4/6 - 2011 Rochester Red Wings Returnees

It's that time of the year again!!! The week where the minor league teams usually announce their opening day rosters. The Rochester Red Wings, the AAA team of the Minnesota Twins, will be having 15 players returning from their 2010 squad. To lead off the 2011 season, here are the photos of the returnees from last season (in no particular order):

Right-handed pitcher Anthony Swarzak will be the Opening Day for the Red Wings. This will be his third year with the team.

Right-handed reliever Alex Burnett is expected to be a workhorse for the backend of the Red Wings' bullpen.

Outfielder Brian Dinkelman returns to the Red Wings after being the team's most consistent hitter.

Kyle Waldrop had an outstanding season for the Red Wings and be one of the first pitchers that could be called up to the Minnesota Twins.

Outfielder Brandon Roberts had a impressive short stint with the Red Wings in the last two months of the season and will play center and left this summer.

All-Star Outfielder Dustin Martin, who led the team in RBIs for the 2010 season will patrol right field for the Wings.

Veteran shortstop Trevor Pouffe will return for his third season with the Red Wings. He will be on the shuttle bus between Rochester and Minnesota.

Lefty Ryan Mullins had a solid season with the Red Wings in the first half before missing the rest of the season with an injury.

All-Star Closer Anthony Slama will open the season on the disabled list, but is expected to be the team's closer once he returns from extended spring training.

Infielder Luke Hughes had an impressive offensive spring training for the Minnesota Twins, but will start the season in Rochester in order to work on his defense.

3/23 - Self Portraiture

For my first assignment in Elements of Fine Arts Photography, I was required to take a couple pictures of myself, hence, the self portraits.

Anyway, the theme I was going that I'm stuck inside my room, waiting patiently for spring to come so I can go outside and play. The theme is based on a famous baseball quote by one of the greatest shortstops in the history of the game, Rogers Hornsby.

"People ask me what I do during the winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."

3/19 - Broken Dream, New Dream

Captain defenseman Chris Haltigan tries to hold back his tears as he goes to collect the AHA Runner-Up trophy.

Head Coach Wayne Wilson takes a time by himself to recollect the tough 1-0 loss to Air Force in the AHA Championship Game.

Junior forward Mark Cornacchia allows himself to burst into tears in the locker room after a 1-0 loss to Air Force in the AHA Championship Game.

Senior forward Mike Janda shares a hug with Sophomore forward Jeff Smith in the locker room after a 1-0 loss to Air Force in the AHA Championship Game.

Junior forward Tyler Brenner and Captain forward Andrew Favot, the RIT Men Hockey team's two biggest stars, walks down the hall, symbolizing the end of their RIT career. Brenner signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League after the game and Favot is graduating this spring and will play professional hockey.

3/19 - AHA Championship

The RIT men's hockey team's season came to a close on Saturday, losing to Air Force 1-0 in the Atlantic Hockey Association Championship in front of 3,400 fans at Blue Cross Arena. RIT, champions of the AHA regular season, ended their season at a 19-11-8 record. The 3,400 fans is the largest attendance ever at an AHA Championship.

3/18 - RIT Women Hockey in NCAA Semifinals

The RIT women's hockey team scored three times in an eight minute span in the second period to open a 3-0 lead and defeated Middlebury 5-2 in front of a rabid Ritter Arena crowd in the NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey National Semifinal on Friday. The Tigers advanced to their first NCAA Championship game, where they faced Norwich.

3/18 - AHA Semi-Finals versus UConn

Senior forward Sean Murphy from Minnesota scored twice to lead RIT men's hockey team to a 4-2 win over Connecticut in the 2011 Atlantic Hockey Association Tournament semifinals at the Blue Cross Arena on Friday afternoon.

3/13 - AHA Quarterfinals Game 2

In Game 2 of the AHA Quarterfinals, RIT scored 4 consecutive goals in the second period from a 1-0 deficit to win the game 5-1. The RIT Tigers will travel downtown Rochester to their second home in Blue Cross Arena for the AHA Championship Tournament next weekend.