NIAGARA METROS "AAA" MAJOR BASEBALL CLUB 2012

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Welcome to our website!  You are visiting the home of the Niagara Metros of the Central Ontario "AAA" Major Baseball League.  Since 1985, we've been the home for Elite Senior baseball in the Niagara region.
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CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE NIAGARA METROS ARCHIVE AREA - 27 YEARS OF METROS STATS, PICTURES, STORIES AND HISTORY.

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What's New?

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Wednesday, April 30, 2008

METROS HOSTING EXHIBITION GAME
The St. Catharines Metros continue to practice in preparation for their 2008 campaign, which begins on Saturday, May 10 in Milton.  The next practice is Thursday at 6:00 PM.  Many of the "college boys" are expected to return from the U.S. in the next couple of weeks, to round out what looks to be a very competitive roster.  That final roster will be announced next week. 
 
The Metros are hosting the Burlington Brants, this coming Saturday, May 3rd for an exhibition game at Community Park.  The game is part of the Niagara Umpires clinic, happening all weekend at Community and MacKenzie Parks.  As the umpires get to evaluate each other, so too will the Metros and Brants, in preparation for the season.  Game time on Saturday is 1:00. 
10:31 am | link 

Sunday, April 27, 2008

CONGRATULATIONS, BRAD AND KELLY
The St. Catharines Metros "family" got a little bigger on Thursday...and Brad and Kelly Namtzu added a shortstop to their "double play combo". 
 
At 7:55 PM (perfect timing for missing the practice, Brad) Kelly gave birth to a healthy and happy 8 pound, 7 ounce baby girl.  The couple have named her Taylor Nichole, and both mommy and baby are doing great. 
 
Its the second daughter for the Namtzus and a baby sister for Kylie.  Once again, congrats, guys!
 
11:21 am | link 

Thursday, April 24, 2008

WAY TO GO, JASON!
Metros' lefthanded starter Jason Ermers is having quite a spring!  Ermers, who calls Benedictine College in Kansas his other home team, is putting up numbers that could qualify him for All-Conference status.  Benedictine plays in the Heart of America Conference of the NAIA Collegiate Baseball Association, and although the team, with a record of 14-23, is not having a particulary great season, Mr. Ermers is. 
 
As of April 23, Jason was leading the Ravens in Games Appeared with 11 and Innings Pitched with 46.  He has compiled a 3-4 Won-Loss Record with a team-leading 3.13 E.R.A., and his 45 Strikeouts also leads the club.  If you add in an impressive 14 Walks Allowed, his K/BB ratio is 3.2 to 1.  Finally, Jason has allowed the opposition a very stingy .258 Batting Average. 
 
The lefty ace had his best outing of the spring this past Saturday, as he threw a complete game 5-hitter, in an 8-1 victory over MidAmerica Nazarene University.  He walked 2 and struck out 15!! 
 
Great job, Mr. Ermers.  We look forward to seeing you in mid-May!
 
5:03 pm | link 

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

MOTHER NATURE COOPERATES
The St. Catharines Metros got a break from Mother Nature this past week, and managed to have two excellent practices - outdoors...to get the 2008 season underway.  Last night at Dempsey Park, the turnout was very good and the team got some much needed infield and outfield defensive work in, as well as a few rips at real baseballs (not wiffle balls).  The outdoor workouts will continue Thursday at Dempsey...6:00 PM. 
 
The schedule will continue on a Saturday, Monday, Thursday pattern for two more weeks, until the regular COBA season begins (for St. Catharines) on May the 10th in Milton.  In addition, the Metros are scheduled to play an exhibition game with the Burlington Brants on Saturday, May 3 at Community Park, as part of the Niagara District Umpires clinic going on there all weekend.  Game time for that one is 1:00.
 
By the way, we posted some new pictures here on the website.  A few shots of our final indoor workout at Thorold High School.  Check the "Photo Album" link...to the left of this page.  
 
Finally, we have a new feature movie clip for you to enjoy, to take you up to the start of the season.  It is a very interesting and funny bit by comedian George Carlin...as he compares the technical and war-like merits of Football vs. the pastoral and laid-back merits of Baseball.  It's 5 minutes of pure genius as he takes a look at two of our favourite sports.  Enjoy...  
11:04 am | link 

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

METROS LOOKING TO MOVE OUTSIDE!
The St. Catharines Metros are ready to shake off the winter rust, and really "air out" their workouts in preparation for the 2008 season.  The possible final indoor workout will take place this evening at Thorold High School.  The starting time is 8:30.  Then, if Mother Nature cooperates, the team will move outside, for that long-awaited first outdoor workout.  The schedule for the outdoor workouts for the next week, or so, is as follows:
 
Saturday, April 19 - 1:00 to 3:00
Monday, April 21 - 6:00 to 8:00
Thursday, April 24 - 6:00 to 8:00
 
All of the preceeding practices will be at Dempsey Park, at the end of Rockwood Ave., in St. Catharines.
 
If the weather doesn't cooperate and the first couple of practices don't happen, we will have one more indoor workout, next Tuesday, April 22 - 8:30 at Thorold H.S.  But the Metros are really hoping that the weather is warm and dry, so they can finally get 2008 underway.
 
All prospective players are asked to contact any of the 4-man Coaching Staff, if they can't make an outdoor practice.  See you on the field! 
10:07 am | link 

Friday, April 11, 2008

A NEW METROS FEATURE FILM
Just to lighten the mood for the next couple of weeks, the St. Catharines Metros are happy to present a scene from one of the most beloved baseball movies of all time.  "The Sandlot" features a bunch of unknown kids as they recount their teenage days playing ball down at the sandlot, in the 1970's. 
 
The story concerns a newcomer to the neighbourhood, and his struggle to be accepted, despite the fact that he's not the best player, and even worse...doesn't know too much about the game.  It's a loveable look back for everyone who played the game as a kid. 
 
Our scene is a classic.  It's all about the boy's first experiment with chewing tobbacco.  Here's a tip...never dip...at least not before going on a carnival fun ride!  Scroll to the bottom of the page and press "play", to see a great clip.
10:08 am | link 

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

MINOR CHANGES TO SCHEDULE AND PLAYOFFS
As mentioned last week, the COBA Major Baseball League ran into a series of problems, when the Clarkson franchise, which had joined the league just two weeks earlier, decided to fold before holding their first practice.  Their withdrawl caused a series of scheduling issues and playoff format conotations.  Well, the COBA executive board met last night, and came up with the solutions to the problems, and it now looks as though the league is ready to proceed into the 2008 season.
 
The solutions regarding scheduling were fairly simple...just drop all the games involving Clarkson from the schedule.  While this did cause some holes in the schedule for some teams, it was decided to allow the individual teams to use those holes to reschedule postponed or rained out games.
 
As for the playoff format, there was some tweaking done to make the format viable, and in fact, makes the divional setup even more meaningful.  What happens now is this...
 
The 1st place team in each division gets a bye into a 6-team double knockout tournament.  The remaining 4 teams in each division play 2 out of three series, for the right to advance to the tourney.  2nd place meets 5th place (in each divison), while 3rd plays 4th.  The team with the higher seeding will get the extra home game in the 2 out of 3's.  Once those series wrap up, the 4 winning teams will advance, joining the two division winners in the 6 team double knockout.  Teams will be re-seeded (based on their final standings) with the Champion being declared on Sunday, August 24th.  This new format will guarantee that no team will have to travel too far in their initial series (since the divisions are set up by geography), and it will also guarantee that there will be 3 teams from each division advancing to the Championship tourney.
 
So, with these last minute touches on the schedule and playoffs complete, the teams can concentrate on getting themselves ready for the season, which begins on Saturday, May 3rd, when Mississauga North plays in Milton.  The Metros season opens a week later, Saturday, May 10th, also in Milton.  Check the "2008 schedule" page (link to the left of this page) for the new, updated Metros schedule.
 
By the way, the Metros continue their indoor workouts tonight at Thorold High School.  Starting time for the remaining indoor practices is 8:30.
4:28 pm | link 


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The Niagara Metros are very pleased to have Cat's Caboose 
Dining Coach and Bar Car as their corporate partner in 2011.

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Click on the logo to visit the Cat's Caboose website.

Located in the heart of Old Glenridge, Cat's Caboose is one of
St. Catharines' oldest and most established restaurants. 
The place for LIVE ENTERTAINMENT and GREAT FOOD.
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Check out our Showcase Film for the period of February 13 to February 27. 
Just scroll to the bottom of this page and press "Play".

 
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Click to visit the "St. Catharines Standard" Website.

Thank You:

To the St. Catharines Standard

for allowing us to use pictures and articles throughout this website.

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Niagara Metros website reaches 100,000 hits on April 18, 2010.

hits since December, 2004

Thanks for visiting Smile

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Click the link for Bullett Proof Baseball Academy
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The Bullett Proof Prospects and Niagara Metros are partners in providing elite baseball to Niagara.

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Niagara Metros Bi-Weekly "Baseball Film Feature"

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This week, on our "Baseball Film Feature" section, we have found a little gem that will make any "true ballplayer" chuckle.  It's a hilarious "home-made" film by what looks like a group of U.S. College ballplayers with a great idea about how we talk about the game we love, but in a language that only we can understand.  Check out this video, and count how many baseball euphamisms you're guilty of saying or doing when your "at the yard".  It's a little 3 minute masterpiece entitled "Shit Ballplayers Say".  And believe us when we say, "These guys can really bring the chedd..."

 
 
Don't forget to check out the Metros Archive Section! 
You will see the history of our team, as well as the past glories of St. Catharines Senior Baseball in words and pictures dating back to the 1940's.
 
Just click on the link near the top of this Main Home Page.
 
 
 
 
 

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