participants are responsible for bringing their own equipment, including sneakers, hockey sticks and gloves. Goaltender equipment is mandatory, while helmets are mandatory for ALL PLAYERS. Additional protective gear is optional, but recommended. Each player will also need to complete a waiver prior to participating.
The deadline for registration is Friday, Aug. 19, at 5 p.m. or when registration is full. Fans with questions regarding the Amerks Street HockeyFest can contact the team’s front office at 585-454-5335