By BILLY HEYEN Rayson Miller's 2018 season ended in the state championship series, two wins shy of a title. The shortcoming was due in part to the pitching demands placed on a team coming out of the losers' bracket. This year, RM head coach Tom Sapienza didn't want to face that issue again, so he loaded up with even more talented arms than a year ago. Of course, Rayson … [Read more...] about Rayson Miller’s pitching plan gets put to final test as RM falls to losers’ bracket
Rayson Miller’s veterans come through for 4-1 win in state tourney opener
By BILLY HEYEN The last time Lukas Haefner and Owen VanNewkirk played at Murnane Field in Utica, the outcome wasn't what they wanted. They posed with a second-place trophy, Haefner's arms crossed and no emotion on his face. VanNewkirk tucked himself into the back row, not making an effort to be prominently pictured. With Rayson Miller back at the state tournament for the … [Read more...] about Rayson Miller’s veterans come through for 4-1 win in state tourney opener
Heyen: 9 lessons I’ve learned from two seasons of covering Rayson Miller
By BILLY HEYEN Rayson Miller Post 899 heads to the American Legion baseball state tournament in Utica this weekend. It’s the second-straight year at states for RM. As the prominence of Legion ball in Rochester has declined, Rayson Miller has remained a beacon of what it’s all about. Last year, I was able to go and cover states, and I followed RM for much of the last two … [Read more...] about Heyen: 9 lessons I’ve learned from two seasons of covering Rayson Miller
Webster Little League advances to regionals on Kelly’s walk-off slam
By BILLY HEYEN PENFIELD, N.Y. — As Jack Kelly strolled to the plate with the bases loaded and a 10-run rule possibility at hand, his third base coach had three simple words for him. "It's your time." Kelly, who'd pitched a strong complete game to that point, delivered a walk-off grand slam over the tall leftfield fence. His teammates on the base paths raised their arms … [Read more...] about Webster Little League advances to regionals on Kelly’s walk-off slam
Heyen: Letter to my 10-years younger self
Dear Billy, It’s me (or you?) saying hello from 10 years in the future. How was Bob Matthews’ column in the Democrat and Chronicle this morning? Read it even closer than you usually do. There might be some columns in your future. You’d probably like to know all about what comes next. And I’ll get to some of that, but we’re gonna skip some of the middle stuff. This letter … [Read more...] about Heyen: Letter to my 10-years younger self