News

Fresno Professional Soccer Club Awarded Franchise & Joins USL in 2018

FRESNO – The United Soccer League (USL) has awarded a franchise to a Fresno investor group headed by local businessman Ray Beshoff. At a press conference earlier today at Chukchansi Park, USL President Jake Edwards officially presented Mr. Beshoff with the franchise for Fresno Football Club. Fresno will join Nashville SC and one more club to be announced for the 2018 USL season.

“As professional soccer continues to grow in this country, the USL stands at the forefront, leading the sport’s next phase of expansion to fantastic markets like Fresno,” said USL CEO Alec Papadakis. “Fresno is a vibrant community with passionate soccer fans, a strong corporate base, and a regional population of nearly one million people. Today’s announcement is another step toward the USL’s goal of becoming one of the best Division II professional soccer leagues in the world, on par with the English Championship, Liga Adelante and 2. Bundesliga. Our success is possible due to the league’s strong ownership group, one of the best in professional soccer, and we welcome Ray and his team to the family. We are thrilled to be a part of this community, and officially welcome another fantastic club to the USL.”

Former Big Leaguer Jermaine Clark Joins Diamond 'Dogs Coaching Staff

FRESNO - Fresno State baseball head coach Mike Batesole has announced the addition of Jermaine Clark to the Bulldogs coaching staff on Wednesday. "We are very excited to have Jermaine on board," said Batesole. "He fully understands and is committed to our program goals of 'Degrees and Rings.' We were diligent in our search to hire a coach who would move forward with our 22 straight semesters of over a 3.00 Team GPA as well as fight to win our ninth championship ring."

A scout with the Oakland Athletics for the last nine years, Clark brings major league baseball playing experience to the Bulldogs as the Vacaville, Calif., native played for five franchises over a four-year playing career from 2001-05. A left fielder as well as a second baseman during his professional career, Clark played in 46 games collecting 12 hits in 78 official at-bats and added three doubles, three stolen bases, nine RBIs and nine runs scored in his career.

Grizzlies Defeat Express, remain tied for first in PAC North Division

ROUND ROCK - The Fresno Grizzlies (59-42) and the Round Rock Express (45-56) combined for seven home runs on Sunday at Chukchansi Park. Fresno was victorious in an 11-8 final to have won 12 of their last 13 games to remain tied for first with the Reno Aces in the Pacific North Division. J.D. Davis went 3-for-5 for the Grizzlies for his first three-hit game of 2017 at the Triple-A level. He had six three-hit games while with Double-A Corpus Christi earlier in the season.

The Express got on the board first when Jurickson Profar reached second on an error and scored on a Travis Snider (2-for-5) RBI single in the opening frame to make the score 1-0. The Grizzlies tied the game quickly in the second when Davis scored Teoscar Hernandez (2-for-4) with a RBI single.

Thomas Selected in the 7th Round of the 2017 MLB Draft

FRESNO - Fresno State junior left-handed pitcher Ricky Tyler Thomas was selected in the 7th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday afternoon.

Thomas extends Fresno State streak of players drafted into major league baseball at 41 consecutive years as the last time the 'Dogs did not have a player drafted was 1976.

Grizzlies Take Rubber Match from Chihuahuas, 11-5

A.J. Reed, Colin Moran and Tony Kemp all homer to power Fresno on Sunday in El Paso

EL PASO - The Fresno Grizzlies (31-33) continued their rapid turnaround, winning for the 13th time in 17 games Sunday evening against the El Paso Chihuahuas (30-34) at Southwest University Park. Fresno is enjoying a 5-2 road trip and an 8-3 month of June during their resurgence.

The Grizzlies jumped all over El Paso starter Tyrell Jenkins, scoring five runs before an out was recorded in the top of the first. Colin Moran (2-for-4, 4 RBI) doubled into the right field corner scoring Tony Kemp (single), Tyler White (single) and Preston Tucker (walk) to make it 3-0 Fresno after four batters. For Moran, it's seven RBI in two games, after he drove in three Saturday with a pair of homers. After the first on Sunday, Moran had driven in six runs in 10 innings.

Edison's Matt Johnson to Lead Madera South's Football Program

MADERA - Less than a month after the resignation of Dane Cook, former Madera South High School Varsity Football Coach, the Stallions have a new leader. Matt Johnson, former varsity football coach from Fresno's Edison High School has been hired to lead the Stallion Nation's program.

Johnson, who played college football at the University of Southern California in the mid 80's, was an assistant coach for eight years under former Edison coach Tim McDonald. He also served as lead assistant under "one-year" head coach Ricky Manning. Then lead the Tigers to a 2014 CIF Valley Championship (first Edison championship since 1975) during his four year tenor as Edison's varsity football coach.

Fresno State Announces New Ticketing Option: The Bulldog Pass

FRESNO - Fresno State Athletics announced the unveiling of the Bulldog Pass on Monday, a new mobile ticketing option exclusively available for Fresno State Young Alumni and Fresno State Faculty/Staff.

The Bulldog Pass allows fans to select from four different packages and guarantees admission to every regular season home game or match for the sports included in the selected package. All passes represent at least a 25 percent savings; the larger the package, the greater the savings. Fresno State will only be offering a limited number of tickets through the Bulldog Pass, so fans are encouraged to purchase quickly.