With York 22-5 When John Pachot Catches, Revolution Near Division Title

So many factors can be pinpointed when a team is on the brink of a championship as York is on this very evening, but         the most striking is what all-star catcher John Pachot has meant to the Revolution. York had whittled its magic number for clinching its initial Freedom Division first half title—and only its […]

Guilmette Hurls A Gem

(Webster, N.Y.) It’s only June, but Sunday afternoon’s New York Collegiate Baseball League game at Basket Road Field carried playoff implications. Dave Brust’s Webster Yankees and Dave Herbst’s Geneva Red Wings both entered play with seven wins as teams approach the mid-season mark. The winner of the NYCBL Western Division game could gain an early […]

Thinking Benitez Could End Up Back With Bobby V While Checking Back in on Those Oakland Signings

It would not be a shock to hear a few Atlantic League managers give a sigh of relief, at least privately, over the fact player sales to major league organizations have slowed up.  It probably is only a temporary thing, but I cannot imagine many of the contending field bosses being overly anxious to give […]

Webster Downs Allegany County

(Webster, N.Y) Fifteen hours removed from a thrilling come-from-behind extra-inning victory, the Webster Yankees sat in the dugout watching the rain coat the turf at Basket Road Field. The dreary mood might have misled some into thinking the home nine lacked the energy needed to compete. But make no mistake, Dave Brust’s crew came to […]

Bertrand and Webster Turn Off The Power

(Webster, N.Y.) Fans of the Webster Yankees know the 2010 edition possesses a flair for the dramatic. Friday night, denizens of “The Basket” learned of the club’s persistence. The home nine put the winning run in scoring position twice before making good on their opportunities.

Ambitious Ventura Sports Will Deliver Two More American Association Teams in ’12, And That Is Just the Start

“A solid community builds and thrives around a minor league baseball team.  And when that team has its own stadium there’s almost no end of opportunities to get people together.” This is the opening paragraph on the Ventura Sports Group’s web site, and while it probably could be echoed by any of several aggressive developmental […]

Webster Puts Geneva In “Locke-Down”

(Webster, N.Y.) Through the first ten games of the 2010 New York Collegiate Baseball League season, Dave Brust’s Webster Yankees played five games decided by one run. For six and a half innings Thursday night, it looked like the home nine would add to that total.

Four Crucial Series May Decide Both First-Half Titles; Ducks Ponder Activating All-Star Closer Simas

Both divisions have dandy races ahead for the final two weeks of the first half in the Atlantic League although they are pretty much two-team battles.  Long Island is a third team within striking distance, four games off the pace in the Liberty Division, but the Ducks have to be considered a long shot because […]

Webster Pounds The Power

Maybe Dave Brust’s Webster Yankees just needed some rest. A recent scheduling irregularity idled the pinstripes for three of four days between Tuesday and Friday. The home nine made good on the time off and put their recent woes in the rear view mirror.

Michael Ryan Had ‘A Blast’ With Angels; Could Aldridge, Mastny Be on Deck?

This has to be a frustrating day for Michael Ryan, one of the bright alumni lights for the Atlantic League, since the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim designated him for assignment Thursday. Ryan, who turns 33 in a few days (July 6), had battled his way through four other major league organizations and a 65-game […]

Rare Home Run Feats by Nava and Guerrero Make It Tough for Others to Take Spotlight

Two extraordinary feats, both a few days old now, continue to take much of the thunder away from everything else that is happening in Independent Baseball.  They deserve the attention because the accomplishments were not predictable, will not likely happen again any time soon, and they sent everyone scrambling to baseball’s treasurer record books. The […]

Nidiffer Inks Deal With Astros

Good things do come to those who wait. The 2010 Major League Baseball draft came and went. Three days and 50 rounds passed. Twelve Wildcats from the University of Kentucky heard their names called.  Former Webster Yankee, Marcus Nidiffer, waited patiently. When he did not hear his name, Nidiffer remained calm.The omission surprised a few […]

Cristian Guerrero Will Not Be Forgotten Now After Hitting Five Homers in as Many Times at Bat

Since Cristian Guerrero’s time in the Atlantic League was limited it is not surprising people did not remember much about him, but former teammate and current York outfielder Steve Haake was not in total shock when he learned the strapping outfielder had pounded home runs in five consecutive times at the plate in an independent […]

Webster Wins In Walkoff Fashion Again

(Webster, N.Y.) If first impressions mean anything, the summer of 2010 promises excitement at Basket Road Field. Matt Delewski (Toledo) slashed a ninth inning one-out single just inside the third base bag plating Wes Winkle (Ball State) with the game’s only run as the Webster Yankees downed the Allegany County Nitros 1-0 in New York […]

Comeback Kids Do It Again

(Webster, N.Y.) For the second time in three nights the Webster Yankees used late-inning heroics for a win. Chase Grissom (UNC-Pembroke) beat out an infield single and plated Matt Delewski (Toledo) with the eventual winning run as the Yankees knocked out the Niagara Power 5-3 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Basket Road […]

Chris Coste Is 37, Has Had Elbow Surgery and Been Released But Retirement Seems Very Unlikely

This is not a retirement story as I have seen implied elsewhere, but then why would anyone think a little thing like elbow surgery would put an end to Chris Coste’s playing career.  It will take more than the year off that normally is required after the so-called Tommy John operation to bring an end […]

Webster Shocks Elmira

(Webster, N.Y) For eight innings the Webster Yankees toiled with little to show for their efforts. The home nine threatened but failed to bring home any runs while the Elmira Pioneers grabbed a seven-run lead.  Elmira pitchers dominated Webster for eight frames recording 13 strike outs.

Trade Paid Immediate Dividends for One Side; Player Sales to Major League Teams Keep Mounting

Best friends Butch Hobson and Andy Etchebarren may have second thoughts the next time they consider making a trade right ahead of a series between Hobson’s Southern Maryland Blue Crabs and Etchebarren’s York Revolution. They swapped outfielders hours before starting a three-game set in Southern Maryland last weekend, and Jamar Hill allowed the Crabs to […]

Two-Time Batting Champ Victor Rodriguez, Wily Mo Pena Could Add Substantially for Bridgeport

York’s worst-to-first dash can only encourage others to keep striving to improve, and that certainly seems to be the case for Bridgeport. The Bluefish, eager to return to the upper ranks of the Atlantic League since 1999 championship Manager Willie Upshaw was available from Day One (he took over in mid-season last year), were stung […]

Recent Indy Grad Rene Rivera Only Hitter to Take Stephen Strasburg Over the Fence

Rene Rivera is one of only a dozen and a half baseball players in the Independent leagues who has had his contract purchased by a major league organization in this still young season. The stocky catcher has a unique distinction, though, not only among the privileged group that has moved one step closer to the […]

With 38 Players Used Already, Bears ‘Continuing to Build’; Perkins May Help

It is highly advisable for anyone going to a Newark Bears game to pick up a program.  This goes for regulars at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium as well as the casual fan or someone watching the Bears on the road. Thirty-six games into the campaign or just past midway in the first half of […]

Brownsten Setting His Sights

Memorial Day will find Cory Brownsten waiting on the NCAA. After finishing the season 38-18, Brownsten and his University of Pittsburgh Panther teammates fell short of earning an automatic berth to the Regionals of College World Series. The Panthers will have to wait and see if their resume is enough to earn an at-large bid […]

Oakland Takes Three More Atlantic Leaguers, Building Recent Total to Five and Passing Phils

It seems a little like a runaway freight train the way Oakland has swooped into the Atlantic League for player talent, and all of a sudden the Athletics have moved past Philadelphia as the major league organization with the most players out of the 13-year-old league active in their farm system. Oakland has purchased the […]

Trade Mate Hurls No-Hitter on Day Lima Died; Second Hurler Missed Gem by One Out

In an amazingly ironic twist, Kris Honel hurled a no-hit game for Chico, CA on the same day Jose Lima passed away.  The two pitchers were traded for each other last season with Lima moving from Long Beach to Edmonton in the Golden League swap. Honel, a first-round draft choice of the Chicago White Sox […]

Atlantic And Golden Leagues Played Sizeable Roles In Jose Lima’s Life

The tributes have been pouring in regarding the tragic loss of life by Jose Lima, who was only 37. I was on my way to the Ballpark at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, CT Sunday when I heard the news on the radio. It seemed like everyone I encountered at the York-Bridgeport Atlantic League game had […]

Ramey and Wallace Earn NE-10 Honors

The Webster Yankees have been in existence just three years, but the New York Collegiate Baseball League team has seen plenty of talent. Add University of Massachusetts-Lowell’s Dustin Ramey and Luke Wallace to the list of Yankee alums finding success after playing for Webster in the NYCBL.

Houston Suburb Only First Link as Atlantic League Develops a Western Division

Sugar Land, TX city officials called their agreement to place an Atlantic League team in the upscale Houston suburb “historic”, and they might as well have been speaking for the heretofore Eastern-based league itself because this market seems destined to be the first step toward establishing a Western Division for the 13-year-old league. Peter Kirk, […]

Atlantic League on Brink of Adding Texas Team; Can-Am Tries Exhibitions in Maine

It appears much more likely the Eastern-based Atlantic League will tilt more to the west after what the City of Sugar Land, TX called the approval of a “historic agreement” earlier this week with Peter Kirk’s Opening Day Partners to place a team in the Houston area community, probably starting in 2012. Kirk, who already […]

Bierbrodt Puts Fire-Fighting on Hold to Pitch; Pulsipher, Padilla Have Double Roles

It is easy tracking Atlantic League players when they have their contract picked up directly by a major league organization.  But what happens to everyone else who was in the league a year or two or three ago and is neither with an organization nor still in the league?  Sure, some give up playing and […]

Parity Exists, But Injuries and Player Losses Make the Challenges Tougher

Parity appears extremely strong three weeks into the Atlantic League season with every team within two games of the division lead, but the challenge to managers and player personnel bosses to keep it that way is certain to build now that the expected roster-juggling has started. It seems every person this typist talks to has […]

Who Will Be Next to Majors? Lindsey Stays Hot, Weber Warming Up

Michael Ryan had not been in the majors since 2005 until joining the Angels last weekend, and Cuban-born Raul Valdez had never been there until the New York Mets added the onetime Can-Am Leaguer (New Jersey Jackals and Nashua, NH) a few weeks ago.  And, it is anyone’s guess on where lightning will strike next, […]

Somerset Nears Lead for Graduates Getting to Majors; St. Paul Has 15, Patriots 14

Michael Ryan’s recall to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim brings Somerset, NJ within reach of tying for the all-time (1993-2010) record of the most alumni from one Independent team reaching the major leagues. The St. Paul (MN) Saints, who got a five-year jump on the Patriots since they started play in the Northern League […]

Muoio In Familiar Territory

Steve Muoio may be over 900 miles from home, but the Webster resident finds himself in familiar territory. His Georgia College and State University Bobcats claimed first place and the number one seed in the upcoming Peach-Belt Conference tournament.  Success on the baseball diamond is something the Webster-Thomas graduate has known for much of his […]

Stephen in Syracuse

Beginning with a low rumble on draft day 2009, the Stephen Strasburg hype built gradually in the city of Syracuse, spiking after each successful start for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators and peaking gloriously Friday night, when The Phenom took the mound at Alliance Bank Stadium for his first Triple-A start.

Northern League’s New Eight-Team Lineup Taking Shape With Lake County Hoping to Build and Be Home in Five Weeks

Training camps started opening for the expanded Northern League this week as the eight-team circuit zeroes in on the start of its 18th modern day campaign May 20, but the happiest news might well have been one more step toward getting a shovel in the ground on the new stadium for the fledgling Lake County […]

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