This win not only earned them a spot in the famed World Series but also marked them as the first team from Visalia, California to compete in the Cal Ripken 50/70 World Series format. The players and coaches are buzzing with excitement and pride as the team gears up for this monumental event. The team will travel to Branson, Missouri on August 6th, where they will face off against the best Cal Ripken All Star teams from across the nation and internationally.

Competing in the World Series will not only test their athletic abilities but also offer opportunities for personal growth and unforgettable experiences. Facing top teams from around the globe will provide invaluable lessons and create lasting memories for these young athletes.

This special group of boys has become more than just a team; they have formed a close-knit baseball family. Their journey together has been marked by hard work, perseverance, and camaraderie, making their upcoming experience in Branson truly a once- in-a-lifetime event.

Good luck to the Visalia Blue 12U All Stars! The entire City of Visalia is cheering you on. Go Visalia Blue!!  For anyone that wishes to contribute to Visalia Blue 12U, below is the team’s Venmo information.  The team appreciates any support to help cover the cost of travel and lodging.

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Six of those players are named in MLBpipeline.com Dbacks Top 30 list-LHP Blake Walston at #8, 3B/OF A.J. Vukovich at #13, OF Wilderd Patino at #20, LHP Liam Norris at #27, RHP Justin Martinez at #28, and RHP Brandon Pfaadt at #30. Vukovich, Norris, and Pfaadt will make their professional debuts in Visalia.

Walston, the sole number one draft pick on the roster, was the 26th overall pick in 2019 out of New Hanover in Wilmington, NC. He ended the 2019 season in Hillsboro.

Vukovich is the only 2020 draft pick on the Opening Day roster. He was the 119th overall pick and drafted in the 4th round out of East Troy HS in Wisconsin.

Leading the Rawhide for the 2021 is Manager Javier Colina. 2021 marks his eighth season with the Diamondbacks and fourth season managing. In 2019, he led the Hillsboro Hops to the Northwest League Championship. He is no stranger to Visalia, as he spent the 2016 season as the bench coach for the Rawhide.

Barry Enright will be the new Rawhide pitching coach in his third season with the Diamondbacks. Enright was the pitching coach under Colina for the Hops in 2019. He joined the Diamondbacks organization as a coach after his 12-year playing career, four of which were spent in the Major Leagues. Prior to the bigs, he spent two seasons (2007-2008), leading the California League in strikeouts in his second year with 143. He was drafted by the Diamondbacks in the second round in 2007.

Micah Franklin will serve as the hitting coach under Colina in 2021. Franklin spent the 2019 season as the hitting coach for the Kane County Cougars and 2018 as the hitting coach for the Hops. He enters his fifth season with the Diamondbacks. Drafted in the 3rd Round by the Mets in the 1990 MLB Draft, Franklin played 15 professional seasons, reaching the Major Leagues in 1997.

Darrin Garner, who will be the Rawhide coach, brings over 5 years of MiLB experience to Visalia. He was drafted in the first round of the 1985 June Draft-Secondary Phase by the Texas Rangers. He began his coaching career in 1992.

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Tulare Union High football

A presentation was made to the Tulare Union High School Football team and coaches in recognition of their CIF Central Section Division II Valley Championship. The team went 13-1 during the 2017 season and 5-0 in their league.

Special recognition was given to Kazmeir Allen for securing the National Record for the Most Touchdowns in a single season. The wide receiver/running back “had one of the best single-seasons in California history,” according to MaxPreps. “He broke the national single-season record scoring 72 total touchdowns in 2017 and he rushed for nearly 3,500 yards and had over 800 yards receiving during his senior season.”

“This season was probably one of the best seasons in Tulare Union history,” Allen said. “We grinded every day, worked hard, especially our captains.”

In January, Allen signed to the UCLA Bruins Football team.

“My name is Andrew Ruelas. I’m a middle linebacker and a four-year varsity player. Out of all the four years I had, this last one was the very special one,” Ruelas said. “Last year, my junior year, it didn’t feel like we were a team, it felt like we were individuals. But, we did still have a good team. This year was totally different, we were just like a unit. We were bonded with each other, hanging out with each other. It was a great run and I had fun.”

That evening. Allen was also awarded the first annual Kyan Wimbley Award. Wimbley, 13, was killed in a traffic accident in March of last year. The Corcoran High student was returning from his basketball practice in Fresno along with his parents when they were hit by an alleged drunk driver. His parents also died from the incident.

Kyan Wimbley’s siblings, Marvin and Marina LeFridge, have started the Kyan Wimbley Award in honor of their little brother.

“This award is going to be presented annually to a kid within the City of Tulare who demonstrates excellence on the field, basketball court, softball field, soccer field, academically – whoever we feel is just demonstrating that excellence that my family instilled in my brother,” Marvin LeFridge said. “This year, it’s Kazmeir Allen.”

Tulare Union Cheer team

A second presentation was made to the Tulare Union High School Cheer team and coaches in recognition of their 2018 ICU World Cheerleading Championship.

“The kids went to Florida and competed in the ICU World Cheerleading Championship, which is essentially the Super Bowl of cheerleading. They beat Belle Chasse High School [from Louisiana] which is essentially the team that has never been beaten before – which is pretty cool,” said Coach Britney Audino. “They are the world champions – they competed against teams from all over the world, beating out Canada, Jamaica – I mean literally all over the world.

“They also competed against teams across the nation – placed third, which is confusing, it’s a different championship. They did really well and we’re really, really proud of them. They did qualify to go back next year, so we’re excited about that.

“They worked tirelessly,” she said. “They are not only amazing athletes, but amazing kids.”

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Local World Champion Carli Beith, from Bakersfield, will be competing for the title in the 16 and under age division. Kallen Smith, who won Boys 6 and under division last year, is returning and is excited to be tackling the bigger course this year. One parent commented on the event page “this will be our first junior only tournament and my youngest first tournament. I think it’s great what you are doing for the kids. Thank you.”

Tournament Director, Andy Parkison, set out with a vision to create an event highlighting the young talent in the sport, and looked to build on the momentum from the inaugural event last year. In an altruistic gesture to “grow the sport” Parkison did not want anyone to be left out, so he made the tournament free. Eventually he had to cap it at 180 players.

Working with friends, major disc golf companies, and local businesses for sponsorships, Parkison has put together a tournament that will feel more like a big disc golf party. Disneyland was excited to sponsor the event, and donated 4 one-day Park Hooper passes. For signing up, every player will receive: 6 discs, a towel, a mini-disc to mark their lies, and Olive Garden and Jamba Juice will be providing lunch. Dynamic Discs, a major disc and disc golf-clothing manufacturer, donated 15 disc golf bags to be given away at the event.

There will be a raffle to help begin fundraising for next year’s championships, and tickets will be available for sale at the event. Each competitor will receive raffle tickets in the player’s packs, so everyone that plays will have a chance to win. Spectators can also purchase raffle tickets at the event. Some of the big prizes in the raffle include the Disneyland passes, and a DGA disc golf basket. You must be present to win.

Come out and watch these talented young disc golfers compete for the title of California Champion. The competition begins at 9am at Mooney Grove Park in Visalia. They’re going to put on a spectacular show.

For more information you can contact:

Chris Wymer – (619) 871-9475 or Andy Parkison (559) 799-8072.

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A third-round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016 out of Rice, Duplantier led all of Minor Leauge Baseball (MiLB) with a 1.39 ERA between Class A Kane County and Class A-Advanced Visalia. His ERA was the second-best mark in MiLB in the last 25 years, behind only Justin Verlander’s 1.29 ERA posted in the 2005 season. Duplantier was also third in MiLB with a .192 batting average against and 12^th with a 0.98 WHIP. Overall, Duplantier finished with a 12-3 record in 24 starts.

Duplantier was named to the Sirius/XM All-Star Future’s Game in Miami, Florida this July, was MiLB.com’s Midwest League Player of the Month in May, and was a Mid-Season All-Star for the Midwest League while with Kane County.

Duplantier pitched only one inning in his pro debut in 2016 and began 2017 by racking up 20 2/3 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. He gave up his first earned run on May 2 and went on to allow an earned run in just one of his first ten starts in the Midwest League.

Duplantier was promoted to the Rawhide from Kane County on June 22 following the California League All-Star break and made an immediate impact with a 1.56 ERA in 12 Visalia starts and 87 strikeouts in 63 1/3 innings. Over his final three starts, Duplantier registered 14 consecutive scoreless innings. He struck out 44 hitters over 25 innings in his last five starts.

After missing the entirety of his 2015 season at Rice due to shoulder injury, Duplantier returned in 2016, finished second in NCAA Division 1 with 148 strikeouts, and was named the Conference USA Pitcher of the Year.

Duplantier was Arizona’s eighth-ranked prospect entering 2017 by MLB Pipeline and was elevated to their second-ranked prospect in MLB Pipeline’s mid-season update. Baseball America ranked Duplantier as Arizona’s number nine prospect at the beginning of the season.

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Almonte, who is currently 9-8 with a 3.63 ERA, has earned his second career All-Star nod after being named a Cal League Mid-Season All-Star this summer. Originally signed by the Boston Red Sox, Almonte was sent to the Diamondbacks along with 2B Luis Alejandro Basabe in the July 9, 2016 trade that sent RHP Brad Zeigler to the Boston.

This season, Almonte leads the league in strikeouts per nine innings among starters (10.47), is two wins shy of the league lead (9), is fourth in ERA, second in strikeouts (147), and third in batting average against among starters (.245). Almonte set a career-high when he struck out 11 against Lake Elsinore on May 27, and has twice this season won three consecutive starts. Almonte is 21-23 with a 3-36 ERA and 391 strikeouts in his five-year Minor League career. He was ranked as the 18^th-best prospect in the Arizona farm system this year by Baseball America and was ranked as the number-27 prospect in the Diamondbacks system by MLB Pipeline in their midseason update. Almonte is the lone representative Visalia representative on the California League Postseason roster after the Rawhide had one representative in 2016 (3B Marty Herum) and two in 2015 (LHP Anthony Banda and 2B Jamie Westbrook).

Bajenaru’s accolade marks the first time that he has won the California League Coach of the Year award. Bajenaru, who is in his second season with Visalia and his seventh in the Diamondbacks organization overall, has helped to guide the Rawhide pitching staff to a remarkable season. Visalia leads the California League in ERA (3.70), strikeouts (1,198), and WHIP (1.29), has allowed the fewest hits, and has hurled eight shutouts this season, two behind Stockton’s 10. Bajenaru was a 36^th round selection by the Chicago White Sox in the 1999 draft and made Major Leauge appearances with the White Sox in 2004 and 2005, and came up briefly with Arizona in 2006. He becomes the first Rawhide coach to be named California League Coach of the Year since Gil Heredia in 2015 and is just the second Visalia coach to earn the distinction since 2010.

James Templeton was also named the California League Groundskeeper of the Year, becoming the first ever Visalia Groundskeeper to claim the award after the Rawhide and city of Visalia installed a new playing surface prior to the 2017 season.

California League Postseason All-Stars are determined by votes from California League field managers, coaches, general managers, radio broadcasters, and media members.

For tickets and more information on the remainder of the Visalia Rawhide’s home schedule, please visit rawhidebaseball.com or call 559-732-4433. You can follow the Rawhide on Twitter (@VisaliaRawhide), Facebook (TheRawhide), Instagram (@visaliarawhide) and Snap Chat (visaliarawhide).

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The Visalia Rawhide, in conjunction with the Arizona Diamondbacks, announced that RHP Jon Duplantier (Diamondbacks #2 prospect, MLB Pipeline) has been named the Arizona Diamondbacks Minor League Pitcher of the Month for July.

Duplanter, who was promoted to Visalia from Class-A Kane County on June 22, went 4-0 with a 1.82 ERA (5 ER in 24.2 IP) with 28 strikeouts and 6 walks in 4 starts for Visalia in July. He ranked among California League leaders last month in ERA (2^nd), wins (T-2^nd), opponent average (6^th, .250), and WHIP (7^th, 1.14). Duplantier was also named the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Month in April (1-0, 0.00) and May (4-0, 0.79) while with Kane County. He was selected by the Diamondbacks in the third round of the 2016 First-Year Player draft from Rice University.

Duplantier becomes the second player in Diamondbacks franchise history who has been named Minor League Pitcher of the Month three times in one season. Duplantier joins current Arizona RHP Archie Bradley, who was given the distinction three times during the 2013 season, five games of which he spent in Visalia.

Duplantier put up a career start in his final appearance of July, tossing seven shutout innings against Lake Elsinore while striking out a career-best nine hitters and scattering seven hits while walking none. He has allowed more than one earned run only once this season while in a Rawhide uniform. He is scheduled to start on Saturday for Visalia at Recreation Park against the Stockton Ports.

Every month during the season, the D-backs Player Development staff chooses the player and pitcher most deserving of the honors based on nominations from coaches at each affiliate along with input from the Minor League coordinators. INF/OF Yoel Yanqui (DSL D-Backs 1) was named the Diamondbacks Minor League Player of the Month for July.

The Visalia Rawhide kick off a four-game series tonight where they will re-brand as the Visalia Toros to pay homage to the Hispanic culture of Tulare County. For tckets and more information visit Rawhidebaseball.com or call 559-732-4433. You can follow the Rawhide on Twitter (@VisaliaRawhide), Facebook (TheRawhide), Instagram (@visaliarawhide) and Snap Chat (visaliarawhide).

The post Jon Duplantier Named Diamondbacks Minor League Pitcher of the Month appeared first on Valley Voice.

“The Central Valley, and Tulare County in particular, has an incredibly rich Hispanic heritage and we’re excited to pay homage to it over this weekend,” said Rawhide/Toros General Manager Jennifer Reynolds. “This is a full re-brand of the Rawhide with the goal of welcoming even more people into the Rawhide, and now the Toros, family. We encourage all members of the local community to join us for the weekend and make Visalia baseball history.”

The Toros re-brand will include all aspects of the Rawhide organization: the Visalia players will wear all-new uniforms and hats for the series and an all-new merchandise line will be available to fans with the new Visalia Toros emblem. Furthermore, Recreation Park will be transformed for the four-day event.

Food vendors representing various Hispanic style food varieties will be at the ballpark for the Taquiza y Toros weekend only, with foods such as tacos, tamales, papusas, and more. The Rawhide will also be bringing in new and distinct beer flavors to celebrate the weekend and will be offering margarita specials in the Hall of Fame Club. The event will feature a festive atmosphere and will include live music throughout the events, postgame fireworks on August 4, and a water slide in the Kid’s Corral on August 6.

The Taquiza y Toros weekend will be dedicated to the memory of George “Cuco” Serrato. Serrato was an employee of the Visalia Parks and Recreation department whose love for the game played an instrumental part in bringing baseball to the North side of Visalia. Serrato’s vision led to the beginning of the Visalia Angels baseball team. Because of his contributions to the Visalia baseball community, the baseball field at Crowley Elementary School was named in his honor in 1992. Mary Serrato, a relative of George, has been an employee of the Visalia baseball club for nearly two decades.

The re-branding of the Rawhide to the Toros is part of the “Es Divertido Ser Un Fan” initiative from MiLB, which coincides with MiLB’s “It’s Fun to be a Fan” slogan. The campaign’s goal is to become a nationwide event by 2018 that will help to include, and be more welcoming to, the Hispanic fan base that is integral to the game of baseball at all levels. This season, four teams, the Rawhide, the Las Vegas 51s, which will become the Las Vegas Reyes de Plata, the Charlotte Knights, to be renamed the Charlotte Caballeros, and the Kane County Cougars, will re-brand throughout the final month of the MiLB regular season

“One of the pillars of Minor League Baseball is to create an environment where all individuals feel welcome and included in our ballparks,” said Minor League Baseball President Pat O’Conner. “It is important to us that our teams are reflective of the communities in which they reside, offering a memorable entertainment experience for all members of those communities.”

2017 marks the 71^st year of baseball in Visalia at Recreation Ballpark. The Rawhide are chasing their fifth consecutive playoff berth. For tickets and more information, visit Rawhidebaseball.com or call 559-732-4433. Follow the Rawhide on Social media on Twitter (@VisaliaRawhide), Facebook (TheRawhide), Instagram (@visaliarawhide) and SnapChat (visaliarawhide).

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The 14 U.S.-based leagues and 160 clubs that charge admission averaged 6,667 fans per game over the holiday
period, drawing 521,020 fans for 79 games on July 3, and 538,955 fans for 80 games on July 4. Each MiLB team hosted a game in its respective community over those two days.

“Our ballparks provide fun, memory-making experiences for our fans all year long,” said Minor League Baseball President & CEO Pat O’Conner. “The fact that more than one million fans spent their Fourth of July holiday in Minor League Baseball ballparks solidifies our teams’ prominence in their respective communities.”

Thirteen clubs set new franchise single-game attendance records on July 3 or July 4: Connecticut Tigers, Fort Myers Miracle, Fort Wayne TinCaps, Durham Bulls, Hartford Yard Goats, Johnson City Cardinals, Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Missoula Osprey, Nashville Sounds, Pensacola Blue Wahoos, Portland Sea Dogs, Richmond Flying Squirrels and Winston-Salem Dash. Additionally, three teams set new marks in renovated ballparks, including the Akron RubberDucks, Memphis Redbirds and Oklahoma City Dodgers.

The Buffalo Bisons drew the largest crowd among Triple-A teams, with 16,647 fans on July 3; the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp recorded the highest figure at the Double-A level (11,398 on July 3); while the Lansing Lugnuts posted the largest total at the Class-A level (11,449 on July 4) and the Spokane Indians drew the biggest crowd among Short Season level clubs (7,029 on July 4).

Editor’s Note: A capacity crowd of 3,006 were on hand to see the first 4th of July Rawhide game in Visalia.

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Herum totaled 39 home runs in the course of the three rounds. He defeated Inland Empire 66ers third baseman Jose Rojas, 10-9, in the final round of the Derby.

“I looked up with seven seconds left, I was like, ‘The bat may only stay in my hands for one more swing,’ so I got lucky,” Herum said. “[Rawhide Hitting Coach Vince Harrison] threw it perfectly, and I put the barrel on it.”

The first round saw Herum take down Modesto Nuts third baseman Logan Taylor, 14-3.

Herum smashed 15 dingers in the North Division Final, edging out San Jose Giants catcher Aramis Garcia, who finished with 13 homers.

The River Falls, Wisconsin native hit the 10th and winning home run as time expired in the Championship Final.

The surprise for Herum after the Derby was the fact that he has only hit four home runs this season. Nonetheless, he said the crowd support of his hometown fans helped carry him through.

“It’s awesome having all that behind you,” Herum said. “It gives you something to build off of. I kind of found a little extra energy too in the final round. I don’t hit very many home runs in games or anything, so it’s fun to come out here and do that.”

In the All-Star Game the following day, the North defeated the South 5-3 in a back-and-forth matchup at Recreation Park.

Modesto Nuts outfielder Braden Bishop was named the Bush Most Valuable Player, going 4-for-4 with three runs and two stolen bases.

Rawhide pitcher Bo Takahashi registered the win, with Rawhide closer Bud Jeter locking down the save in the ninth inning.

Herum hit an insurance RBI to guide the North squad to victory in the seventh inning.

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