Planning is underway for the 82nd baseball season at Dwyer Stadium.
CAN-USA SPORTS has acquired the rights and lease to Dwyer Stadium to continue baseball as the Batavia Muckdogs for five years.
The team plays in the 14-team Perfect Game College Baseball League. The link to the league is pgcbl.com. Home
The 2021 season will begin at the end of May and finish the second week of August.
General admission season seats are $99.00.
VIP seating also includes in-seat food/drink service and costs $199.00.
Walk-up prices that day will range from $5 to $10.
Season tickets are on sale now, call 607-734-7825 or email mwitt.canusa@gmail.com.
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press release
BATAVIA, NY – CAN-USA Sports LLC is excited to keep a baseball stadium in Batavia after owners Robbie and Nellie Nichols acquired the rights and lease to Dwyer Stadium and plan to attract a Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League team to the city of Batavia for at least the next five years.
With minor league teams across the country being torn away from their beloved fan bases, the Nichols have stepped in to make sure the sights and sounds of baseball aren't taken from a town rich in baseball history.
Batavia dates back to May 14, 1897, playing in the New York State League as the Batavia Giants. The Batavia franchise then participated in the Pony League from 1939 to 1953, and the now-defunct New York-Penn League starting in 1957. Though the name changed over time, from Indians to Pirates to Trojans to Clippers, MuckDogs baseball remains a fixture in Batavia.
This legendary franchise has pitched 20 no-hitters, two perfect games, won four league championships and six division titles. Alumni who have played here range from World Series champions to All-Stars to NHL and NFL players. Dwyer Stadium is and will continue to be a community asset.
The Nichols family has revitalized the baseball community in Elmira, New York. Elmira's historic Dunn Field, home to their Elmira Pioneers, is not only home to baseball and the atmosphere that comes with it, but also a community giving spirit. The Pioneers are active in the community, participating in parades, hosting many special events, and giving back to the community that has given so much to the team during the season. Although they have a team here, the Nichols family is committed to making it a community ballpark. The same field where MLB hopefuls play hosts high school and Little League tournaments.
The Pioneers, also owned by Nichols, have ranked in the top 10 in the country in attendance for the past decade and plan to bring that tradition to Batavia.
“We are excited to bring the team back to Batavia, a city rich in baseball history. The field and stadium are in great condition and the stands will offer great views, which is special,” Robbie Nichols, owner of CAN-USA Sports LLC, told media members.
The crowd was packed with people cheering on the newest additions to Batavia baseball's long and illustrious history.”
The Batavia team plays in the Perfect Game College Baseball League, one of the most highly regarded summer leagues in the country. The league is made up of 14 teams: Adirondack Trail Blazers, Albany Dutchmen, Amsterdam Mohawks, Elmira Pioneers, Geneva Red Wings, Glen Falls Dragons, Jamestown Tarp Skunks, Mohawk Valley Diamond Dogs, Newark Pilots, Saugerties Stallions, Utica Blue Sox, and Watertown Rapids. Each year, many players are drafted from the PGCBL, many of whom are drafted into the MLB and play for MLB teams.
PGCBL President Robert Julian is excited to have the Batavia team join the league: “Batavia is a very important part of our league. It's a first-class baseball town with passionate fans and beautiful facilities. We are confident we can provide Batavia baseball fans with very high quality games and a great fan environment. Rob Nichols and his group are first-class operators who will provide a great overall fan experience. Welcome to Batavia!”
Season tickets are on sale now, call 607-734-7825 or email mwitt.canusa@gmail.com to reserve your seats for first pitch at Dwyer Stadium and for all fans thereafter.
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press release
BATAVIA, NY – CAN-USA Sports is pleased to announce that Muckdogs season tickets are now on sale starting at just $99 per seat – less than $4 per game.
Come see the stars of tomorrow today! Former PGCBL players include Hunter Pence, JD Martinez, Mike Fiers and many more, including several 2020 first round picks! MuckDogs alum Kyle Barrett also spent his summer in the PGCBL. All of the players who graduated from the PGCBL speak of the amazing community support and remember it all the way to the major leagues.
Get your seats ready for some great summer fun and enjoy all the great promotions happening at Dwyer Stadium. From fireworks to giveaways, it's sure to be a summer to remember. Reserve your seats now and don't miss a single pitch of the Batavia MuckDogs' inaugural season in the PGCBL.
In addition to the great support we have from our community, we also want the corporate community to support us. There are many opportunities for your company to show their support for Muck Dogs and the Batavia community. Call us at 607-734-7825 for more information.
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press release
Batavia, NY – The MuckDogs are proud to announce the completion of their initial signings for the 2021 season with the addition of Manager and Head Coach Jose (Joe) Martinez.
Martinez returns to the PGCBL after a successful stint as head coach of the Utica (NY) Blue Sox. In 2018, Joe's team finished the season with a 25-21 record. Under Martinez's leadership, the Blue Sox had five players selected to the PGCBL All-Star team and numerous players selected to the PGCBL All-League list at the end of the season. Joe's team finished third in team batting average in the PGCBL and finished the year with the most walk-off wins in a season in Blue Sox history.
In addition to his coaching work in the PGCBL, Martinez served as head instructor and assistant coach at the Frozen Ropes Baseball Academy, owner and operator of the Scorpion Baseball Academy, and assistant coach and batting instructor for the Tidewater College Summer League. As a professional player, Joe played shortstop for the Detroit Tigers for two seasons and also played in the AA Puerto Rican Winter League (1995-1996). Martinez played collegiate baseball at Manhattan Community College, where he was named All-Conference in both seasons and was voted team captain and MVP by his teammates. Joe batted .435 in his first season and .465 in his second year.
Martinez is very excited about his time in Batavia, saying, “I'm originally from the city, so coming (to Central New York) is like a homecoming party for me. This is where my baseball career began.” Martinez continued, “The PGCBL is one of the top leagues in the country. It's very well organized and very professional. The talent this league attracts is incredible. I have firm commitments and we're on the phone every day. I'm talking to players from Memphis, Princeton, Tallahassee, Montevallo, Texas and Alabama State and we're working to bring them to Batavia. This ballpark alone is a huge recruiting tool. It's a relatively new field, so it's a big selling point for me with these freshmen.”
When discussing why Batavia and CAN-USA Sports made the right decision to get back into the game, Joe said, “Robby's super professional. We've been very forthright and we're looking forward to working with him. Everyone in this league says he's doing it the right way. Hopefully this will be a long-term relationship where we can compete for championships every year.”
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press release
BATAVIA, NY – CAN-USA Sports is pleased to announce that after careful consideration, the new Batavia baseball team will continue to be known as the Batavia Muckdogs.
CAN-USA Sports considered many alternatives to pay tribute to the great community of Batavia, but after talking with the community, they learned the community loves the MuckDogs, so the name will remain at Dwyer Stadium.
Robbie Nichols, owner of CAN-USA Sports, was quick to share the story: “We considered a number of different names, but after talking with the owners, city officials and the people of Batavia, it became clear that it would be a mistake to try to change the name of a team with 20 years of history and great fans.”
The MuckDogs first took the field in 1998 and have won three division titles in 2008, 2010 and their final season in 2019. Batavia brought the league title home to Dwyer Stadium in 2008.
Genesee County Baseball Club President Brian Paris is pleased that the Batavia Muck-Dogs will continue to use the name and logo. “This familiar and beloved logo will be making a comeback this summer at Dwyer Stadium as baseball returns to Batavia. We look forward to seeing everyone at the ballpark this summer!”
Coach Nichols was quick to add, “This team has a real history of winning, and we plan to continue making that history in Batavia and make Dwyer Stadium a popular destination all summer long.”
