Summer Ball

D Bats Announced as the Official Bat Supplier of the PGCBL

2012-02-21T07:11:00.000-06:00

From the PGCBL
The Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League is pleased to announce a partnership with one of the country's leading baseball bat manufacturers, D Bats. The Texas based firm will become the Official Bat supplier for the PGCBL.

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"Like the PGCBL, D Bats is an emerging player in their industry. They are run by a former professional ballplayer who really understands how personal a bat is to a hitter." stated PGCBL
President Jeff Kunion. "We have worked for years at the showcases and tournaments of Perfect Game USA. It is gratifying to know that the PGCBL selected us as their partner after seeing the results we had with Perfect Game." commented D Bats Sales Director, Kyle Griffis.

The Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League is a summer wood bat league in upstate New York. Their nine teams play a 48 game schedule in June and July. The league is affiliated with Perfect Game USA, the largest independent scouting service in the United States.

Last year, more than 1,250 professional players had worn the uniform of a PGCBL team or participated in a Perfect Game USA event.

For more information about the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League visit www.pgcbl.org.

Weekend Stat Lines--Part 2

2012-02-20T18:34:00.000-06:00

Another small round of summer league related stats.

Nick Miller (Northeastern JC--'11/'12 Klamath Falls) 9 for 18, 7 rbi's, hr...6 inp, 1.50 era in 5 games
Tanner Nielsen (Campbellsville--'12 Klamath Falls) 3 for 6 in weekend games, 3 runs, 2 rbi's, assisted in a triple play.

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Feb. 17th

Joe Mantiply (Virginia Tech--'11 Harwich) ND, 7 inp, 7 hits, 2 runs, 1 er, 0 bb, 5 k's

Feb. 18th

Thomas Taylor (Kansas--'11/'12 Willmar) win, 8.1 inp, 3 hits, 0 runs, 2 bb, 5 k's
Austin Pentecost (Lewis & Clark--'11 Alaska Goldpanners) win (1-1), 6 inp, 3 hits, run, 2 bb, 5 k's
Zac Treece (Ouachita Baptist--'11 Quincy) save (1), 1 inp, 2 bb, 3 k's
Bo Folkinga (Western Oregon--'11 Kelowna) 2 for 5, run, 2 rbi's

Feb. 19th

Andrew Alpin (Arizona State--'11 Orleans) 2 for 4, 3 runs, rbi, 2b, stb, 2 bb
Dan Gulbransen (Jacksonville--'11 Hyannis) 2 for 4, run, 2b, 3b, bb
Andre Mercurio (San Jose State--'12 Hamptons Collegiate Baseball) 4 for 4, 2 runs
Vinny Zarillo (Rutgers--'12 Hamptons Collegiate Baseball) 2 for 4, 3 runs, bb
James McMahon (Southern Miss--'11 Southampton) save, 3 inp, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 bb 1 k

Rodriguez returns as Aces manager

2012-02-20T17:04:00.000-06:00

From the Town Talk
Freddy Rodriguez will return this summer as manager of the Alexandria Aces, team President Eric Moran said.

Rodriguez, 36, is in his sixth season as the baseball coach at Texas College, an NAIA school in Tyler, Texas.

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"Freddy has been working hard to get players here this summer that will compete for the TCL Championship," Moran said. "I know that he is excited to start the season off as our head coach and will bring a competitive baseball club to Bringhurst Field that will give its all for the Central Louisiana community and the Aces' fans."

Read the rest of this article here.

Bells Recruiting Host Families

2012-02-20T16:03:00.000-06:00

From the Bellingham Bells
The Bellingham Bells are looking for host families for the 2012 summer season! This summer, the Bells roster will be full of young men coming to Bellingham to chase their dream of playing Major League Baseball following their college careers. One of the ways in which a club like ours supports these players is by finding them a host family with whom they will live for the summer. The impact that a host family can have on a player is truly amazing as you will be there to support them through their highs and lows of the season while they are away from home. Host Families are the glue that makes the Bells work. It is the connection with local families who open their homes and their hearts to these young men that makes this a truly special experience.

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If you, or someone you know, would be interested in serving as a Bells host family, or if you have any questions regarding the program, please contact Nick Caples or Kim Poplawski:

Office Phone: (360) 746-0406
nick@bellinghambells.com or
kim@poplawskifamily.com

Weekend Stat Lines--Part 1

2012-02-20T10:51:00.000-06:00

Here are a few more summer league related stat lines for you. Some are listed on a game by game basis,while others include the whole weekend series.

Devon Bolasky (UC Riverside--'12 Klamath Falls) went 5 for 11 in the weekend series, 3 runs, 2 rbi's, 2 stb's
Kyle Zech (Stetson--'11 Strasburg) went 6 for 12 in weekend series, 3 runs, 6 rbi's, 2b, bb, stb

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Feb. 19th Games

John Sgromolo (Flagler--'11 New Market) 3 for 4, 2 runs, rbi, 2 doubles
Steven Schoonover (Nebraska Omaha--'11/'12 Klamath Falls) ND, 6 inp, 4 hits, 2 runs, 2 bb, 2 k's
Max Rusch (Flagler--'11 Leesburg) win (2-0), 3 inp, 2 hits, 1 r, 2 bb, 2 k's

Feb. 18th Games

Jay Laurienzo (Flagler--'12 Sanford River Rats) 1 for 3, run, 2 rbi's, hr (1)
Erik Lunde (Lander--'12 DeLand) 2 for 4, run
Ian Harvey (Lander--'11 Martinsville) 1 for 4, 2 runs, 2b
Sam Kimmel (Stetson--'11 Morehead City) 2 for 4, run, rbi, bb

Feb. 17th Games

Stephen Oswald (George Washington--'11 New Market) 2 for 3, 3 runs, 2 rbi's, 3b, 2 bb
Sam Kimmel (Stetson--'11 Morehead City) 3 for 4, 2 runs, 3 rbi's, 2b, bb

Bay Sox looking for host families

2012-02-20T10:18:00.000-06:00

From the South Coast Today
NEW BEDFORD — Bob Quirk calls them his "summer sons."

Quirk is looking forward to his fourth season of opening his home to players on the New Bedford Bay Sox. He said he and his family have formed close bonds with all the players they've hosted to date — and as host family coordinator for the Bay Sox, he's encouraging other SouthCoast residents to step up to the plate and help out.

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"I call them my summer sons," he said, adding that he has kept in touch with all the players who've stayed with him. He has memorabilia signed by the "sons", including a ball thrown by pitcher Greg Terhune during his first complete game.

The Bay Sox are looking for host families to house players during the team's upcoming season. The hosts will provide shelter and the occasional meal for a player during June and July; players may stay for August if the team makes the playoffs.

Read the rest of this article here.

Royal Athletic Park closer to housing new baseball team

2012-02-19T10:40:00.000-06:00

From the Times Colonist
The West Coast League, featuring top U.S. collegiate NCAA players in summer baseball, has rounded second base and taken another step closer to home plate at Royal Athletic Park for the 2013 season.

Victoria city council Thursday authorized director of parks, recreation and culture Kate Friars to enter into “a confidential, non-binding memorandum of understanding” for the use of Royal Athletic Park with an entity that wasn’t specified. Although not named, that entity is the WCL.

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“That’s very good news,” said WCL president Ken Wilson, from Portland.

“Every time baseball has been in Royal Athletic Park [the last being the professional Golden League in 2009 and 2010 with the Victoria Seals], people turn out to watch. That will happen again.”

Read the rest of this article here.

Mavericks Sign UCONN Infielder

2012-02-19T07:59:00.000-06:00

From the Seacoast Mavericks
NEWINGTON - The Seacoast Mavericks have signed University of Connecticut infielder Scott DeJong for the 2012 Futures Collegiate League season.

“Scott is a big kid with a great baseball background as he enters his first season at U Conn. We see Scott as a guy that will hit in the middle of the order for us and provide our line up with some power,” said Mavericks Director of Baseball Operations Mike Daboul.

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“We are really excited to have a player with Scott's ability and passion for the game with us this summer and coming from such a strong nationally recognized program like U Conn is a great fit for our organization.”

The 6-foot-4 freshman was named MVP during his senior season at Eastern Christian in New Jersey, in addition to earning all-league, all-county, and all-area honors for his efforts.

Summer League Related Stat Lines

2012-02-19T07:40:00.000-06:00

I'm usually very busy on the weekends juggling youth sports games, attending my daughters ballet classes and spending time with my wife, but I did manage time to search out these few stat lines for you all.

From Feb. 17th Games

Mark Appel (Stanford--'11 YD) win, 7 inp, 2 hits, run, 2 bb, 7 k's
Lex Rutledge (Samford--'11 Harwich) save, 1 inp, 2 bb, 3 k's
Kyle Kraus (Portland--'11 Hyannis) win, 7 inp, 3 hits, 0 r, 2 bb, 7 k's

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From Feb. 18th Games

Kenny Roberts (Alabama--'12 Willmar) 2 for 4, rbi
Taylor Dugas (Alabama--'11 Acadiana) 3 for 3, 2 runs, 2b
Mike Spano (FLA Atlantic--'11 Front Royal/'12 Orlando) 2 for 5, run
Mike Albaladejo (FLA Atlantic--'11 Leesburg) 3 for 5, 2 runs, rbi
Alex Hudak (FLA Atlantic--'11 Bethesda) 2 for 3, 2 r, 2 rbi, 2b, bb
Pat Kregeloh (Shippensburg--'11 Lehigh Valley) 3 for 7 in dh, 2 r, 2 rbi's, HR, 2b, bb
Chris Rawlings (Barton--'11 Wilson) 5 for 10 in dh, run, 2 rbi's, 2b
Ryan Daughtry (Barton--'11 Wilson) 3 for 9 in dh, 2 runs, 5 rbi's, HR, 2b
Montana Timmons (Wabash--'11 Richmond) 3 for 6 in dh, 4 rbi's, 2b, bb

Jake Meiers (FLA--'11 Haymarket/'12 DeLand) win, 6 inp, 7 hits, run, 0 bb, 3 k's

BUCKS RE-SIGN ALL-STAR TO 2012 ROSTER

2012-02-19T07:23:00.000-06:00

From the Waterloo Bucks
Waterloo, IA - The Waterloo Bucks, a member of the Northwoods League, have announced third baseman Cameron Perkins will return to play for Waterloo in 2012. Perkins, a junior at Purdue University, is the 13th player to be named to the Bucks' roster for the team's 18th season and joins fellow Boilermaker Brett Andrzejewski on the team this summer.

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Last season, the Indianapolis, Indiana native had one of the best single seasons in Bucks history. Perkins led Waterloo in hitting with a .344 average in 63 games. The 6'5", 210-pounder finished with 85 hits, 49 runs, 19 doubles, 10 home runs, 46 RBI, 136 total bases, 13 stolen bases, a .416 on-base percentage, and a .551 slugging percentage on the season, all of which led the Bucks. Perkins ranked second in the NWL in hits, third in slugging percentage, fourth in hitting, doubles, and RBI, and led the South Division in total bases and extra-base hits (30). Perkins was the recipient of a Rawlings Big Stick Award and was named both a mid-season and post-season NWL All-Star for his efforts.

In 2011, the third baseman hit .349 with a .419 on-base percentage, a .552 slugging percentage, 15 doubles, and 13 stolen bases for the Boilermakers. Perkins was named third team All-Big Ten, Academic All-Big Ten, and the Big Ten Player of the Week (April 11). In 2010, Perkins was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball. Recently, the infielder was ranked as the Big Ten's fourth best prospect for the 2012-13 MLB Drafts. In September, Perkins was named the fifth best pro prospect in the NWL by Perfect Game.

Born September 27, 1990, Perkins attended Southport High School in Indianapolis where he was a four-year letter winner and named to the first team All-State and All-County as a junior and senior. Perkins was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 43rd round of the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Cameron is the son of Dale Perkins and Patti Boyett.

The Bucks will open the 2012 season at home versus the Rochester Honkers on May 30 at 6:35 pm. Season tickets and single-game tickets are currently on sale. Fans are encouraged to stay in touch with the Bucks in the off-season by utilizing their website at www.waterloobucks.com.

Herlihy Throws A No-No Today

2012-02-18T20:46:00.000-06:00

In a lopsided 10-0 game, Kevin Herlihy (Savannah State--'11 Sag Harbor) was the star of the show. The Junior out of Roswell, GA pitched a 7-inning no-hitter over Coppin State. In the game, he allowed just 1 walk and he fanned 11 batters. Kevin went 0-1 and had a 4.50 era in 10 innings of work this summer for the Sag Harbor Whalers.

Summer League Related Stats From Feb. 17th.....Part 2

2012-02-18T09:19:00.000-06:00

Part two of my brief look at summer league related stats from yesterday, the 17th of Feb.

Dillon Newman (Baylor--'12 Wareham) save, 1 inp, 2 k's

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Spencer Kieboom (Clemson--'11 Falmouth) 2 for 3, rbi, 2b
Jacob German (UAB--'11 Florence) 3 for 3, 2 bb
Connor Barron (S. Miss--'12 Bourne) 2 for 5, run, rbi, 2b
Beau Faulk (Nicholls State--'11 Alexandria, TCL) 2 for 5, run, rbi
Max Muncy (Baylor--'11 Wareham) 2 for 4, run, 2 bb

BUCKS TAB RETURNING PITCHER FOR 2012

2012-02-18T07:51:00.000-06:00

From the Waterloo Bucks
Waterloo, IA - The Waterloo Bucks, a member of the Northwoods League, have announced right-handed pitcher Brett Andrzejewski will return to play for Waterloo in 2012. Andrzejewski (pronounced and-drew-JESS-key),a junior at Purdue University, is the 12th player to be named to the Bucks' roster for the team's 18th season.

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Last season, the Westfield, Indiana native joined the Bucks on July 21 and was a mainstay in the team's bullpen. Appearing in 10 games, Andrzejewski finished the year with a 1-0 record, a 1.84 ERA, and six strikeouts. The 6'1", 160-pounder notched two saves and held batters to a .235 average in 14.2 innings pitched.

"I am looking forward to coming back to Waterloo for the summer after the short stint I spent with the team last year," said Andrzejewski. "I had a great time last year and I expect this year to be just as fun."

Last season, Andrzejewski played at Tallahassee Community College where he appeared in 29 games for the Eagles, compiling a 3.18 ERA. Andrzejewski finished the season with 34 strikeouts in 45.1 innings pitched while holding opponents to a .194 batting average.

"Brett was a mid-season pickup for us last year and did a great job out of the bullpen," said Waterloo field manager Travis Kiewiet. "His sidearm delivery makes it hard for the hitters to get comfortable in the batters box and it showed by the opponents batting less than .240 against him. Having experience in the NWL last summer will be a huge advantage for him going into this summer and I expect Brett to see a lot of appearances as well as be an integral part of the pitching staff for us this year."

Born November 30, 1990, Andrzejewski attended Westfield High School where he was a teammate of fellow Waterloo pitcher Kyle Kramp. At Westfield, the righty compiled a 3.23 ERA and 22 strikeouts as a senior. Brett is the son of Brian and Ann Andrzejewski.

The Bucks will open the 2012 season at home versus the Rochester Honkers on May 30 at 6:35 pm. Season tickets and single-game tickets are currently on sale. Fans are encouraged to stay in touch with the Bucks in the off-season by utilizing their website at www.waterloobucks.com.

Summer League Related Stat Lines From Feb. 17th

2012-02-18T05:49:00.000-06:00

Now that that pretty much everyone is playing ball now, I'm going to try to have several posts a day highlighting players with summer league ties. I usually don't post a whole lot on the weekends, so most Monday's and Tuesday's will be where I catch up. As is always the case, I simply can't look at every box score, so feel free to email me with any info about summer league related players and how they played.

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Austin Kingsolver (CS Fullerton--'11 Asheboro) 2 for 3
Brian Johnson (Florida--'11 YD) 2 for 4, rbi
Evan Marzilli (South Carolina--'11 Chatham) 3 for 4, run
C.J. Gillman (Dayton--'11 St. Cloud) 1 for 4, 3 rbi's
Griffin Boyd (Western Oregon--'11 Corvallis) 3 for 4, 3 runs, 2 rbi's, 2b
George Roberts (Kent State--'11 Lima) 3 for 4, run, 2 rbi's, 2b

Cole Isom (Evansville--'12 Chillicothe Mudcats) loss, 6 inp, 1 hit, 1 run, 3 bb, 4 k's

Starn Pitches A Gem

2012-02-17T22:31:00.000-06:00

It wasn't just a quality start for David Starn (Kent State--'11 Stark County) today, he was nearly untouchable in his 8-innings against national powerhouse Georgia Tech. The lefty from Hudson, Ohio allowed just four hits, walked just two and fanned 9 Tech batters. He picked the Tech hitters apart and they were left guessing on nearly every pitch. David spent this past summer pitching for the Stark County Terriers of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate Baseball League.

Two Local Stars Set to Return for Generals

2012-02-17T18:45:00.000-06:00

From the Victoria Generals
February 15, 2012 – The Victoria Generals of the Texas Collegiate League have announced the addition of two returning players from 2011 to their 2012 roster. Outfielder Trent Wagner and left-handed closer Covey Morrow give the Generals two returning veterans who had successful seasons in the TCL last summer.

“We should have around 10 players returning from last summer’s team,” commented Victoria’s general manager, Blake Koch. “Trent and Covey are just two of our talented players from a year ago that we expect big things from in 2012.”

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Trent Wagner, a junior outfielder at Texas A&eM University – Kingsville, hit .274 for the Generals in 2011 with 10 doubles, two triples, three homeruns, and 35 RBIs. Wagner also walked 29 times, stole 22 bases, and scored 37 runs.

The 6’3, 200 pound Wagner is a native of Victoria and a former Memorial High School graduate.

“Trent is a tremendous athlete who had a breakout season last summer,” said Koch. “Trent has caught the eyes of several scouts in the area recently because of his play.”

Covey Morrow, a redshirt junior at Texas State University, set a TCL record for appearances in a season last summer with 30 as the Generals closer. Morrow posted a 2.68 ERA to go along with nine saves which was tied for second most in the league. Morrow struck out 34 batters in 37 innings while allowing just nine walks.

The 6’5”, 190 pound Yoakum, Texas native also played for the Generals back in 2009 when he compiled a minuscule 0.60 ERA in 15 innings.

“Covey had a great summer last year coming off of an arm injury,” stated Koch. “He was our most reliable arm out of the bullpen and should have another big season.”

Season tickets for the Victoria Generals 2012 season are on sale now as the TCL plans to release its 2012 season schedule in the coming weeks. Fans can buy season tickets and team merchandise at the Generals team store located at 3708 North Navarro, Suite A in the Landmark Shopping Center, online at www.VictoriaGenerals.com, or by calling 361-485-9522.

BUCKS PLAYERS HONORED BY BASEBALL AMERICA

2012-02-17T15:42:00.000-06:00

From the Waterloo Bucks
Durham, NC - Four former Waterloo Bucks have been recognized in the latest issue of Baseball America. All were honored in the magazine's 2012 College Baseball Preview edition.

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Pitcher Zach Cooper was ranked as the Mid-American Conference's ninth best prospect for the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft. The Central Michigan University senior finished last season with a 6-3 record, a 3.26 ERA, and 88 strikeouts in 91 innings pitched. Cooper played for Waterloo in 2009 and 2010. Appearing in 36 games in two seasons, Cooper owns a 4-8 record, a 5.56 ERA, and 79 strikeouts with five saves. His 26 appearances in 2009 are tied for the ninth most in a single-season in Bucks' team history. The right-hander's 36 total appearances is the ninth most for a pitcher in Waterloo team history. Last year, Cooper was a 46th round draft pick by the Miami Marlins.

Wichita State University pitcher Mitch Mormann was ranked at the 13th best senior by Baseball America. In addition, the right-handed hurler was named as both the Missouri Valley Conference's top newcomer and the fifth best prospect for the 2012 MLB Draft. The Manchester, Iowa native sat out last year after transferring from Louisiana State. Mormann pitched for the Bucks in 2010, appearing in 11 games, finishing with a record of 0-1, a 12.68 ERA, and 14 strikeouts. Last year, Mormann was a 25th round pick by the Detroit Tigers.

Cameron Perkins, a junior at Purdue University, was ranked as the Big Ten's fourth best prospect for the 2012-13 MLB Drafts. Last season, the third baseman hit .349 with a .419 on-base percentage, a .552 slugging percentage, 15 doubles, and 13 stolen bases for the Boilermakers. Perkins led Waterloo in hitting with a .344 average in 63 games in 2011. The former Seattle Mariners draft pick (42nd round, 2009) finished with 85 hits, 49 runs, 19 doubles, 10 home runs, 46 RBI, 136 total bases, 13 stolen bases, a .416 on-base percentage, and a .551 slugging percentage on the season, all of which led the Bucks. Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, Perkins ranked second in the NWL in hits, third in slugging percentage, fourth in hitting, doubles, and RBI, and led the South Division in total bases and extra-base hits (30). Perkins was the recipient of a Rawlings Big Stick Award and was named both a mid-season and post-season NWL All-Star in 2011.

Santa Clara University outfielder Pat Stover was listed as the West Coast Conference's 12th best prospect for the 2012-13 MLB Drafts. Last season for the Broncos, Stoverplayed in 12 games and finished with nine RBI before his season was cut short with an injury. Stover, a sophomore, played for Waterloo in 2009 and 2010, being named a mid-season Northwoods League All-Star in 2010. In two seasons with the Bucks, Stover hit .277 with six home runs, 31 RBI, and a .422 slugging percentage in 70 games. Originally from Rocklin, California, the outfielder was drafted by the Oakland A's in the 17th round of the 2009 MLB Draft.

The February 2012 edition of Baseball America (Issue No. 1205) will be on sale through March 4.

The Bucks will open the 2012 season at home versus the Rochester Honkers on May 30 at 6:35 pm. Season tickets and single-game tickets are currently on sale. Fans are encouraged to stay in touch with the Bucks in the off-season by utilizing their website at www.waterloobucks.com.

GULLS 2012 ROSTER LOADED WITH TALENT

2012-02-17T14:55:00.000-06:00

From the Newport Gulls
NEWPORT, RI - The Newport Gulls, four-time champions of the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL), are proud to announce that the 2012 roster is complete and loaded with Major League prospects. The Gulls have signed 30 players to date that will suit up in the “City by the Sea” next June in their quest for the Fay Vincent Cup. Of the 30 roster players, 14 have been previously drafted by Major League teams but decided to attend college rather than sign professional contracts.

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Ten of those drafted players are pitchers: Ryan Halstead, Indiana; Brett Graves, Missouri; Kyle Richter and Wyatt Strahan, University of Southern California; Adam Ravenelle, Vanderbilt; Mitch Horacek, Dartmouth; David Schmidt and John Hochstatter, Stanford; Tanner Chlelborad, Washington State; and Brandon Bonilla, Arizona State.

In addition to these pitchers, the Gulls have added some veteran arms team officials believe are solid draft prospects; Frank Duncan, Kansas; Pete Kelich, Bryant; and returning Gull Jon Prosinski, Seton Hall. Duncan was named top MLB prospect in the California Collegiate League last summer and both Kelich and Prosinski were All-Star selections in their respective summer leagues. The staff is rounded out with top recruits; Brian Miller, Vanderbilt; Peter Hinchliffe, Boston College; and Jeff Cline, Missouri.

Gulls GM Chuck Paiva believes this could be the best group of power arms he has had here in Newport. “Good pitching wins in this league and we are excited to have signed such quality arms from some very strong programs” said Paiva.

The four drafted position players are: James McDonald (2B), Arizona State; Joel McKeithan (3B) and Johnny Norwood (OF), Vanderbilt; and Austin Slater (SS), Stanford. In addition, the Gulls landed stellar catching prospects Alex Deleon, Kansas; and Jeff Melillo, Rutgers. The infield will be rounded out with Steve Anderson (1B), Georgetown; Blake Butera (SS/2B), Boston College; returning Gull Conor Keniry (2B/3B), Wake Forest; and Brett Winger (1B), Michigan. Along with Johnny Norwood, the outfield at Cardines Field this year will be patrolled by Kasey Coffman, Arizona State; returning Gull Robby Ort, Indiana State; Yale Rosen, Washington State; and Charlie White, Maryland.

The Newport Gulls are a non-profit organization that operates what has become one of the best summer collegiate baseball organizations in the country. The ownership is grateful for the support they receive from the City of Newport, along with their fans, volunteers, sponsors and host families. The Gulls will continue providing the best possible family entertainment for their communities.

The Gulls begin their season with a home-opener on Friday, June 8th. For ticket or sponsorship information, please visit www.newportgulls.com, or call (401) 849-4982.

Rafters Add Pair of Power Threats

2012-02-17T10:31:00.000-06:00

From the Northwoods League
Wisconsin Rapids, WI – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters announced the addition of two power threats to their lineup for the upcoming season by adding utility infielder Austin Neary (Western Carolina) and first baseman Aaron Jones (Winston-Salem State).

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“Austin Neary is a utility guy with a lot of upside. He can play a lot of positions in the field and has tremendous pop in his bat,” said field manager Jake Martin. “Aaron Jones is another player that will provide power to our lineup while playing tremendous defense in the field. His past summer baseball experience will be a nice benefit to our lineup this summer.”

IF-Austin Neary, 6’3”, 215 lbs (R/R) Freshman, Western Carolina [pictured left]

Austin Neary will begin his freshman season at Western Carolina University this spring after a decorated high school career. The utility infielder was named the Maryland Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year in 2011 as a senior after batting .585 with 6 home runs, 34 RBI and 31 runs scored. Neary struck out only three times in 78 plate appearances last year. The Maryland Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year award recognizes outstanding athletic excellence as well as high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field.

During his junior and senior year, Neary was also named an All-State third baseman while attending Archbishop Spalding High School. He helped lead the Cavaliers to a 22-5 record and the 2011 MIAA Conference Championship his senior year. During his high school playing career, Neary amassed 49 doubles, 16 triples, 23 home runs, while driving in 112 runs over three seasons. He was also a three-time, first-team All-County selection while posting a .510 batting average over his prep tenure. Neary is a native of Crofton, Maryland.

1B-Aaron Jones, 6’2”, 215 lbs (L/L) Redshirt Junior, Winston-Salem State [right]

Aaron Jones will begin his junior season at Winston-Salem State University this spring after competing at Lenoir Community College in 2010 and redshirting during the 2011 spring season. Jones was named a Rawlings Region Ten Defensive National Player of the Year Award Finalist and 1st Team All-Conference after batting .404 with 10 doubles, 34 runs, and 27 RBIs in his one season at Lenoir Community College. Jones attended UNC-Wilmington and appeared in 16 games during his freshman year.

Jones is no stranger to summer baseball, having played two years in the Carolina-Virginia Collegiate Summer League where he led the entire league in batting average at .431 in 2010. He was the team leader in doubles (12), walks (12) and on-base percentage (.438) during the 2011 summer campaign.

Jones attended Gospel Light Christian High School where he batted .477 while posting an 8-3 pitching record with 83 strikeouts as a senior. He was a two-time All-State performer while also earning MVP honors his senior year. Jones is a native of Kernersville, North Carolina.

Ironmen send two from staff to professional baseball

2012-02-17T09:41:00.000-06:00

From Press Release
Lorain, OH-February 13-The Lorain County Ironmen are happy to announce that two members of their staff will be moving on to professional baseball this season. Former manager, Eric Cormell has been hired by the Baltimore Orioles. While play by play broadcaster Tim Pozsgai will be joining the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, the Cleveland Indians class A affiliate in the New York-Penn League.

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Cormell who managed the Ironmen in their inaugural season has been hired as a roving minor league instructor. He will focus on the areas of base running and speed training. In his role, Eric will travel between all the Orioles’ affiliates working individually with players on their base running skills while teaching them different training techniques to improve their speed.

Pozsgai has been with the Ironmen through their first two seasons. He has served as the play by play broadcaster as well as the head of Media Relations. With the Scrappers he will also serve as lead play by play broadcaster for all 76 games and will assist with media relations.

This makes a total of four members of the organization that have moved on to professional baseball in only two years. The other two are Phil Brua and Ryan Rua. Brua, a right handed pitcher from Oberlin College, was a member of the Vancouver Canadians. The Canadians, class A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, won the Northwest League Championship last season. Rua, an infielder from Amherst, spent last season with the Spokane Indians, the class A affiliate of the Texas Rangers.

The Ironmen will open the 2012 season on Tuesday May 28th in Richmond Indiana. The home opener will be Thursday May 31st as they host Slippery Rock. Follow the Ironmen on Facebook and Twitter as they continue to build their tradition of excellence.

NECBL To Field 10 Teams in 2012

2012-02-17T07:57:00.000-06:00

From the NECBL
The New England Collegiate Baseball League will enter its 19th season with ten teams. This was determined at a League Board meeting on Tuesday, February 7th.

The ten members are: Danbury Westerners, Holyoke Blue Sox, Keene Swamp Bats, Laconia Muskrats, Mystic Schooners, New Bedford Bay Sox, Newport Gulls, North Adams SteepleCats, Sanford Mainers and Vermont Mountaineers. The NECBL fielded a 10-team league as late as 2001.

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The League will continue to have a team in every state in New England.

The principals of the Old Orchard Beach and North Shore teams- Doug Ayotte and Tim Haley respectively- have informed Commissioner Mario Tiani that they are pursuing different directions. The NECBL wishes Mr. Ayotte and Mr. Haley good luck in their new chapters.

The NECBL remains committed to its mission of bringing world-class baseball to New England communities. Four of the ten NECBL teams averaged over 1,500 fans per game last season while two more averaged over 950. Nearly 300,000 people saw an NECBL game in 2011.

The NECBL also remains committed to building strong members who have deep roots within their communities. The League is confident that all ten fit this criteria. The ten teams are fully committed to playing out the NECBL's motto of "Keep your eye on the Dream." As not-for-profit entities, all ten organizations place the highest emphasis on their player's summer experiences.

With these changes, the League remains confident that it will continue to provide fans outstanding baseball in 2012. Nearly 100 NECBL alumni were drafted by Major League Baseball last June. Nine NECBL alumni made their Big League debuts, bringing the total of NECBL players to make the Majors to 77.

The 2012 NECBL season opens on June 7th.

The New England Collegiate Baseball League is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization associated with Major League Baseball. The NECBL is also a proud member of the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball.

Arkansas-Monticello's Hawkins Picks Up NCBWA Award

2012-02-16T16:49:00.000-06:00

University of Arkansas at Monticello senior outfielder Wayne Hawkins has been named the South Central Regional Hitter of the Week for his performances in Magnolia. The following is from the press release:

The Memphis, Tenn. native hit .500 at the plate (5-for-10) over the weekend, while also tallying two runs batted in and two runs scored. Hawkins led UAM to a 3-2 win over Arkansas Tech on Saturday and a 9-8 win over 20th-ranked Southern Arkansas on Sunday.

Wayne spent this past summer patrolling the outfield for the Outer Banks Dare Devils.

Summer League Related Stats from the Past Two Days

2012-02-16T14:34:00.001-06:00

I just wanted to say thank again to all of my readers that have sent me emails with summer league related stats. Thank you very much.

Here are a few summer league related stats from the last couple of days.

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Feb. 15th

Aaron Scoville (Shepherd--'11 Vienna) 2 for 4, 2 rbi's, 2b
Nathan Minnich (Shepherd--'11Winchester) 1 for 4, run, rbi, hr (1)
Cody Coffman (Tusculum--'11 Springfield Sliders) 2 for 5, 2 runs, rbi, 2b
Matt Henriksen (Tusculum--'11 Front Royal) 3 for 3, 2 runs, 2b, stb
Stephen Crowe (Limestone--'12 Rockbridge) 2 for 5, run, rbi, hr
Carlos Asuaje (Nova Southeastern--'11 Oneonta) 2 for 4, 2 runs, rbi, 2b, stb
John-Austin Shepard (Tusculum--'11 Southern Maryland) 1 inp, bb, k
Josh White (Limestone--'11 Asheboro) ND, 6 inp, 4 hits, 2 runs, 2 bb, 1 k
Vinnie Contaldi (Nova Southeastern--'11 Petersburg) win (2-0), 1 inp, hit, 1 k

Feb. 14th

Nic Kovacs (Palm Beach Atlantic--'11 Leesburg) win (2-0), 5 inp, 8 hits, 3 r, bb, 6 k's
Kenny Frosch (Palm Beach Atlantic--'11 Rome) 1 inp, 1 k
Jeff Barkley (Pfeiffer--'11 Pineville) win (1-0), 6 inp, 1 hit, 0 r, 6 bb, 3 k's
Jarrott Hooks (Francis Marion--'11 Pineville) win (1-0), 8. 1inp, 10 hits, 3 r, 0 bb, 5 k's
Dane Stone (St. Thomas--'11 DeLand) save (4), 2 inp, hit, bb, 4 k's
Johnny Cole (Palm Beach Atlantic--'11 Rome) 1 for 3, 2 runs, rbi, bb, stb
Brock McCallister (Francis Marion--'11 Pineville) 2 for 5, run, rbi, 2b
Buddy Sosnoskie (Francis Marion--'11 Forest City) 3 for 4, run, 2b
Ricky Claudio (St. Thomas--'11 Glens Falls) 3 for 6, 4 rbi's, stb
Adrian English (Barry--'12 North Adams) 4 for 4, run
Sheehan Planas-Atreaga (Barry--'12 North Adams) 2 for 5, 2 runs, 3 rbi's, hr, 3 stb's
Eric Renegar (Brevard--'11 Asheville/'12 Rockbridge) 1 for 2, 2 runs

Edenton Returns Quartet from Historic 2011 Club

2012-02-16T10:28:00.000-06:00

From the Coastal Plain League
Four members of the record-setting 2011 Edenton Steamers will rejoin the club for another run at the Petitt Cup Championship in 2012. After helping the Steamers set 13 franchise records, including six Coastal Plain League marks, and five straight weeks as the #1 ranked summer collegiate baseball team in the nation by Perfect Game CrossChecker, outfielder Nathan Burns, and pitchers Jordan Egan, Joshua Branstetter and David Teasley will don the teal and black for a second straight season.

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Burns, a junior outfielder at Florida International University in the NCAA Division I Sun Belt Conference will be a corner outfielder and provide a middle of the order bat for the Panthers in 2012. The North Richland Hills, TX native stands at 6’4”, 200 pounds, and provides juice to all fields from the left side of the plate. Last season in Edenton, Burns hit .263, had an on-base percentage of .356, and slugged .465, earning himself the ranking of the 21st-highest professional prospect in the CPL by Perfect Game CrossChecker. Burns added six doubles, five home runs, 26 RBIs, and went five for six in stolen base attempts in just over half a season with the Steamers. He has a chance to grade out average or better in all five tools with his power and arm already above average. He was a mid-summer signee for Edenton last season and after regaining his timing at the plate and adjusting to wooden bats and the pitching of the CPL, he became a key power presence during the Steamers record-setting 25-3 second half. Burns has shown he is just as likely to drive a pitch out of the park the other way as he is to pull the ball for a home run. He also has surprising speed and will look to be more involved in the Steamers’ aggressive running game this summer.

Egan, a 6’3”, 200-pound junior at Norfolk State University (VA) in the NCAA Division I Mid-eastern Athletic Conference will be a weekend starter for the Spartans this spring. Heading into the 2012 season, Egan was named the Baseball America MEAC Pitcher of the Year, the Baseball America number one prospect in the MEAC, and one of the most underrated pitchers in the MEAC according to conference coaches polled by College Baseball Insider. The right-handed pitcher from Virginia Beach, VA made 25 appearances, including one start, a season ago in a Steamer uniform. In 37.0 innings pitched, Egan logged a 1.95 ERA, he held opponents to a measly .177 batting average against, finished with a 1.08 WHIP, and added 36 strikeouts and one save. These numbers earned Egan a 2011 CPL midseason all-star selection. For the 2011 Steamers Egan was an integral component to one of the best bullpens in the league as the primary 8th-inning setup man and he acted as a real stabilizer during Edenton’s transition from season-opening closer Ryan Turner, who signed with the Tampa Bay Rays, to eventual 2011 stopper Ethan Cole. Egan has starting experience as an underclassman and looks to complete that transition this season. He has the stuff to succeed with a fastball that runs in the high eighties to low nineties, a hard slurve, and a changeup. He will need to pitch down in the zone more consistently and with better control to maximize his potential.

Branstetter, a Delta State University (MS) junior in the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference, projects to be the returning ace of the Statesmen pitching staff in 2012. The 5’11”, 185-pound right-handed pitcher made the 2012 Tino Martínez Division II Player of the Year Watch List and was named a preseason Gulf South Conference first team pitcher. The Pensacola, FL native made six appearances, all as a starter, for the Steamers a season ago and posted a 4-1 record in 33.2 innings pitched. His 1.34 ERA, .203 batting average against, 1.07 WHIP and 28 strikeouts earned him a 2011 CPL midseason all-star selection. “Branny” teamed with Brooks Fiala to form one of the best one-two starting rotation punches in the league before a freak foot injury ended his summer early in the second half of play. He can attack the strike zone with any combination of four pitches that he commands in any count and he has the ability to pitch inside with great effectiveness. Depending on the timing of Delta State’s postseason, he has the opportunity to become the first pitcher in Steamers franchise history to draw a second opening-night assignment. Branstetter made his 2012 spring debut this past weekend and went six frames, permitting only four hits, no earned runs, no walks, and he fanned six.

Teasley, a tall, wiry junior at Mercer University (GA) in the NCAA Division I Atlantic Sun Conference will be a primary setup man for the Bears this spring. The 6’2”, 160-pound right-handed pitcher calls Elberton, GA home. In 2011 Teasley made 26 appearances on the mound for the Steamers. In his 23.0 innings pitched, he posted a 1.96 ERA, coupled with a .163 batting average against and a 0.87 WHIP. The batting average against and WHIP numbers led all qualifying Steamer relievers in those categories. Teasley is a stingy submarine-style reliever that was a quality weapon all summer for Steamer skipper Dirk Kinney, as he created match-up problems and was able to nail down big outs out of the bullpen in middle relief. His delivery and movement are a nightmare on right-handed batters but he was impressive with his overall effectiveness against lefties as well last summer. Teasley is a multi-faceted relief pitcher, who is a coach’s luxury due to the ability to pitch successfully on consecutive days, as well as in a specialist or multi-inning role.

The Edenton organization is also proud to announce some more past and future Steamers were decorated recently with preseason conference accolades by various media outlets.

2010 right-handed pitcher Lincoln Rassi (University of Toledo) was picked as the number eight prospect in the Mid-American Conference by Baseball America.

2010 left-handed pitcher Charlie McCready (Charleston Southern University) was named the most underrated pitcher in the Big South Conference by its coaches polled by College Baseball Insider.

2010 outfielder Brian Billigen (Cornell University) was called the best outfield arm in the Ivy League by its coaches in a poll by College Baseball Insider.

2010 Steamer Ryan McChesney (Florida Tech) and 2011 Steamers Joe Wendle (West Chester University) and Ryan Porter (Rockhurst University) were also named to the 2012 Tino Martínez Division II Player of the Year Watch List. Wendle was also rated the number nine prospect in the NCAA Division II by Perfect Game CrossChecker with Porter slotting number 29 on the same list.

2010/2011 utility man Brian Blasik (University of Dayton) was regarded as one of the two best defensive infielders and amongst the best pure hitters in the Atlantic Ten according to A-10 coaches polled by College Baseball Insider.

2011 Edenton shortstop Tim Saunders (Marietta College) was named the number one prospect in all of NCAA Division III baseball by Perfect Game CrossChecker.

2011 outfielder Ryan Brenner (Miami University-Ohio), who established Edenton single-season franchise records last summer for stolen bases and putouts by an outfielder, was named the best defensive outfielder and best base runner in the Mid-American Conference by coaches polled in College Baseball Insider.

2011 third baseman Vinnie Mejia (University of Texas-Pan American) rated as one of the top three power hitters in the Great West Conference by its coaches polled by College Baseball Insider.

2011 right-handed pitcher Esteban Guzmán (San Jose State University) was named the Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year and the number nine prospect in that conference by Baseball America.

2011 Steamer Bo Bigham from the University of Arkansas was recently recognized by Baseball America as the best defensive second baseman in the Southeastern Conference.

2011 third baseman Mitch Wells (Central Connecticut State University) was voted one of the top three pure hitters in the Northeast Conference by its coaches polled in College Baseball Insider.

2011 right-handed pitcher Mike Hernández (Butler University) rated the number four prospect in the Horizon League by Baseball America and was also identified as one of the top three pitchers in the Horizon League according to coaches polled by College Baseball Insider.

2012 signee Kyle McGowin, a sophomore right-handed pitcher from Savannah State University, was named the number six prospect in the Mid-eastern Athletic Conference by Baseball America despite not being draft-eligible until next year.

2012 signee Casey Shiver, a junior right-handed pitcher at Southern Polytechnic State University in Georgia was ranked the number 42 prospect in all of NAIA by Perfect Game CrossChecker.

2012 signee Ray Ortega was named the best defensive catcher and the top catching arm in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference by College Baseball Insider’s coaches’ poll.

The Edenton Steamers are a proud member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 16th season in 2012, the CPL features 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. Furthermore, the CPL has had over 930 alumni drafted and 46 alums make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at http://www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to friend us on Facebook (at http://www.facebook.com/coastalplainleague) and follow us via Twitter (as cpleague).

Top JUCO Player Signs with Honkers

2012-02-16T08:10:00.000-06:00

From the Northwoods League
(Rochester, MN)—Players who can dominate both on the pitching mound and from the plate are rare to come by, especially in players with just one year of college experience under their belt. The Rochester Honkers have signed Adam Giacalone, who is not only a terror with his pitching arm, but a slugging machine with the lumber. Giacalone is a 6’2”, 215-pound Shawnee, Kansas native who played as a freshman in 2011 at Neosho County Community College, where he achieved national attention as possibly the most talented junior college player in the nation.

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Giacalone is a dominant right-handed pitcher and first baseman, with enough power to shake the ballpark, and all the necessary tools to become a very big player for the Honkers this summer. In 2011 with Neosho County CC, he developed a fear factor for opposing hitters, posting a 10-1 record with a 2.10 ERA. Adam has the ability to make bats miss the ball, tallying 83 strikeouts in 83.1 innings of work, good for one strikeout per inning, with one game where he struck out 17. His command of the plate is impressive as well, as he only registered 14 walks for the entire season. In 2010, as a senior at Shawnee Mission High School, Giacalone threw the first perfect game in school history, only needing 77 pitches (66 strikes) to do it. Two weeks later, he threw another one as if the first one wasn’t enough.

Giacalone’s hitting numbers are just as daunting. In 60 games for Neosho County CC, he hit for a robust .396 batting average, with 18 homeruns and an astonishing 102 RBIs, which is a school record. His slugging percentage of .786 shows that he can not only hit the long ball, but can hit with power from gap to gap as well with 16 doubles and 2 triples in 2011. Giacalone’s monster season garnered him multiple accolades including Jayhawk Conference Player of the Year and NJCAA First-Team All-American honors. With heavy recruitment from big baseball schools like TCU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Nebraska, Giacalone decided to sign with the University of Tennessee for the 2013 season, as he will play one more year at Neosho County before travelling to Rochester to showcase his talents for the Honkers this coming season.