Thursday, May 3, 2012
With the ribbon-cutting Thursday, May 3, the Kane County Cougars' home stadium is now, officially, Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.
With the trumpeting theme song from Jurassic Park blaring and Ozzie the Cougar wielding the scissors, the blue ribbon was cut along the first-base line just before the 6 p.m. start of Thursday's ballgame between the Kane County Cougars and the Peoria Chiefs—officially the first-ever game at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark. Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns, U.S. Congressman Randy Hultgren and more than a dozen other local dignitaries from Fifth Third Bank and the Cougars front-office took part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Although fans didn't flock to the stadium, they enjoyed the usual, fantastic Cougars amenities, took advantage of the special $5.50 price per seat, dodged the raindrops and saw a terrific baseball game. The only thing that could have…
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Kane County Events & Cultural Center
33w848 Cherry Ln, Geneva, IL
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Saturday, April 28, 2012
Fifth Third Bank and the Kane County Cougars present “Strike Out Hunger,” a food-collection drive at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark on “Fifth Third Day.”
- VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
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Saturday, April 28
Fifth Third Bank and the Kane County Cougars will host a food drive at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark on Thursday, May 3, before the Kane County Cougars game against the Peoria Chiefs. Fans attending the game are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items that will benefit the Northern Illinois Food Bank. May 3 (5/3) is celebrated by the bank as “Fifth Third Day.” It was also announced that tickets for the May 3 game have been deeply discounted to $5.30 per person and are available by visiting the Cougars website at http://www.kccougars.com The food drive and discounted ticket offer are part of Fifth Third Bank’s plans to officially celebrate the renaming of the Kane County Cougars ballpark as Fifth Third Bank Ballpark. Fifth Third Bank has…
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Kirk Road and Cherry Lane, Geneva, IL
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Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Jim Roberts reflects on his 27 years heading the BHS boys basketball program. Students and coaches also share what he’s done for Batavia.
Another lengthy coaching career at Batavia High School has come to a close. Jim Roberts has resigned as head basketball coach, he and the school announced Monday. He cited family health concerns and a desire to be at home more. After 27 years, he’s the winningest coach in Batavia High School history with 455 victories. “We’re at peace with it,” Roberts, 54, said of he and his family’s decision. “We feel very fortunate.” Roberts will remain on the high-school staff as a physical education teacher. His wife Sylvia teaches in the West Aurora School District. Roberts told Batavia Patch he was OK healthwise but declined to elaborate further. He leaves behind a legacy that includes nine regional championships, two sectional titles and an Elite …
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Batavia High School
1201 Main St, Batavia, IL
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Saturday, April 21, 2012
The alumni news for the Kane County Cougars includes the American League Player of the Week.
- SPORTS
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Saturday, April 21
Kane County Cougars alumns are off to a great start in Major League Baseball so far in this early season. Minnesota outfielder Josh Willingham (’01) was named American League Player of the Week on Monday after hitting .455 with three home runs. His .419 average is tops in the AL. Arizona pitcher Trevor Cahill (’07) won his first game as a Diamondback on Sunday, a game that featured 45 MPH wind gusts and a wind chill of 33 degrees in Colorad Boston pitcher Josh Beckett (’00) opened the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park in fine fashion on Friday, picking up the win while scattering six hits over eight inning Milwaukee shortstop Alex Gonzalez (‘96) smacked a home run in his return to Atlanta last Frida Philadelphia pitcher Joe Blanton (’04) …
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Kane County Events & Cultural Center
33w848 Cherry Ln, Geneva, IL
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Thursday, April 12, 2012
School District 304 says the Illinois High School Athletic Association tested 12 Geneva athletes for steroid use.
- SCHOOLS
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Thursday, April 12
On Wednesday, April 11, 12 student athletes from Geneva High School were selected at random by the Illinois High School Association to participate in a random test for performance-enhancing drugs. This test was administered in accordance with the IHSA Performance-Enhancing Drug Testing Policy, which all student athletes and parents receive notice of and acknowledge in writing at the beginning of each sports season. Administrators at Geneva High School were notified on Monday that the school had been randomly selected as a test school and promptly turned over rosters for all sports teams. Twelve athletes were then selected at random by the IHSA to be tested. The tests administered Wednesday check only for substances banned by the IHSA. …
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Geneva Community High School
416 McKinley Ave, Geneva, IL
/articles/12-geneva-athletes-submit-to-ihsa-random-drug-test
319110
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Friday, February 17, 2012
BHS Sophomore Anthony Scaccia participated in state prelims on Thursday.
- SPORTS
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Friday, February 17
Batavia High School was represented for the 11th year in a row at the IHSA State Wrestling Tournament. Sophomore Anthony Scaccia (138 lbs) took third place at the Glenbard North Sectional last week and qualified for state. Scaccia finished the season 38-8 after an 11-2 decision against Skyler Procasky of Belleville. Scaccia fought hard to get to state, improving on a 1-1 record during the first day of sectionals to three straight victories on day two. Batavia's other sectional qualifier was sophomore Connor McKeehan (220 lbs). Scaccia and McKeehan were joined by Charlie Smorczewski (132 lbs.), Mickey Watson (195 lbs.) and Alec Lyons (heavyweight) at regionals during the top of the month. Scaccia beat the #2 seed 9-3 in the semi-finals, …
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Batavia High School
1201 Main St, Batavia, IL
/articles/batavia-wrestling-finishes-season-with-11th-straight-state-visit
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Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Plainfield resident Brian Czupryn won the Kane County Cougars' essay contest, with the prize being dinner at the Cougars stadium served by Ozzie T. Cougar
Romance will be the main course tonight for one Plainfield couple—or at least as much romance as you can conjure up in an empty baseball stadium with dinner served by an 8-foot-tall mascot named Ozzie. Brian Czupryn was the winner of the Kane County Cougars' "Valentine's Day Dinner with Ozzie" contest in which participants were asked to submit a 400-word essay on "Who is the special sweetheart in your life, and why?" Fittingly, Brian's sweetheart is wife Kristen, with whom he had his first date at a Cougars' game on April 12, 2002, the day after their high school prom. They married five years later, and now have a 1-year-old daughter. "It's going to be an interesting experience, to be by ourselves (at the empty Geneva stadium); it's like a…
41.878939
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Kane County Events & Cultural Center
33w848 Cherry Ln, Geneva, IL
/articles/valentine-s-dinner-for-two-at-an-empty-baseball-stadium-2f18f4a2
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Friday, February 3, 2012
One team is clearly popular among the Bulldogs. They also shared their picks for who should have gone to the championship game. Hint: It ain't the Bears.
- SPORTS
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Friday, February 3
So ... who's gonna win Sunday's mighty matchup? If the Batavia High School Football program has its way, it's going to be the Giants. "I'm picking the Giants because they have the superior defense and (quarterback) Eli Manning is really throwing the ball well," said senior Noel Gaspari. Batavia Patch asked Gaspari, his teammates and Football Head Coach Dennis Piron who will come out on top during this year's Super Bowl. The answers were gathered during the National Signing Day event on Feb. 1 held at the high school before first period. Seniors Cole Gardner and Alec Lyons formally committed to Eastern Michigan and Indiana State universities. The New England Patriots will take on the New York Giants in Indianapolis this Sunday for Super …
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Batavia High School
1201 Main St, Batavia, IL
/articles/super-bowl-winner-picked-by-batavia-football-players
318469
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Thursday, February 2, 2012
This Batavia High School coed team, with 25 girls and five boys, will compete in the State Finals in Bloomington starting today. This is the first time the team has qualified for state.
- SPORTS
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Thursday, February 2
Another Batavia High School team makes history this week. The Batavia High School Cheer team heads to the IHSA State Finals in Bloomington, IL today, Feb. 2, for the first time ever. The BHS team, under the direction of Hall of Fame coach Lynette Olexa, qualified on Jan. 28 at the Joliet Central sectionals against teams from throughout the State. Batavia will compete this time in the Co-ed Large school division, as this year's team includes 25 girls and five boys (pictured on this page). Competitive Cheer is one of 14 girls sports that the Illinois High School Association recognizes. The IHSA Cheer State Finals last through Feb. 4. Go Batavia!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Batavia seniors Cole Gardner and Alec Lyons signed letters of intent on Feb. 1 at the school. Here's where more seniors are going as well.
Feb. 1 was a special day for some of Batavia High School's top athletes. Seniors Cole Gardner and Alec Lyons signed National Letters of Intent at the school at about 7 a.m. on Feb. 1 to play football at their chosen universities. Gardner is headed to Eastern Michigan University and Lyons will go to Indiana State University. The two seniors were joined by their teammates, including quarterback Noel Gaspari, linebackers Sean Oroni, Austin Lewis and wide receiver Evan Zeddies as they announced they they will continue to play at the next level. "I barely slept last night," Gardner said after the signing. "Now it's great to know that it's finally all done, and I don't have to worry about it anymore. I just know I'm going to play football at …
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Batavia High School
1201 Main St, Batavia, IL
/articles/batavia-football-nat-l-letter-of-intent-day-where-are-the-dogs-going
318469
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Bob McQuillan
11:35 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
Still no one can explain how the stadium can be owned by Kane County Forest Preserve (county taxpayers) yet the minor league baseball team that leases the stadium gets to keep ALL the revenue for renaming the stadium. Named after a business, Fifth Third Bank, that doesn't pay any sales tax? Better yet, the owners of the stadium (taxpayers) don't know what Fifth Third Bank paid for the naming … more ›