Northwestern University senior Jake Owens (Glens Falls '07) and Elon University junior Chris Dove (Saratoga '06) have both earned recognition as part of the 2008 All-Ping!Baseball preseason team. Both Owens and Dove were listed as "For Your Consideration" nominations under their respective positions. The pair are also among eight former New York Collegiate Baseball League players who are part of the 2008 Brooks Wallace Award preseason "Watch List."
Owens has started 142 consecutive games at second base for Northwestern. Last spring, he led the Wildcats in batting average (.385), hits (85), runs scored (48) and stolen bases (18). Owens' 85 hits set a new single-season school record. He was named second-team All-Big Ten. Through three years at Northwestern, Owens has 191 hits, 112 runs scored and a .336 batting average.
The Stevens Point, Wisc., native helped the 2007 Glens Falls Golden Eagles to a 34-6 regular season record. He recorded 36 hits in 38 games and batted .247 with one home run and 18 runs batted in. Owens finished second on the team in walks (25) and stolen bases (nine).
Dove batted .333 with a team-high 31 stolen bases and eight triples as a sophomore at Elon. Dove's eight triples led the Southern Conference. He tallied 67 hits, two home runs, 30 RBI, 40 runs scored, nine doubles, 20 walks and a team-high .488 slugging percentage. Dove recorded 20 multi-hit games and collected three hits, three runs scored and two RBI during Elon's win at nationally-ranked Clemson. Prior to Elon, Dove attended Pfeiffer College. He played in 60 games as a true freshman and batted .317 with five home runs and 33 runs batted in.
The Graham, N.C., native was a key member of the Saratoga Phillies 2006 NYCBL championship team. Dove batted .294 with 22 runs batted in and a league-high 23 stolen bases on 25 attempts. On the mound, he was 2-1 with a 1.82 earned run average in six appearances with two complete games. Defensively, Dove added 15 assists. He threw out several runners attempting to score during the NYCBL playoffs and one during the Phillies one-run victory in the opening game of the NYCBL Championship Series. Last summer, Dove played for the Duluth Huskies of the Northwoods League. He hit .238 with 13 runs batted in and 22 stolen bases.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Former Wizards To Captain Red Storm
St. John's University head baseball coach Ed Blankmeyer has announced that senior Jeff Grantham (Watertown '05) will serve as the Red Storm's team captain for the 2008 season. Senior George Brown (Watertown '05) will be one of three assistant captains.
Grantham batted .342 with 30 runs batted in, 30 runs scored and a team-high four triples as a junior. He also played in 51 of St. John's 60 games and finished second on the team with 136 assists. He was a CoSIDA and ESPN The Magazine first team Academic All-American with a 3.98 GPA as a physics major. Through three seasons at St. John's, Grantham has a .338 batting average and has appeared in 128 games.
The Randolph, N.J., native was a member of the 2005 Eastern Division playoff champion Watertown Wizards. He batted .250 with 15 RBI, 21 runs scored and eight stolen bases in 44 games for the Wizards. Defensively, he tallied 127 assists. Last summer, Grantham was a member of the New England Collegiate Baseball League's Sanford Mainers. He hit .297 and drove in 19 runs. He finished second on the team in batting average and played in the NECBL All-Star Game.
Brown was a third-team All-BIG EAST selection last spring. On the mound, he was 6-2 with a 3.09 earned run average. Brown finished second on the team in innings pitched (78.2), games started (14) and strikeouts (46). In conference play, Brown earned five victories and posted a 2.43 ERA. Through three seasons at St. John's, Brown has lost just two decisions and garnered 13 victories.
The Syracuse, N.Y., native made five starts for the 2005 Watertown Wizards. He went 1-1 with a 3.29 earned run average. He struck out 21 batters in 27.1 innings pitched. Brown's debut was a two-hit, seven-strikeout performance against Saratoga at Cooperstown's Doubleday Field. He followed up with an eight-strikeout showing against Mohawk Valley at home in his next start. Since playing in Watertown, Brown has pitched in the NECBL and the Alaska Baseball League. Last summer, he was 1-1 with a 2.13 ERA in six starts for the Mat-Su Miners.
Two other current St. John's players have New York Collegiate Baseball League connections. Sophomore Joe Witkowski played for the Little Falls Miners last summer and he was a NYCBL postseason all-star. Freshman Gabe Guerrero is slated to pitch for the Saratoga Phillies this coming summer.
Two St. John's coaches have NYCBL connections as well. Pitching coach Scott Brown was the head coach of the Cortland Apples in 2000 and 2001. The Apples won the Eastern Division regular season title in 2000 with a 25-15 record. Assistant coach Julio Vega spent six seasons in the NYCBL. He was the head coach of the Plattsburgh Thunder from 2003 through 2005 and he was an assistant in 2002. Vega assisted Todd Kirkey in Watertown during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. He will be the head coach of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League's Hampton Whalers this summer.
Grantham batted .342 with 30 runs batted in, 30 runs scored and a team-high four triples as a junior. He also played in 51 of St. John's 60 games and finished second on the team with 136 assists. He was a CoSIDA and ESPN The Magazine first team Academic All-American with a 3.98 GPA as a physics major. Through three seasons at St. John's, Grantham has a .338 batting average and has appeared in 128 games.
The Randolph, N.J., native was a member of the 2005 Eastern Division playoff champion Watertown Wizards. He batted .250 with 15 RBI, 21 runs scored and eight stolen bases in 44 games for the Wizards. Defensively, he tallied 127 assists. Last summer, Grantham was a member of the New England Collegiate Baseball League's Sanford Mainers. He hit .297 and drove in 19 runs. He finished second on the team in batting average and played in the NECBL All-Star Game.
Brown was a third-team All-BIG EAST selection last spring. On the mound, he was 6-2 with a 3.09 earned run average. Brown finished second on the team in innings pitched (78.2), games started (14) and strikeouts (46). In conference play, Brown earned five victories and posted a 2.43 ERA. Through three seasons at St. John's, Brown has lost just two decisions and garnered 13 victories.
The Syracuse, N.Y., native made five starts for the 2005 Watertown Wizards. He went 1-1 with a 3.29 earned run average. He struck out 21 batters in 27.1 innings pitched. Brown's debut was a two-hit, seven-strikeout performance against Saratoga at Cooperstown's Doubleday Field. He followed up with an eight-strikeout showing against Mohawk Valley at home in his next start. Since playing in Watertown, Brown has pitched in the NECBL and the Alaska Baseball League. Last summer, he was 1-1 with a 2.13 ERA in six starts for the Mat-Su Miners.
Two other current St. John's players have New York Collegiate Baseball League connections. Sophomore Joe Witkowski played for the Little Falls Miners last summer and he was a NYCBL postseason all-star. Freshman Gabe Guerrero is slated to pitch for the Saratoga Phillies this coming summer.
Two St. John's coaches have NYCBL connections as well. Pitching coach Scott Brown was the head coach of the Cortland Apples in 2000 and 2001. The Apples won the Eastern Division regular season title in 2000 with a 25-15 record. Assistant coach Julio Vega spent six seasons in the NYCBL. He was the head coach of the Plattsburgh Thunder from 2003 through 2005 and he was an assistant in 2002. Vega assisted Todd Kirkey in Watertown during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. He will be the head coach of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League's Hampton Whalers this summer.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
NYCBL Alumni Spotlight: Kevin Graber (Schenectady '90)
This week marks the return of the New York Collegiate Baseball League Alumni Spotlight. Every other week from now until the start of the 2008 season, one former NYCBL (or NCBL) player or coach will be featured. Last June, 27 former NYCBL players were selected in the Major League Baseball entry draft. Countless other former players and coaches have gone on to have success on the collegiate and professional diamond as well.
The first spotlight of 2008 shines on Kevin Graber (Schenectady '90). Graber is currently an assistant baseball coach at Amherst (Mass.) College. He played in the Northeastern Collegiate Baseball League for Bob Bellizzi's Schenectady Mohawks from 1988 through 1990 and then for Tom Kenney's Cohocton Red Wings in 1991. Graber spent most of his collegiate career under Bellizzi at the College of St. Rose after playing for Division-I Winthrop. He was a three-time all-conference selection and he helped lead the Golden Knights to back-to-back league titles in 1991 and 1992.
As a senior at St. Rose, Graber was diagnosed with lymph node cancer. According to the Amherst Bulletin:
Graber left the dugout for the press box in the late 90s. He worked as an assistant sports information director at St. Rose and then he was the sports information director at Division-II West Alabama. From 2000-2005, Graber was the sports information director at Amherst College. While working at Amherst, he started managing in the local Mickey Mantle League (15-16yr old) team. Last summer, Graber's Mickey Mantle squad from Amherst won the Massachusetts state championship.
The former Schenectady Mohawk is entering his second season as an assistant at Amherst. He works under longtime Lord Jeffs skipper Bill Thurston. Last spring, Amherst finished 20-14 and made the postseason tournament in the New England Small College Athletic Conference.
The first spotlight of 2008 shines on Kevin Graber (Schenectady '90). Graber is currently an assistant baseball coach at Amherst (Mass.) College. He played in the Northeastern Collegiate Baseball League for Bob Bellizzi's Schenectady Mohawks from 1988 through 1990 and then for Tom Kenney's Cohocton Red Wings in 1991. Graber spent most of his collegiate career under Bellizzi at the College of St. Rose after playing for Division-I Winthrop. He was a three-time all-conference selection and he helped lead the Golden Knights to back-to-back league titles in 1991 and 1992.
As a senior at St. Rose, Graber was diagnosed with lymph node cancer. According to the Amherst Bulletin:
He was in intensive care for two weeks. He underwent 1 1/2 years of chemotherapy and radiation, which he described as "beyond painful."... But, the cancer had been detected soon enough that it did not reach his bone marrow. The tumor responded to treatment and shrank to nothing.Eventually, Graber returned to the diamond. He coached baseball at Lassen College in Susanville, Calif., and then a summer league team in the Albany, N.Y., area before heading to play baseball in Australia for the Pine River Rapids and Brisbane Bandits. Graber returned to home in 1996 and spent the season with the independent Minnesota Loons as a player and public relations director. The following season, Graber, 27, was named the manager of the Prairie League's Southern Minny Stars. At 27, he was the youngest field manager in all of professional baseball. He skippered the Stars to a 48-21 record and was named Prairie League Manager of the Year. Graber would also go on to manage the Northeast League's Adirondack Lumberjacks. The Albany, N.Y., native also had coaching stops through the years at McLintock High School (Mesa, Ariz.) and Riverland C.C. (Austin, Minn.). He would also return to Schenectady as an assistant coach for the Mohawks and he coached the Electric City Giants of the Mountains Collegiate Baseball League.
Graber left the dugout for the press box in the late 90s. He worked as an assistant sports information director at St. Rose and then he was the sports information director at Division-II West Alabama. From 2000-2005, Graber was the sports information director at Amherst College. While working at Amherst, he started managing in the local Mickey Mantle League (15-16yr old) team. Last summer, Graber's Mickey Mantle squad from Amherst won the Massachusetts state championship.
The former Schenectady Mohawk is entering his second season as an assistant at Amherst. He works under longtime Lord Jeffs skipper Bill Thurston. Last spring, Amherst finished 20-14 and made the postseason tournament in the New England Small College Athletic Conference.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Lamm (Saratoga '07) To Pitch For Whitecaps
Vanderbilt redshirt freshman pitcher Mark Lamm (Saratoga '07) is listed on the roster of the 2008 Brewster Whitecaps. The Whitecaps are members of the Cape Cod Baseball League. Lamm is the second former Phillies pitcher to appear on a 2008 Cape roster. Andrew Carraway (Saratoga '06) is listed on the roster of the Hyannis Mets.
Lamm redshirted last spring at Vanderbilt and made his 2007 debut for the Saratoga Phillies of the New York Collegiate Baseball League. Lamm was 2-1 with one save and a team-low 1.19 earned run average. In nine appearances, he made four starts and struck out 38 in 30 1/3 innings pitched. Lamm's best performance came in the Eastern Division finals against the Glens Falls Golden Eagles. In the series' opening game, Lamm allowed two runs on four hits over seven innings and struck out a season-high 12 batters. Saratoga won the game, 5-2, but would eventually drop the series, two games to one.
The Cape Cod Baseball League and the New York Collegiate Baseball League are both members of the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball (NACSB).
Lamm redshirted last spring at Vanderbilt and made his 2007 debut for the Saratoga Phillies of the New York Collegiate Baseball League. Lamm was 2-1 with one save and a team-low 1.19 earned run average. In nine appearances, he made four starts and struck out 38 in 30 1/3 innings pitched. Lamm's best performance came in the Eastern Division finals against the Glens Falls Golden Eagles. In the series' opening game, Lamm allowed two runs on four hits over seven innings and struck out a season-high 12 batters. Saratoga won the game, 5-2, but would eventually drop the series, two games to one.
The Cape Cod Baseball League and the New York Collegiate Baseball League are both members of the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball (NACSB).
Friday, January 18, 2008
Former Riverbat Named Division III Preseason All-American
Cortland State senior Mike Zaccardo (Genesee Valley '04) has been named to the 2008 D3baseball.com Preseason All-America team.
Zaccardo was the State University of New York Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2007 and he was selected as an All-American by D3baseball.com (honorable mention) and by the American Baseball Coaches Association (third team). In addition, Zaccardo was named the ABCA All-New York Region Player of the Year and Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Upstate New York Player of the Year. He also was named to the ABCA/Rawlings "Gold Glove" team both regionally and nationally.
The Irondequoit, N.Y., native batted .397 with 40 RBI and a team-high nine home runs. He also tallied 60 hits, 14 doubles, 21 walks and six stolen bases. Zaccardo led Cortland in slugging percentage (.682) and on-base percentage (.469). In the field, he recorded a .991 fielding percentage and threw out 10-of-28 potential base stealers.
Prior to Cortland, Zaccardo played baseball at Monroe Community College in Rochester, N.Y. He was an all-region catcher for the Tribunes. As a senior at Irondequoit High School, Mike was the Monroe County Player of the Year.
Zaccardo was a member of the 2004 Genesee Valley Riverbats. He played under current Monroe Community College head coach Mike Kelly. Zaccardo hit .216 in 33 games and drove in eight runs.
Zaccardo was the State University of New York Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2007 and he was selected as an All-American by D3baseball.com (honorable mention) and by the American Baseball Coaches Association (third team). In addition, Zaccardo was named the ABCA All-New York Region Player of the Year and Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Upstate New York Player of the Year. He also was named to the ABCA/Rawlings "Gold Glove" team both regionally and nationally.
The Irondequoit, N.Y., native batted .397 with 40 RBI and a team-high nine home runs. He also tallied 60 hits, 14 doubles, 21 walks and six stolen bases. Zaccardo led Cortland in slugging percentage (.682) and on-base percentage (.469). In the field, he recorded a .991 fielding percentage and threw out 10-of-28 potential base stealers.
Prior to Cortland, Zaccardo played baseball at Monroe Community College in Rochester, N.Y. He was an all-region catcher for the Tribunes. As a senior at Irondequoit High School, Mike was the Monroe County Player of the Year.
Zaccardo was a member of the 2004 Genesee Valley Riverbats. He played under current Monroe Community College head coach Mike Kelly. Zaccardo hit .216 in 33 games and drove in eight runs.
Mohawks Announce First Amsterdam Baseball Hall of Fame Selections
The list is as follows.
Brian Mee, Amsterdam High School
Bill McGillin, Bergen Post, Post 701 American Legion
Bob Bellizzi, Amsterdam Mohawks, College of St. Rose
Matt Quatraro, Amsterdam Mohawks
More information will follow in the coming days. The group will be honored at a dinner in Amsterdam on February 9th.
Brian Mee, Amsterdam High School
Bill McGillin, Bergen Post, Post 701 American Legion
Bob Bellizzi, Amsterdam Mohawks, College of St. Rose
Matt Quatraro, Amsterdam Mohawks
More information will follow in the coming days. The group will be honored at a dinner in Amsterdam on February 9th.
Flores (Little Falls '06) Tabbed All-Big West
Sacramento State senior David Flores (Little Falls '06) has been selected to the 2008 Western Athletic Conference preseason all-conference team.
Flores was a first-team All-WAC selection last season and he is one of two Sacramento State players named to the 2008 preseason all-conference squad. Last spring, Flores batted .311 with five home runs and 23 RBI. He finished second on the Hornets in hits (66) and tied for second in runs scored (30). Flores hit .313 during conference play with three home runs and 12 RBI. Flores also was tabbed to the All-WAC second team as a sophomore.
The Union City, Calif., native was a first-team All-New York Collegiate Baseball League selection for the Little Falls Diamond Miners in 2006. Flores hit .331 with a team-high six home runs and 36 runs batted in. He also collected a team-high 14 doubles and finished tied for the team lead with 55 hits. Flores helped guide the Diamond Miners to the semifinals of the NYCBL playoffs. In the Diamond Miners game two victory over Watertown in the opening round of the playoffs, Flores went 4-for-5 with four RBI on a massive second inning grand slam. The home run capped off a six-run second inning for Little Falls en route to a 9-0 victory.
Flores is the second former Miners player to earn a preseason all-conference selection for the 2008 season. Rutgers junior Tom Edwards (Little Falls '07) was named to the BIG EAST preseason all-conference team earlier this month.
Flores was a first-team All-WAC selection last season and he is one of two Sacramento State players named to the 2008 preseason all-conference squad. Last spring, Flores batted .311 with five home runs and 23 RBI. He finished second on the Hornets in hits (66) and tied for second in runs scored (30). Flores hit .313 during conference play with three home runs and 12 RBI. Flores also was tabbed to the All-WAC second team as a sophomore.
The Union City, Calif., native was a first-team All-New York Collegiate Baseball League selection for the Little Falls Diamond Miners in 2006. Flores hit .331 with a team-high six home runs and 36 runs batted in. He also collected a team-high 14 doubles and finished tied for the team lead with 55 hits. Flores helped guide the Diamond Miners to the semifinals of the NYCBL playoffs. In the Diamond Miners game two victory over Watertown in the opening round of the playoffs, Flores went 4-for-5 with four RBI on a massive second inning grand slam. The home run capped off a six-run second inning for Little Falls en route to a 9-0 victory.
Flores is the second former Miners player to earn a preseason all-conference selection for the 2008 season. Rutgers junior Tom Edwards (Little Falls '07) was named to the BIG EAST preseason all-conference team earlier this month.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Great Stories Of 2007, Part IV
This is the fourth part in a multiple-part series detailing the great stories from the 2007 New York Collegiate Baseball League season. This is the second year of the great stories series, we hope you enjoy it. If you would like to contribute your ideas, please e-mail me at SaltCitySports@aol.com.
Part IV: 34-6, 101
The numbers above represent several milestones in the New York Collegiate Baseball League that might never be broken. The numbers above refer to the 2007 Glens Falls Golden Eagles and manager John Mayotte. The team finished the 42-game regular season with a record of 34-6 (two games were unable to be made up) and an .850 winning percentage. Manager John Mayotte, the only field general in the franchise's four seasons, earned his 100th NYCBL victory in late July when the Golden Eagles swept the Bennington Bombers in a doubleheader at East Field. The team won the Eastern Division regular season title going away and took the Eastern Division playoff crown but ran out of gas in the NYCBL Championship Series against Elmira, falling two games to none.
But really, the magic of the regular season cannot be outdone. Glens Falls' .850 winning percentage is the highest in the modern era (2000-present) of the New York Collegiate Baseball League and very well could be the highest in league history. The 34 regular season victories also ties a modern-day league record. Hornell won 34 regular season games in 2005, but the Dodgers also played a 47-game regular season and were able to have an outcome to all of their games. Going back to 2000, the closest a team comes to the .850 winning percentage is the 2004 Glens Falls Golden Eagles. The 2004 Green and Gold went 31-10 and garnered a .756 winning percentage. In a 40 or 42-game regular season, Glens Falls' 31 wins in 2004 and Amsterdam's 31 wins in 2003 were the league high until 2007.
The .850 winning percentage was also the highest among the 71 teams affiliated with the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball (NACSB). That spans several leagues including the Cape Cod Baseball League, Valley Baseball League, Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League, Central Illinois Collegiate League, Florida Collegiate Baseball League, Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League and the Southern Collegiate Baseball League.
And then there's John Mayotte. He's been the manager in Glens Falls since the team took the field for its inaugural season in 2004. In four regular seasons, he's 101-67 (.601). During his tenure, the Golden Eagles have two Eastern Division regular season titles, one Eastern Division playoff title and twice won 30 or more games during the regular season. Last summer, 14 of his former players in the NYCBL were playing professional baseball. Coach Mayotte's win total will only continue to rise, because he is returning to Glens Falls for the 2008 season.
The Golden Eagles may have had the best pitching staff in the league last season with postseason all-stars Brian Moran (North Carolina) and Tom Meagher (St. Petersburg) along with All-Star game selection Barry Kieffer (Midland/Louisiana-Monroe) and stingy starters Mike Wanamaker (St. Petersburg/Penn State), Alex Pepe (Florida Atlantic) and Scott Denault (San Diego). That group combined to go 26-5 with Moran, Meagher and Denault all recording five wins.
Offense wasn't a problem either with NYCBL first-team selections Kevin Mahoney (Canisius), Dan DeGeorge (Princeton) and Jake Shaffer (Northern Kentucky). Mahoney was a multi-time selection for NYCBL Eastern Division Player of the Week and he led the league with seven home runs and 44 RBI. DeGeorge was a consistent threat with the bat and a good contact hitter with a team-high 54 hits. Shaffer was the quiet one of the Golden Eagles "Big Three" but did just as much damage with 21 RBI and a Bob Bellizzi Big Stick Award for his performance at the NYCBL All-Star Game.
Mike Konstanty (Albany), Jake Owens (Northwestern), Joe Mercurio (Illinois/Maine) and Rick Seltzer (Siena) made solid offensive contributions as well. All four stepped up offensively when several key players went down for the summer including Luis Feliz (Rutgers) and Mark Kelly (Southern Illinois).
One of the more remarkable aspects of the Golden Eagles season was that they were 19-1 away from East Field. The only road loss the team suffered was to North Way rival Saratoga, 2-1, at East Side Rec on July 2. At East Field, the Green and Gold were 15-5 with losses coming to Watertown (twice), Saratoga (twice) and Amsterdam once. Glens Falls won two of its three road playoff games as well, but dropped three of five home games, one in each round.
The streak with Glens Falls was always popular as they never lost back-to-back games until the NYCBL Championship Series. The season included winning streaks of nine games, eight games, five games and four games (twice). Glens Falls led the league in team earned run average (2.42) and finished second in team batting average to Hornell by a thousandth of a point (.274 to .273).
Will another team break the precedents set by the 2007 Glens Falls Golden Eagles? It's highly unlikely, especially with the nature of summer college baseball and different rosters every season. It was certainly a season for the ages. Can the Golden Eagles repeat in the Eastern Division with Coach Mayotte at the helm again in 2008? Here's some food for thought. In the two seasons that the NYCBL has had no inter-division play (2004, 2007), Glens Falls has gone 65-16 and won two regular season division titles.
Coming up next, Part V: The Number 27
Part IV: 34-6, 101
The numbers above represent several milestones in the New York Collegiate Baseball League that might never be broken. The numbers above refer to the 2007 Glens Falls Golden Eagles and manager John Mayotte. The team finished the 42-game regular season with a record of 34-6 (two games were unable to be made up) and an .850 winning percentage. Manager John Mayotte, the only field general in the franchise's four seasons, earned his 100th NYCBL victory in late July when the Golden Eagles swept the Bennington Bombers in a doubleheader at East Field. The team won the Eastern Division regular season title going away and took the Eastern Division playoff crown but ran out of gas in the NYCBL Championship Series against Elmira, falling two games to none.
But really, the magic of the regular season cannot be outdone. Glens Falls' .850 winning percentage is the highest in the modern era (2000-present) of the New York Collegiate Baseball League and very well could be the highest in league history. The 34 regular season victories also ties a modern-day league record. Hornell won 34 regular season games in 2005, but the Dodgers also played a 47-game regular season and were able to have an outcome to all of their games. Going back to 2000, the closest a team comes to the .850 winning percentage is the 2004 Glens Falls Golden Eagles. The 2004 Green and Gold went 31-10 and garnered a .756 winning percentage. In a 40 or 42-game regular season, Glens Falls' 31 wins in 2004 and Amsterdam's 31 wins in 2003 were the league high until 2007.
The .850 winning percentage was also the highest among the 71 teams affiliated with the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball (NACSB). That spans several leagues including the Cape Cod Baseball League, Valley Baseball League, Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League, Central Illinois Collegiate League, Florida Collegiate Baseball League, Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League and the Southern Collegiate Baseball League.
And then there's John Mayotte. He's been the manager in Glens Falls since the team took the field for its inaugural season in 2004. In four regular seasons, he's 101-67 (.601). During his tenure, the Golden Eagles have two Eastern Division regular season titles, one Eastern Division playoff title and twice won 30 or more games during the regular season. Last summer, 14 of his former players in the NYCBL were playing professional baseball. Coach Mayotte's win total will only continue to rise, because he is returning to Glens Falls for the 2008 season.
The Golden Eagles may have had the best pitching staff in the league last season with postseason all-stars Brian Moran (North Carolina) and Tom Meagher (St. Petersburg) along with All-Star game selection Barry Kieffer (Midland/Louisiana-Monroe) and stingy starters Mike Wanamaker (St. Petersburg/Penn State), Alex Pepe (Florida Atlantic) and Scott Denault (San Diego). That group combined to go 26-5 with Moran, Meagher and Denault all recording five wins.
Offense wasn't a problem either with NYCBL first-team selections Kevin Mahoney (Canisius), Dan DeGeorge (Princeton) and Jake Shaffer (Northern Kentucky). Mahoney was a multi-time selection for NYCBL Eastern Division Player of the Week and he led the league with seven home runs and 44 RBI. DeGeorge was a consistent threat with the bat and a good contact hitter with a team-high 54 hits. Shaffer was the quiet one of the Golden Eagles "Big Three" but did just as much damage with 21 RBI and a Bob Bellizzi Big Stick Award for his performance at the NYCBL All-Star Game.
Mike Konstanty (Albany), Jake Owens (Northwestern), Joe Mercurio (Illinois/Maine) and Rick Seltzer (Siena) made solid offensive contributions as well. All four stepped up offensively when several key players went down for the summer including Luis Feliz (Rutgers) and Mark Kelly (Southern Illinois).
One of the more remarkable aspects of the Golden Eagles season was that they were 19-1 away from East Field. The only road loss the team suffered was to North Way rival Saratoga, 2-1, at East Side Rec on July 2. At East Field, the Green and Gold were 15-5 with losses coming to Watertown (twice), Saratoga (twice) and Amsterdam once. Glens Falls won two of its three road playoff games as well, but dropped three of five home games, one in each round.
The streak with Glens Falls was always popular as they never lost back-to-back games until the NYCBL Championship Series. The season included winning streaks of nine games, eight games, five games and four games (twice). Glens Falls led the league in team earned run average (2.42) and finished second in team batting average to Hornell by a thousandth of a point (.274 to .273).
Will another team break the precedents set by the 2007 Glens Falls Golden Eagles? It's highly unlikely, especially with the nature of summer college baseball and different rosters every season. It was certainly a season for the ages. Can the Golden Eagles repeat in the Eastern Division with Coach Mayotte at the helm again in 2008? Here's some food for thought. In the two seasons that the NYCBL has had no inter-division play (2004, 2007), Glens Falls has gone 65-16 and won two regular season division titles.
Coming up next, Part V: The Number 27
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Great Stories Of 2007, Part III
This is the third part in a multiple-part series detailing the great stories from the 2007 New York Collegiate Baseball League season. This is the second year of the great stories series, we hope you enjoy it. If you would like to contribute your ideas, please e-mail me at SaltCitySports@aol.com.
Part III: Return of the Red Wings
While the Elmira Pioneers won the league championship in their second year and Shane Wolf was the New York Collegiate Baseball League Player of the Year, the real feel good story of the 2007 NYCBL season comes from Geneva. The Red Wings finished the season tied for first place in the Western Division with Elmira, made the playoffs for the first time since 2003 and were two wins away from the NYCBL Championship Series.
Entering the season, Geneva had not hosted a winning NYCBL team since 2003. From 2004 through 2006, the Red Wings went 45-81 and finished a combined 45.5 games out of first place. The closest the team came to making the postseason was in 2006 when they finished five games back of Amsterdam, one of two wildcard selections. Things weren't always bad in Geneva. The 1998 Knights won the league title and the 1999 team made the playoffs before bowing out to eventual league champion Newark. The 2003 team also made the playoffs with a 28-14 record, but Hornell bounced Geneva in the Western Division finals.
Things started looking up in 2006 with NYCBL Player of the Year Nick Stewart. He formed a solid combination with Tim Alberts (Niagara) and there were among the best 1-2 combos in the league. But injuries and lack of offense doomed the 2006 Wings to a sub .500 season.
There was something different about the 2007 team. On paper, the roster was solid with fresh faces from Louisiana State, Miami (Fla.), Texas-Tyler and Northeastern. The season started off like any other in Geneva, though the close games that had gone in the loss column in previous years were turning into wins. An 8-7 win over Elmira started the season and the following week, Geneva swept both ends of an extra-inning doubleheader with Hornell. And while the team's success did even out towards the end of the first month, Geneva was able to stay above .500 with solid front line pitching, great relief and solid offense. The front line pitching was solidified by Ashton Mowdy (Eastern Oklahoma State), Dusty Odenbach (UCONN), Jason Bowman (West Chester), Paul Bertuccini (LSU) and knuckleballer Ed Paul (Francis Marion). Closer Kyle Bellamy (Miami Fla.) was nearly unhittable all summer from the bullpen.
The start of July brought with it a three-game sweep at the hands of Elmira and a dip in the team's record below .500. The All-Star break saw Geneva at 12-13 and fifth place in the Western Division, nine and a half games behind first-place Allegany County.
The second half however, would be much different from the first. Geneva reeled off two-straight wins, including a 13-1 beatdown of first-place Allegany County at McDonough Park. The high of beating the Nitros would quickly evaporate as Geneva would hit its low for the season, back-to-back loses, with the second one coming to lowly Bolivar, 4-1. At the time, it was last-place Bolivar's fifth win on the season and it stymied the seemingly-surging Red Wings.
That may have been the wake-up call the team needed. Geneva would win 12 of its next 13 and in that span, reel off 10-straight victories. Only once during that streak would Geneva score below three runs, and that was a 2-1 victory at Webster. As the Wings kept winning, more fans went out to McDonough Park, turning it into a stellar home field advantage and making it one of the toughest places to place in the Western Division.
As Elmira took over first place from Allegany County, the Red Wings continued to fight up the ladder and a showdown with Elmira at the end of the regular season loomed. And really, it seemed, the pennant race was on between the Nitros, Red Wings and Pioneers. With one scheduled day left in the regular season, Geneva blew away Allegany County, 6-2. Julio Gomez (Coker) smashed a two-run home run in the first inning and the Red Wings didn't look back. It appeared that the Western Division title would be on the line on the last Saturday night of the season, a steel cage match between Elmira and Geneva at Dunn Field with Geneva trailing by a half-game with a game at hand. Paul Bertuccini (LSU), Ed Paul (Francis Marion) and Kyle Bellamy (Miami Fla.) combined on a shutout and Geneva scored four runs to take over first place, after trailing by nearly 10 games not even a month before.
But, the fickle finger of fate pointed at McDonough Park in the form of a Sunday make-up game on the league's scheduled rain date between Geneva and Webster. A season before, a scheduled make-up between the two in Geneva had not been played because at the time, it didn't effect Webster's playoff chances, much to the chagrin of the 'Wings. Geneva, leading Elmira by just a half-game, needed to win at home over seventh-place Webster to clinch the division title. A loss would hand Geneva nothing, since Elmira had won the season series.
Geneva's offense pushed out to leads of 5-1 and 6-5, but, a six-run sixth inning for the Yankees spoiled the Red Wings party and ended their 10-game winning streak. While Geneva's division title journey fell short, it was quite the memorable ride. Geneva knocked Allegany County out of the playoffs in a wild three-game series with each team earning a walk-off win in the first two games. Geneva would eventually fall to Elmira in the Western Division finals, but the second game of the series in Geneva drew a season-high 793 fans to McDonough Park.
While solid pitching buoyed the team, the offense provided fireworks for Western Division fans night in and night out. Like Elmira, there wasn't one standout player, but a solid supporting cast throughout the line-up. Andrew Damewood (Texas-Tyler) played in the NYCBL all-star game and he was a postseason league all-star, but contributions from Brendan Stokes (Northeastern), Julio Gomez (Coker), Nick Spears (Texas Pan-American), Chris Vargo (Richmond) and Brock Miller (Gardner Webb) should not be overlooked.
This story isn't complete without a mention of Geneva skipper Dave Herbst. Not only is he the team's field manager, he's also the president and owner of the team. He manages to run the team, part of the team's day-to-day operations and work a regular job. If not for his hard work during the season and the offseason, the team may not have put together a season like it did. Herbst has been the Red Wings manager since 2003 making him the longest-reigning manager currently in the NYCBL.
Coming up next: Part IV, 34-6, 101
Part III: Return of the Red Wings
While the Elmira Pioneers won the league championship in their second year and Shane Wolf was the New York Collegiate Baseball League Player of the Year, the real feel good story of the 2007 NYCBL season comes from Geneva. The Red Wings finished the season tied for first place in the Western Division with Elmira, made the playoffs for the first time since 2003 and were two wins away from the NYCBL Championship Series.
Entering the season, Geneva had not hosted a winning NYCBL team since 2003. From 2004 through 2006, the Red Wings went 45-81 and finished a combined 45.5 games out of first place. The closest the team came to making the postseason was in 2006 when they finished five games back of Amsterdam, one of two wildcard selections. Things weren't always bad in Geneva. The 1998 Knights won the league title and the 1999 team made the playoffs before bowing out to eventual league champion Newark. The 2003 team also made the playoffs with a 28-14 record, but Hornell bounced Geneva in the Western Division finals.
Things started looking up in 2006 with NYCBL Player of the Year Nick Stewart. He formed a solid combination with Tim Alberts (Niagara) and there were among the best 1-2 combos in the league. But injuries and lack of offense doomed the 2006 Wings to a sub .500 season.
There was something different about the 2007 team. On paper, the roster was solid with fresh faces from Louisiana State, Miami (Fla.), Texas-Tyler and Northeastern. The season started off like any other in Geneva, though the close games that had gone in the loss column in previous years were turning into wins. An 8-7 win over Elmira started the season and the following week, Geneva swept both ends of an extra-inning doubleheader with Hornell. And while the team's success did even out towards the end of the first month, Geneva was able to stay above .500 with solid front line pitching, great relief and solid offense. The front line pitching was solidified by Ashton Mowdy (Eastern Oklahoma State), Dusty Odenbach (UCONN), Jason Bowman (West Chester), Paul Bertuccini (LSU) and knuckleballer Ed Paul (Francis Marion). Closer Kyle Bellamy (Miami Fla.) was nearly unhittable all summer from the bullpen.
The start of July brought with it a three-game sweep at the hands of Elmira and a dip in the team's record below .500. The All-Star break saw Geneva at 12-13 and fifth place in the Western Division, nine and a half games behind first-place Allegany County.
The second half however, would be much different from the first. Geneva reeled off two-straight wins, including a 13-1 beatdown of first-place Allegany County at McDonough Park. The high of beating the Nitros would quickly evaporate as Geneva would hit its low for the season, back-to-back loses, with the second one coming to lowly Bolivar, 4-1. At the time, it was last-place Bolivar's fifth win on the season and it stymied the seemingly-surging Red Wings.
That may have been the wake-up call the team needed. Geneva would win 12 of its next 13 and in that span, reel off 10-straight victories. Only once during that streak would Geneva score below three runs, and that was a 2-1 victory at Webster. As the Wings kept winning, more fans went out to McDonough Park, turning it into a stellar home field advantage and making it one of the toughest places to place in the Western Division.
As Elmira took over first place from Allegany County, the Red Wings continued to fight up the ladder and a showdown with Elmira at the end of the regular season loomed. And really, it seemed, the pennant race was on between the Nitros, Red Wings and Pioneers. With one scheduled day left in the regular season, Geneva blew away Allegany County, 6-2. Julio Gomez (Coker) smashed a two-run home run in the first inning and the Red Wings didn't look back. It appeared that the Western Division title would be on the line on the last Saturday night of the season, a steel cage match between Elmira and Geneva at Dunn Field with Geneva trailing by a half-game with a game at hand. Paul Bertuccini (LSU), Ed Paul (Francis Marion) and Kyle Bellamy (Miami Fla.) combined on a shutout and Geneva scored four runs to take over first place, after trailing by nearly 10 games not even a month before.
But, the fickle finger of fate pointed at McDonough Park in the form of a Sunday make-up game on the league's scheduled rain date between Geneva and Webster. A season before, a scheduled make-up between the two in Geneva had not been played because at the time, it didn't effect Webster's playoff chances, much to the chagrin of the 'Wings. Geneva, leading Elmira by just a half-game, needed to win at home over seventh-place Webster to clinch the division title. A loss would hand Geneva nothing, since Elmira had won the season series.
Geneva's offense pushed out to leads of 5-1 and 6-5, but, a six-run sixth inning for the Yankees spoiled the Red Wings party and ended their 10-game winning streak. While Geneva's division title journey fell short, it was quite the memorable ride. Geneva knocked Allegany County out of the playoffs in a wild three-game series with each team earning a walk-off win in the first two games. Geneva would eventually fall to Elmira in the Western Division finals, but the second game of the series in Geneva drew a season-high 793 fans to McDonough Park.
While solid pitching buoyed the team, the offense provided fireworks for Western Division fans night in and night out. Like Elmira, there wasn't one standout player, but a solid supporting cast throughout the line-up. Andrew Damewood (Texas-Tyler) played in the NYCBL all-star game and he was a postseason league all-star, but contributions from Brendan Stokes (Northeastern), Julio Gomez (Coker), Nick Spears (Texas Pan-American), Chris Vargo (Richmond) and Brock Miller (Gardner Webb) should not be overlooked.
This story isn't complete without a mention of Geneva skipper Dave Herbst. Not only is he the team's field manager, he's also the president and owner of the team. He manages to run the team, part of the team's day-to-day operations and work a regular job. If not for his hard work during the season and the offseason, the team may not have put together a season like it did. Herbst has been the Red Wings manager since 2003 making him the longest-reigning manager currently in the NYCBL.
Coming up next: Part IV, 34-6, 101
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Great Stories of 2007, Part II
This is the second part in a multiple-part series detailing the great stories from the 2007 New York Collegiate Baseball League season. This is the second year of the great stories series, we hope you enjoy it. If you would like to contribute your ideas, please e-mail me at SaltCitySports@aol.com.
Part II: Shane Wolf
Last year I wrote that it takes a special player to be named as the New York Collegiate Baseball League Player of the Year. The statement was true last year and it proved to be true again during the 2007 NYCBL season. Not only did this year's Player of the Year lead his team to a league championship, he did so from two very different positions, the pitchers mound and the batters box. But to fully appreciate what Shane Wolf accomplished, you have to look back at his journey to get there.
Wolf, after playing high school baseball at Lansing, started his collegiate career at the University at Buffalo (UB) as a pitcher. He pitched two seasons for the Bulls and went a combined 1-10 with a rather high ERA. Though, as a sophomore, he finished second on the team in strikeouts and earned run average. In two those springs, he had all of three collegiate at-bats and collected one hit.
During the summer of 2006, he was a member of Matt Burch's Elmira Pioneers. It would be a return of home of sorts, with Elmira just 45 minutes or so from Wolf's home in the Ithaca, N.Y., area. Wolf showed flashes of what was to come in 2007 during the 2006 season. He went 4-2 with a team-low 1.58 earned run average in nine starts. Burch also tried Wolf's hand at the plate. He hit .229 with nine runs batted in and contributed some key offensive hits to help Elmira to the NYCBL playoffs.
Wolf's real return home came with a transfer to Ithaca College, to play for George Valesente's Bombers. He would earn Empire 8 accolades as an all-star pitcher and designated hitter as well as an all-region selection. In his final Ithaca start of the spring, Wolf turned in an outstanding performance. In a NCAA regional playoff game against Trinity (Conn.), Wolf pitched a complete game five-hitter. He allowed one unearned run, struck out six and walked two.
The versatile lefthander returned to the Pioneers last summer. This time, the sequel was better than the first. Wolf finished among the league's top ten in batting average (.367) and earned run average (1.31). In 29 games, he batted .367 with one home run (Elmira hit two total for the summer), 13 RBI, six doubles and 11 runs scored. On the mound, he was even better. Wolf went undefeated, 3-0, in eight starts and he threw 48 innings. His strikeout to walk ratio was 42:5.
The NYCBL playoffs showed Wolf at his best. He started the opening game of Elmira's first round series against Hornell and the opening game of the NYCBL Championship Series against Glens Falls. He pitched seven scoreless innings in each game, allowing a combined 10 hits, five walks and striking out 16. At the plate, Wolf tallied a team-high eight hits in just 17 at-bats. He smashed three doubles and drove in two runs.
Not only was Wolf the NYCBL Player of the Year, he was also named the Most Valuable Player of the Championship Series. Really, a quote by Pioneers manager Matt Burch in the Star Gazette sums it up best.
"I'm a believer in character and that good character makes good leaders," Burch said. "And I'm not just talking about baseball. I mean in life too. The rest of the guys see what Shane does out here. He drives 45 minutes to get here every day and doesn't miss any chances to do extra work. Shane is a guy who is going to get the most out of what he's got."
A player who was 1-10 at UB and now he's the 2007 NYCBL Player of the Year. Shane is currently a senior at Ithaca College preparing for his final collegiate baseball season.
Coming up next: Part III, Return of the Red Wings
Part II: Shane Wolf
Last year I wrote that it takes a special player to be named as the New York Collegiate Baseball League Player of the Year. The statement was true last year and it proved to be true again during the 2007 NYCBL season. Not only did this year's Player of the Year lead his team to a league championship, he did so from two very different positions, the pitchers mound and the batters box. But to fully appreciate what Shane Wolf accomplished, you have to look back at his journey to get there.
Wolf, after playing high school baseball at Lansing, started his collegiate career at the University at Buffalo (UB) as a pitcher. He pitched two seasons for the Bulls and went a combined 1-10 with a rather high ERA. Though, as a sophomore, he finished second on the team in strikeouts and earned run average. In two those springs, he had all of three collegiate at-bats and collected one hit.
During the summer of 2006, he was a member of Matt Burch's Elmira Pioneers. It would be a return of home of sorts, with Elmira just 45 minutes or so from Wolf's home in the Ithaca, N.Y., area. Wolf showed flashes of what was to come in 2007 during the 2006 season. He went 4-2 with a team-low 1.58 earned run average in nine starts. Burch also tried Wolf's hand at the plate. He hit .229 with nine runs batted in and contributed some key offensive hits to help Elmira to the NYCBL playoffs.
Wolf's real return home came with a transfer to Ithaca College, to play for George Valesente's Bombers. He would earn Empire 8 accolades as an all-star pitcher and designated hitter as well as an all-region selection. In his final Ithaca start of the spring, Wolf turned in an outstanding performance. In a NCAA regional playoff game against Trinity (Conn.), Wolf pitched a complete game five-hitter. He allowed one unearned run, struck out six and walked two.
The versatile lefthander returned to the Pioneers last summer. This time, the sequel was better than the first. Wolf finished among the league's top ten in batting average (.367) and earned run average (1.31). In 29 games, he batted .367 with one home run (Elmira hit two total for the summer), 13 RBI, six doubles and 11 runs scored. On the mound, he was even better. Wolf went undefeated, 3-0, in eight starts and he threw 48 innings. His strikeout to walk ratio was 42:5.
The NYCBL playoffs showed Wolf at his best. He started the opening game of Elmira's first round series against Hornell and the opening game of the NYCBL Championship Series against Glens Falls. He pitched seven scoreless innings in each game, allowing a combined 10 hits, five walks and striking out 16. At the plate, Wolf tallied a team-high eight hits in just 17 at-bats. He smashed three doubles and drove in two runs.
Not only was Wolf the NYCBL Player of the Year, he was also named the Most Valuable Player of the Championship Series. Really, a quote by Pioneers manager Matt Burch in the Star Gazette sums it up best.
"I'm a believer in character and that good character makes good leaders," Burch said. "And I'm not just talking about baseball. I mean in life too. The rest of the guys see what Shane does out here. He drives 45 minutes to get here every day and doesn't miss any chances to do extra work. Shane is a guy who is going to get the most out of what he's got."
A player who was 1-10 at UB and now he's the 2007 NYCBL Player of the Year. Shane is currently a senior at Ithaca College preparing for his final collegiate baseball season.
Coming up next: Part III, Return of the Red Wings
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Amsterdam Mohawks To Build Local Hall Of Fame
The Amsterdam Mohawks of the New York Collegiate Baseball League have announced that an Amsterdam Baseball Hall of Fame will be built at Shuttleworth Park in 2008.
The brand-new Hall of Fame will recognize past members of the Amsterdam Mohawks as well as local baseball stars from the Amsterdam, N.Y., area.
"This gives us the opportunity to tie the Mohawks, who are Amsterdam's present and future, into the past and guys from the Rugmakers and Amsterdam High School greats" said Mohawks general manager Brian Spagnola in a press release issued on Saturday. Spagnola will also be the chair of the Hall of Fame committee.
According to the press release, four members will be inducted into the Amsterdam Baseball Hall of Fame each year, two from the Mohawks and two with connections to baseball in Amsterdam.
The first inductions into the Hall of Fame will be announced next week. They will be honored with a dinner on February 9 at Amsterdam's Crystal Ristorante. Tickets will cost $35 and more information will be available next week on the Mohawks web site at http://www.amsterdammohawks.com
The Amsterdam Mohawks have played in the New York Collegiate Baseball League (ne Northeast Collegiate Baseball League) since 1986. The team made its NYCBL home in Schenectady from 1986 through 2002 before moving to Shuttleworth Park in Amsterdam for the 2003 season. The Mohawks have won three league championships (1986, 2003, 2004).
Read more about some of the history of baseball in Amsterdam and Shuttleworth Park (formerly known as Mohawk Mills Park) at the following web site: http://www.davidpietrusza.com/Mohawk-Mills-Park.html
The brand-new Hall of Fame will recognize past members of the Amsterdam Mohawks as well as local baseball stars from the Amsterdam, N.Y., area.
"This gives us the opportunity to tie the Mohawks, who are Amsterdam's present and future, into the past and guys from the Rugmakers and Amsterdam High School greats" said Mohawks general manager Brian Spagnola in a press release issued on Saturday. Spagnola will also be the chair of the Hall of Fame committee.
According to the press release, four members will be inducted into the Amsterdam Baseball Hall of Fame each year, two from the Mohawks and two with connections to baseball in Amsterdam.
The first inductions into the Hall of Fame will be announced next week. They will be honored with a dinner on February 9 at Amsterdam's Crystal Ristorante. Tickets will cost $35 and more information will be available next week on the Mohawks web site at http://www.amsterdammohawks.com
The Amsterdam Mohawks have played in the New York Collegiate Baseball League (ne Northeast Collegiate Baseball League) since 1986. The team made its NYCBL home in Schenectady from 1986 through 2002 before moving to Shuttleworth Park in Amsterdam for the 2003 season. The Mohawks have won three league championships (1986, 2003, 2004).
Read more about some of the history of baseball in Amsterdam and Shuttleworth Park (formerly known as Mohawk Mills Park) at the following web site: http://www.davidpietrusza.com/Mohawk-Mills-Park.html
NYCBL Alums Excelled In Far East
Alex Graman (Little Falls '97) and Greg LaRocca (NYCBL '91) spent the 2007 baseball season playing in Japan's Pacific League. The Pacific League is a member of Nippon Professional Baseball (along with the Central League). Valentino Pascucci (Schenectady '97) played for the Pacific League's Chiba Lotte Marines for two years under manager Bobby Valentine. The league has sent many players over to the United States including most notably Hideki Matsui and Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Graman pitched out of the bullpen for the Seibu Lions. Graman started 12 games for Seibu in 2006 but exclusively worked in relief this past season with 40 appearances. He finished the season 4-6 with a 4.08 earned run average and a team-high 17 saves. In relief, Graman pitched 79.1 innings and struck out 61. His 17 saves ranked fifth in the Pacific League and he teamed with fellow reliever Chikara Onodera to close out 30 Seibu victories. Through two seasons with the Lions, Graman is 8-12 with 17 saves and 102 strikeouts in 153.1 innings pitched.
The Indiana State product was selected by the New York Yankees in the third round (111st overall) of the 1999 draft. He spent five seasons in the Yankees farm system before making his Major League debut during the 2004 season. Graman appeared in three games for the Yankees in 2004 and two games for the 2005 Yankees. After being released by the Yankees during the 2005 season, Graman signed with the Reds. He closed out the year with Triple-A Louisville of the International League.
The 2007 season marked Greg LaRocca's fourth in Japan. He played for the Orix Buffaloes, his third team in four years. LaRocca hit .286 with 27 home runs and 79 runs batted in. He finished third in the Pacific League in home runs and sixth in RBI. LaRocca added a career-high 144 hits in 136 games to go along with 29 doubles and a .505 slugging percentage.
LaRocca has also played for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows and the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. He made his Japanese debut in 2004 and put up monster numbers for the Carp. LaRocca batted .328 with 40 home runs and 101 runs batted in. He was named a Central League all-star. After a second season with the Carp, LaRocca signed a free-agent contract with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows for 2006. The former UMass Amherst star hit .285 with 18 home runs and 63 RBI for the Swallows.
The Manchester, N.H. native was chosen by San Diego in the 10th round (262nd overall) of the 1994 entry draft. LaRocca made his Major League debut in 2000 with San Diego and played 13 games. He later returned to the Majors with the Cleveland Indians in 2002 and 2003.
Graman pitched out of the bullpen for the Seibu Lions. Graman started 12 games for Seibu in 2006 but exclusively worked in relief this past season with 40 appearances. He finished the season 4-6 with a 4.08 earned run average and a team-high 17 saves. In relief, Graman pitched 79.1 innings and struck out 61. His 17 saves ranked fifth in the Pacific League and he teamed with fellow reliever Chikara Onodera to close out 30 Seibu victories. Through two seasons with the Lions, Graman is 8-12 with 17 saves and 102 strikeouts in 153.1 innings pitched.
The Indiana State product was selected by the New York Yankees in the third round (111st overall) of the 1999 draft. He spent five seasons in the Yankees farm system before making his Major League debut during the 2004 season. Graman appeared in three games for the Yankees in 2004 and two games for the 2005 Yankees. After being released by the Yankees during the 2005 season, Graman signed with the Reds. He closed out the year with Triple-A Louisville of the International League.
The 2007 season marked Greg LaRocca's fourth in Japan. He played for the Orix Buffaloes, his third team in four years. LaRocca hit .286 with 27 home runs and 79 runs batted in. He finished third in the Pacific League in home runs and sixth in RBI. LaRocca added a career-high 144 hits in 136 games to go along with 29 doubles and a .505 slugging percentage.
LaRocca has also played for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows and the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. He made his Japanese debut in 2004 and put up monster numbers for the Carp. LaRocca batted .328 with 40 home runs and 101 runs batted in. He was named a Central League all-star. After a second season with the Carp, LaRocca signed a free-agent contract with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows for 2006. The former UMass Amherst star hit .285 with 18 home runs and 63 RBI for the Swallows.
The Manchester, N.H. native was chosen by San Diego in the 10th round (262nd overall) of the 1994 entry draft. LaRocca made his Major League debut in 2000 with San Diego and played 13 games. He later returned to the Majors with the Cleveland Indians in 2002 and 2003.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Merrell (Saratoga '05) To Play For AirHogs
Cody Merrell (Saratoga '05) has signed a free-agent contract with the American Association's Grand Prairie AirHogs. The AirHogs will begin their first season of play in the independent circuit this May. The team is located in Grand Prairie, Texas.
After finishing his senior season at Texas State in 2006, Merrell signed with the Cleveland Indians as a non-drafted free agent. Later that month, he made his professional debut with the Burlington Indians of the Appalachian League. Merrell scored 12 runs for the Indians in 35 games. He added 15 hits, one home run and eight runs batted in.
Merrell's successful college career included stops at Seminole State, Oklahoma State and Texas State. At Seminole State, he earned several All-American accolades including a selection to the NJCAA Coaches All-America team. As a sophomore, Merrell helped lead Seminole State to the NJCAA World Series. He played in 22 games at Oklahoma State the following season before transferring to Texas State for his senior year. Merrell was the only player to start all of Texas State's 59 games in 2006. He batted .299 and finished second on the team with 41 runs batted in.
The Perryton, Texas, native played for the Saratoga Phillies during the summer of 2005. He batted .244 and drove in nine runs.
After finishing his senior season at Texas State in 2006, Merrell signed with the Cleveland Indians as a non-drafted free agent. Later that month, he made his professional debut with the Burlington Indians of the Appalachian League. Merrell scored 12 runs for the Indians in 35 games. He added 15 hits, one home run and eight runs batted in.
Merrell's successful college career included stops at Seminole State, Oklahoma State and Texas State. At Seminole State, he earned several All-American accolades including a selection to the NJCAA Coaches All-America team. As a sophomore, Merrell helped lead Seminole State to the NJCAA World Series. He played in 22 games at Oklahoma State the following season before transferring to Texas State for his senior year. Merrell was the only player to start all of Texas State's 59 games in 2006. He batted .299 and finished second on the team with 41 runs batted in.
The Perryton, Texas, native played for the Saratoga Phillies during the summer of 2005. He batted .244 and drove in nine runs.
Marksbury (Allegany County '04) Re-Signs With Rockford
Mike Marksbury (Allegany County '04) started the 2007 baseball season with the Frontier League's Rockford Riverhawks. He ended the season pitching in the Milwaukee Brewers farm system for the Brevard County Manatees of the Florida State League.
Marksbury will begin the 2008 season where he started 2007, with the Rockford Riverhawks. Marksbury has signed a free-agent contract with the Riverhawks for the 2008 season.
The former Nitros pitcher converted a franchise-record 26 saves for Rockford between May 2006 and last July. The Milwaukee Brewers purchased his contract from the Riverhawks on July 13th and assigned him to Single-A Brevard County. Marksbury was 2-0 with a 9.88 earned run average in 13 games and 13.2 innings pitched for the Manatees. He was released by the Brewers in October.
Before heading to Florida, Marksbury put up staggering numbers in Rockford. He had a league-high 14 saves to go along with a 1.33 earned run average and 32 strikeouts in 20.1 innings pitched. He was named to the 2007 Frontier League All-Star Game. Marksbury is a two-time Frontier League all-star.
The Norwood, Ohio, native was drafted by the Colorado Rockies out of high school in 2001. He was taken in the 50th round (1474th overall). Marksbury played collegiately at Miami University-Hamilton. He made his professional debut with the Frontier League's Florence Freedom in 2004. He pitched two seasons for the Freedom before signing with Rockford.
Marksbury played for the 2004 Allegany County Nitros. The team went 30-12, finished second in the Western Division and made the New York Collegiate Baseball League playoffs.
Marksbury will begin the 2008 season where he started 2007, with the Rockford Riverhawks. Marksbury has signed a free-agent contract with the Riverhawks for the 2008 season.
The former Nitros pitcher converted a franchise-record 26 saves for Rockford between May 2006 and last July. The Milwaukee Brewers purchased his contract from the Riverhawks on July 13th and assigned him to Single-A Brevard County. Marksbury was 2-0 with a 9.88 earned run average in 13 games and 13.2 innings pitched for the Manatees. He was released by the Brewers in October.
Before heading to Florida, Marksbury put up staggering numbers in Rockford. He had a league-high 14 saves to go along with a 1.33 earned run average and 32 strikeouts in 20.1 innings pitched. He was named to the 2007 Frontier League All-Star Game. Marksbury is a two-time Frontier League all-star.
The Norwood, Ohio, native was drafted by the Colorado Rockies out of high school in 2001. He was taken in the 50th round (1474th overall). Marksbury played collegiately at Miami University-Hamilton. He made his professional debut with the Frontier League's Florence Freedom in 2004. He pitched two seasons for the Freedom before signing with Rockford.
Marksbury played for the 2004 Allegany County Nitros. The team went 30-12, finished second in the Western Division and made the New York Collegiate Baseball League playoffs.
Fecteau (Watertown '02-'04) Named Pitching Coach At Southern Utah
Former NYCBL all-star Ryan Fecteau (Watertown '02-'04) has been named the pitching coach at Southern Utah University. The Thunderbirds are members of the Division I Summit League.
Fecteau spent the last two seasons (2006, 2007) as the pitching coach at Saint Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. This past season, the Division III Saints pitching staff put together a 2.96 earned run average, good enough to finish tenth in the nation. The 2006 Saints won the Liberty League conference tournament and made the NCAA Division III playoffs.
The Gilmanton, N.H., native also worked as a pitching coach in the New York Collegiate Baseball League and the New England Collegiate Baseball League. In 2005, Fecteau presided over a strong Wizards pitching staff that featured NYCBL Pitcher of the Year Mike Schellinger and all-league closer Joe Malzone. Last summer, Fecteau was the pitching coach for the Pittsfield (Mass.) Dukes.
Prior to coaching, Fecteau enjoyed a successful playing career at St. Anselm (N.H.) College. He pitched a no-hitter in his final collegiate game against American International College. As a senior, Fecteau threw 83.0 innings, struck out 70 and garnered a 2.49 ERA.
Fecteau played three summers in Watertown under the tutelage of Paul Alteri (2002, 2003) and current GM Todd Kirkey (2004). Fecteau was named the Wizards Pitcher of the Year in 2004 by his teammates and he was also selected second-team All-NYCBL. He left Watertown with a franchise single-season record 57 innings pitched in 2004.
Fecteau spent the last two seasons (2006, 2007) as the pitching coach at Saint Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. This past season, the Division III Saints pitching staff put together a 2.96 earned run average, good enough to finish tenth in the nation. The 2006 Saints won the Liberty League conference tournament and made the NCAA Division III playoffs.
The Gilmanton, N.H., native also worked as a pitching coach in the New York Collegiate Baseball League and the New England Collegiate Baseball League. In 2005, Fecteau presided over a strong Wizards pitching staff that featured NYCBL Pitcher of the Year Mike Schellinger and all-league closer Joe Malzone. Last summer, Fecteau was the pitching coach for the Pittsfield (Mass.) Dukes.
Prior to coaching, Fecteau enjoyed a successful playing career at St. Anselm (N.H.) College. He pitched a no-hitter in his final collegiate game against American International College. As a senior, Fecteau threw 83.0 innings, struck out 70 and garnered a 2.49 ERA.
Fecteau played three summers in Watertown under the tutelage of Paul Alteri (2002, 2003) and current GM Todd Kirkey (2004). Fecteau was named the Wizards Pitcher of the Year in 2004 by his teammates and he was also selected second-team All-NYCBL. He left Watertown with a franchise single-season record 57 innings pitched in 2004.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Former NYCBL Pitchers Enjoyed Successful Season In Holland
Chris Ryan (Allegany County '04) and Stephen Spragg (Watertown '02-'03) spent the 2007 baseball season playing in Holland's Honkbal Hoofdklasse. Honkbal Hoofdklasse is the Dutch's version of Major League Baseball. Eight league teams play a 40-game schedule from April through September and a four-team playoff culminates in the Holland Series. Each team in the league is allowed one American player.
Ryan served as a relief pitcher for DOOR Neptunus out of Rotterdam. Spragg was the closer for Mr. Cocker HCAW (Honkbalclub Allen Weerbaar).
Ryan finished 1-1 with four saves and a 0.99 earned run average in a team-high 20 appearances. He allowed six earned runs and struck out 46 batters in 36.1 innings pitched. The former Nitros hurler tied for the team lead in saves and finished second in ERA. Last April, Ryan became the first American in the 79-year history of Honkbal Hoofdklasse to start an opening day game. Neptunus finished second during the regular season with a 32-7 record but fell in the opening round of the playoffs to the Konica Min. Pioniers.
As a Nitro, Ryan was a first team NYCBL all-star in 2004. He set a franchise single-season record with six victories.
Spragg was 4-3 for HCAW with six saves and a 1.93 earned run average in a team-high 24 appearances. Spragg struck out 45 batters in 65.1 innings pitched. He led the entire league in appearances and finished third in saves. His four victories accounted for just about 25% of the team's victories during the regular season. Mr. Cocker HCAW finished 17-22, fifth place in the eight-team league.
Spragg pitched for the Watertown Wizards during the 2002 and 2003 seasons. In 2003, he was 5-2 with a 2.68 earned run average in 15 appearances. Spragg tied for the team lead in victories and appearances and struck out 31 in 37 innings pitched. The 2003 Wizards finished second in the Eastern Division and made the NYCBL playoffs before bowing out to Amsterdam, two games to none, in the Eastern Division finals.
Before playing in Holland, Spragg spent several years with the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League. Spragg recently re-signed with Washington and is set to spend his third season in Washington, Pa.
Ryan served as a relief pitcher for DOOR Neptunus out of Rotterdam. Spragg was the closer for Mr. Cocker HCAW (Honkbalclub Allen Weerbaar).
Ryan finished 1-1 with four saves and a 0.99 earned run average in a team-high 20 appearances. He allowed six earned runs and struck out 46 batters in 36.1 innings pitched. The former Nitros hurler tied for the team lead in saves and finished second in ERA. Last April, Ryan became the first American in the 79-year history of Honkbal Hoofdklasse to start an opening day game. Neptunus finished second during the regular season with a 32-7 record but fell in the opening round of the playoffs to the Konica Min. Pioniers.
As a Nitro, Ryan was a first team NYCBL all-star in 2004. He set a franchise single-season record with six victories.
Spragg was 4-3 for HCAW with six saves and a 1.93 earned run average in a team-high 24 appearances. Spragg struck out 45 batters in 65.1 innings pitched. He led the entire league in appearances and finished third in saves. His four victories accounted for just about 25% of the team's victories during the regular season. Mr. Cocker HCAW finished 17-22, fifth place in the eight-team league.
Spragg pitched for the Watertown Wizards during the 2002 and 2003 seasons. In 2003, he was 5-2 with a 2.68 earned run average in 15 appearances. Spragg tied for the team lead in victories and appearances and struck out 31 in 37 innings pitched. The 2003 Wizards finished second in the Eastern Division and made the NYCBL playoffs before bowing out to Amsterdam, two games to none, in the Eastern Division finals.
Before playing in Holland, Spragg spent several years with the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League. Spragg recently re-signed with Washington and is set to spend his third season in Washington, Pa.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
BIG EAST Pair Earns Recognition
Rutgers junior Tom Edwards (Little Falls '07) and Pittsburgh senior Sean Conley (Watertown '05) have been selected to the 2008 BIG EAST preseason all-conference team.
Edwards was a third-team All-BIG EAST selection last year and is the lone Rutgers representative on the 2008 preseason all-conference team. Last spring Edwards batted .340 with seven home runs, 48 RBI, 81 hits and seven stolen bases. He is the Scarlet Knights leading returning hitter.
The West Caldwell, N.J., native was a first-team All-NYCBL selection last summer for the Little Falls Miners. Edwards hit .299 with a team-high three home runs and 29 RBI. He also led the Miners in walks (30), runs (24), doubles (12), slugging percentage (.496) and on-base percentage (.442). The highlight of the summer for Edwards may have been a July 22nd game against Saratoga where he went 5-for-5 with six RBI and two runs scored. In addition to league all-star accolades, he was selected as the second-best pro prospect in the league by Perfect Game Scouting and Baseball America.
Conley was one of three outfielders selected to the 2008 BIG EAST preseason all-conference team. He batted .283 with 26 runs batted in and 44 runs scored for the Panthers. Conley played in all 51 of Pittsburgh's games and compiled a team-high 11 stolen bases. The Chippewa, Pa., native served as the Panther's lead-off hitter and primary left fielder. In BIG EAST play, Conley hit .376 and drove in 13 runs.
The summer of 2005 saw Conley roaming the outfield for the Watertown Wizards. In 28 games, Conley hit .248 with 11 runs batted in and eight runs scored. He added 25 hits, seven walks and three stolen bases.
Edwards was a third-team All-BIG EAST selection last year and is the lone Rutgers representative on the 2008 preseason all-conference team. Last spring Edwards batted .340 with seven home runs, 48 RBI, 81 hits and seven stolen bases. He is the Scarlet Knights leading returning hitter.
The West Caldwell, N.J., native was a first-team All-NYCBL selection last summer for the Little Falls Miners. Edwards hit .299 with a team-high three home runs and 29 RBI. He also led the Miners in walks (30), runs (24), doubles (12), slugging percentage (.496) and on-base percentage (.442). The highlight of the summer for Edwards may have been a July 22nd game against Saratoga where he went 5-for-5 with six RBI and two runs scored. In addition to league all-star accolades, he was selected as the second-best pro prospect in the league by Perfect Game Scouting and Baseball America.
Conley was one of three outfielders selected to the 2008 BIG EAST preseason all-conference team. He batted .283 with 26 runs batted in and 44 runs scored for the Panthers. Conley played in all 51 of Pittsburgh's games and compiled a team-high 11 stolen bases. The Chippewa, Pa., native served as the Panther's lead-off hitter and primary left fielder. In BIG EAST play, Conley hit .376 and drove in 13 runs.
The summer of 2005 saw Conley roaming the outfield for the Watertown Wizards. In 28 games, Conley hit .248 with 11 runs batted in and eight runs scored. He added 25 hits, seven walks and three stolen bases.
Great Stories Of 2007, Part I
This is the first in a multiple-part series detailing the great stories from the 2007 New York Collegiate Baseball League season. This is the second year of the great stories series, we hope you enjoy it. If you would like to contribute your ideas, please e-mail me at SaltCitySports@aol.com.
Elmira Elmira
The NYCBL Pioneers didn’t disappoint in their first season.Elmira Allegany County
Part I:
The NYCBL Pioneers didn’t disappoint in their first season.
In August 2007, just a year and a half after the Elmira Pioneers were born into the NYCBL, the team won its first league championship. Second-year manager and
The seeds for a special season were planted early on, with an impressive string of victories at home, including a doubleheader split with red-hot
The Pioneers biggest moment of the season, aside from winning the title, could have come at the tail end of the first half.
After the All-Star Game, the Pioneers continued to win and the Allegany County Nitros started to fade and fade fast.
On the season’s final scheduled day,
The rest, is history. Starters Shane Wolf (
Shane Wolf (
Lights-out closer Darryl Stringfield (
The Pioneers did just as well at the gate, averaging 752 fans per night, first in the Western Division and third overall. Five times throughout the summer, more than 1,000 fans jammed into historic Dunn Field. A playoff-high crowd of 1,425 witnessed the Pioneers win the opening game of the NYCBL Championship Series.
Coming Up Next: Part II, Shane Wolf
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Former NYCBL Championship Series MVP To Captain Scarlet Knights
The web site ShenBaseball.com (Shenendehowa High School Plainsmen Baseball) reports that junior pitcher Jason Downey (Saratoga '06) has been selected as a co-captain of the Rutgers University baseball team for the 2008 season.
Downey made a team-high 25 appearances as a sophomore for the Big East champion Scarlet Knights. He finished 5-1 with two saves and a 4.67 earned run average. Downey struck out 38 batters in 52.0 innings pitched. The Ballston Spa, N.Y., native led the Rutgers bullpen in innings pitched, victories and strikeouts. Rutgers won the BIG EAST tournament and appeared in the NCAA Charlottesville, Va. regional.
The former Shenendehowa standout was an integral part of the 2006 New York Collegiate Baseball League champion Saratoga Phillies. Downey was the Most Valuable Player of the 2006 NYCBL Championship Series. In Saratoga's title-clinching victory, Downey pitched a three-hit shutout over seven innings and struck out seven batters. Between the regular season and the playoffs, Downey was 5-3 with a 2.59 ERA in nine starts and a team-high 59.0 innings pitched. He added a team-high 43 strikeouts and held opposing hitters to a .235 batting average.
Two other members of the 2008 Scarlet Knights have ties to the New York Collegiate Baseball League. Junior Tom Edwards was an all-league selection for the Little Falls Miners last summer and among the league's top prospects listed by Baseball America and Perfect Game Scouting. Junior Luis Feliz was a key member of the Glens Falls Golden Eagles outfield last summer. He helped the team to a 34-6 regular season.
Downey made a team-high 25 appearances as a sophomore for the Big East champion Scarlet Knights. He finished 5-1 with two saves and a 4.67 earned run average. Downey struck out 38 batters in 52.0 innings pitched. The Ballston Spa, N.Y., native led the Rutgers bullpen in innings pitched, victories and strikeouts. Rutgers won the BIG EAST tournament and appeared in the NCAA Charlottesville, Va. regional.
The former Shenendehowa standout was an integral part of the 2006 New York Collegiate Baseball League champion Saratoga Phillies. Downey was the Most Valuable Player of the 2006 NYCBL Championship Series. In Saratoga's title-clinching victory, Downey pitched a three-hit shutout over seven innings and struck out seven batters. Between the regular season and the playoffs, Downey was 5-3 with a 2.59 ERA in nine starts and a team-high 59.0 innings pitched. He added a team-high 43 strikeouts and held opposing hitters to a .235 batting average.
Two other members of the 2008 Scarlet Knights have ties to the New York Collegiate Baseball League. Junior Tom Edwards was an all-league selection for the Little Falls Miners last summer and among the league's top prospects listed by Baseball America and Perfect Game Scouting. Junior Luis Feliz was a key member of the Glens Falls Golden Eagles outfield last summer. He helped the team to a 34-6 regular season.
Pinstripes Unveil Roster
The Webster Yankees have released a preliminary roster for the 2008 season on their web site. You can view the roster here.
The Yankees have also announced a pair of additions to their 2008 coaching staff. Field manager Dave Brust will be joined by assistant coaches Dave Parlet and Bob Schaeffer. Parlet works as a scout in the Chicago Cubs organization and Schaeffer is listed as the pitching coach at Genesee Community College. Previously, Brust served as the Yankees assistant coach under field manager Mike Kelly.
The 2008 season will be the Yankees third in the New York Collegiate Baseball League. The team began play in 2006 as the Rochester Royals and made its home at Monroe Community College. The Royals finished 23-21 and made the NYCBL playoffs as a wild card selection from the Central Division. Genesee Valley bumped Rochester from the postseason in a three-game thriller which ended on a walk-off home run by Genesee Valley's Ryan Laboy (Appalachian State).
Heading into 2007, the Royals were renamed the Webster Yankees and were set to play in a brand new ballpark that was to be built in the Town of Webster. Due to several unforeseen factors, the field was not built and the Yankees spent the summer barnstorming between three different home fields and finished 18-24, good for sixth place in the eight-team Western Division.
But, with the new season brings the prospect of a new ballpark once again. The team and the city are back at it, with hopes that "Yankee Stadium" will be ready in time for the 2008 campaign. The Webster ball field will have the exact field dimensions as Yankee Stadium.
Nine of 14 New York Collegiate Baseball League teams have posted rosters (complete and partial) for the 2008 season. Those teams include Webster, Allegany County, Amsterdam, Bennington, Brockport, Bolivar, Little Falls, Saratoga and Watertown.
The Yankees have also announced a pair of additions to their 2008 coaching staff. Field manager Dave Brust will be joined by assistant coaches Dave Parlet and Bob Schaeffer. Parlet works as a scout in the Chicago Cubs organization and Schaeffer is listed as the pitching coach at Genesee Community College. Previously, Brust served as the Yankees assistant coach under field manager Mike Kelly.
The 2008 season will be the Yankees third in the New York Collegiate Baseball League. The team began play in 2006 as the Rochester Royals and made its home at Monroe Community College. The Royals finished 23-21 and made the NYCBL playoffs as a wild card selection from the Central Division. Genesee Valley bumped Rochester from the postseason in a three-game thriller which ended on a walk-off home run by Genesee Valley's Ryan Laboy (Appalachian State).
Heading into 2007, the Royals were renamed the Webster Yankees and were set to play in a brand new ballpark that was to be built in the Town of Webster. Due to several unforeseen factors, the field was not built and the Yankees spent the summer barnstorming between three different home fields and finished 18-24, good for sixth place in the eight-team Western Division.
But, with the new season brings the prospect of a new ballpark once again. The team and the city are back at it, with hopes that "Yankee Stadium" will be ready in time for the 2008 campaign. The Webster ball field will have the exact field dimensions as Yankee Stadium.
Nine of 14 New York Collegiate Baseball League teams have posted rosters (complete and partial) for the 2008 season. Those teams include Webster, Allegany County, Amsterdam, Bennington, Brockport, Bolivar, Little Falls, Saratoga and Watertown.
Happy New Year, Happy Anniversary
The New York Collegiate Baseball League Blog would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year. Today, the NYCBL Blog is one-year old. The very first post, which you can still read, was published on January 1, 2007.
Thank you so much for making the first year a very enjoyable one.
Thank you so much for making the first year a very enjoyable one.
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