Former NYCBL Players In Carribean Leagues

Six former New York Collegiate Baseball League players have appeared on Carribean baseball fields during the 2008-2009 winter baseball season . The NYCBL was represented in every Carribean winter league including the Mexican Pacific League, the Dominican Winter League, the Puerto Rican Winter League and the Venezuelan Winter League.

Ray Navarrete (Geneva '97) was an all-star in the independent Atlantic League in 2008 while playing for the Long Island Ducks. The former Seton Hall star was the second player in league history to drive in over 100 runs (103) and score 100 runs (105) in the same season. Navarrete spent his winter in Puerto Rico playing in the Puerto Rican Winter League for Gigantes de Carolina. The Teaneck, N.J., native batted .286 in 32 games with 11 RBI, 10 doubles and 26 hits. Some of Navarrete's teammates in Carolina included Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, J.C. Romero and Geovany Soto.

David Cook (Rome '01) began the 2008 season in Double-A Birmingham but finished the campaign at Triple-A Charlotte. Between two leagues, Cook batted .284 with 19 home runs, 56 RBI, 26 doubles, 124 hits and 76 runs scored. His winter slate included stops in the Dominican Winter League with Leones del Escogido and the Venezuelan Winter League with Navegantes del Magallanes. Cook swatted four home runs and drove in six over 19 games between the two teams and totaled 11 hits and nine runs scored.

Justin Mallett (Watertown '02) spent a majority of the 2008 season with the Triple-A Louisville Bats of the International League. Mallett went 6-2 with a 4.50 earned run average in 20 appearances with 70 strikeouts over 100 innings pitched. The 6-foot-6 pitcher then took the mound for Bravos de Margarita in the Venezuelan Winter League. He was one of the top pitchers for a team that finished last in the regular season standings. Mallett went 3-1 with a 3.91 earned run average. He led the team with 35 strikeouts and finished second in innings pitched (48.1).

Not only were players in the Carribean, but coaches as well. Matt Quatraro (Schenectady '93) is the head coach of the South Atlantic League's Columbus Catfish, an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. Quatraro is spending the winter in Venezuela as a base coach for Leones del Caracas. The team won the Venezuelan Winter League's regular season title with a 42-21 record, six games ahead of second-place Aragua. The team is currently competing in the league playoffs.

Terry Tiffee (Hornell '98) won the 2008 Triple-A Pacific Coast League batting crown with a .378 batting average for the Las Vegas 51s and he played for Team USA in the Olympic Games. The North Pratt, Ark., native followed the minor league season with a trip to Mexico to play for the Venados de Mazatlan in the Mexican Pacific League. Tiffee hit .283 in 14 games with 15 hits and five runs batted in. He recently signed a contract with the world champion Philadelphia Phillies and is listed as a non-roster invitee for spring training.

Brett Carroll (Hornell '02) appeared in only 26 games for the Florida Marlins in 2008 due to injury. The Middle Tennessee State grad did play 38 games in the minors before joining the Fish in September for the final month of the season. In October, Carroll went to the Dominican Republic to play for Azucareros del Este in the Dominican Winter League. Carroll put together three hits in three games and drove in one run. He is currently listed on the 40-man roster for the Marlins.