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Aces Complete Coaching Staff for 2013
DeSilva retains Hirsch, hires Neal and Kemp.
Alexandria, VA — Since being hired as the head coach in August of 2012, David DeSilva has been building his team. His philosophy is centered around player development. His goal is to create a sustainable winning environment in Alexandria. He’s added depth to the pitching staff and speed to the order, while compiling a roster that he feels will be the most competitive in franchise history. With the roster complete, DeSilva needed to compliment his players with the appropriate staff. He is excited to announce the hiring of 3 coaches for 2013. DeSilva and the Aces will retain 2012 first base coach Andrew Hirsch as well introduce two new members to the staff; Shaughn Neal and Kyle Kemp.
Andrew Hirsch: Hirsch enters his second year with the Aces. Originally from Falls Church, Hirsch proved to be a valuable asset to the Aces in 2012, as he served as the first base coach. He began his coaching career as an Assistant Coach at the St. Albans School in Washington, D.C. in the spring of 2012 and spent the 2013 season as an Assistant Coach at Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, PA. DeSilva and the Aces are excited to have Andrew back on the staff.
Shaughn Neal: Shaughn is entering his first year with the Aces and is originally from Charlotte, NC. He earned a baseball and academic scholarship to Wingate University where he started all four years as a second baseman for the Bulldogs. After graduation he started his coaching career with On Deck Baseball Skills Development Academy in Charlotte. Shaughn has played professionally in Reno for Silver Sox of the Golden Baseball League. Currently, Shaughn plays, lives, and works in Chapel Hill. He is the head Junior Varsity coach and infield specialist at East Chapel Hill High School.
Kyle Kemp: Originally from Fredericksburg, VA this will be Kemp’s first season with the Aces program. Kyle played four years at Lake Erie College in Painesville, OH where he competed in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and helped break the school record for wins 4 years in a row and lead LEC to its first GLIAC tournament berth and regional ranking. He is currently the head JV coach for Riverside High School in Painesville, OH. DeSilva is looking forward to the contributions Kyle will bring to the staff this summer.
Corey Haines Earns Promotion
Parts ways with Aces to focus on new position
ALEXANDRIA – Former Aces’ Head Coach Corey Haines, who guided the Aces for the past two seasons, received a promotion at Shippensburg University for the 2013 season, which has forced the Aces and Haines to go their separate ways. Haines was a Volunteer Assistant Coach at Shippensburg in 2012, but with the promotion, he will now have to dedicate more time to the position, meaning he can’t return to the Aces in 2013. The Aces have promoted assistant coach David DeSilva to Head Coach for 2013.
Haines was the Head Coach with the Aces for two seasons, starting in 2011. After a 16-25 record his first season, Haines led the Aces to a franchise best 20 wins and the organizations first ever playoff appearance in 2012. The Aces were eliminated in the first round by the Bethesda Big Train.
David DeSilva Named Head Coach
Last year’s assistant coach takes over top spot
ALEXANDRIA – The Alexandria Aces have announced today that David DeSilva will be named the new Head Coach for the 2013 season. He replaces Corey Haines, who was the Head Coach for the past two seasons, and led the Aces to their best season in 2012, making the playoffs for the first time in team history. DeSilva was instrumental in helping the team make the playoffs this past season, as he served as the assistant/third base coach under Haines.
DeSilva will look to build on last season’s success heading into 2013. He will begin recruiting for next year’s roster immediately. DeSilva states, “My main focus is player development and creating a sustainable winning culture within the Aces organization.” He says, “My job is to help athletes improve their skills and abilities both mentally and physically. Each player will have an individualized development plan and we will work to leverage player’s strengths and improve areas of weakness.”
DeSilva played collegiately at Mars Hill College, where he was a three year starter, two-time team captain, and compiled a career batting average of .313. David graduated from Mars Hill in 2008 with a Bachelors degree in Sports Management and Business. Read more
Aces Fall to Big Train 3-2
Season ends in first round playoff loss
BETHESDA, MD – by Lukas Favale – Playing in their first playoff game in team history, the Alexandria Aces needed to play a near perfect game if they wanted to get past the 3-time defending league champion Bethesda Big Train. The Aces very nearly did that, but one sloppy inning sent the Aces packing and the Big Train to the next round as the Big Train slipped by the Aces 3-2 Saturday night at Shirley Povich Field.
In the decisive 8th inning, Hunter Renfroe, who put together arguably the best regular season for an individual player in league history, started the inning by reaching on an error by shortstop Keith Picconi. Colin Kish then followed by failing to get a bunt down, but after bunting and missing with two strikes on a pitch in the dirt from Ronnie Glenn, Renfroe tried to scamper to second. Catcher Nick Octavi threw an errant throw to second which allowed Renfroe to move all the way to third. Avondre Bollar than knocked in Renfroe with a looping RBI single to tie the game at 2. Cole Norton then belted an RBI double to put the Big Train ahead for good 3-2.
The Aces had retaken the lead in the 6th inning. Anthony Papio started the inning with a walk, and Alex Buccilli followed with a walk of his own. Chris Sweeney then flew out to right field, but just deep enough to allow Papio to get to third. Ryan Doran then balked, which allowed Papio to score to put the Aces up 2-1. Read more
Aces Face Big Train in Playoff Opener
Aces look to dethrone 3-time defending champs on Saturday
ALEXANDRIA – by Lukas Favale – The Aces begin their quest for their first league championship in franchise history Saturday night at 7:30PM against the Bethesda Big Train in Bethesda. The Aces made the playoffs as the 6th seed, while the Big Train, who have won three straight league championships, enter as the 3rd seed.
In the regular season, the two teams split their 4 meetings. The Aces won the first meeting of the year 7-6 on June 15th. On June 25th, the Big Train scored 2 9th inning runs to beat the Aces 4-3. Both of those games were played in Alexandria. In the two games in Bethesda, the Aces won the 6-3 on July 16th. Then two days later, the Big Train overcame an early deficit to beat the Aces 4-3 with a walk off hit in the 9th inning.
Come out and support the Aces in their quest for a championship at Shirley Povich Field in Bethesda. Tickets can be purchased at the main gate, or by following this link. Click here for directions to Shirley Povich Field. Coverage can also be heard on the Aces Radio Network starting just before 7:30 and that can be found here.
Aces Clinch 1st Playoff Spot in Franchise History
Open playoff against either the Big Train or River Dogs on Saturday
ALEXANDRIA – by Lukas Favale – Just hours after the Alexandria Aces took care of business by blowing out the Youse’s Orioles 12-2 Thursday night, they got better news learning that the DC Grays were swept in their double header with the Southern Maryland Nationals. With that, the Aces clinched their first playoff spot in the team’s 5-year history in the Cal Ripken League.
The Aces regular season is over, finishing the year at 20-21, and they will either finish as the 5th seed or the 6th seed in the playoffs, depending on what the Orioles do today in a double header with the Braves. If the Orioles win just one out of the two games, the Aces will finish 6th and play the Bethesda Big Train in a single elimination playoff game Saturday night in Bethesda.
Aces Blast Orioles 12-2
Aces blitz O’s in weather shortened game
ABERDEEN, MD – by Lukas Favale – Thursday night’s game between the Alexandria Aces and the Youse’s Orioles was a must win for the Aces, and that showed on the field. They built an early, insurmountable lead, then hurried the game along to complete five innings just ahead of a fast approaching storm. And with that, the Aces blew away the Orioles 12-2 in a crucial game for the Aces playoff chances.
The Aces wasted absolutely no time jumping out in front. Adam Forrer lined the first pitch of the game into right field for a single. Anthony Papio then hit into a fielder’s choice, but an errant throw by second baseman Mikal Hill allowed Forrer to reach second safely. Alex Buccilli walked to load the bases with no outs.
Mac Gill, the Orioles starter, threw a wild pitch, scoring Forrer, before Chris Sweeney hit an RBI single for a 2-0 lead. Kevin Francke then smashed a 3-run home run right down the right field line to put the Aces up 5-0. The next batter, Jacob Stockton, followed with a solo home run to give the Aces a 6-0 lead. Read more
Aces Lose to Grays in Extra Innings
Grays walk off win is a crushing blow to Aces playoff chances
WASHINGTON, DC – by Lukas Favale – In what has been an up and down roller coaster season for the Alexandria Aces, Wednesday night’s 8-7 loss to the DC Grays in 10 innings may have been the toughest pill to swallow. One day after coughing up a one run lead in the 9th inning to the Grays, the Aces blew a 4-0 lead in this one as they dropped their second in a row to fall outside playoff position with just 2 games left in the season.
The game had just a bit of everything, both good and bad, including an ejection, a few arguments, and of course a walk off hit for the Grays. With Steven Schuler in to pitch in the 10th, Zach Lopes led off the inning with a single. The next batter Blake Overmiller then tried to lay down a bunt with two strikes, but he popped it up to Schuler. Schuler appeared to intentionally let the ball drop at the last second to try and get a double play, but he threw the ball past Chris Sweeney at first and both runners were safe.
Mike Genovese then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third. After Schuler intentionally walked John Beaubien, Josh Powell lined a walk off RBI single over the head of Anthony Papio in right field to send the Grays to an 8-7 win. Read more
Aces Slip Up Against Grays
Bullpen coughs up lead to snap Aces 3 game winning streak
ALEXANDRIA – by Lukas Favale – In a game that held huge playoff implications, the Alexandria Aces let a lot of opportunities get away from them, and then saw he bullpen give away multiple leads as they fell to the DC Grays 7-6 Tuesday night. The Grays overcame a 6-5 deficit in the 9th inning to get the win and pull within a 1/2 game of the Aces and Youse’s Orioles for the final playoff spot.
In the 9th, with the Aces closer Nick Marics on, Zach Lopes drew a lead off walk, after falling behind in the count 0-2. Blake Overmiller then laid down a bunt to try and move Lopes into scoring position, and as Marics fielded the bunt and tried to throw to second to get Lopes, he slipped and he threw the ball into center field. Lopes moved to third, and then a passed ball moved Overmiller to second with Mike Genovese at the plate.
Genovese delivered a 2-run single into center field for the Grays to put them ahead 7-6 as Marics picked up the blown save. After giving up another hit, Marics got out of further trouble by getting a double play and pop out to end the inning. Read more
