Having already taken game 1 of the best-of-three series against #2 seed Bellevue, on a no-hitter by Matt DeSalvo, AVB (#3) entered game 2 with team spirits very high.  For the second consecutive night, the game was played under the lights – this time at John Herb Field.  On the arms of starter/winner Steve Swierczynski and relievers Louis Kern and Sean Grieve, AVB handed Bellevue their second and final loss of the series, 8-5, which places AVB in the championship round against St. John’s (#1).  Not to be overlooked were the defense and offense of AVB, which proved superb.  The first 4 batters in AVB’s lineup (Josh Logan [CF], Ryan Dukovich [1B], Dan Thomas [3B], and Randy Chiquelin [DH]) did most of the damage: They batted a combined 7 for 15, with 6 RBI, 3 BB, 2 triples, and a homerun.  In the bottom of the eighth, Kyle Law (LF) hit a massive homerun to finish the scoring for AVB. Game 1 of the Championship series will be held Wednesday evening at 7:00pm at Burkett Field (in Robinson).  GO AVB!

Playing #2 seed Bellevue under the lights at Burkett Field on Monday night, Matt DeSalvo threw a no hitter for AVB (#3), giving up only two walks – while striking out 16.  AVB scored the only run of the game in the top of the 7th. With two outs, Erik Fichter (C) worked out a walk.  Kyle Law (LF) then singled Fichter to second, bringing up Ryan Fazio (2B), the other star of the night — both offensively and defensively. Fazio  lined a single to right field, scoring Fichter with the only run of the game.

Game two of this best-of-three series continues Tuesday night at John Herb Field at 8:30pm.  See you then.  GO AVB!

Dukovich brothers – Ryan and Mike – Instrumental in Win.

After earning the 3rd seed in the 2010 Fed League Playoffs, with a record of 16-8, AVB took on 6th seeded Elliott. With no scoring by either team through the first 5 innings, on clutch pitching by AVB starting and winning pitcher Mike Dukovich and Elliott starting pitcher Schumacher, Ryan Dukovich (1B) led off the bottom of the 6th with a homerun. In the top of the 8th, Elliott tied the score. Not to be undone, AVB answered with the deciding 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th on singles by Eddie Skonieczny (SS) and Ryan Dukovich and a 2-RBI single by John Kobler (RF). Sean Grieve earned the save with a 3-strikeout 9th inning.

There were only 10 hits between the 2 teams, and the 5 pitchers between the 2 teams recorded an astounding 32 strikeouts.

On Friday, the River Bandits (#4) defeated C.I.T. (#5).

These events will now pair AVB (#3) against Bellevue (#2); and St. John’s (#1) against the River Bandits (#4). The first game of AVB’s best-of-3 series will begin at 10:30am on Sunday, July 25th at North Hills H.S. GOOD LUCK AVB!

Enters Playoffs as Third Seed. With playoff seeding position on the line, AVB posted three consecutive wins – against Bellevue (second seed), Ohio Valley, and East End — to end their 2010 regular season. The top two seeds – St. John’s and Bellevue – receive a first-round bye.  As of this moment, it appears that AVB will face #6 seed Elliott, while the River Bandits will face C.I.T.  AVB lost the season series to Elliott 2-1, but Head Coach Kevin Giza is confident that AVB has come a long way since their final game against Elliott: “Our guys are playing at a very high level right now!”

7/21 AVB 6- East End 1 (record, 16-8)

7/19 AVB 8- Ohio Valley 1 (record, 15-8) 

7/18-AVB10- Bellevue 3 (record, 14-8)

Since July 4th Break, AVB Goes 1-3. AVB’s post-Independence Day BASH at Alioto’s (a gracious sponsor of AVB) was a huge success! Thanks to all who attended! Since our summer-break update, AVB has faced some excellent pitching. Except for a 15-3 win over Ohio Valley, your AVB team has dropped two games to Bellevue and a contest to the River Bandits. Thus far, AVB has taken the season series from CIT and All American (both, 3 games to none); the River Bandits (2-1); and East End (2-0; a makeup game remaining). Your AVB team takes on St. John’s in the final regularly scheduled game of the 2010 season. Make-up games of previously postponed contests will be held against St. John’s, Ohio Valley, and East End. Thanks so much to our “Fabulous Fan Following.” Keep ‘em comin’.

7/8 – Bellevue 12 – AVB 0 (record, 12-6)

7/7 – Bellevue 3 – AVB 1 (record, 12-5)

AVB Enters Summer Break at 12-4, Tied for 1st Place.

Since our last update, AVB has gone 3-3 through a rough part of their season schedule.
In addition, the team’s Board of Directors attended the 3rd annual John Challis Courage for Life golf outing and dinner.

AVB Enters Summer Break at 12-4, Tied for 1st Place. Since our last update, AVB has gone 3-3 through a rough part of their season schedule. In addition, the team’s Board of Directors attended the 3rd annual John Challis Courage for Life golf outing and dinner.

In a seesaw battle at the LaRoche College field, AVB scored a run in the first inning when Josh Logan scored from second base (following a stolen base) on an RBI single by Randy Chiquelin. The River Bandits countered with two runs each in the second and seventh innings, putting AVB down 4-1. In the bottom of the seventh, AVB scored three times on singles by Eric Fichter and Ryan Fazio, and an RBI double by Logan and an RBI single by Craig Huhn, to tie the score at 4-4. The River Bandits answered with a run in the top of the eighth to go up 5-4. But AVB’s resilient spirit came through: With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Jeff Schellhammer was hit by a pitch, which was followed by an RBI double by Fichter and the game-winning RBI single by Fazio. Relief pitcher John Kobler shut the door on the River Bandits in the top of the ninth for the win. The hero on offense for the day for AVB was Eric Fichter, who went 4 for 4, with three doubles, two runs scored, and an RBI. Starting pitcher Louis Kern went the first six innings, giving up only two runs and four hits.

6/27 – AVB 17-All American 1 (record, 10-3)

6/24 – AVB 6-All American 4 (record, 11-3)

6/26 – Elliott 12-AVB 1 (record, 9-3)

6/23 – vs. East End POSTPONED

6/22 – St. John’s 11-AVB 4 (record, 9-2)

With the distinct possibility of a “Saturday-Sunday washout,”
AVB had perhaps the best weekend in franchise history:

Saturday, June 12th
A heart-warming morning visit to the Miracle League in Cranberry
Triumphing over Elliott, 10-5 (4-1), with Eric Temple starring

Sunday, June 13th
A decisive morning victory over East End, 8-1 (5-1), with 21 AVBers seeing game action
Former Major Leaguer Matt DeSalvo spearheading an inspiring AVB “pitching clinic”
Beating St. John’s 6-0 (6-1) in the evening behind a 10-strikeout performance by Matt DeSalvo, and excellent defense and timely hitting by AVB.

Following two cancelled games (St. John’s on Wed. and Ohio Valley on Sat.), AVB, behind outstanding starting pitching by Louis Kern, handed rival River Bandits a decisive 7-1 loss on Sunday. In five innings, Kern struck out seven, while giving up only three hits and two walks. Mike Dukovich earned the save. The “hit parade” was led by Ryan Dukovich and Josh Logan (each with three hits and an RBI), and Randy Chiquelin and Craig Huhn (each with two hits and two RBIs); not to mention Erik Fichter, who absorbed two hit batsmen. A GREAT Victory!

Facing a talented Elliott team on Saturday evening at Herschel Field, including an excellent performance by their pitcher, Matt Barnes, AVB dropped their first game of the 2010 season, 10-1. Not lost in this loss was the two-for-three batting night turned in by Ryan Dukovich, which included a booming triple. It also included an acrobatic catch of a line drive by AVB shortstop Eddie Skonieczny. Not to be deterred by the previous night’s loss, Sunday’s contest against East End, one of the year’s new teams, ended with a 12-3 victory by AVB. Highlights for the hot day at Mellon Park included an excellent start by Louis Kern, who pitched four innings, giving up just two runs while garnering nine strikeouts. AVB is 2-1 to date.

The waiting was over and the countdown clock was down to all zeros when 2010’s AVB
team took to the diamond at John Herb Field on Wednesday (5/26). Pounding out
11 hits, AVB scored a season-opening victory against a vastly improved team from C.I.T.
AVB’s three pitchers (including AVB veteran and starting pitcher Mike Dukovich) combined to allow
C.I.T. just four hits, while striking out 11. On the offense, Craig Huhn (3B), John Kobler (1B),
Eric Fichter (C), and Josh Logan (LF) each had two hits, and Ryan Dukovich racked up two RBI.