CrackerJacks sign three from Binghamton University

From the Midwest Collegiate Baseball League
CrackerJacks have announced the signing of three players from Binghamton University. Outfielder Shaun McGraw, middle infielder Daniel Nevares, and pitcher Jack Rogalla of the Bearcats baseball team will join the CrackerJacks for the 2012 Midwest Collegiate League season.

Rebyanski To Return!

From the Butler Blue Sox
The Butler BlueSox, who enter their fourth season as a member of the Prospect League, announce that 2011 field manager Anthony Rebyanski will return for the 2012 season.

“I want to thank the ownership group for asking me to return for the 2012 season,” said Rebyanski.

Watertown Wizards Under New Ownership

From the PGCBL and John McGraw
The Watertown Wizards of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League will be under new leadership for the 2012 summer baseball season. It was announced at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon in Watertown that former owner Paul Simmons has sold the team to a new ownership group consisting of area residents Todd Kirkey, Kristine Czajkowski and Joe Vaadi.

Outfielders Returning for 2012 Season

From the Walla Walla Sweets
WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Two more players from the 2011 West Coast League East Division Championship team have signed contracts to return to Walla Walla for their second seasons of WCL baseball. Outfielders Chance Kopacz and Brett Jacobs, both regional products, will stay local for the second consecutive year of summer baseball.

Four Questions With Jason Monda

Jason Monda is an outfielder for Washington State University. He spent this summer playing for the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod League. He placed fifth in the league with a .333 batting average for Brewster. He scored 13 runs, knocked in 16 and he hit 4 triples. He also walked 8 times this summer.  He was selected to play in the All-Star Game, where he had 1 run batted in. For his play this summer, Baseball America ranked him as the 14th best prospect in the league, while Perfect Game ranked him as the 24th best prospect.

Superintendent: School Department Knew Baseball Field Would Cost More Than $500,000

From the Groton Patch
Superintendent Paul Kadri said Monday he knew the baseball field improvements at Fitch High School would cost more than the $500,000 from an anonymous donor, and he took a calculated risk in going forward.

Kadri told a packed Board of Education meeting that bids for the project came in well over the donated amount, but he had to build the field to meet the requirements of the New England Collegiate Baseball League.

2011 Top Performer---Andrew Garner

Andrew Garner
Danbury Westerners of the NECBL
Tulane University
Sophomore
Outfielder

New baseball team to call Victoria home

From the Times Colonist
The crack of a bat and aroma of hot dogs could again fill spring and summer nights at Royal Athletic Park.

The West Coast League, a baseball circuit established in 2005 and featuring top U.S. collegiate NCAA players in wood-bat ball, is considering a move to Victoria beginning in 2013.

2011 Top Performer---Marshall Dean

Marshall Dean
Moose Jaw Miller Express of the Western Major Baseball League
University of Central Missouri
Junior
Pitcher

Four Questions With Ryan Brenner

Ryan Brenner is currently a senior outfielder from Miami of Ohio. He spent this summer patrolling the outfield for the Edenton Steamers of the Coastal Plain League. He hit .286, was second in the league with 45 runs scored and he knocked in 22 runs. He was widely regarded as one of the fastest players in the league, and that's evident by him leading the league with 35 stolen bases.

Play ball: City seeking new team

From the Berkshire Eagle
PITTSFIELD -- Less than a month after the Canadian-American League revoked the Pittsfield Colonials’ charter, the city is soliciting interest from groups that are interested in bringing either professional or amateur baseball back to Wahconah Park for 2012.

The city sent out a request for proposal, or RFP, on Monday that asks prospective ownership groups to provide information to use Pittsfield’s historic baseball park for at least two years, with an option to renew for three additional seasons.

Knights baseball: Corvallis will go to online ticketing in 2012

From the Gazette Times
Knights add online ticket-buying option

Corvallis Gazette-Times

The Corvallis Knights are teaming up with Glitnir Ticketing of Hicksville, N.Y., to provide an online ticketing option for next year’s games.

Top 20 Pitchers in the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League

The Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League is currently a 12-team league comprised of 3 divisions. The league is expected to grow by two teams for the 2012 summer season. The Staten Island Tide capped off a great postseason run winning by the 2011 ACBL title.

2011 Top Performer---Mark Bordonaro

Mark Bordonaro
Mystic Schooners of the New England Collegiate Baseball League
Fairfield University
Pitcher
Junior

Veteran SwampDog Returns as Assistant Coach for 2012

From the Fayetteville Swampdogs
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Fayetteville SwampDogs announced today the final addition to the 2012 coaching staff. Three-year player and local standout Ben Moore will don the SwampDogs pinstripes once again – this time in a new role.

As a SwampDog, Moore was best described as the team comedian off the field and a bulldog on the mound. Never did a road trip go by without him making teammates laugh. Never did an appearance on the mound go by without the grit and toughness of a champion. At only 5'9" 165 pounds, Ben Moore personified courage.

Bombers Win Summer Ball Conference Award for Second Consecutive Year

From KBTX.com
For the second consecutive year, the Brazos Valley Bombers return from Summer Ball Conference as proud award-winners. The team received the “Best Ticket Sales Campaign” award at the Summer Baseball Conference ‘11 Awards Gala Presented by Baseball America over the weekend in Nashville, TN. The Bombers had a season-long campaign of bobbleheads including Angry Birds, Texas A&M women’s basketball head coach Gary Blair, TexAgs front man Billy Liucci, and Candy 95 personality Alli.

Hustlers name 2012 coaching staff

From the Lexington Hustlers
LEXINGTON, Ky.- The Lexington Hustlers have named part of its coaching staff for the upcoming summer. Kyle Medley will be the head coach of the team and Taylor Brooks will be the head assistant.

Bandits Name Betterly As New Skipper

From the Woodstock River Bandits
The Woodstock River Bandits announced Wednesday that they have hired Phil Betterly as their coach for the 2012 season.

Betterly, who is an assistant coach at Frostburg (Md.) State University, comes to Woodstock after spending the summer of 2011 as an assistant coach for the Florence Red Wolves of the Coastal Plains League.

Billen and Hawk First to Re-sign with Sweets

From the Walla Walla Sweets
WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The first players for the 2012 season have signed with the Walla Walla Sweets. Tyler Billen, a 6-foot 4-inch pitcher, and Kevin Hawk, a 6-foot 1-inch catcher, both members of the 2011 team, will return to Walla Walla for another summer of West Coast League baseball.

Newly Built Fitch Baseball Field Has Error

From the Groton Patch
One of the dugouts at the newly designed baseball field at Fitch High School must be pulled up and moved 12 feet because it blocks the view of left field from the press box.

The project is also $74,000 over budget. The school department received a $500,000 commitment from an anonymous donor late last year to improve the field, including installing dugouts and a press box to accommodate the New England Collegiate Baseball League team, The Mystic Schooners.

West Coast League Record Book Rewritten During 2011 Season

From the WCL
Records are made to be broken, and they certainly were during the 2011 West Coast League season, as 30 new individual and team marks were set. Cole Norton (St. Marys) of the Kitsap BlueJackets became the first player in WCL history to play in 54 games, as the league expanded the schedule to 54-games in 2011. The Bend Elks' Tyler Christian (San Jose State) set a new single season record with 23 extra base hits. Right-hander Owen Jones (Portland) of the Wenatchee AppleSox became the first WCL hurler to ever win 7 games.

Grizzlies “Great Community Give Back Game” Wins Best Promotion

From the CPL
The Gastonia Grizzlies “Great Community Give Back Game” has been named the Best Promotion in all of college summer baseball at the third annual Summer Ball Conference.

Over 15 leagues attended the 2011 Summer Ball Conference. The Grizzlies “Great Community Give Back Game” was a unanimous choice by the Summer Ball Conference Committee. This was the second awards gala of its kind for college summer baseball which has a total of over 400 teams. This marks the second straight year the Grizzlies have won best promotion as in 2010, the Grizzlies “Midnight Madness” took the honor.

2011 Top Performer---Jimmy Litchfield

Jimmy Litchfield
Walla Walla Sweets of the West Coast League
University of California at Irvine
Sophomore
Pitcher

WCL Notebook: Matz hires assistant from Santa Ana

From TDN.com
When Cowlitz Black Bears head coach Tim Matz began searching for an assistant coach, he didn't have to look beyond the bench at Santa Ana College in California.

Matz, an assistant coach at Santa Ana College, hired Santa Ana assistant Aaron Butler to serve as his assistant for the 2012 season.

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 seventh 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.

2011 Top Performer--Andrew Knapp

Andrew Knapp
La Crosse Loggers of the Northwoods League
University of California
Sophomore
Catcher

Mavericks Resign Hissa

From Press Release
The Seacoast Mavericks have re-signed University of Notre Dame pitcher Donnie Hissa for the 2012 Futures Collegiate Baseball League season.

Kamieniecki to be Inducted into Cape Cod Baseball Hall of Fame

Scott Kamieniecki

From the University of Michigan
CHATHAM, Mass. -- University of Michigan baseball alumnus Scott Kamieniecki (1983-86) will be one of eight individuals enshrined into the Cape Cod Baseball Hall of Fame on Nov. 19. He joins Mike Lowell, David Bush, Doug Fisher, Paul O'Neil, Mark E. Smith, Eric Wedge and Bill Wissler in the 2011 induction class.

2011 Top Performer---Ryan Stephens

Ryan Stephens
Owensboro Oilers of the Ohio Valley League
Middle Tennessee State University
Sophomore
Outfielder

Whitehouse Briefing: Fall 2011

From the NECBL and Don Leypoldt
2011 brought yet another terrific summer to the NECBL. A summer full of good baseball played by good kids. Yet as the leaves turn in New England, and Patriots and Bruins usurp the headlines usually reserved for the Red Sox, it’s easy for those 2011 memories to start to fade.

So what does happen when the NECBL boys of summer go home? Vermont Mountaineer lefty Matt Whitehouse has agreed to let us tag along with him as he heads back to Southern California, and looks forward to playing the 2012 spring season with one of the country’s marquee programs.

Four Questions With Martin Agosta

Martin Agosta is a highly-talented Junior pitcher from Saint Mary's College. He spent this past summer pitching for the Bethesda Big Train of the Cal Ripken League. He went 4-0 and had a 0.99 era in 27.1 innings of work. He allowed just 16 hits, walked just 3 batters and he fanned 30 this summer. I ranked Martin as the 9th best pitcher in the Cal Ripken League this summer.

BlueJackets sign local players Baumgartner, Smith and Jewett

From the Kitsap Sun
The Kitsap BlueJackets could have a hometown flavor next summer.

Tyler Baumgartner, Andy Smith and Daniel Jewett are among the 25 players who have returned contracts to Ryan Parker, the first-year coach of the West Coast League franchise.

2011 Top Performer---Matt Jacobs

Matt Jacobs
Nashua Silver Knights of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League
UMASS Lowell
Senior
Pitcher

Honkers Announce Coaching Staff for 2012

From the Rochester Honkers
The Rochester Honkers Baseball Club announced today the hiring of Zach Etheredge, Volunteer Assistant from the University of California at Santa Barbara as their new field manager for the 2012 season. Etheredge, a former farmhand with the Chicago White Sox, becomes the Honkers 11th Field Manager since their inaugural season of 1994. He brings with him JR Voyles, who spent time with the NY Mets organization.

OVL President comments on 2011 Season

From Press Release
The inaugural season of the OVL turned out to be a real dandy! The teams provided the fans with an extremely interesting and competitive race with each team leading the league at different times. Three teams were still in the running for the league title with less than 4 days remaining in the schedule. It was finally settled when Owensboro won the league title, only to fall to Fulton in the post season playoff. Rain outs played a large role in scheduling as the area rainy season played havoc with promotions and pitchers arms.

Former Bend Elks' Star Is American League Comeback Player Of The Year

From the WCL
Boston Red Sox star outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who played for the Bend Elks, is the American League Comeback Player for 2011. Ellsbury, who played at Oregon State, hit .321 with 32 home runs and 105 RBIs.

Gems Add Assistant General Manager to Fold

From the Klamath Falls Gems
KLAMATH FALLS, OR – The Klamath Falls Gems today announced the addition of Dan Heeman to the Gems’ full-time staff as Assistant General Manager. Heeman, 29, joins the team after three years on the operations staff of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox at the Camelback Ranch spring training facility in Glendale, Arizona.

Knights baseball: Johnson, Beatty to return in 2012

From the Gazette Times
Two 2011 West Coast League all-star pitchers and another veteran highlight the latest signees for the 2012 Corvallis Knights.

Portland junior Chris Johnson, who won the team's Top Pitcher award, and Pacific Lutheran senior Max Beatty will return to the team in 2012, Knights' president Dan Segel announced Wednesday.

Buscher Named New Blowfish Head Coach

From the CPL
Wednesday’s Media Luncheon to welcome the new Blowfish Head Coach, Brian Buscher could not have gone any better as his old coach from USC, Ray Tanner, introduced him to the local media and fans in attendance in the Pepsi Stadium Club at Historic Capital City Stadium.

2011 Top Performer--Steve Kuligowski

Steve Kuligowski
Nevada Griffons of the MINK League
North Park University
Senior
Pitcher

CPL Alums – Verlander, Kelly, Dirks – Playing Big Roles for Tigers

From the CPL
Three Coastal Plain League alums – Justin Verlander, Don Kelly and Andy Dirks – (pictured L-R, courtesy of the Detroit Tigers/MLB Pressbox) have factored into the success of the Detroit Tigers in 2011, helping lead them to the American League Championship Series.

Stingers re-sign eight players

From the West Central Tribune
WILLMAR — The Willmar Stingers season opener is still 7½ months away but they have already begun constructing their roster for the 2012 season.

The team announced Wednesday that eight players from the 2011 team that finished 39-31 will be returning for 2012.

Nate Theunissen Earns Rawlings "Big Stick" Award

From Press Release
MOUNT PLEASANT - Senior Nate Theunissen of the Central Michigan baseball program was named the winner of the Rawlings Big Stick Award for first basemen of the Northwoods League Monday.

Theunissen, who played for Madison Mallard of the summer league over the summer, posted the best batting average of any first basemen with an average of .325.

NWL has a Strong Presence in Arizona Fall League

From the Northwoods League
(PHOENIX, AZ) Seventeen Northwoods League alumni are spending the next several weeks in the Arizona Fall League, often one of the stepping stones to a career in Major League Baseball. The list of 17 includes one current Major Leaguer, one former first-round draft choice and two umpires.

Blowfish Add First-Ever Scouting Department

From the CPL
The Columbia Blowfish are charting new territory this off-season by adding the very first team-operated scouting and recruiting department in the Coastal Plain League. Further, this also appears to be a first in collegiate summer baseball nationally as well.

ACBL returns to Allentown and Trenton

From the ACBL
The ACBL plans to return to Allentown and Trenton for the 2012 season. The Allentown Railers and Trenton Generals were recently added to the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League. The expansion teams will join the Jersey Pilots, Lehigh Valley Catz, North Jersey Eagles and Quakertown Blazers in the Wolff Division.

Cane Cutters News

From the Acadiana Cane Cutters
The Acadiana Cane Cutters are pleased to announce that Head Coach Lonny Landry will be returning to coach the team in its second season in 2012. After an impressive inaugural season, where the Cane Cutters came in second in the first half which locked up a playoff berth, and won 29 regular season games, Landry will again lead the Texas Collegiate League team in the 2012 season. Individually, 5 Cane Cutters were selected as All-Stars, including shortstop Brett Thornell of Texas A&M, catcher Grant Dozar of LSU, outfielder/pitcher Josh Burris of LSUE, outfielder Andrew Miller of Alabama, and outfielder Mike Barba of Nicholls State.

2011 Top Performer--Taylor Williams

Taylor Williams
Keene Swamp Bats of the New England Collegiate Baseball League
Washington State University
Pitcher

Great Lakes League Announces Expansion

From the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League
DELAWARE, Ohio – At the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League’s (GLSCL) annual league meeting, the Dayton Docs were accepted as the newest member of the league. The Docs will be lead by Joe Marker and are set to play a 22-game home schedule at the beautiful Nischwitz Stadium, home field of the Wright State Raiders Collegiate Baseball Team.

Four Questions With Craig LeJeune

Craig LeJeune is a junior right-hander from George Washington University. He spent this summer pitching for the  Utica Brewers of the New York Collegiate Baseball League. He had a 1.00 era in 18 innings of work. He allowed 18 hits, walked just 1 batter and he fanned 16 this summer.