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PHOTOS FROM ZACK COZART AND HOMER BAILEY SIGNING SESSION IN 2012

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Homer Bailey will visit the Sports Gallery in West Chester Township from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

In 2012, Bailey went on to set career records in earned run average (3.68), games started (33), innings pitched (208) and strikeouts (168).

Bailey also appeared to get stronger at the end of the season, tossing a no-hitter in late September against the Pittsburgh Pirates and then breaking a Reds postseason record with 10 strikeouts in his start against the San Francisco Giants in Game 3 of the National League Division Series.

“We are very happy to have Homer. He is the last Reds pitcher to throw a no-hitter, so we are expecting a good crowd to get that signature,” Sports Gallery co-owner Mark Fugate said.

The cost to have an item signed by Bailey is $25 (one autograph per ticket). Bailey will also be signing autographs with a “No Hit” inscription for an additional $10.

Fellow starting pitcher Mat Latos and catcher Ryan Hanigan will host a signing session from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 23. Tickets (one autograph per ticket) are $30 for Latos and $25 for Hanigan. Brandon Phillips has also agreed to participate in a signing event at the West Chester shop from noon to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 8.

Prior to signing events or on the day of the event, the Sports Gallery will also have baseballs, bats, photos, cards, helmets and other Reds collectibles available for purchase.

Furthermore, items can also be dropped off or mailed in to be signed.

For information about mail order items or to buy tickets, which are limited, call 513-759-4256 or visit www.asportsgallery.com

Posted in: Business, Events, News, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Reds player signings, Homer Bailey, Homer Bailey Cincinnati Reds, Homer Bailey signing, Sports Gallery, Sports Gallery West Chester

Pete Rose signed merchandise from “4192: The Crowning of the Hit King” at the Liberty Township Kroger Marketplace Feb. 22, 2011. The DVD was released that same morning. On April 18, Rose will be in town again, signing autographs at the Sports Gallery in West Chester. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

With the Major League Baseball season underway, the Sports Gallery in West Chester is gearing up for its busy season.

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Zack Cozart signed autographs for fans at the Sports Gallery in West Chester Township Tuesday, April 2, 2013. Afterward, he spoke about the team in 2013 and Ryan Ludwick’s injury. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

The local sports memorabilia shop already had current Cincinnati Reds shortstop Zack Cozart come in this month and has another signing session scheduled for next Thursday, April 18 with two members of the Big Red Machine. The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. and will give fans an opportunity to have items signed by Pete Rose and Tony Perez.

Tickets (one autograph per ticket) range from $55-to-$75 for Rose’s autograph and from $45-$65 for Perez’s autograph. Each Rose ticket includes a free “Hit King” or “4256″ inscription, while each Perez ticket includes a free “HOF 2000″ inscription. Any other inscription from either player is an extra $15.

There will be a special pricing option. Instead of buying a $55 ticket for Rose and a $45 ticket for Perez to have them sign a mini-helmet, baseball or any flat item, a combo ticket that includes a signature from both players can be purchased for $90.

The Sports Gallery is working on getting other signing events this spring and summer.

Reds starting pitcher Homer Bailey and catcher Ryan Hanigan will participate in a signing session Thursday, May 9 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tickets (one autograph from one player per ticket) are $25 each.

Fellow starting pitcher Mat Latos will host a signing session from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 23. Tickets (one autograph per ticket) are $30.

Prior to signing events or on the day of the event, the Sports Gallery will also have baseballs, bats, photos, cards, helmets and other Reds collectibles available for purchase. Furthermore, items can also be dropped off or mailed in to be signed.

For information about mail order items or to buy tickets, which are limited, call 513-759-4256 or visit www.asportsgallery.com

Posted in: Business, Events, News, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Reds player appearances, Cincinnati Reds player signings, Pete Rose, Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds, Pete Rose signing, signing, Sports Gallery, Sports Gallery West Chester, Tony Perez, Tony Perez Cincinnati Reds, Tony Perez signing

To let West Chester and Liberty Township residents catch up with the news that they need to know, WestChesterBuzz.com will list and link to all of last week’s top local stories every Monday.

Ian Mellencamp, nephew of John Cougar Mellencamp, is making a name for himself in the modeling world. The Lakota West graduate has billboards all over the world. He also appeared in commercials and been featured in numerous ad campaigns. Photo provided by New View Management Group.

WestChesterBuzz.com also recently added a new video page last week. To view West Chester and Liberty Township related videos, visit westchesterbuzz.com/videos.

Cop rounds in Butler County now include schools – There are now frequent visitors at Lakota Schools who are armed but very welcome, Michael D. Clark reported last week for The Enquirer. Butler County Sheriff Deputy Mark Gilbert pulled his cruiser into the parking lot of Liberty Early Childhood School about 1 p.m. on a recent school day as part of his daily rounds in Butler County’s Liberty Township. It’s the latest strategy to strengthen school safety, say sheriff officials, who launched the new program last week for the county’s school districts and private schools.

PHOTO GALLERY: Mellencamp making a name for himself – In 2011, John Cougar Mellencamp called his brother in West Chester to let him know he had just seen his nephew on a billboard in Los Angeles. The billboard, which was also on display in New York City, Paris and China, was part of a Calvin Klein campaign that helped launch Ian Mellencamp’s modeling career that year.

Liberty trustee: It’s ‘immoral’ to accept federal funds – Liberty Township will apply for a federal grant to pay for construction and installation of a sidewalk, Sue Kiesewetter reported last week. But if the township is awarded the grant it is uncertain whether it would be accepted. Trustee David Kern voted this week against applying for a transportation alternative grant that would help pay for construction of sidewalks from the Liberty Junior School crosswalk at the Yankee Road/Dutchland Boulevard intersection to Cincinnati-Dayton Road, a distance of 3,250 feet.

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Zack Cozart signed autographs for fans at the Sports Gallery in West Chester Township Tuesday, April 2, 2013. Afterward, he spoke about the team in 2013 and Ryan Ludwick’s injury. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

VIDEOS: Zack Cozart visits West Chester – Immediately after Opening Day last season, rookie shortstop Zack Cozart admitted that he was exhausted. After the game, he went back to his apartment and crashed. This year, despite the longer day (game lasted 4 hours and 45 minutes), Cozart said he had more energy after Monday’s opener.

VIDEO: Coyotes welcome at VOA park – Six coyotes are roaming the fields of Voice of America Park. But these coyotes are there for the park’s protection. MetroParks officials are going as far to say, these coyotes are park “employees’’. These six employees are plastic and have to be moved by park staff. However, their job duties are to protecting the park’s $3 million project, which includes 22 new multipurpose natural grass athletic fields.

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Tags: Tags: Beacon Electric, Beacon Electric Cincinnati, Beacon Electric in Cincinnati, Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones, construction, coyotes, coyotes in Ohio parks, coyotes West Chester Ohio, David Kern, federal grant, grant, Guns in Lakota schools, guns in schools, Ian Mellencamp, Ian Mellencamp model, Joe Mellencamp, John Cougar Mellencamp, John Cougar Mellencamp's nephew, John Mellencamp, John Mellencamp's nephew, kathy dirr, lakota junior school, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota schools, liberty township, national debt, New View modeling, Richard Jones, Sheriff Richard Jones, sidewalk, Sports Gallery, Sports Gallery West Chester, tom farell, transportation alternative grant, trustee, VOA Park, VOA Park West Chester, Voice of America, Voice of America Park, Voice of America Park West Chester, Zack Cozart, Zack Cozart Cincinnati Reds, Zack Cozart signing

VIDEO: CINCINNATI REDS FANS AND ZACK COZART TALK ABOUT SIGNINGS

Immediately after Opening Day last season, rookie shortstop Zack Cozart admitted that he was exhausted. After the game, he went back to his apartment and crashed.

This year, despite the longer day (game lasted 4 hours and 45 minutes), Cozart said he had more energy after Monday’s opener.

“Last year, I was so amped up and excited because I had never been through it before. I just wasted all my energy,” said Cozart, who signed autographs for fans Tuesday at the Sports Gallery in West Chester. “I kind of learned how to save up some of that energy, so yesterday was not nearly as bad as last year.”

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Zack Cozart signed autographs for fans at the Sports Gallery in West Chester Township Tuesday, April 2, 2013. Afterward, he spoke about the team in 2013 and Ryan Ludwick’s injury. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

Opening Day in 2012 was special for Cozart, who became the first rookie shortstop to start the first game of the season for the Cincinnati Reds since 1971.

After that game, Cozart appeared in additional 137 regular season games and five postseason games. Along the way, he helped his team win 97 games and do so without star first baseman Joey Votto, who missed almost three months due to injury.

Unfortunately for Cozart and his team, the Reds were dealt another blow when cleanup hitter and starting left fielder Ryan Ludwick injured his shoulder Monday during the team’s opener.

“Luddy was a big part of our lineup. They signed him back to a two-year deal for a reason,” Cozart said.

“Missing him is going to be tough.”

According to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Cincinnati Enquirer, Ludwick will undergo surgery Wednesday to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. While the team didn’t announce when he might return, similar injuries have required others to miss 4-to-6 months during recovery, according to Rosecrans.

Last season, Ludwick was a key performer, hitting .340, 12 home runs and driving in 36 runs while Votto was out of the lineup with a knee injury.

This winter, Ludwick, 34, was rewarded for his performance with a two-year deal worth $15 million through 2014, with a mutual option for 2015.

While Ludwick had an MRI on Tuesday, Cozart signed autographs for fans at the Sports Gallery in West Chester Township. He was scheduled to be joined by Homer Bailey, who missed the signing after coming down with flu-like symptoms. Bailey is scheduled to make his first start of 2013 on Friday, according to Reds.com.

Bailey rescheduled his signing date at the sports memorabilia shop for May 9.

For more information on that signing and others at the Sports Gallery, call 513-759-4256 or visit www.asportsgallery.com

For breaking news on the Cincinnati Reds, visit the team’s page on Cincinnati.com.

VIDEO: ZACK COZART INTERVIEW – TALKS ABOUT OPENING DAY, RYAN LUDWICK AND EXPECTATIONS FOR THE CINCINNATI REDS IN 2013

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Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Reds player signings, Homer Bailey, Homer Bailey Cincinnati Reds, Homer Bailey signing, Pete Rose, Sports Gallery, Sports Gallery West Chester, Zack Cozart, Zack Cozart Cincinnati Reds, Zack Cozart signing

PHOTOS FROM ZACK COZART AND HOMER BAILEY SIGNING SESSION IN 2012

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Zack Cozart and starting pitcher Homer Bailey will visit the Sports Gallery in West Chester Township from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The two players co-hosted a signing session at the same sports memorabilia shop last year. It was also on the day after Opening Day.

However, unlike last year, both players are coming into the signing event in much different positions.

Last April, Cozart became the first rookie shortstop to start Opening Day for Cincinnati since 1971 and was coming off an offseason that he spent rehabbing an elbow injury.

Cozart starred in 11 games for the Reds in July of 2011 and had a batting average of .324 before the season-ending injury, which required Tommy John surgery.

Cincinnati Reds Zack Cozart and Homer Bailey had their pictures taken with fans during a signing event at the Sports Gallery in West Chester April 6, 2012. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

Meanwhile, Homer Bailey was battling for the last spot in the rotation last spring.

Prior to winning that role, Bailey hadn’t pitched more than 132 innings in a season in his previous five with the Reds.

In 2012, Bailey went on to set career records in earned run average (3.68), games started (33), innings pitched (208) and strikeouts (168).

Bailey also appeared to get stronger at the end of the season, tossing a no-hitter in late September against the Pittsburgh Pirates and then breaking a Reds postseason record with 10 strikeouts in his start against the San Francisco Giants in Game 3 of the National League Division Series.

The cost to have an item signed by either Cozart or Bailey is $25 (one autograph per ticket). Fans can also buy a combo ticket, which includes signatures from both players, for $45. Bailey will also be signing autographs with a “No Hit” inscription for an additional $10.

Prior to signing events or on the day of the event, the Sports Gallery will also have baseballs, bats, photos, cards, helmets and other Reds collectibles available for purchase.

Furthermore, items can also be dropped off or mailed in to be signed.

The local sports memorabilia shop also has another autograph session locked down in April with two members of the Big Red Machine. On Thursday, April 18 from 6 to 8 p.m., Reds fans can get autographs from Pete Rose and Tony Perez.

For information about mail order items or to buy tickets, which are limited, call 513-759-4256 or visit www.asportsgallery.com

Posted in: Business, Events, News, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Reds player signings, Homer Bailey, Homer Bailey Cincinnati Reds, Homer Bailey signing, Pete Rose, Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds, Pete Rose signing, Sports Gallery, Sports Gallery West Chester, Zack Cozart, Zack Cozart Cincinnati Reds, Zack Cozart signing

PHOTOS FROM ZACK COZART AND HOMER BAILEY SIGNING SESSION IN 2012

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Zack Cozart and starting pitcher Homer Bailey will visit the Sports Gallery in West Chester Township from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. next Tuesday, April 2.

The two players co-hosted a signing session at the same sports memorabilia shop last year. It was also on the day after Opening Day.

However, unlike last year, both players are coming into the signing event in much different positions.

Last April, Cozart became the first rookie shortstop to start Opening Day for Cincinnati since 1971 and was coming off an offseason that he spent rehabbing an elbow injury.

Cozart starred in 11 games for the Reds in July of 2011 and had a batting average of .324 before the season-ending injury, which required Tommy John surgery.

Cincinnati Reds Zack Cozart and Homer Bailey had their pictures taken with fans during a signing event at the Sports Gallery in West Chester April 6, 2012. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

Meanwhile, Homer Bailey was battling for the last spot in the rotation last spring.

Prior to winning that role, Bailey hadn’t pitched more than 132 innings in a season in his previous five with the Reds.

In 2012, Bailey went on to set career records in earned run average (3.68), games started (33), innings pitched (208) and strikeouts (168).

Bailey also appeared to get stronger at the end of the season, tossing a no-hitter in late September against the Pittsburgh Pirates and then breaking a Reds postseason record with 10 strikeouts in his start against the San Francisco Giants in Game 3 of the National League Division Series.

The cost to have an item signed by either Cozart or Bailey is $25 (one autograph per ticket). Fans can also buy a combo ticket, which includes signatures from both players, for $45. Bailey will also be signing autographs with a “No Hit” inscription for an additional $10.

Prior to signing events or on the day of the event, the Sports Gallery will also have baseballs, bats, photos, cards, helmets and other Reds collectibles available for purchase.

Furthermore, items can also be dropped off or mailed in to be signed.

The local sports memorabilia shop also has another autograph session locked down in April with two members of the Big Red Machine. On Thursday, April 18 from 6 to 8 p.m., Reds fans can get autographs from Pete Rose and Tony Perez.

For information about mail order items or to buy tickets, which are limited, call 513-759-4256 or visit www.asportsgallery.com

Posted in: Business, Events, News, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Reds player signings, Homer Bailey, Homer Bailey Cincinnati Reds, Homer Bailey signing, Pete Rose, Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds, Pete Rose signing, Sports Gallery, Sports Gallery West Chester, Zack Cozart, Zack Cozart Cincinnati Reds, Zack Cozart signing

Pete Rose signed merchandise from “4192: The Crowning of the Hit King” at the Liberty Township Kroger Marketplace Feb. 22, 2011. The DVD was released that same morning. On April 18, Rose will be in town again, signing autographs at the Sports Gallery in West Chester. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

With the Major League Baseball season only a month away, the Sports Gallery in West Chester is gearing up for its busy season.

The local sports memorabilia shop already has one autograph session locked down in April with two members of the Big Red Machine. On Thursday, April 18 from 6 to 8 p.m., Reds fans can get autographs from Pete Rose and Tony Perez.

Tickets (one autograph per ticket) range from $55-to-$75 for Rose’s autograph and from $45-$65 for Perez’s autograph. Each Rose ticket includes a free “Hit King” or “4256″ inscription, while each Perez ticket includes a free “HOF 2000″ inscription. Any other inscription from either player is an extra $15.

There will be a special pricing option. Instead of buying a $55 ticket for Rose and a $45 ticket for Perez to have them sign a mini-helmet, baseball or any flat item, a combo ticket that includes a signature from both players can be purchased for $90.

Prior to signing events or on the day of the event, the Sports Gallery will also have baseballs, bats, photos, cards, helmets and other Reds collectibles available for purchase.

Furthermore, items can also be dropped off or mailed in to be signed.

For information about mail order items or to buy tickets, which are limited, call 513-759-4256.

The Sports Gallery is working on getting other signing events this spring and summer. In 2012, it hosted Rose, Ken Griffey Sr., Andy Dalton, Johnny Bench, Dave Concepcion, George Foster, Joe Morgan, Todd Frazier, Jay Bruce, Don Gullett, Aroldis Chapman, Devin Mesoraco, Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, Cesar Geronimo, Zack Cozart and Homer Bailey.

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Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Reds player appearances, Cincinnati Reds player signings, Pete Rose, Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds, Pete Rose signing, signing, Sports Gallery, Sports Gallery West Chester, Tony Perez, Tony Perez Cincinnati Reds, Tony Perez signing

Photos of Andy Dalton at Sports Gallery in 2011

West Chester Township’s Sports Gallery, which has hosted various signings with current and former Cincinnati Reds players this year, will host Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton for a signing session this Tuesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Tickets, good for one autograph, are available for $49 for mini helmets or any size flat item and $69 for a football, full-size helmet, jersey or equipment. The store itself will have balls, photos, helmets and other Bengals collectibles available for purchase during the event.

Furthermore, items can also be dropped off or mailed in to be signed.

For information about mail order items or to buy tickets, which are limited, call 513-759-4256.

Later this month, the sports memorabilia shop will have a signing session with Ken Griffey Sr.

That autograph session will take place Oct. 24 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Tickets range from $35 to $45 each. Mini-helmets, baseballs or flat items will cost $35 per signature, while bats, jerseys, equipment or seatbacks will cost $45 per signature.

Posted in: Business, Events, News, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Andy Dalton, Andy Dalton Cincinnati Bengals, Andy Dalton signing, Cincinnati Bengals, Cincinnati Bengals player appearances, Cincinnati Bengals player signings, Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Reds player appearances, Cincinnati Reds player signings, Ken Griffey Sr., Ken Griffey Sr. Cincinnati Reds, Ken Griffey Sr. signing, signing, Sports Gallery, Sports Gallery West Chester

The Sports Gallery, a memorabilia shop off Cincinnati-Dayton Road in West Chester, is scheduled to host an autograph session with Major League Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench this Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.

Bench will be the fourth member of the Big Red Machine to visit the Sports Gallery in the past two months.

In August, the shop also hosted Bench’s former teammates fellow MLB Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, as well as Dave Concepcion and George Foster.

“We have been blessed to be able to get these Hall of Famers to visit our shop in West Chester,” Sports Gallery co-owner Mark Fugate said. “We simply could not be more excited for ourselves and for the fans, who have been asking us to get these guys in to do a signing.”

• Photos: Joe Morgan signs autographs in West Chester

Tickets, good for one autograph, for the Bench signing session range from $85 to $100 each. Mini-helmets, baseballs or flat items will cost $85 per signature, while bats, jerseys, equipment or seatbacks will cost $100 per signature. Each autograph includes a free “HOF 89” inscription. Any other inscription is $20 each.

Prior to the signing event or on the day of the event, the Sports Gallery will also have baseballs, bats, photos, cards, helmets and other Reds collectibles available for purchase.

Furthermore, items can also be dropped off or mailed in to be signed.

For information about mail order items or to buy tickets, which are limited, call 513-759-4256.

Posted in: Business, Events, News, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Reds player appearances, Cincinnati Reds player signings, Joe Morgan, Joe Morgan Cincinnati Reds, Joe Morgan signing, Johnny Bench, Johnny Bench Cincinnati Reds, Johnny Bench signing, signing, Sports Gallery, Sports Gallery West Chester

The Sports Gallery, a memorabilia shop off Cincinnati-Dayton Road in West Chester, is scheduled to host an autograph session with Major League Baseball Hall of Fame member Johnny Bench from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 20.

Bench will be the fourth member of the Big Red Machine to visit the Sports Gallery in the past two months.

In August, the shop also hosted Bench’s former teammates fellow MLB Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, as well as Dave Concepcion and George Foster.

“We have been blessed to be able to get these Hall of Famers to visit our shop in West Chester,” Sports Gallery co-owner Mark Fugate said. “We simply could not be more excited for ourselves and for the fans, who have been asking us to get these guys in to do a signing.”

• Photos: Joe Morgan signs autographs in West Chester

Tickets, good for one autograph, for the Bench signing session range from $85 to $100 each. Mini-helmets, baseballs or flat items will cost $85 per signature, while bats, jerseys, equipment or seatbacks will cost $100 per signature. Each autograph includes a free “HOF 89” inscription. Any other inscription is $20 each.

Prior to the signing event or on the day of the event, the Sports Gallery will also have baseballs, bats, photos, cards, helmets and other Reds collectibles available for purchase.

Furthermore, items can also be dropped off or mailed in to be signed.

For information about mail order items or to buy tickets, which are limited, call 513-759-4256.

Posted in: Business, Events, News, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Reds player appearances, Cincinnati Reds player signings, Joe Morgan, Joe Morgan Cincinnati Reds, Joe Morgan signing, Johnny Bench, Johnny Bench Cincinnati Reds, Johnny Bench signing, signing, Sports Gallery, Sports Gallery West Chester