​The DC Grays want to thank our fans, host families and sponsors for a great 2016 season.  While our 14-26 record wasn’t what we hoped for, the Grays had many great successes.  We had more sponsors and host families than ever before, and we had the highest attendance we’ve ever had.  We hosted more than 400 kids at our six free clinics, and we launched our DC Grays RBI program to help revive baseball in Washington DC.  DC Grays RBI sponsored five baseball and two softball teams this summer, and more than 150 kids from all over Washington played DC Grays RBI baseball in our first season.  Three of those teams went on to represent Washington, DC in the Mid-Atlantic RBI Tournament last week.  It was a great summer for DC Grays Baseball, and we want to thank everyone who helped make it such a great success!

​GAME RECAP (7/23/16)

DCGrays.com Press: Josh Shelton

While Friday night was the final game of the DC Grays 2016 season, they rallied one last time to give the fans a show. On Fan Appreciation Night at the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy, the Grays trounced the visiting Baltimore Dodgers 11-2 to finish the season with a 14-26 record.

The bats were popping early and often, with 1B Tyler Thomas (Shepherd) launching a two-run homer to score 3B Marques Inman (West Virginia) in the first inning. In the following inning, the Grays put up six more runs with the exclamation point coming from DH Zach McCrum (Eastern Kentucky) who clobbered a three-run dinger with two outs. McCrum would add to his RBI total in the fourth with a single that scored Inman from third. Thomas also went yard in the sixth inning with his second two-run home run of the night on a 1-1 fastball.

Grays starting pitcher Simon Rosenblum-Larson (Harvard) threw exceptionally, throwing seven innings while allowing one run on four hits, all while fanning seven Dodgers batters. Kasey Gast (Chesapeake College) pitched a scoreless eighth and Marlon Pruitt (Grambling) allowed one run in the ninth.

In a season that didn’t quite live up to expectations, Friday’s win was a great way for the Grays to end the season. For a team with great chemistry throughout the ups and downs of a difficult summer, the friendships and memories made will last a lifetime.

​GAME RECAP (7/20/2016)

DCGrays.com Press: Josh Shelton

Gloves, bats and arms seemed to all be on the same page for the DC Grays in the regularly scheduled nine inning game against the Vienna River Dogs on Wednesday night in Washington. With excellent pitching, two homers from an expected spot, and a defensive clinic at second base, the Grays cruised to a 4-1 win. The Grays moved to 12-25 with the win. While mathematically out of a playoff berth, the Grays can play the villain against their remaining opponents.

Starter Bryan Quillens (Eastern Kentucky) isn’t accustomed to being the first pitcher in the game, but he performed exceptionally in this new role. Quillens had a no hitter through six and a third innings before giving up two consecutive hits (the only two of his start) and a single earned run. In his seven innings of work, he also recorded eight strikeouts before being replaced by reliever Evan Jordan (Southeastern Louisiana). Jordan pitched two scoreless innings in relief.

On the other side of the diamond, the Grays outplayed the River Dogs throughout the entire game. DH Drake Hollingsworth (Alabama-Huntsville) had a two run double in the third inning and the Grays never looked back. In the next inning, C Evan Pace led off with a solo home run to left to push the lead to 3-0. Pace wasn’t done – in the bottom of the eighth he hit another scorcher of a homer over the left-center fence, all but winning the game.

On defense, one player shone brighter than any other. 2B Eric Sloper (Shepherd) flashed the leather with ease Wednesday night. He added an exclamation point to his defensive performance in the eighth with a diving, twisting catch in shallow center to rob River Dog’s Owen Socher of a base hit for the second straight at bat.

The Grays will try and finish the season on a high note as they play a seven-inning double header against the Herndon Braves Thursday at the Washington Nationals Youth Academy. First pitch for the first game will be at 5:00pm and the second game will begin 30 minutes following the final out of the first game.

​There have been a few changes to the Grays schedule this week. On Wednesday (7/20) the Grays will resume their suspended game against the Riverdogs at 6:00pm. The Riverdogs lead the Grays 6-0 in the top of the sixth inning of a seven inning game. Thirty minutes after the end of the suspended game, the Grays will take on the Riverdogs in a regular nine inning game.

In addition to the first change, there will also be a home double header on Thursday (7/21) against the Herndon Braves. Game one will begin at 5:00pm and will be a seven inning game. Game two will start at 7:30pm or 30 minutes after the end of game one, it will be a seven inning game as well.

The Grays will complete their season at home Friday night against the Baltimore Dodgers at 7:00pm. Friday night will also be “Fan Appreciation Night” where every fan in attendance will receive free DC Grays merchandise!

​GAME RECAP (Grays vs Aces) 7/18/2016

By: DCGRAYS.com Press: Blane Crouse

The Grays defeated the Alexandria Aces 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy, a much needed win after a series of close losses. Offense was scarce as both teams combined for only 13 hits and three runs.

The Aces scored first on a Grays error in the top of the second, but the Grays shut them down the rest of the game.

The Grays tied the game in the bottom of the fourth as 3B Marques Inman (West Virginia) hit a sacrifice fly to score RF Lamar Briggs (Jackson St) who had reached on a single earlier in the inning. The Grays then took the lead when C Evan Pace (SE Louisiana) singled to score LF Jawan McAllister (Pittsburgh) who had doubled earlier in the inning.

Two runs would be all the Grays needed and their pitching shut down the Aces. LHP Jacob Erikson (San Diego St) got the win, going five innings and allowing only four hits and one run. RHP Matthew Dalke (SE Louisiana) was outstanding in relief going four innings, allowing only two hits and no runs while striking out three. Briggs went 2-4 with a run scored and Pace went 2-3 with an RBI to lead the Grays.

Next up the Grays will take on the Braves in Herndon on Monday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00pm.

​GAME RECAP (Grays at Redbirds) 7/16/2016

By: DCGRAYS.com Press: Josh Shelton

The DC Grays and Baltimore Redbirds only got through eight innings of play Saturday night before it was suspended due toto a time limit at the Redbirds field. Through eight innings of play the Grays trailed 2-4 to the league leading Redbirds. Starter Simon Rosenblum-Larson (Harvard) went six innings, allowed two runs and struck out nine Redbird batters.

​The DC Grays are preparing for a busy Sunday afternoon at the Washington  Nationals Youth Baseball Academy, with a lot of fun activities on tap before the 1:00pm game between the Grays and the Alexandria Aces.
The team will be honoring its many wonderful host families in a ceremony before the game, and Tim Shovers, producer of Thom Loverro’s new Cigars and Curveballs podcast, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.  Loverro, a longtime board member of DC Grays Baseball and an award winning sports writer and radio personality, will be in attendance to talk about the Grays and other sports topics with Grays fans. Listen to the podcast here http://goo.gl/rqu7KG!
The Grays will also be celebrating their new DC Grays RBI program to promote baseball in inner-city Washington.  The DC Grays RBI boys 15 and under team will be honored at the game as well, along with their coaches – DC Grays board member Brad Burris, Jabari Graham and Cory Jordan.  The kids will spend time with Grays players in the dugout before the game and will go out with the Grays players for the National Anthem.
Come to the Academy early tomorrow to get in on the fun!

​GAME RECAP (Grays at Braves) 7/15/2016

By: DCGRAYS.com Press: Blane Crouse

The Grays suffered their 7th straight loss in a 7-5 defeat at the hands of the Herndon Braves. The loss drops the Grays to 10-23 and 5.5 games out of a playoff spot with seven games to go.
The Grays led early but fell behind after some defensive miscues. Going into the top of the ninth the Grays trailed by two runs and had the top of their lineup coming up. RF Lamar Briggs (Jackson St) led off the inning with a single. CF Jawan McAllister (Pittsburgh) followed that up with a double moving Briggs to third. With two men in scoring position the Grays recorded three straight outs and the game was over.
Starting pitcher David Giusti (Lafayette) was solid going 5.1 innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out seven. 1B Tyler Thomas (Shepherd) went 4-5 with a run scored and his college teammate 2B Eric Sloper went 2-4 and also scored a run.
Next up the Grays go on the road to take on the Redbirds Saturday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30pm.

​GAME RECAP (Grays vs T-Bolts) 7/14/2016

By: DCGRAYS.com Press: Josh Shelton

The game seemed all but won Thursday night at the Washington National Youth Baseball Academy, as the DC Grays cruised into the eighth inning with a 4-1 lead and the hard throwing reliever Bryan Quillens (Eastern Kentucky) taking the mound.  The visiting Silver Spring-Takoma T-Bolts, however, had a different idea.  They scored five runs in the eighth to ultimately earn themselves the win 6-4, sinking the Grays even deeper into last place with a 10-22 record.

Starter Bo Burrup (Brigham Young) was stellar in his outing, going six innings allowing one run on three hits, while recording eight strikeouts.  He tired in the seventh and exited after allowing a lead-off homerun.  Reliever Evan Jordan (Southeastern Louisiana) closed out the inning without further damage.

In the eighth, however, Quillens struggled with his command, only throwing 13 strikes in 26 pitches and allowing four runs (two earned).  Quillens only lasted a third of an inning before getting pulled and was replaced by ace Jake Erikson (San Diego St.).  He gave up an unearned run on three hits before retiring two batters to get out of the dreadful eighth.

The four runs of offense came in the fourth and fifth innings (two in each), but were not enough with the T-Bolts outscoring the Grays in a single inning.  3B Marques Inman (West Virginia) recorded the only RBI of the game for the Grays in the fifth with a single that scored LF Lamar Briggs (Jackson St.) from second.

The Grays will attempt to pull out of their tailspin Friday night, as they travel to Herndon to take on the Braves and try to snap a six game losing streak.

​This summer, DC Grays Baseball rejuvenated MLB’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program for Washington, DC – forming DC Grays RBI and providing free youth baseball and softball opportunities for kids across the District.  As part of this mission, DC Grays RBI is proud to welcome Ward 7 Baseball, a four-team summer youth baseball league for boys and girls ages 8-13.

 DC Grays RBI was originally founded with the idea of offering free summer baseball and softball opportunities for high-end play for middle school and high school age kids.  By adding Ward 7 Baseball to DC Grays RBI, the program now has offerings for boys and girls across all age groups.

 The photos below are from last night’s Ward 7 Baseball game at the baseball field at the Fort Davis Recreation Center in Southeast.

 “We are proud to be working with Ward 7 Baseball,” said Mike Barbera, President of DC Grays Baseball.  “They are a great addition to DC Grays RBI.  As these kids grow and learn the game, we hope that they will play on our other RBI teams for older kids – and that they will be a part of DC Grays RBI for many years.”

 “We are so grateful to be part of DC Grays RBI,”  said Jason Medina, the founder and commissioner of Ward 7 Baseball.   “They have gave given us so much support and encouragement, and they have provided our kids with new uniforms, hats and equipment.  Being part of DC Grays RBI will allow us to grow our program and reach even more kids.