BELLINGHAM BELLS UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP

From the Bellingham Bells
Bellingham, Wash. – The Bellingham Bells Baseball Club (www.bellinghambells.com) of the West Coast League have a new owner as Bellevue businessman Eddie Poplawski has purchased the franchise from Brett Sports & Entertainment, who have owned the team since January 2008.

Poplawski is the former president/CEO/chairman of Anderson Chamberlin, Inc. (now known as Anderson Daymon Worldwide), Costco’s in-house manufacturer’s rep firm, and the co-founder of CommercialCondos.com.

In addition to his business ventures, Poplawski currently serves on the board of two non-profit organizations (The Moyer Foundation and Global Partnerships), and three privately held companies. Poplawski also served on the Management Board for the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University, where he earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees.

“I want to thank Bobby Brett and the previous ownership group, as well as the City of Bellingham, for all of their help in making this sale come together,” Poplawski said. “Owning a baseball team is something I’ve always dreamt about, but everything had to be just right for me to take on a project of this magnitude. The Bellingham Bells have everything I was looking for.”

In addition to having family ties in Bellingham, Poplawski already has a handful of business relationships in the area through his involvement with the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO).

“I love the game of baseball and I love the platform that it provides coaches and front office personnel, especially at this level, to positively impact the lives of young players both on and off the field,” Poplawski said. “Bellingham is a special community that has all the right ingredients to make the Bells one of the premier summer wood bat franchises in the country. I’m truly excited about the future of this organization.”

Members of the former ownership group, including Bobby Brett and Andy Billig, will serve as advisors to Poplawski during a transition period while Justin Stottlemyre, who served as the general manager of the Bells under Brett Sports ownership, will also stay on board until the new management team is in place.

“Eddie has a lot of enthusiasm and energy that he is going to bring to Bellingham,” said Brett. “He reminds me a lot of myself when I bought my first team in Spokane 25 years ago. After having a number of conversations with Eddie, I know he’s going to be able to give the Bells the local ownership it needs in order to reach that next level.”

“I want to express my gratitude to our fans, our partners, the city, and everyone who made our three-year ownership of the Bellingham Bells such a success. I am extremely confident that the Bells will continue to build their brand of excellence, and their great relationship with the City of Bellingham while making Joe Martin Field an amazing place to watch baseball for years to come.”

With the sale of the franchise, Poplawski becomes the fourth owner of the team since its formation in 1999. The team begins its 13th season within the nine-team West Coast League (www.wccbl.com) in June 2011.

Individuals and companies with inquiries about season tickets, corporate sponsorship opportunities, or other information are encouraged to contact the Bellingham Bells offices at (360) 527-1035, or via email at bells@bellinghambells.com.

About the Bellingham Bells

The Bellingham Bells are a professionally operated collegiate summer baseball team in the West Coast League striving to provide their fans, sponsors, and partners with the very best in competitive baseball and affordable entertainment in a family-friendly atmosphere. The team is comprised of college baseball players from across the country. In recent years, the Bells have helped produce a number of major leaguers including Jeff Francis of the 2007 National League Champion Colorado Rockies and Whatcom County natives Ty Taubenheim and Kevin Richardson.


Please contact Justin Stottlemyre to arrange interviews at 360-746-0406.



--- BELLS ---


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Justin D. Stottlemyre
General Manager | Bellingham Bells
jdstottlemyre@bellinghambells.com
Ph: 360.746.0406 | www.BellinghamBells.com

17 NWL Alumni Playing in Major League Baseball’s Arizona Fall League

From the Northwoods League
Northwoods League alumni represent 17 of the 180 players competing in the Arizona Fall League (AFL) this season. Each year every Major League Baseball (MLB) team sends six top prospects to the AFL. The AFL season began last week and will continue until mid-November. Games are held in Arizona in six MLB teams’ spring training stadiums located in Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Surprise.

The AFL is run by Major League Baseball and gives minor league players the opportunity to accelerate in their professional baseball careers. "There's a two-pronged mission to the AFL," says Steve Cobb, AFL executive vice president. "One is for the players to accelerate, and hopefully jump a classification. The other is for the managers and umpires to develop.”

The Northwoods League has sent 17 former players to the AFL for two years in a row. The talent developed through the Northwoods League accounts for nearly 10 percent of all the players in the AFL this year.

This season’s AFL talent includes Jordan Pacheco, La Crosse Loggers alumnus. Pacheco is coming off a strong season in the Rockies’ minor league system. With a .321 batting average, five home runs and 70 RBIs in 104 games, Pacheco was called up to Double-A where he hit .371 with one home run and 17 RBIs in 16 games.

Pacheco is joined on the Scottsdale Scorpions by Konrad Schmidt, St. Cloud River Bats alumnus. Schmidt’s .315 batting average, 11 home runs and 65 RBIs earned him a September call-up from AA to the Majors where he collected his first major league hit.

Currently, former Loggers Jordan Pacheco and Brad Holt are experiencing success in the beginning of the season. Pacheco continues his hot hitting from Double-A to the AFL as he is hitting an impressive .333 with a .467 on-base percentage. Holt, a right handed pitcher for the Mesa Solar Sox, leads the league in wins (2-0) while not allowing a run in three games. Holt recently won ‘Week 2 Player of the Week’ due to his unblemished earned run average.

Other former NWL players that are experiencing success in the AFL are Aaron Pribanic (Brainerd), Cory Harrilchak (Mankato) and Tony Sanchez (Battle Creek). Pribanic, teammate of Holt on the Solar Sox, has allowed zero earned runs through four appearances. Harrilchak, an outfielder for the Phoenix Desert Dogs, has the 4th highest batting average in the league at .424. Sanchez, who battled injuries this summer, is back on track at the plate as he is hitting .296.

The Northwoods League is a summer baseball league composed of 16 teams with top college players from across the United States. With a family-oriented atmosphere, the Northwoods League has more teams, plays more games, and draws more fans than any other summer collegiate baseball league in North America. Franchises are located in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan and Canada. To learn more about the league, visit www.northwoodsleague.com.

Gonzaga Hurlers to Bring Heat to Walla Walla

From the Walla Walla Sweets
WALLA WALLA, Wa. – Two right-handed pitchers from Gonzaga University have signed with the Walla Walla Sweets for the 2011 West Coast League season. Sean Santschi, a WCL veteran, and Derek Peterson, a first year pitcher for the Bulldogs, will be playing summer ball in Walla Walla next season.

Santschi, a 6’2”, 220 lb. transfer from Tacoma Community College, will play his first season at Gonzaga this spring as a junior. As a member of the Wenatchee AppleSox in 2010 (the Sweets’ first ever opponent), Santschi went 1-0 in five games with six strikeouts. His win came in a 3-1 AppleSox victory when he pitched three innings of relief and allowed only one hit while striking out five Moses Lake Pirates. At Tacoma CC last spring, he went 0-1 with 13 saves out of the bullpen for the Titans. His ERA was a minuscule 0.50 while opponents hit only .164 off him. Sweets manager J.C. Biagi had only positive words about the Skyline (Sammamish, Wash.) High School product: “Sean had a great season last year with Tacoma CC and he’s poised to continue that success with Gonzaga. Our whole office is buzzing with this young man coming to town this June.”

Santschi will be joined by Derek Peterson, a 6’0”, 185 lb. freshman out of Ferris High School in Spokane. Peterson, a member of the Spokane Dodgers this past summer, was a 2nd team Greater Spokane League outfielder in addition to being named 1st team all-League as a pitcher in 2009. “Derek is a quality pitcher despite his youth,” said Sweets pitching coach, Mark Michaud. “I think he’ll do well at Gonzaga and hope to see him continue that success with the Sweets this coming summer.”

About the Walla Walla Sweets:

Walla Walla Sweets is a professionally operated baseball club in the West Coast League. It is led by a group of civic-minded individuals with strong ties to the Walla Walla region and to the game of baseball. The Walla Walla Sweets will strive to provide their fans, sponsors, business partners, and investors with the very best in competitive baseball and entertainment, including atmosphere, comfort, food & beverage, safety, competition, fun and value. For more information, please visit www.wallawallasweets.com.

CONTACT:
Walla Walla Sweets
Brett Axelrod
E: brett@wallawallasweets.com
P: 509.522.2255

Beetles' Alvarez is Rawlings award winner

From the Echo Press
The Northwoods League recently announced the winners of the 2010 Rawlings Finest in the Field award at each position.

Alexandria Beetles second baseman Mikel Alvarez was on that list after teaming up with shortstop Marcus Semien to form a stellar middle of the infield this past summer. Alvarez’s .973 fielding percentage was tops among second basemen in the Northwoods League.

Read the rest of this article here.

Sonnanstine to be inducted into NECBL Hall of Fame

From Fosters.com
SANFORD -- The Sanford Mainers announced last week that former Mainer Andy Sonnanstine is being inducted into the NECBL Hall of Fame on November 6, 2010.

Andy, who currently pitches for the Tampa Bay Rays, played for the Mainers in 2002 and 2003. Andy is one of six people to be inducted in this inaugural class of the NECBL Hall of Fame. Joining Andy for induction are Andre Either, Chris Iannetta, Mark Malaska, Fay Vincent and Joe Consentino.

Read the rest of this article here.

SHARKS HIRE CHRIS YOUNGBERG AS FIELD MANAGER

From the Wilmington Sharks
The Wilmington Sharks of the Coastal Plain League (CPL) today announced they have hired Chris Youngberg as their field manager for the 2011 season.

Youngberg comes to the Sharks after spending the 2010 season as the pitching coach for the Morehead City Marlins of the CPL. In their first season as members of the CPL, the Marlins finished the summer with a 34-20 overall record while capturing the 2nd half South Division Title.

“I am extremely honored to have the opportunity to join a successful and proud organization such as the Wilmington Sharks,” said Youngberg. “I am really excited as we are in the process of building a talented coaching staff and team. I am looking forward to working with all of the wonderful host families and the terrific sponsors throughout the summer”.

Under Youngberg’s guidance, the Marlins pitching staff ended with a team of E.R.A. of 3.05, fifth best in the league. His staff led the league with eight complete games during the season.

“Chris is a hard worker who loves baseball and knows what it takes to produce a successful team,” said Andrew Aguilar, General Manager. “I am excited to see what style of team he will put on the field this summer, it should be a very competitive team!”

Currently a member of the coaching staff at the University of North Florida, Youngberg spent four seasons 2006 – 2010 at Newberry College where he was the pitching coach. Youngberg is no stranger to collegiate summer baseball leagues, having been a pitching coach with the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs of the Florida Collegiate Summer League in 2006, where that ballclub won the League Championship. In 2005 Youngberg was the head coach for the Nashville Catamounts where he won the Tennessee "Sand Lott" Collegiate Summer League Championship.

A Division I pitcher at two programs, Youngberg brings a wealth of collegiate experience to the Sharks. From 1996-1997, Youngberg took the mound for East Carolina University and from 1997-2000 hurled for the University of Central Florida. Youngberg was also a team co-captain from 1999-2000.

The Wilmington Sharks are members of Coastal Plain League, the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 15th season, The Coastal Plain League features 15 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer. The CPL has had over 700 alumni drafted and 35 alums make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com.

Elmira Pioneers keep Shwam as coach

From the Star Gazette
ELMIRA -- Dan Shwam will return as head coach of the Elmira Pioneers, the New York Collegiate Baseball League team announced Tuesday in a press release.

Shwam guided the Pioneers to a franchise-record 27 victories and the NYCBL West Division championship this summer. He was named NYCBL Coach of the Year.

Previously, Shwam spent 17 seasons managing independent baseball teams, including a three-year stint with the old Elmira Pioneers from 1997 to 1999. He guided the Pioneers to the Northeast League title in 1997.

"Pioneer fans gave me such a heartfelt welcome last year," Shwam said. "Coming back was even better than I anticipated. I can't wait to start the season and take that final step to the championship."

Said team president Jeff Kunion: "We are delighted to have Dan back this season. We expect that he will be the Pioneers' skipper for many years to come."

The Pioneers open the 2011 season in June. Season tickets can be purchased from the team by calling the Pioneers' office at (516) 521-0206.

'DBF' ready for round three

From the Okotoks Dawgs
The Okotoks Dawgs are very pleased to announce the return of one of the leaders of the team’s pitching staff. Danny Britton-Foster has signed on for the 2011 summer collegiate season, which will be his third with the Dawgs.

Danny Britton-Foster is a 6’3’’ 180 lb right-handed pitcher from Ladysmith, BC, and is a junior at the University of British Columbia. Britton-Foster burst onto the scene for the Dawgs in the summer of 2009. Coming off of his freshman year at UBC, Danny maintained a sparkling 1.08 ERA in 33 innings, going 3-0 and recording a save.

The Dawgs were quick to bring Danny back for the summer of 2010, and he continued to build on his success this past season. An important member of the Dawgs starting rotation, Britton Foster took the ball 8 times, 7 starts, counting 44.1 innings and a 4-3 record. In those 44.1 innings, he maintained a 3.05 ERA while striking out 28 and walking only 5 batters. He threw well in the playoffs, starting game 2 of the West Final, allowing 2 runs in 5 innings.

Danny explains why he was so quick to commit to a third summer with the Dawgs, “I’m coming back because I have so many great relationships with people involved in the organization and with my billets who I've been with for both of my summers in Okotoks. I love going to the ballpark every day because it's an atmosphere where you can have fun by working hard.”

The Dawgs are thrilled to bring Danny back into the fold for another season. We have seen his progression in his first two years and look forward to seeing his continued growth as a pitcher next summer. Danny Britton-Foster is another important piece in the Dawgs attempt to reclaim the WMBL title in 2011.

Four Questions With Patrick Dolan

Patrick Dolan is a junior RHP from Charleston Southern University. He is 6-2/.175 pounds and hails from Summerville, SC. He spent this past summer pitching for the Florence RedWolves of the Coastal Plain League. He went 3-2, and had a very nice 2.55 era in 49.1 innings pitched. He had a bb/k ratio of 41/48 this year and he held opponents to a .145 batting average this summer. He was also selected to pitch in the CPL's All-Star Game.

Patrick recently answered four questions for us.

Summer Ball--Who was your favorite baseball player when you were younger?
Patrick Dolan--Chipper Jones

SB--What was the best thing about playing for the RedWolves this summer?
PD--Getting to focus all my attention towards pitching, and being with a great group of guys.

SB--What are your personal goals for this upcoming season?
PD--To throw more strikes, to limit my walks, and to win.

SB--What is your favorite baseball movie?
PD--Major League


Thanks Patrick.

NWL Announces Recipients of Rawlings Big Stick Award

From the Northwoods League
The Northwoods League is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Rawlings Big Stick Award. This award is given to the player at each position who had the best batting average during the 2010 regular season.

Drew Heithoff (Augustana) of the 2010 NWL Champion Eau Claire Express leads the 2010 Rawlings Big Stick Award list. Heithoff, a 2nd baseman, hit a league leading .389 and reached base at a .515 clip which was also good for 1st in the league. Willmar Stinger Jordan Smith (St. Cloud State) finished a close second with a .374 batting average in the Stingers inaugural season. The outfielder from Willmar, MN led the league in hits (95), triples (8), and was in the top five in at-bats (254) and slugging percentage (.528). Joel Hutter (Dallas-Baptist) placed third on the 2010 Rawlings Big Stick list after a successful season in Green Bay as he hit .350 while playing 3rd base.

Read the rest here.

Sweets Sign Cougar and Husky for 2011 Season

From the Walla Walla Sweets
WALLA WALLA, Wa. – At least one big rivalry will be present in Walla Walla this coming summer, as the Walla Walla Sweets have announced the signings of the University of Washington’s Doug Christie and Washington State University’s Brett Jacobs to play West Coast League baseball in 2011.

Jacobs, a 6’ 0”, 180 lb. sophomore outfielder from Richland High School in Richland, Washington, hit .340 with 22 RBIs as a freshman last spring for the Cougars. He joined Washington State after a high school career that included being twice named League MVP and Washington 4A State Player of the Year as a junior. Last summer, for Keene Swamp Bats of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, Jacobs hit .275 with one HR and 10 RBIs while splitting time between right field and 3rd base. “Brett is an intelligent ballplayer that comes from a good baseball background,” said Sweets’ Manager, J.C. Biagi. “He goes about things the right way and we’re looking forward to having him with the Sweets this season.”

Joining Jacobs this summer will be Doug Christie, a 6’0”, 200 lb. freshman pitcher out of Kentlake High School in Kent, Washington. In addition to a successful high school career, Christie also played for the RIPS Brewers of the Seattle Premier Summer League and was an All-League selection. Christie was a two-time 1st team all-SPSL North selection at Kentlake, including being selected as both a pitcher and 1st baseman as a senior. “Doug had a very successful high school career and we’re hoping he continues that trend through college and with the Sweets,” added Biagi. “He has the potential to be a top notch Pac 10 pitcher and we’re excited to have him work with Mark [Michaud] this summer.”

Both Washington and Washington State open play for the 2011 season on February 18. Washington visits San Marcos, Texas for single games against Missouri State, Nebraska and Air Force (hosted by Texas State). Washington State opens with a three game series at Cal State-Bakersfield. The rivals square off April 29, 30 and May 1 in Pullman, Washington and again on May 24 for a neutral site game in Pasco, Washington.
About the Walla Walla Sweets:

Walla Walla Sweets is a professionally operated baseball club in the West Coast League. It is led by a group of civic-minded individuals with strong ties to the Walla Walla region and to the game of baseball. The Walla Walla Sweets will strive to provide their fans, sponsors, business partners, and investors with the very best in competitive baseball and entertainment, including atmosphere, comfort, food & beverage, safety, competition, fun and value. For more information, please visit www.wallawallasweets.com.

CONTACT:
Walla Walla Sweets
Brett Axelrod
E: brett@wallawallasweets.com
P: 509.522.2255

Valparaiso Shortstop Inks Contract for 2011 Season

From the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
Wisconsin Rapids, WI – October 25, 2010. The Rafters offseason officially got underway today when team officials announced the signing of infielder Bobby Martin (Valparaiso). Martin is the first player added to the 2011 roster.

Next spring, Martin will begin his first season playing at Valparaiso University after transferring from Heartland Community College in Illinois. The 5’10”, 195-pound junior will have two seasons of college eligibility remaining at Valparaiso. Last year at Heartland CC, despite battling a hamstring injury most of the spring, Martin finished strong with a .395 batting average, 14 doubles, four home runs, and 20 RBIs in only 81 at bats.

After announcing his 2011 recruiting class this fall, Valparaiso head coach Tracy Woodson had this to say about Martin. “We are counting on Bobby to make an immediate impact not only at the top of our line-up but also as our leader in the infield. He gives us above-average speed, a power bat, as well as being a plus defender.”

Martin attended Prairie Ridge High School and batted .370 with 13 doubles, three triples, and 33 stolen bases his senior year. He is a native of Crystal Lake, Illinois.

The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are members of the 16-team summer collegiate Northwoods League. Reserve your 2011 season tickets today! For more information call (715) 424-5400 or visit www.raftersbaseball.com. The Rafters will play a 70 game schedule with 35 home games in 2011.

Top Performers From 2010--Max Knowles

My next Top Performer from the 2010 summer season is Max Knowles of the Alexandria Aces by way of North Carolina Wesleyan. Max is a 5-10/195 pound LHP from Clinton, NC. He went 4-4, and had a 3.69 era in 53.1 innings pitched for NC Wesleyan last season.

Max was arguably the best pitcher in the Cal Ripken Collegiate League this summer.  The league agrees with me, since they named Max as the Most Outstanding Pitcher in the CRCBL. He won a league-high 6 games and had an ERA of 1.23 in a league-high 65.2 innings pitched. He made 9 starts, completed a league-high 4 games and was tops in the league with 2 shutouts pitched. He had a great bb/k ratio of 14/60 and he held opponents to a .220 batting average.

Max was incredibly consistent for the Aces this summer. He pitched at least 7-innings is 8 of his 9 starts, and only twice did he fail to strikeout less than 5 batters. You can view his game by game stats below.

Date	Dec	INP	R/ER	Hits	BB	K’s
July 24	W	7	0/0	4	1	13
July 22	ND	.2	0/0	0	0	0
July 16	W	7	1/1	6	2	7
July 7	ND	4	0/0	5	1	2
July 1	L	7	5/2	9	1	8
June 25	W	9	1/1	8	2	7
June 20	L	8	3/1	5	1	6
June 19	W	7	1/1	7	0	8
June 9	W	9	0/0	3	3	6
June 4	W	7	3/3	5	3	3

As I mentioned earlier, Max was named the Most Outstanding Pitcher in the league. He was also named to the CRCBL All-League Team, and was selected to pitch in the All-Star Game.

Statistical Quick Hit From The 2010 Summer Season

Nate Bayuk  (Pitcher—Lowell All-Americans/Boston College)

W-L	ERA	INP	HITS	G/GS/CG/SHO/SV	BB	K’S	OAVG
1-1	1.80	20	15	16/0/0/0/0	6	13	.214

Falcons Alum in World Series

From the Kelowna Falcons
The Kelowna Falcons would like to congratulate Chris Davis and the Texas Rangers for qualifying for the 2010 World Series.

Davis is the first Falcons alumni to make a World Series. However unfortunately he is not on the active World Series roster.

During the regular season Davis split time between the major and minor leagues. He played 45 games in Texas hitting just .182, compiling 23 hits, nine doubles, one homerun and four RBIs. In three seasons with the Rangers Davis has hit .248 with 47 doubles and 39 homers.

In 2005 Davis led the Falcons with a .331 average, 39 hits, 5 homeruns, 29 RBIs and a .534 slugging percentage.

The Rangers will begin the World Series in San Francisco on Wednesday night.

BASEBALL NIGHT WITH THE BUCKS RETURNS TO THE CEDAR VALLEY

From the Waterloo Bucks
Waterloo, IA - With the World Series just around the corner, the Waterloo Bucks are teaming up with local restaurants for the sixth annual Baseball Night with the Bucks. Baseball Night with the Bucks is an opportunity for Bucks Baseball and participating restaurants to provide their customers with the chance to win prizes during each game of the Fall Classic.

During each World Series contest, Baseball Night with the Bucks will be present at a selected restaurant or sports bar in the Cedar Valley. As each customer sits down at their table or spot at the bar that evening, they will be given a sign-up form by the participating establishment's wait staff. Customers will be allowed to write their name, physical address, and e-mail address on the sign-up form that will be collected by the wait staff.

The day after each World Series game, the Bucks will randomly draw 15 winners from the sign-up forms. The Bucks will be giving away 2010 team autographed baseballs as prizes, with one grand prize being a 10-pack of tickets to a selected Bucks game in 2011. The Bucks will contact winners via e-mail.

The schedule for Baseball Night with the Bucks is as follows:

Wednesday, October 27 - 6:57 pm - GAME 1 - Pepper's Grill & Sports Pub, 620 E. 18th St., Cedar Falls

Thursday, October 28 - 6:57 pm - GAME 2 - Southtown Restaurant & Lounge, 2026 Bopp St., Waterloo

Saturday, October 30 - 5:57 pm - GAME 3 - The Landmark, 118 Main St., Cedar Falls

Sunday, October 31 - 7:20 - GAME 4 - TBA

Monday, November 1 - 6:57 pm - GAME 5 - (if necessary) Pepper's Grill & Sports Pub, 620 E. 18th St., Cedar Falls

Wednesday, November 3 - 6:57 pm - GAME 6 - (if necessary) Screaming Eagle American Bar & Grill, 228 E. 4th St., Waterloo

Thursday, November 4 - 6:57 pm - GAME 7 - (if necessary) BJ's Bar and Billiards, 110 Ida St., Waterloo

Northwoods League schedule is expected to be released in November. Fans are encouraged to stay in touch with the Bucks in the off-season by utilizing their website at www.waterloobucks.com.

Statistical Quick Hit From The 2010 Summer Season

Kyle Saul (Outfielder—North Adams SteepleCats/UCSD)

AVG/SLG/OBP	ATB	R	RBI’S	2b/3b/HR	BB/K’s	STB
.296/.398/.394	108	17	10	5/3/0	15/14	14

Dans Alum in World Series

From the Danville Dans
(DANVILLE, IL) – When the Texas Rangers take to the field for their first ever World Series game Wednesday night, a Danville Dan will be on their roster. Rangers first baseman Mitch Moreland was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City this past July, and will be on the field when the Rangers face the San Francisco Giants in the 2010 fall classic beginning this week.

In the Rangers 2010 post-season, Moreland played in 10 of Texas’ eleven games, going 10-33 with three doubles, four RBIs and two walks. He played in 47 games for Texas during the regular season, hitting .255 with four doubles, nine home runs, and 25 walks, along with 25 RBIs.

Texas named Moreland the organization's best position player in 2009 after combining to bat .331 (156-471) with 16 home runs and 85 RBIs in 116 games with Bakersfield (High-A) and Frisco (AA) in his 3rd professional season. This season with AAA Redhawks, he’s batting .289 in 95 games, with 12 home runs and 65 RBIs and an OBP of .371.

Moreland, a Mississippi State product, was on the 2005 Danville Dans team that went 34-10 and won the 2005 Central Illinois Collegiate League Regular Season Championship. While with the Dans, Mitch batted .318 in 40 games and boasted a .462 on base percentage and a 1.000 fielding percentage. The left-hander from Smithville, MS also made 16 appearances on the mound for the Dans with a 2.41 ERA. He had 31 strikeouts in 18 innings of relief and gave the Dans seven saves.

Nine Dans from the 2005 team signed professional contracts. Texas drafted Moreland in the 17th round of the 2007 MLB Draft. Mitch joins ’05 Detroit Tiger Danny Worth and 17 other Dans who can call themselves major leaguers. The ’05 Dans were coached by Jamie Sailors.

Going into their 22nd year, the Danville Dans are affiliated with the Prospect League (formerly the Central Illinois Collegiate League - CICL). Formed in 1963, the purpose of the league is to: (a) provide family friendly, affordable baseball entertainment in the communities where our teams are located; (b) provide a summer baseball program for eligible college players to give them experience using a wood bat in a competitive atmosphere; (c) provide a venue to allow MLB scouts to watch collegiate prospects using wood bats against live pitching in competition. The League follows all general rules and regulations put forth by the NCAA to ensure the amateur status of its student athletes.

For more information on the Danville Dans visit our website at www.DanvilleDans.com.

Sharks to Hold Press Conference

From the Coastal Plain League
The Wilmington Sharks announced today they will hold a press conference on Thursday, October 28th in conjunction with their 1st Annual World Series Party beginning at 6:00 p.m. at Avalon Apartments located at Market and Darlington Streets.

The Sharks will announce their Field Manager and schedule for the 2011 season and discuss other topics related to the upcoming campaign.

All City of Wilmington officials, media, sponsors and Sharks fans are invited to attend. Refreshments will be provided.

The Wilmington Sharks are a member of Coastal Plain League, the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 15th season, the Coastal Plain League features 15 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer. The CPL has had over 800 alumni drafted and 39 alums make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at http://www.coastalplain.com.

Mueller Awarded for Glove Work by NWL

From the La Crosse Loggers
ROCHESTER, Minn. (October 21, 2010) - The Northwoods League has announced the recipients of the 2010 Rawlings Finest in the Field Award. The annual award recognizes the top fielders at each position. The winners are selected based on final fielding statistics compiled by league statistician Pointstreak, a Vancouver, British Columbia based sports statistical service company. The 2010 Rawlings Finest in the Field Award recipients and their field percentages are below.

You can view the rest of this article here.

Statistical Quick Hit From The 2010 Summer Season

Matt Baer (Outfielder—Slippery Rock Sliders/West Chester University)

AVG/SLG/OBP	Hits	Atb	R	Rbi’s	2b/3b/hr	bb/k’s	Stb
.254/.449/.364	185	47	29	34	11/2/7	30/57	10

Top Performers From 2010--Chase Anselment

My next Top Performer from the 2010 summer season is Chase Anselment of the Kitsap BlueJackets by way of the University of Washington. Chase is a much-heralded sophomore catcher from Edmonds, WA. He is 5-11/.210 pounds and was a four-year starter at Meadowdale High School.  As a true-freshman last year, he had a tremendous season. He hit .347/.581/.421 in 124 at-bats. He also added 6 home runs and 28 runs batted in for the Huskies.

Chase was one of the most talked about prospects in the West Coast League this summer. He hit a smooth .316/.553/.399 in 152 at-bats. He scored 31 runs, knocked in 34 and led the league with 7 home runs. He had a nice bb/k ratio of 17/23 this summer and he also stole 2 bases for the BlueJackets. He really has worked on his defense, as is evident of him not having an error all summer.

For his outstanding play this summer, Chase was named to the 1st Team-All WCL squad. Perfect Game ranked Chase as the third best prospect in the league, while Baseball America has him ranked as the second best prospect. The following is from the BA scouting report on Chase:

"Anselment has a good understanding of the strike zone and when he gets his pitch, he puts a charge into it. While most home runs in the league are hit to a player's pull side, Anselment showed his strength by hitting home runs to both outfield gaps. Despite his strength, he doesn't sell out for power. He's a good enough hitter to shorten up and lace a single the other way, when the situation calls for it."

Here is the statistical breakdown of Chase's summer in Kitsap.

• .316 Avg 
• .553 Slg (1st in league)
• .399 Oba
• 152 At-bats
• 48 Hits
• 31 Runs
• 34 Rbi's
• 15 Doubles (2nd in league)
• 7 Home runs (1st in league)
• 17 Walks
• 23 Strikeouts
• 2 Stolen bases
• 0 Errors 

Statistical Quick Hit From the 2010 Summer Season

Seth Batty (Outfielder—DuPage Dragons/UC Davis)

AVG/SLG/OBP	ATB	Hits	R	RBI’s	2b/3b/hr	BB/K’s	Stb
.270/.326/.380	141	38	29	17	8/0/0	24/22	11

Sharp steps down; River Bats start search for replacement

From the SC Times
For the third straight year, the St. Cloud River Bats will have a new leader in the front office.

River Bats director of business operations Wes Sharp stepped down Thursday to become the director of promotions for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox — the Colorado Rockies triple-A affiliate.

"Working for the Bats has prepared me incredibly well," Sharp said. "I love St. Cloud, it's just one of those opportunities to go to a larger market and sort of break into the corporate sports world a little bit.

Read the rest of this article here.

Statistical Quick Hit From The 2010 Summer Season

Ryan Turner (Pitcher—Victoria Generals/Tarleton State University)

Record	ERA	INP	Hits	G/GS/CG/SHO/SV	BB	K’s	AVG
1-0	1.31	20.2	8	11/1/0/0/0	11	30	.117

Former Chatham Pitcher Named Arizona's Minor League Pitcher of the Year

Former Chatham A's and UCLA Bruin, Charles Brewer has been named the Diamondbacks Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Charles, a 12th round selection in 2009, went (11-8-2.45 era-150.2 inp) for two different single-A clubs. Charles spent 2007 and 2008 with the Chatham A's. You can read the press release here.

Navigators Not Resting On Their Laurels

From the NECBL
The North Shore Navigators captured the 2010 New England Collegiate Baseball League title.

It has been less than an hour since pitcher Hunter Rivers, a freshman out of Jacksonville State, recorded the last out that gave the North Shore Navigators their first New England Baseball League championship. The season ended with that pitch and the Navs’ 5-4 win over the Danbury Westerners. And Tim Haley’s work as the Navs’ new owner officially began.

Haley is on the concourse at Lynn’s Fraser Field, which the Navs call home. Everyone has finally left the field after the celebrations, taking photos with the NECBL trophy, hugging one another and shaking hands. A short walk away, players and their friends and host families are celebrating with supper.

Read the rest of this article here.

Top Performers From 2010--John McCambridge

My next Top Performer from the 2010 summer season is John McCambridge of the #21 ranked Licking County Settlers of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. John is a 6-2/210 pound outfielder from Xavier University. He hails from Columbus, OH and he played high-school ball at Olentangy High School. He hit .307-6 hr-33 rbi's for the Musketeers this Spring, and it's somewhat surprising that he wasn't drafted in this year.

John spent this summer playing for the Licking County Settlers of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. He helped to lead the 21st ranked Settlers to the regular season GLSCL Title. He was, without a doubt, one of the best and most aggressive players in the league this summer. He hit a tremendous .444/.510/.506 in 153 at-bats. He scored 32 runs and knocked in another 22 Settlers this summer. He hit 8 doubles, 1 triple and walked 8 times as well.  On the base paths, John was 20 for 22 in stolen base attempts.

John was named to participate in the GLSCL All-Star Game this year. He was also named to the All-Great Lakes Summer Collegiate Leagues First Team. He also culminated his outstanding summer by being named the Player of the Year in the League.

He was named the 4th best prospect in the league by Perfect Game. The scouts over at Baseball America have John ranked as the 5th best prospect in the league. The following is from the Baseball America scouting report on John:

"A prototypical leadoff man, McCambridge drew praise for seeming to always find a way to reach base.....McCambridge stays in the backs of pitchers' and catchers' minds—he stole 20 bases this summer. McCambridge, who ran a 6.3-second 60-yard dash at the league all-star game this summer, needs to tone down his aggressiveness, as he drew just 26 combined walks between the spring and summer seasons. He has below-average power."

Here is the statistical breakdown of John's summer with the Settlers.

• .444 AVG (1st in league)
• .510 SLG (8th in league)
• .506 OBA (2nd in league)
• 68 HITS (1st in league)
• 32 RUNS (tied for 1st in league)
• 22 RBI'S
• 8 Doubles
• 1 Triple
• 8 Walks
• 10 Strikeouts
• 20 Stolen Bases (6th in league)

NBC and BaseballSavings.com Extend Partnership for 2011

From the National Baseball Congress
WICHITA, KS- The National Baseball Congress (NBC) is pleased to announce, on the heels of the 76th annual NBC World Series, Wichita-based BaseballSavings.com™ as the title sponsor of the BaseballSavings.com™ 77th annual NBC World Series for the second consecutive year. BaseballSavings.com™ is a specialized brand in the portfolio of The Golf Warehouse®, a Redcats USA brand.

“The National Baseball Congress was extremely pleased with year-one of having BaseballSavings.com™ on board as the title sponsor of our World Series and is very excited to continue our partnership into year-two,” said Casey Walkup, Operations Manager for the NBC. “The second year will allow for a tremendous amount of growth in our partnership between two heavy hitters in the baseball industry who both call Wichita home, yet have a direct impact on the game across the country. The NBC World Series is the most well-known and most historic collegiate tournament around, and continuing this partnership with BaseballSavings.com™, the #1 online baseball retailer in the world, is a grand-slam for the BaseballSavings.com™ NBC World Series.”

Baseball Savings is committed to providing the largest and broadest selection of baseball products in the world, as well as providing excellent customer service and support to all NBC players and sports enthusiasts who demand the best performing, name brand products at reasonable prices."BaseballSavings.com™ is extremely proud to be the title sponsor of this successful historical event," said Brad Wolansky, CEO of BaseballSavings.com™. "The Baseball Savings family is passionate about baseball and committed to offering high performing, quality products to players and fans alike who share our love of the game!"

2011 marks the 77th year of the National Baseball Congress World Series dating back to 1935 when Raymond “Hap” Dumont, then a Wichita sporting goods salesman, offered Satchel Paige $1,000 to bring his team to Wichita and compete in the first ever NBC World Series. The BaseballSavings.com™ 76th Annual NBC World Series crowned the Liberal (KS) Bee Jays as the National Champions on August 13th of 2010 at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.

For more information on the BaseballSavings.com™ 77th Annual National Baseball Congress World Series contact Casey Walkup, NBC Operations Manager, at casey@wichitawingnuts.com or for tickets call 316-264-6887. Find the NBC on the web at www.nbcbaseball.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nbcbaseball.

About Redcats USA
Redcats USA is a dynamic, multi-channel, web-driven home-shopping leader, with numerous successful brands in its portfolio: AVENUE®, Woman Within®, Jessica London®, Roaman's®, KingSize®, and BrylaneHome® sold on OneStopPlus.com®, The Sportsman's Guide®, The Golf Warehouse™ and BaseballSavings.com™. Redcats USA offers a wide range of value and quality driven merchandise categories, including men's and women's plus-size apparel, home and lifestyle products, and sporting goods/outdoor gear. Redcats USA is a Redcats company.

Top Performers From The 2010 Season--Travis Jankowski

My next Top Performer from the 2010 summer season is Travis Jankowski of the Marion Bobcats and of the Bourne Braves. Travis is a Sophomore outfielder from Stony Brook University. He is 6-2/.180 pounds and hails from Lancaster, PA.  He started this past summer playing for the Marion Bobcats of the KIT League, and he ended the season  by playing for the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod League.

Travis was simply the best player in the KIT League this summer. In fact, I've been told that he was "head and shoulders better than anyone else in the league." He hit a remarkable .484/.641/.607 in 128 at-bats. He led the league in all three of the previous offensive categories. He had 62 hits, 14 of those were doubles and he hit 2 home runs for the Bobcats. He scored 42 runs, drove in 28 and he led the league with 45 stolen bases. He also had an unbelievable bb/k ratio of 35/10 this summer. Travis was also selected to participate in the KIT League All-Star Game. This is what Marion Bobcats General Manager Gordon Guess has said about Travis:

"He's a pro in the making," Guess added. "No question."

As the Bobcats season was winding down, Travis was signed by the Bourne Braves. In limited action with the Braves, he faired very well. He hit .346/.365/.414 in 26 at-bats. He scored 5 runs and hit 1 double for the Braves. He also stole 6 bases for Bourne. In the playoffs, Travis hit .200 and scored 1 run.

Silver Spring/Takoma Park Thunderbolts Announce Signing of Assistant Coach

From the Thunderbolts
The Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts announce the hiring of Jason Walck, an assistant coach at the University of South Carolina Aiken, as head coach for the 2011 season. Walck was the Thunderbolts' head coach during our 2009 campaign and help guide the Thunderbolts to a playoff berth that season.

Top Performers From 2010--Anthony Ranaudo

My next Top Performer from the 2010 Summer Season is Anthony Ranaudo of the Brewster Whitecaps and formerly from Louisiana State University. Anthony is a big 6-7/240 pound RHP from Jackson, New Jersey. Coming into the 2010 regular season, Anthony was by all accounts, the 2nd best pro-prospect in College Baseball. He hurt his elbow in his first start of the season, and then ultimately missed a month for LSU. He had a subpar 2010, thus causing him to fall in the draft. The Boston Red Sox then scooped him up with the 39th overall pick, and he signed for roughly $2.5 million dollars.

After having a disappointing regular season at LSU, Anthony came to the Cape Cod League to shine. Shine is exactly what he did. In five starts, he went a perfect 3-0 and had a perfect ERA of 0.00. He allowed just 10 hits in his 29.2 innings pitched. He he had a bb/k ratio of 8/31 and he held opponents to a .103 batting average.

He was ranked as the best prospect in the league by Baseball America and as the #3 prospect by Perfect Game. The following is from the Baseball America summer scouting report on Anthony:

Ranaudo entered the year as the top pitching prospect for the 2010 draft. Then he came down with a stress reaction in his elbow after his first start, missed a month and struggled with his command and mechanics when he returned. He went 5-3, 7.32 for Louisiana State and slipped to the 39th overall pick.

Ranaudo joined Brewster in hopes of getting back on track and did exactly that, allowing no earned runs in 30 innings over five starts. The 6-foot-7, 230-pounder operated at 92-94 mph with his fastball and worked down in the zone with his heater and curveball, a plus pitch at times. He signed with the Red Sox for $2.55 million at the signing deadline.

"In his last start, he was easily the best pitcher I saw on the Cape," an American League scouting director said. "He was up to 95, sitting at 94-95 in the sixth inning, and he stayed on top of his curveball. It was as good as he's ever been."

Here is a game by game breakdown of his summer season with the Whitecaps.

Date	Dec	INP	R/ER	Hits	Walks	K’s
July 15	W	6	1/0	3	1	9
July 8	ND	6	0	0	4	6
July 2	W	7	0	5	1	5
June 26	ND	6.2	0	1	1	8
June 20	W	4	1/0	1	1	3

Nivins, fellow Cats take home Northwoods League awards

From the TB News Watch
There weren’t too many balls OF Tanner Nivins couldn’t track down in the Border Cats outfield, and his prowess with the leather didn’t go unnoticed.

The Kitchener native, who finished the 2010 season with a.991 fielding percentage, on Thursday was named a winner of a Rawlings Finest in the Field Award, recognized as one of the top three fielding outfielders in the Northwoods League.

Read the rest of this article here.

Dawgs cut it in Arizona and classroom

From the Western Wheel
The Okotoks Junior Dawgs have proven there’s more to Canada than just hockey sticks and curling rocks as this country also produces some quality boys of summer.

The Jr. Dawgs became the first Canadian team to win the Senior Fall Classic in Peoria, AZ on Oct. 10 when they beat the Arizona Athletics (Black) 6-3 in the final.

“This is definitely big for our program,” Dawgs coach Brett Thomas said from Arizona last week.

“It’s just good for baseball in Canada in general. It will help us in terms of getting our name out there and letting people realize that we can compete at this level, whether we are playing teams from Canada or the United States.”  Read the rest of this article here.

NYCBL: Dawgs bringing Gooden back to Little Falls

From the Herkimer Telegram
Almost three decades later, Dwight Gooden is coming back to Little Falls.

The former New York Mets and New York Yankees star will be the featured speaker at the Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs’ annual Hall of Fame dinner banquet in January. Tickets for the event went on sale Thursday to coincide with general manager Travis Heiser’s announcement that Gooden would follow Tommy John and Howard Johnson as the dinner’s keynote speaker.

Gooden, a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher, won 194 Major League games over parts of 16 seasons in the 1980s and 90s with the Mets, Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He was the National League’s Cy Young Award winner as a 20-year-old when he won 24 games in 1985 and helped the Mets win the World Series the following season.

Read the rest of this article here.

Top Performers From 2010--Andy Mee

My next Top Performer from the 2010 Summer Season is Andy Mee (photo is courtesy of 49th State Hardball) of the Mat-Su Miners by way of Florida Atlantic University. Andy is a Senior OF/P from Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

Andy had a great summer for the #8 ranked Mat-Su Miners of the Alaska Baseball League. He hit .353/.520/.409 in 173 at-bats. He smacked 18 doubles, hit 4 triples and hit 1 home run this summer. He scored 32 runs, led the league with 37 rbi's and had a great bb/k ratio of 16/13 this summer. Playing in a very talented league, Andy proved to be one of the best players in the league.

For his outstanding play, he was named the 21st best prospect in the league by Perfect Game. One scout that is very familiar with his play told me this:

"Andy is just a solid baseball player. He has a great arm and has excellent baseball instincts. He is a joy to watch play."

Of all the summer collegiate leagues out there, the ABL is the most difficult one for me to follow. Much of this is due to their website and the lack of press releases finding their way to my email account. With that being said, I defer to the great blog 49th State Hardball.  Here is their scouting report on Andy, and needless to say, they really enjoy watching him play.

Sweets Sign First Players for 2011 Season

From the Walla Walla Sweets
WALLA WALLA, Wa. – The Walla Walla Sweets have signed a duo from the University of Hawaii as their first players for the 2011 West Coast League season. Trent Allianic, a 6’0”, 195 lb. right-handed pitcher, and Kelani Brackenridge, a 5’10”, 175 lb. outfielder, are the first to commit to playing baseball in Walla Walla next summer.

Allianic, a sophomore, made five appearances last season for the Western Athletic Conference Champions. He also spent the summer prior to entering college playing in the Northwoods League. In 2008, Allianic led his Kaua‘i High School team to the Hawaii State Championship and received All-State Honorable Mention recognition for his efforts. He also led his high school football team to the conference championship from 2007 through 2009. “We’re looking forward to having Trent with us this summer,” said Sweets Manager, J.C. Biagi. “He’s a accomplished pitcher who is only getting better as he matures with age.” Allianic will be under the guidance of Sweets’ pitching coach Mark Michaud, entering his second season with the club.

Brackenridge, also a sophomore, was drafted in the 44th round of the Major League Baseball amateur draft by the Tampa Bay Rays, but passed up a chance to play professionally to further his education and play collegiately at Hawaii. He made 17 appearances throughout his freshman season, including seven starts for Rainbow Warriors. Brackenridge’s father, Lyle, played for the Minnesota Twins and his older brother, Tyron, plays for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. “Kelani is a heck of an athlete,” Biagi added about Brackenridge. “He is going to be a tremendous addition to our program.”

Hawaii finished with a record of 35-28 last spring and defeated Fresno State, the 2008 National Champions, in the WAC Championship series. The win sent Hawaii to the NCAA Tournament, where both Allianic and Brackenridge made appearances in the four game regional series. Hawaii eventually lost to #1 ranked Arizona State in the Tempe Regional championship game. Hawaii starts their season with a four game series at home against Oregon on February 18, 2011.

About the Walla Walla Sweets:
Walla Walla Sweets is a professionally operated baseball club in the West Coast League. It is led by a group of civic-minded individuals with strong ties to the Walla Walla region and to the game of baseball. The Walla Walla Sweets will strive to provide their fans, sponsors, business partners, and investors with the very best in competitive baseball and entertainment, including atmosphere, comfort, food & beverage, safety, competition, fun and value. For more information, please visit www.wallawallasweets.com.

CONTACT:
Brett Axelrod
Walla Walla Sweets
E: brett@wallawallasweets.com
P: 509.522.2255

Northwoods Announces Rawlings ‘Finest in the Field’ Award Winners for 2010

From the Northwoods League
The Northwoods League has announced the recipients of the 2010 Rawlings 'Finest in the Field' Award. The annual award recognizes the top fielders at each position. The winners are selected based on final fielding statistics compiled by league statistician Pointstreak, a Vancouver, British Columbia based sports statistical service company. The 2010 Rawlings Finest in the Field Award recipients and their field percentages are below.  Read the rest of the article here.

Steed to Return to Thunder Bay in 2011

From the Northwoods League
The Thunder Bay Border Cats are pleased to announce that Mike Steed will return as field manager for the 2011 Northwoods League season.

The 40 year old native of Burlington, Ontario, Canada will be entering his third year with the team after serving as an assistant coach under manager Joel Barta during the 2009 season.

Steed guided the Border Cats to a 31-38 record last season including a 20-15 mark at home. After embarking on a franchise record 12 game road trip in July, the Cats finished strong going 8-4 in their final 12 games. Under Steed's guidance, Thunder Bay also sent a league high six players to the 2010 NWL All Star Game.

The former left-handed pitcher played his collegiate baseball in Oklahoma at both Northeastern AM College (JUCO), and Northeastern State University.

Kelso HS Alum Returns Home to Cowlitz Black Bears

From the Cowlitz Black Bears
PRESS RELEASE: Longview-Kelso, Washington, Tuesday, October 18, 2010: Todd Naskedov will return to the Cowlitz Black Bears coaching staff for the 2011 season. He’ll assist head coach Bryson LeBlanc and work primarily with the pitching staff. Naskedov graduated from Kelso High School in 1994.

Naskedov handles the Black Bears pitching staff, coordinates practices, directs youth camps, and aids in recruiting. “Todd knows the game, he’s a huge asset to the pitching staff, and his contacts with USA Baseball mean more top college players playing for our club,” said Black Bears general manager Grant Wilson in making the announcement. “Plus he gets to come home for the summer and continue to give back to the community.”

Prior to joining the Black Bears, Naskedov was the head coach at Amphitheater High School in Tucson, where his Panthers reached the State Playoffs in four of his six years, including a runner-up finish in 2006. Naskedov was named Arizona 4A Coach of the Year in 2007 by the Arizona Baseball Coaches Association, and Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2007 by both the Arizona Daily Star and the Tucson Citizen.

In addition to his high school and college coaching, Naskedov joined Major League Baseball as an International Envoy Coach, travelling abroad to teach baseball. He has also spent six years working for USA Baseball, serving as a coach on the trials staff for the 16U team that won a gold medal in 2007.

“I’m excited to return home with the Black Bears,” commented Naskedov. “I know what a great summer my family and I had last year, and I’m looking forward to the fans filling the new Story Field again.”

2011 Cowlitz Black Bears Season Tickets are available by calling (360) 703-3195 or please visit us on-line at www.cowlitzblackbears.com

The Black Bears are members of the West Coast League, a ten-team, professional style wood-bat summer college league. The WCL features pro prospects from major conferences across the country. More than 100 WCL alums are playing affiliated professional baseball this season, and 12 ex-WCL stars are now playing in the Major Leagues. For more information on the league, visit www.westcoastleague.com.

MEDIA AND SALES CONTACT:
Grant Wilson
General Manager
(360) 703-3195
gwilson@cowlitzblackbears.com

HiToms Hire Curtis as General Manager

From the Thomasville HiToms
High Point/Thomasville, N.C. - The HiToms announced today the hiring of Jamie Curtis as their new General Manager. Curtis comes to High Point/Thomasville after spending the last three years as Assistant General Manager of the Coastal Plain League’s Gastonia Grizzlies.

“I enjoyed my time in Gastonia,” Curtis said. “I worked with some amazing people and gained a lot of insight about the business of baseball which I will carry with me into this job.”

During her time in Gastonia, the Grizzlies broke the franchise attendance record each year. Curtis was heavily involved in all aspects of baseball operations for the Grizzlies.

“Curtis has the experience and pedigree necessary for our organization to continue its growth,” HiToms President Greg Suire said. “Jamie’s passion for baseball and her knowledge of the industry will provide us with the leadership ingredients necessary to continue our expansion of area baseball opportunities.”

A graduate of North Carolina State, Curtis started her career in baseball in 2001 with the South Atlantic League’s Kannapolis Intimidators. Following a two-season stint with the Intimidators, Curtis joined the Durham Bulls staff for the 2005 season as a box office assistant and on-field promotions coordinator. Spending one-year with the Bulls, Curtis then joined the Gastonia Grizzlies of the Coastal Plain League as the marketing and promotions intern and then spent 2007 in the Coastal Plain League office.

“I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to work for such a great organization,” Curtis said. “The HiToms are a staple in the High Point/Thomasville area and in the Coastal Plain League. Greg is truly passionate about the game of baseball, youth development and this community. I can’t help but be excited about being a part of it all!”

The HiToms are a member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Heading into its 15th season, the Coastal Plain League features 15 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. Furthermore, the CPL has had over 800 alumni drafted and 39 alums make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastaplain.com.

Former Mavs Pitcher signs with LA Dodgers

From the Medicine Hat Mavericks
October 20, 2010--Brant Stickel (Veteran, Alberta) has taken the next step to furthering his chances at becoming a Major League pitcher. Stickel, a left handed pitcher, played for the Mavericks in 2009 seeing time as both a starter and relief pitcher.  Read the rest of this article here.

Coastal Plain League Releases 2011 Schedule

From the Coastal Plain League
The Coastal Plain League announced today its schedule for the 2011 season. Now heading into its 15th season, the CPL features 15 teams across North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

The regular season starts on Tuesday, May 31st and runs through Tuesday, August 2nd. The league’s annual All-Star Fan Fest and All-Star Game will be on July 17th and 18th. The location of the 2011 CPL All-Star Game will be announced soon.

The 15 teams will be broken into three divisions (North, South and West) - just like a year ago. The North will be comprised of the Edenton Steamers, the Outer Banks Daredevils, the Peninsula Pilots and the Petersburg Generals and the Wilson Tobs. Meanwhile, the South will feature the Columbia Blowfish, Fayetteville SwampDogs, Florence RedWolves, Morehead City Marlins and Wilmington Sharks. Finally, the West will be made up of the Asheboro Copperheads, the Forest City Owls, the Gastonia Grizzlies, the Martinsville Mustangs and the Thomasville HiToms.

All together, each team will play a 56-game schedule, with a large concentration on divisional games. In addition, the schedule will remain a split-format one, with 28 games per club in the first half and another 28 in the second half.

The Petitt Cup Playoffs will consist of three rounds beginning on August 4th and running through August 14th. The Playoffs will be comprised of three rounds, each featuring best-of-three series. In all, eight CPL teams will make the postseason, including three first half and second half champions, and the remainder entering as at-large bids.

Seeding will be based on overall winning percentage at the end of the season with the team with the best winning percentage earning the top seed and so forth. The lower seed in each series will host game one, while the higher seed will host game two and three (if necessary) in each round.

After the first round, the four remaining teams will match-up based on seeds, so if the top four seeds all advance to the second round, then the series would be No.1 vs. No.4 and No.2 vs. No.3. The two winners of those second round series will advance to the Petitt Cup Championship Series with the same rules applying as in the second round. The team winning two games in this series will be crowned the 2011 Coastal Plain League Petitt Cup Champion.

The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Heading into its 15th season, the Coastal Plain League features 15 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. Furthermore, the CPL has had over 800 alumni drafted and 39 alums make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league Web site at http://www.coastalplain.com.

West Coast League All-Star Game to return in 2011 at Goss Stadium, the home of the Corvallis Knights

From the West Coast League
Portland, Oregon, Tuesday, October 19, 2010 - The West Coast League All-Star Game is back. After a two-season hiatus, the 2011 WCL All-Star Game will be held at Goss Stadium in Corvallis, Oregon on Tuesday, July 26th.

"Our owners decided to reinstate this great showcase event," said WCL president Ken Wilson in making the announcement. "It's terrific for our players, and the fans in Corvallis are deserving of an event of this magnitude."

The West Coast League previously held All-Star Games in Wenatchee (2006), Bellingham (2007) and Moses Lake (2008). Corvallis was selected as the site of the 2011 game after community-wide support from a broad base of leaders, led by Corvallis Mayor Charles Tomlinson, a Knights' season ticket holder since the team moved to Corvallis in 2007.

"We are absolutely thrilled to be awarded the West Coast League All-Star Game," said Corvallis Knights team president Dan Segel. "This is a special opportunity to bring together the best of the WCL, and bring community together, and it's an opportunity to showcase our fine city and its surrounding areas."

A home run derby featuring the WCL's top sluggers will be held prior to the game. Immediately following the All-Star Game fans will enjoy a spectacular fireworks show.

Tickets for the 2011 WCL All-Star Game go on sale next week. To order, contact the Corvallis Knights by calling 541-752-5656 or emailing tickets@corvallisknights.com.

Top Performers From 2010--Tyler Fisher

My next Top Performer from the 2010 summer season is Tyler Fisher of the Allegany County Nitros. Tyler is currently a Senior outfielder from Georgetown College in Kentucky. Tyler is 6-3/215 pounds and hails from Kokomo, Indiana. He transfered to Georgetown College from Cumberland (TN) University.

Tyler really made a name for himself this summer as a member of the (22-17)Allegany County Nitros. He hit .366/.577/.436 in 142 at-bats for the Nitros. He scored 30 runs and knocked in 25 during the summer. He hit 15 doubles, smacked 5 home runs and stole 4 bases as well. He had a bb/k ratio of 10/14 as well.  He was solid in the field, as he had a .965 fielding percentage.

For his outstanding play, Tyler was named the Player of the Year in the NYCBL. He was also named to the First-Team All NYCBL list. One opposing coach said this about Tyler:

"He is a great player, a tough-out, and a clutch-hitter. He was one of the best hitters we faced this summer."

Here is a statistical breakdown of Tyler's summer season:

• .366 AVG (2nd in league)
• .577 SLG (1st in league)
• .436 OBA (4th in league)
• 52 Hits (4th in league)
• 30 Runs (5th in league)
• 25 RBI's
• 15 Doubles (2nd in league)
• 5 Home Runs (tied for 5th in league)
• 4 Stolen Bases
• .965 FLD %