batonrougetigers

To Houston and back… and Houston and back

May 26, 2019batonrougetigers

THE RUGGLES CUP
Last month, the Tigers travelled to Houston to take on the Lonestars in the annual Ruggles Cup. All in all, eight Tigers took the field that weekend. Veterans Tom Gillespie, Mitch Gray, Brady Moran, Garrett Remson, and Neil Stebbing played alongside newcomer Ryan Hicks and Billy “Deebo” France dusted off his cleats as well under the leadership of coach Matt Heintze.

Despite some bizarre weather (sunshine, wind, rain, and even hail), the Tigers held serve for most of the day in a tightly contested match. Eventually, however, the home team pulled away with a 15.15.105 to 8.9.57 victory.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL TOURAMENT
Then two weekends ago, The Tigers returned to Houston for the 2nd Annual South Central Regional Tournament. The day was eventful from the very beginning as the ever-reliable team bus parked on the side of the road for several hours after a blowout. Despite that setback, the bus eventually got moving and arrived in Houston at about 4:00 a.m.

Making their second appearance in as many months, Tom Gillespie, Ryan Hicks, Neil Stebbing, Mitch Gray, and Coach Heintze were this time joined by Josh Cartmill, Caleb Covington, Cole Hilgenkamp, Chase Rawson, Christian Roubique, John Zimmerman, Rob Montanaro and another newcomer, Tim Cannon.

Although expectations were high coming into the game, the injury bug struck early and often. After dropping the opening match against the Austin Crows by a score of 5.6.36 to 1.5.11, the Tigers played their next two games without a bench, falling to the Houston Lonestars 10.14.74 to 3.7.25 and a nail-biter to the Dallas Dingoes to 7.4.46 to 5.3.33.

Despite coming away from the tournament without a win, the team left in high spirits after having shown marked improvement in each game and looks forward to the rest of the USAFL slate:

Next Up:
June 1st – Baton Rouge Family Day Event sponsored by Fred’s in Tigerland
June 15th – Eastern Regional Tournament in Raleigh, North Carolina

USAFL Revolution Camp

April 3, 2019batonrougetigers

Ahead of their first USAFL action of the season, the Tigers welcomed USAFL Revolution coach Tom Ellis to the Red Stick. During a four-hour clinic, Coach Ellis introduced some new drills and techniques to the team in an effort to improve both overall fitness and skills. Thanks, Coach!

Central Regional Tournament

July 24, 2018batonrougetigers

The Tigers travelled to Nashville earlier this month to pair up with the Des Moines Roosters as the two clubs took to the field in some USAFL action, hoping to improve on last year’s disappointing 0-3 performance in Little Rock.

The first match of the day pit the “Tiger-Cocks” against the Oklahoma Footy Club, a combination of the Oklahoma City Flyers and Tulsa Buffaloes (whom the Tigers played in Houston in the spring). It was a hotly contested first half with plenty of field changes and scarce scoring, but at the intermission, our squad led 2.2.14 to 1.1.7. Fresh legs and fitness proved to be the difference in the second half, as the home team pulled away to the tune of 7.4.46 1.4.10.

The second match did not go quite so well. Playing against a dangerous and decorated Ohio Valley club, the Tiger-Cocks just couldn’t keep up. Although the Tigers only trailed 3.2.20 to 1.2.8 at the half, they were never able to close that gap and kicking inaccuracy cost them down the stretch, as they lost 8.6.54 to 2.8.20.

After a brief pause to grab some lunch, the players jumped back into their third match of the day against Atlanta, whose club featured a plethora of new faces thanks to their AFLS movement. Unfortunately for their squad, youth played a huge factor in the outcome, as the Tiger-Cocks cruised by 12.19.91 to 0.1.1.

The Tigers were represented by:
#3 – Ryan Moran
#18 – Josh Cartmill
#27 – Rob Montanaro
#37 – Brady Moran
#41 – Stuart Johnson
#43 – Lachlan McQueen
#63 – Cole Hilgenkamp

***Check back in for additional footage of the tournament as it becomes available.

2018 Central Regional Tournament Preview

July 14, 2018batonrougetigers

Good morning, folks!

It’s time for another exciting round of footy as the Baton Rouge Tigers paid up with the Des Moines Roosters once again in this year’s Central Regional Tournament in Music City.

The Tigers are 2-4 on the season thus far after splitting the Ruggles Cup with a victory over the Tulsa Buffaloes and losing to the Houston Lonestars. In the South Central Tournament earlier this summer, they also posted a victory over the a squad of Houston Lonestars while falling to the Dallas Magpies, Austin Crows, another group of Lonestars.

The Tigers hope to improve upon their performance in last year’s tournament, where they were sent home without a win. Led by veterans Josh Cartmill, Lachlan McQueen, and Ryan Moran, they are determined not to do so again this year.

The Tigers take the field against the Oklahoma Footy Club at 10:00 CST, Ohio Valley at 12:00 CST, and Atlanta at 3:00 CST. You can Follow the Action Live through the USAFL’s official Facebook page. The full schedule is listed below:

2018 Central Regional Tournament

July 14, 2018batonrougetigers

Good morning, folks!

It’s time for another exciting round of footy as the Baton Rouge Tigers paid up with the Des Moines Roosters once again in this year’s Central Regional Tournament in Music City.

Baton Rouge Tigers: the other tigers in town

July 9, 2018May 23, 2021batonrougetigers

BRTigersTourney — Members of the Baton Rouge Tigers Australian Rules Football Club pose after a full day of tournament play in the inaugural South Central Metro Tournament. Back row, from left, are Stuart Johnson, Adam Mullavey, Loren Klein, Neil Stebbing, Luke Sexton, Lachlan Mcqueen-Miscamble, Matthew Heintze, Robert Montanaro, John Zimmerman, Garrett Remson and Brett Thomas; and front row, from left, Joe McDonald, Christian Robique, Mitch Gray, Brookes Guay, Ryan Moran, Matt Smith and Cole Hilgenkamp. Club President Josh Cartmill said the team hopes to make the tournament an annual event.

Advocate photo by C.J. Futch

If there’s one thing Australian expatriates love more than their Australian Rules Football games, it’s winning over new converts.

The Baton Rouge Tigers Australian Rules Football Club found a taker in Josh Cartmill, who was introduced to the sport through a friend in the spring of 2011, and hasn’t stopped since. Cartmill, current president of the club, led the effort to organize the Tigers’ inaugural South Central Metro Tournament on Saturday, inviting United States Australian Football-affiliated teams from Austin, Dallas and Houston for a full day of matchups.

All four clubs play as part of the Southern Region of the USAFL, an organization dedicated to expanding the sport in America. Nationwide, the league has expanded to include 40 clubs as of 2018.

Australian culture is sports-saturated, not unlike the United States, said Robert Montanaro, who was among the original members of the Tigers when the club was created in 2004.

But they don’t just observe, he said — they participate, long after they’ve left school teams and entered the workforce.

“In Australia, the sports culture is different and every little town has a football team that plays every weekend. By being part of the club is how one socializes within the community. Even the college team sports is completely different. Unlike the big tailgating events that occur in U.S. college football games, Australian rules football games typically don’t have large crowds in the stands,” said Matt Heintze, player/coach of the Tigers. “Because everyone’s on a team, themselves; they’re either at their own games or at practice.”

Whatever the love of the game is, it’s something the Baton Rouge Tigers are eager to pass on to anyone who wants to learn more about this fast-paced, multiskilled, no-pads tackle version of football.

The tackling is different, Montanaro is quick to point out — more of a bear hug takedown than the full contact hits of American football and rugby, and that makes it somewhat safer for all ages.

“It’s addictive,” Cartmill said. The ball moves quickly and must be either passed, kicked or touched to the ground every 15 meters. The pace is so fast that it becomes a good antidote to every day stressors. “You’re focused on the ball. You don’t really have time to think about it, you have to react to what’s happening right in front of you,” he said.

It’s also a great way to stay in shape and satisfy the accomplishment that comes with team sports, he said.

While there’s certainly a learning curve, he said, that is mitigated by the free-flowing nature of the game. Players are encouraged to offer each other advice at the tops of their lungs.

Due to the nonstop nature of the game, there are no set plays, and no huddles while the game is in progress, therefore the plan is created second by second, he said. Teammates make it up as they go along by talking to each other on the field — and from the sidelines — as the game progresses.

The sport has expanded in Australia to include women’s leagues in the past few years, Heintze added, and that has caught on in the U.S., as well.

“The USAFL is following in those footsteps and encouraging women to come out to a practice or a game to try the game out. We welcome anyone to a practice,” Heintze said.

For more information, visit the Tigers’ Facebook page, www.facebook.com/BRTigers, or email batonrougetigers@gmail.com

Game Recap: Atlanta

May 23, 2017May 23, 2021batonrougetigers

Screen Shot 2017-05-23 at 9.39.39 PM

The Tigers took to the road over the weekend for the second time this season, traveling to Atlanta for a showdown against the rival Kookaburras. They were greeted by plenty of familiar faces, many of whom they had played alongside just a few short months ago at Nationals. One of whom even played as a Tiger last year. Nice to see you Kyler!

Expectations were tempered as the Tigers approached Candler Park. The trip to Atlanta has seldom been kind to the visitors, and last year was particularly lopsided. The Tigers were determined not to repeat those results and came out firing on all cylinders.

The Tigers played aggressive footy right out of the gate, winning the stoppages and locking the ball in their forward half for most of the first quarter. This early intensity resulted in the Tigers leading the Kookaburras by 7 points at quarter time, 2.2.14 to 1.1.7. In the 2^nd quarter, the Tigers were just a little less accurate in front of goal and Atlanta took the lead 4.2.26 to 2.4.16. At three quarter time, Atlanta’s lead remained the same (6.4.39 to 4.5.29).

The fourth quarter proved to be a struggle for Baton Rouge, as the speed of Atlanta’s midfield and the depth of its bench began to take its toll on the traveling Tigers. On seemingly fresher legs, the Kookaburras kicked 6.0 for the final term. Whereas, the Tigers faded down the stretch kicking only 1.1. Final Score: Atlanta 12.4.76 to Baton Rouge 5.6.36. Tigers Best: Lachlan McQueen

Following the match, both clubs and their supporters gathered at The Bird to drink away the bumps and bruises celebrate another footy weekend gone by. The Tigers now have three weeks to lick their wounds, gather their focus, and meditate on lessons learned from this defeat before traveling to Little Rock for the Central Regional Tournament and the end of the first half of the 2017 season.

Next Up: Atlanta Kookaburras

May 18, 2017May 23, 2021batonrougetigers

After a longer-than-expected break, the Tigers are eager to get back into action as they travel to Atlanta this weekend to face the Kookaburras.

These two teams are intimately familiar with each other, having faced off twice in 2016 before joining forces in Sarasota for an impressive run in the National Tournament.

In each of their previous matches, the home team dominated, with Atlanta dismantling the Tigers in August to the tune of 19.24.138 to 5.8.38, and Baton Rouge returning serve a month later, demolishing the visitors 8.11.59 to 2.0.12 in their first game after the 2016 floods. The Tigers hope to buck that trend with a road win this weekend, but know that a win will not come easily against a resilient Kookaburras squad.

No matter the outcome, this promises to be a great weekend of camaraderie and competition out at Candler Park. Tip-off is at 2:00 Eastern time, so keep your eyes open for score updates on Facebook and Twitter.

Player Profile: Michael Cussen

May 16, 2017May 23, 2021batonrougetigers

Name: Michael Cussen
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia
Height: 6’0″ Weight: 200 lbs.
Favorite AFL Team: Essendon Bombers

A free agent acquisition last year from the Land of Oz, Michael Cussen quickly became a key pillar of a resurgent Baton Rouge Tigers team in 2016, demonstrating great leadership both on the field and off as he was instrumental in the Tigers ability to hold the Houston Lonestars to just two behinds in their first game back after the flooding that year, as well as playing a central role in the Tigers winning 2 out of 3 games in Sarasota.

Mike will be returning to his hometown in just a few short days, but certainly left an impression before doing so, and no example was more clear than when he took perhaps the most spectacular mark in Tigers’ history two weekends ago in our third Metro League game of the season.

To a great teammate, great friend, and all-around great human being, Mike, you will be sorely missed. Best of luck in all your future endeavors and I hope you always look on your time in Baton Rouge fondly.

Player Profile: Ryan Baldassaro

May 4, 2017May 23, 2021batonrougetigers

Name: Ryan “Baldy” Baldassaro
Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana
Height: 5’10” Weight: 170 lbs.
Favorite AFL Team: Fremantle Dockers

A third year veteran, and distinguished as the best on field for the Tigers in their recent matchup against Houston, Ryan Baldassaro sports the No. 5 jersey and can frequently be found flying around the midfield and causing havoc for opposing teams. An aggressive player who’s swift to the ball, Ryan is fearless at the point of contact, but can sometimes get caught up spectating as the play progresses.

When the mouthguard comes out, Ryan is busy finishing up his final year at LSU, where he will soon be graduating and pursuing a career in construction management.