The Hampton Whalers won 11 out of their final 14 games, including three playoff games, to advance to the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League championship game in their first year in the league. The Whalers, based out of Sag Harbor on Long Island, were managed by St. John's University assistant coach Julio Vega (Plattsburgh '02-'05, Watertown '06-'07).
Vega led his team to a 19-21 regular-season mark and a tie for second place in the ACBL's Kaiser Division. The Whalers went 13-6 to close the season after going 7-15 in the first half. Included in the team's first-half woes was a six-game losing skid to start the year.
The Whalers blanked the Peekskill Robins, 3-0, in a one-game Kaiser Division playoff to advance to the division finals behind a two-hit shutout from Andrew Guarrasi and Mike Conners. The East End team swept the Metro NY Cadets in the division finals, two games to none. Hampton capped off its' amazing run to the AcBL title game with a dramatic 2-1 victory in game two of the series. The Whale scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth and won the game on David Leon's walk-off single. Unfortunately, the magical season came to an end with an 8-2 loss to the three-time ACBL champion Kutztown Rockies.
Vega's club included two of the top 10 prospects in the league, Fordham's John Flanagan (eighth) and New York Tech's Andrew Guarrasi (ninth).
As a player, Vega enjoyed six seasons in the San Francisco Giants farm system. He was selected by the Giants in the fifth round of the 1990 draft out of Shoreham-Wading River High School on Long Island. Vega also played for the Frontier League's Evansville Otters before turning to the coaching ranks. He has made other collegiate baseball coaching stops at Salem (N.J.) Community College and Peru State. Vega has also skippered the Central Illinois Collegiate league's Bluff City Boomers and the Long Island International all-star team.
The Shoreham, N.Y., native was a member of the coaching staff of the New York Collegiate Baseball League's Plattsburgh Thunder for four years. Vega was an assistant coach in 2002 and then the head coach from 2003 through 2005. After the Thunder ceased operations, Vega joined the Watertown Wizards and spent two years as the associate head coach under current GM Todd Kirkey.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Demko (MV '05) Named To Coastal Plain Prospects List
University of Rhode Island senior pitcher Luke Demko (Mohawk Valley '05) has been picked as one of the top 10 prospects in the Coastal Plain League by Baseball America. Demko was rated ninth overall.
This past summer, Demko pitched for the Edenton Steamers. The Steamers won the first-half championship in the CPL's North Division and completed the summer with an overall record of 35-20. In addition, the Steamers competed in the league's Petitt Cup tournament in Columbia, S.C. and advanced to game seven of the eight-team bracket. Edenton also spent several weeks ranked in Perfect Game Scouting's Summer 16 listing.
Demko led the Coastal Plain League with 15 saves, 27 appearances (all in relief) and 25 games finished. The Steamers reliever finished the season 4-1 with a 2.37 earned run average. He yielded eight earned runs in 30.1 innings pitched, walked 12 and struck out 49. Demko's 49 strikeouts tied for second on the team. The 6-foot-6 senior also pitched a scoreless frame and struck out three in the Coastal Plain League's All-Star Game.
The Gilford, N.H., native served as one of URI's top relievers in the spring. Demko paced the Rams with 26 appearances. He went 2-2 with two saves, a 2.30 earned run average, seven walks and 55 strikeouts. Collegiate opponents against Demko managed a .181 batting average.
Demko pitched for the New York Collegiate Baseball League's Mohawk Valley Cobras in 2005. He posted a team-high two saves and was 2-1 with a 3.00 earned run average in 15 appearances. Demko walked 15, struck out 39 and registered a .207 opponents' batting average.
This past summer, Demko pitched for the Edenton Steamers. The Steamers won the first-half championship in the CPL's North Division and completed the summer with an overall record of 35-20. In addition, the Steamers competed in the league's Petitt Cup tournament in Columbia, S.C. and advanced to game seven of the eight-team bracket. Edenton also spent several weeks ranked in Perfect Game Scouting's Summer 16 listing.
Demko led the Coastal Plain League with 15 saves, 27 appearances (all in relief) and 25 games finished. The Steamers reliever finished the season 4-1 with a 2.37 earned run average. He yielded eight earned runs in 30.1 innings pitched, walked 12 and struck out 49. Demko's 49 strikeouts tied for second on the team. The 6-foot-6 senior also pitched a scoreless frame and struck out three in the Coastal Plain League's All-Star Game.
The Gilford, N.H., native served as one of URI's top relievers in the spring. Demko paced the Rams with 26 appearances. He went 2-2 with two saves, a 2.30 earned run average, seven walks and 55 strikeouts. Collegiate opponents against Demko managed a .181 batting average.
Demko pitched for the New York Collegiate Baseball League's Mohawk Valley Cobras in 2005. He posted a team-high two saves and was 2-1 with a 3.00 earned run average in 15 appearances. Demko walked 15, struck out 39 and registered a .207 opponents' batting average.
Scahill (AC '06) Among Great Lakes' Top 10 Prospects
Bradley University junior pitcher Rob Scahill (Allegany County '06) has been named to the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League's list of top 10 prospects by Baseball America. Scahill was tabbed tenth overall.
This past summer, Scahill pitched for the Great Lakes League's Licking County Settlers. The team finished 19-21 and tied for seventh in the 11-team league based out of Ohio.
Scahill led the Settlers with 35 strikeouts, tied for the team lead with seven starts and finished second with 39.1 innings pitched. He went 1-2 with a 3.66 earned run average, walked 12 and held opposing hitters to a .238 batting average.
The Lombard, Ill., native was drafted by the New York Yankees in June. The Yankees chose Scahill in the 48th round (1448th overall) of the Major League Baseball entry draft.
After missing all of 2007 as a medical redshirt, Scahill made 14 starts in the spring for the Bradley University Braves. The right-handed pitcher won his first three starts of the season. Overall, he struck out 79 in a team-high 83.2 innings pitched. Scahill went 4-6 with a 5.49 earned run average and he held opponents to a .244 batting average.
The Bradley hurler was part of the 2006 New York Collegiate Baseball League Western Division champion Allegany County Nitros. Scahill worked a team-high 60 innings for the Nitros. He was 2-4 with a 3.30 earned run average in 10 starts. He walked 29, struck out 48 and tossed one complete game.
This past summer, Scahill pitched for the Great Lakes League's Licking County Settlers. The team finished 19-21 and tied for seventh in the 11-team league based out of Ohio.
Scahill led the Settlers with 35 strikeouts, tied for the team lead with seven starts and finished second with 39.1 innings pitched. He went 1-2 with a 3.66 earned run average, walked 12 and held opposing hitters to a .238 batting average.
The Lombard, Ill., native was drafted by the New York Yankees in June. The Yankees chose Scahill in the 48th round (1448th overall) of the Major League Baseball entry draft.
After missing all of 2007 as a medical redshirt, Scahill made 14 starts in the spring for the Bradley University Braves. The right-handed pitcher won his first three starts of the season. Overall, he struck out 79 in a team-high 83.2 innings pitched. Scahill went 4-6 with a 5.49 earned run average and he held opponents to a .244 batting average.
The Bradley hurler was part of the 2006 New York Collegiate Baseball League Western Division champion Allegany County Nitros. Scahill worked a team-high 60 innings for the Nitros. He was 2-4 with a 3.30 earned run average in 10 starts. He walked 29, struck out 48 and tossed one complete game.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Cary (Watertown '07) Among Clark Griffith League's Top Prospects
Marist College junior Richard Cary (Watertown '07) has been named to the Clark C. Griffith Baseball League's list of top 10 prospects by Baseball America. Cary was tabbed seventh overall.
This past summer, Cary pitched for the nationally-ranked Vienna Senators. The Senators went 38-10 in the Washington D.C. based-Clark Griffith League and then were one of 42 teams to appear in the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan. The Vienna, Va., squad finished the year 41-14, put together a ninth-place showing at the World Series and were ranked 16th nationally by Perfect Game Scouting.
During the regular season, Cary posted a team-high seven wins in 10 appearances. As a rising junior, he went 7-2 with a 2.79 earned run average in 42 innings pitched. He allowed 13 earned runs, walked five and struck out 36. His seven wins topped the seven-team league. Cary also finished among the league's top 10 in earned run average, strikeouts and innings pitched.
The Johnson City, N.Y., native enjoyed a breakout spring as a sophomore in Poughkeepsie. He went 6-2 with a 4.28 earned run average and led the Red Foxes pitching staff in wins. Cary moved into the team's weekend rotation by the end of the season. In 48.1 innings, he walked 20 and struck out 24.
Cary pitched in the New York Collegiate Baseball League last summer for the Watertown Wizards. He accumulated 24 innings pitched over 10 appearances, walked 18 and struck out 18.
This past summer, Cary pitched for the nationally-ranked Vienna Senators. The Senators went 38-10 in the Washington D.C. based-Clark Griffith League and then were one of 42 teams to appear in the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan. The Vienna, Va., squad finished the year 41-14, put together a ninth-place showing at the World Series and were ranked 16th nationally by Perfect Game Scouting.
During the regular season, Cary posted a team-high seven wins in 10 appearances. As a rising junior, he went 7-2 with a 2.79 earned run average in 42 innings pitched. He allowed 13 earned runs, walked five and struck out 36. His seven wins topped the seven-team league. Cary also finished among the league's top 10 in earned run average, strikeouts and innings pitched.
The Johnson City, N.Y., native enjoyed a breakout spring as a sophomore in Poughkeepsie. He went 6-2 with a 4.28 earned run average and led the Red Foxes pitching staff in wins. Cary moved into the team's weekend rotation by the end of the season. In 48.1 innings, he walked 20 and struck out 24.
Cary pitched in the New York Collegiate Baseball League last summer for the Watertown Wizards. He accumulated 24 innings pitched over 10 appearances, walked 18 and struck out 18.
2008 Baseball America NYCBL Prospect List
1. Logan Darnell lhp, Amsterdam (Kentucky)
2. Shane Davis lhp, Glens Falls (Canisius)
3. Matt Branham rhp, Brockport (USC-Upstate)
4. J.D. Martinez of, Saratoga (Nova Southeastern)
5. Mike Spina if, Amsterdam (Cincinnati)
6. Dan Forman lhp, Amsterdam (Manhattan)
7. Kellen St. Luce lhp, Saratoga (Vanderbilt)
8. Ryan O'Rourke lhp, Brockport (Merrimack)
9. Luis Feliz of, Glens Falls (Rutgers)
10. Ricky Breymier rhp, Amsterdam (Pittsburgh)
List compiled by Baseball America. Scouting reports are available via the premium service.
2. Shane Davis lhp, Glens Falls (Canisius)
3. Matt Branham rhp, Brockport (USC-Upstate)
4. J.D. Martinez of, Saratoga (Nova Southeastern)
5. Mike Spina if, Amsterdam (Cincinnati)
6. Dan Forman lhp, Amsterdam (Manhattan)
7. Kellen St. Luce lhp, Saratoga (Vanderbilt)
8. Ryan O'Rourke lhp, Brockport (Merrimack)
9. Luis Feliz of, Glens Falls (Rutgers)
10. Ricky Breymier rhp, Amsterdam (Pittsburgh)
List compiled by Baseball America. Scouting reports are available via the premium service.
Mahoney (GF '07) Named Coastal Plain League Offensive Player of the Year
Kevin Mahoney (Glens Falls '07) has been selected as the Coastal Plain League's Rawlings Offensive Player of the Year for the 2008 season. In addition, Mahoney was chosen as second-best prospect in the league by Baseball America.
Mahoney starred this summer for the CPL's Forest city Owls. He led the league in home runs (13), runs batted in (46), runs scored (47), total bases (121) and slugging percentage (.593). The canisius college star finished third in the league in hits (66), tied for second in doubles (16) and finished with the sixth-best batting average (.324). Mahoney's 121 total bases ties a single-season CPL record that was set in 1998 by current Major Leaguer Jason DuBois.
The Miller Place, N.Y., native was a two-time Rawlings Co-Hitter of the Week. Mahoney was the only player in the league this season to earn two weekly awards. He also competed in the Coastal Plain League All-Star Game.
Mahoney is a rising senior at Canisius College. In the spring, Mahoney led the Golden Griffs and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with a .377 regular season batting average. He was named first-team All-MAAC as the Golden Griffs earned a share of the conference regular season title.
The 2008 CPL Offensive Player of the Year was a member of the New York collegiate Baseball League's Glens Falls Golden Eagles in 2007. Mahoney led the league with seven home runs and 44 runs batted in. He was selected first-team All-NYCBL. Mahoney's Golden Eagles went 34-6 during the regular season and won the Eastern Division pennant.
Mahoney starred this summer for the CPL's Forest city Owls. He led the league in home runs (13), runs batted in (46), runs scored (47), total bases (121) and slugging percentage (.593). The canisius college star finished third in the league in hits (66), tied for second in doubles (16) and finished with the sixth-best batting average (.324). Mahoney's 121 total bases ties a single-season CPL record that was set in 1998 by current Major Leaguer Jason DuBois.
The Miller Place, N.Y., native was a two-time Rawlings Co-Hitter of the Week. Mahoney was the only player in the league this season to earn two weekly awards. He also competed in the Coastal Plain League All-Star Game.
Mahoney is a rising senior at Canisius College. In the spring, Mahoney led the Golden Griffs and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with a .377 regular season batting average. He was named first-team All-MAAC as the Golden Griffs earned a share of the conference regular season title.
The 2008 CPL Offensive Player of the Year was a member of the New York collegiate Baseball League's Glens Falls Golden Eagles in 2007. Mahoney led the league with seven home runs and 44 runs batted in. He was selected first-team All-NYCBL. Mahoney's Golden Eagles went 34-6 during the regular season and won the Eastern Division pennant.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Motte (Rome '01) Called Up By Cardinals, Makes Debut Against D-Backs
The St. Louis Cardinals called up relief pitcher Jason Motte (Rome '01) from Triple-A Memphis on Sept. 2. It is the first time that Motte has been called up to the Major Leagues in his baseball career.
Motte made his Major League Baseball debut on Sept. 3 against the National League West leading Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Motte entered the game in the seventh inning with runners on first and second with two outs and already two runs in during the frame. Motte struck out Arizona's Mark Reynolds on four pitches to end the inning. He added a scoreless stanza in the eighth to wrap up his big-league debut. Motte struck out two in an inning and two-thirds and allowed one hit.
The Port Huron, Mich., native made his home debut in St. Louis on Sept. 5 against Florida. Motte pitched one-third of an inning, yielded two hits and fanned one.
Motte, a former collegiate catcher, led the Triple-A Pacific Coast League with 63 appearances. He went 4-3 with nine saves and a 3.24 earned run average. Motte whirled 66.2 innings, walked 26 and struck out 110 batters. Motte's 110 strikeouts tied for 11th in the Triple-A circuit. The Redbirds reliever spent the entire season at Triple-A after splitting the 2007 season between Single-A Palm Beach of the Florida State League and Double-A Springfield from the Texas League.
The Cardinals chose Motte out of Iona in the 19th round (575th overall) of the 2003 Major League Baseball draft as a catcher.
Motte was part of a 2001 New York Collegiate Baseball League championship team with the Rome Indians. He was one of six members of the 2001 Indians to sign a professional contract. Pitcher Andy Weimer and outfielder David Cook are the only other two still playing professional baseball.
Read more about Motte here.
Motte made his Major League Baseball debut on Sept. 3 against the National League West leading Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Motte entered the game in the seventh inning with runners on first and second with two outs and already two runs in during the frame. Motte struck out Arizona's Mark Reynolds on four pitches to end the inning. He added a scoreless stanza in the eighth to wrap up his big-league debut. Motte struck out two in an inning and two-thirds and allowed one hit.
The Port Huron, Mich., native made his home debut in St. Louis on Sept. 5 against Florida. Motte pitched one-third of an inning, yielded two hits and fanned one.
Motte, a former collegiate catcher, led the Triple-A Pacific Coast League with 63 appearances. He went 4-3 with nine saves and a 3.24 earned run average. Motte whirled 66.2 innings, walked 26 and struck out 110 batters. Motte's 110 strikeouts tied for 11th in the Triple-A circuit. The Redbirds reliever spent the entire season at Triple-A after splitting the 2007 season between Single-A Palm Beach of the Florida State League and Double-A Springfield from the Texas League.
The Cardinals chose Motte out of Iona in the 19th round (575th overall) of the 2003 Major League Baseball draft as a catcher.
Motte was part of a 2001 New York Collegiate Baseball League championship team with the Rome Indians. He was one of six members of the 2001 Indians to sign a professional contract. Pitcher Andy Weimer and outfielder David Cook are the only other two still playing professional baseball.
Read more about Motte here.
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