Bees Sign Two Former ’Fish

NEW BRITAIN—The New Britain Bees have announced two more signings for the upcoming

Atlantic League season: of infielder Luis Hernandez and infielder/outfielder Jonathan Galvez. Both have ties with the Connecticut sports scene having previously played for the Bridgeport Bluefish, who left the Park City after it was decided to convert the Ballpark at Harbor Yard into a amphitheater to theoretically host music shows. That project is on spiritual hold. The Bluefish, meanwhile, will compete this year as the "Road Warriors," playing the entire season on the road, before settling into a brand new state-of-the-art stadium being built for them in High Point, NC, starting next season.

Luis Hernandez joins the Bees for his third season in the Atlantic League and 16^th of professional baseball. Last year, the former big leaguer played in 120 games for the Bridgeport Bluefish, finishing the season with a .280 batting average, five home runs, 46 RBI, 58 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases, while being named an Atlantic League All-Star. During his Atlantic League debut in 2016 with the ‘Fish, he was named to the Post-Season All-Star Team as well as the Red, White, & Blue All-Defensive Team after recording a .967 fielding percentage at shortstop, while also collecting 200 put outs and a league-leading 389 assists.

The 33-year-old made his professional debut in 2002 after being signed by the Atlanta Braves as an undrafted free agent. He made his Major League debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 2007, where he spent two campaigns before being traded to the Kansas City Royals in 2009 and then the New York Mets in 2010. He also made a brief appearance with the Texas Rangers in 2012. In 122 career big league games, Hernandez owns a .243 batting average with three home runs, 20 RBI, and 22 runs scored.

In 1,467 career minor league games, Luis owns a .259 batting average with 39 home runs, 550 RBI, 624 runs scored, 94 stolen bases, and a sterling .970 fielding percentage as shortstop.

Jonathan Galvez heads to New Britain for his fourth season in the Atlantic League and 11^th of professional baseball. The infielder/outfielder spent the last three seasons with the Bridgeport Bluefish, including an impressive 2017 campaign, where he batted .277 with 16 home runs, 27 doubles, 77 RBI, 68 runs scored, 10 stolen bases, and a .351 on-base percentage over the course of 126 games played. He also represented the ‘Fish and the Liberty Division in the 2016 Atlantic League All-Star Game.

The 27-year-old began his professional career in 2008 within the San Diego Padres organization. He spent seven years in the Padres farm system, reaching Triple-A in both 2013 and 2014. The slugger also spent time with both the Mets and Yankees organizations in 2015.

In 961 career minor league games, Galvez owns a .277 batting average with 81 home runs, 495 RBI, 551 runs scored and 141 stolen bases.

“Both these players have experience in the Atlantic League and will be tremendous assets for our club in 2018,” said Bees General Manager Brad Smith. “Luis has been one of the best shortstops in the league the past few seasons, while Jonathan has an excellent track record at the plate and gives us versatility at multiple positions.”

All New Britain Bees transactions are presented by ACES. ACES is dedicated to enhancing and transforming lives through education, innovations, and leadership. Visit https://www.aces.org/ for more information.The Bees are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, widely acknowledged as the top independent baseball circuit in the country.

—Staff Reports

Sound Tigers Blank Charlotte Behind Gudlevskis’ 38 Saves

By Bob Phillips

 

BRIDGEPORT—Sound Tigers’ netminder Kristers Gudlevskis turned in his best performance of the

season, turning aside 38 shots to lead Bridgeport over the Charlotte Checkers 1-0 before 4,222 fans at the Webster Bank Arena on Sunday afternoon. It was Brock Nelson Bobblehead Day at the WBA. Nelson, a Sound Tigers alumn currently playing with the Tigers’ parent team, the New York Islanders, was on hand to sign autographs for fan.

Charlotte controlled the game early, outshooting the Sound Tigers 14-6 in the opening period. Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the opening frame, however.

Kellen Jones scored what would turn out to be the game’s only tally with an unassisted marker at the 6:21 mark of the second stanza. After a Charlotte turnover while attempting to clear the puck, the former Quinnipiac star intercepted the rubber biscuit, raced up ice and fired a blazing wrister over Charlotte netminder Jeremy Smith’s shoulder.

The Checkers pressed relentlessly in the third period, outshooting the home team 16-2 in the final frame, but were unable to solve Gudlevskis. The fifth-year pro from Aizkraukle, Latvia, who had allowed a combined nine goals in his last two starts, turned it around completely on Sunday, turning in a dominating effort between the pipes and being named the game’s first star.

The Sound Tigers went 0-for-4 on the power play but were a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill. Charlotte’s 38 shots on goal were the most shots allowed in a single game this season by Bridgeport, but Gudlevskis proved more than up to the task.

With the win, the Sound Tigers improves to 25-33-5-3 (58 points), and kept their slim playoff hopes alive. They are seven points behind fourth-place Charlotte after splitting two games with the Checkers this weekend. (Charlotte beat Bridgeport, 2-1, on Saturday night at the WBA.) Only the top four teams in each division in the AHL qualify for the post-season Calder Cup tournament. The Sound Tigers have 21 remaining in the regular season—and just one vs. the Checkers who they must somehow jump over to reach the postseason. To make matters worse, that game is the last regular-season game on the schedule, which means the point might very well be moot unless the Sound Tigers kick into gear soon.

But then again, it could mean everything, right?

“Looking at the standings, it’s close between everybody battling for that last spot,” Jones told Michael Fornabaio of the Connecticut Post after the game. Jones had played (and scored) while playing for the Worcester Railers in an ECHL game in Worcester on Saturday night before returning to Bridgeport on Sunday afternoon. “They’re big games at this point in the season.

“[Saturday] night was similar to Friday,” Jones continued. The Sound Tigers dropped a 5-3 decision to the Providence Bruins in Providence on Friday night. “We just didn’t put it all together. Today, we played hard. We battled. It was a greasy, gritty game.”

The Sound Tigers now embark on a four-game road trip starting Wednesday night when they travel to Upstate New York to challenge the Rochester Americans. First puck drops at 7 p.m., and the game will be streamed on the Sound Tigers Radio Network and AHL Live, beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m. The Sound Tigers will return home on Saturday, March 10, when they will host the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information, call the Sound Tigers at 203-345-2300 or Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000. The Sound Tigers can also be reached via e-mail at info@soundtigers.com, or followed Facebook and Twitter. For more information, visit soundtigers.com.

ComicCONN Night

March 10 will be ComicCONN Night at the Webster Bank Arena. Fans are invited to meet their favorite comic book characters while enjoying the game vs. Lehigh Valley. Two packages are now available for ComicCONN Night:

• A $25 package, which includes end zone seating (a $31.50 value) and a ComicCONN grab bag item.*
• A $35 package, which includes center-ice seating (a $41 value), a voucher valid for one (1) hot dog, chips & soda combo, a movie voucher for Bow Tie Cinemas and a ComicCONN grab bag item.*

*Grab bag items include & subject to availability: Superman Pop, Batman Pop, Darth Vader Bobblehead Pop, R2-D2 Bobblehead Pop and DC Comics Drawstring Bag

Fans are encouraged to dress up as their favorite comic book character

PLEASE NOTE: Costume Weapons Policy:

Simulated or costume weapons are allowed as a part of your costume, subject to prior approval by security and compliance with the following:

• All costume weapons must be inspected at the Weapons Check Table at the front doors
• All costume weapons must conform to state and federal law.
• Projectile costume weapons must be rendered inoperable.
• Costume swords must be tied to your costume in such a way that they can't be drawn.
• After each person's costume weapon has been checked, you will be given a wristband to wear to designate that your weapons have been checked.
• Security will escort you to the security station for inspection if your costume weapon has not been checked.

If you do not want to have your costume weapons inspected, or if you are not willing to comply with these policies, please do not bring your costume weapons to ComiCONN Night.

March 10 will also be “Make a Wish” night at the WBA. A portion of the proceeds of the evening’s game will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Connecticut. On February 20, 2018, the Sound Tigers partnered with Make-A-Wish and welcomed Sam Lopa, 11, and Caleb Desjarlais, 4, to practice at Webster Bank Arena, signing the two young boys to professional tryout contracts. For more information, please click HERE.

—with staff reports