Ironmen release schedule, praise FirstEnergy name

From the Morning Journal
LORAIN — The Lorain County Ironmen, Lorain and FirstEnergy Solutions announced the Prospect League baseball team’s schedule as part of a new sponsorship deal with the power company.

FirstEnergy Solutions will become the name sponsor of the Pipe Yard Stadium as part of an eight-year agreement to supply power to six Lorain facilities, including City Hall, 200 W. Erie Ave.

Top 30 Pitchers in the Cape Cod League

As is usually the case in the Cape Cod League, pitching dominated this summer. Most of the pitchers selected had a sub 2.30 ERA.......which is excellent for summer league baseball. Overall, the Falmouth Commodores had the lowest team ERA with a sparkling mark of 2.75 this year and the Chatham Anglers brought up the rear with a 4.45 team era.

2011 another record setting year

From the Okotoks Dawgs
The New Year is just a few days away, officially turning the page to ‘next year’ for the Okotoks Dawgs. 2011 was another tremendous year for the Dawgs program in many different areas, including another increase in attendance for the summer collegiate club.

2012 Signing---Nevin Wilson

One thing that the NECBL has going for them is the Vanderbilt (and SEC) pipeline they have built up. The league has done a great job of signing freshman and sophomore players from Vandy and other big-time SEC schools. This year will be more of the same as the Laconia Muskrats have inked Nevin Wilson for the 2012 summer season.

Former Paints Pitcher Survives Shark Attack

Thanks to the guys over at Top Prospect Alert, I came across this neat story on former Chillicothe Paints pitcher Clayton Schulz. Last year, while surfing, he was attacked by a shark. For those of you familiar with the Prospect League you will know that Clayton was just about the best pitcher in the league this summer and he wound up signing with the Kansas City Royals.

2011 Top Performer---Scott Elitzky

Scott Elitzky
Morganton Aggies of the Southern Collegiate Baseball League
Lander University
Senior
Pitcher

Where are they now- Dan Jurik

From the NYCBL
Jurik the Vestal, NY native was drafted in the 29th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft by the Atlanta Braves. Jurik currently just completed the 2011 season pitching for the Lynchburgh Hillcats of the Class A advanced Carolina League. He posted a 2-3 record to go along with a 3.69 earned run average while striking out sixty-two hitters in over seventy-eight innings of work. Jurik 2011 season included stops at three different minor league levels.

2011 Top Performer---Mitch Rowan

Mitch Rowan
Willmar Stingers of the Northwoods League
Willamette University
Senior
Outfield

2012 Signing---Kyle Fnnegan

Running a summer league team is now a full-time job. Gone are the days of working hard during the summer, then taking the fall, winter and spring off.  As soon the last pitch is thrown, most (good) GM's are already compiling their rosters for the next season.

2011 Top Performer---Ryan Normoyle

Ryan Normoyle
Elmira Pioneers of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League
Washington (MD) College
Senior
SS

Four Questions With Ryan Tezak

Ryan Tezak is a rhp from West Virginia University by way of Hershey, PA. He spent this past summer pitching for the Forest City Owls of the Coastal Plain League. He was one of the most effective relievers in the league as he went 0-1 and had a 2.03 era in 26.2 innings pitched. He appeared in 17 games, allowed 19 hits and fanned 23 this summer.

Mallards Hire Ritsche as Pitching Coach

From the NWL
Madison, WI - The Madison Mallards are pleased to announce the hiring of Keith Ritsche as their pitching coach for the 2012 season. Ritsche comes from Winston-Salem State University where he is in his second year as the pitching coach for the Rams.

"I am always looking for people to work with that have the ability to challenge me as a coach, and I feel that Keith can do that," said Mallards Manager Greg Labbe. "Keith has shown that he can communicate well with his players from the results that he has had at Winston-Salem already, and I can't wait to see what he is capable of doing with the types of pitchers we will have on the roster next summer."

Hounds Sign Three To Team

From the Midwest Collegiate Baseball League
LISLE, IL – The DuPage County Hounds Summer Collegiate Wood Bat Team announced today the signing of three players from the area; left-handed hitter Domenic Biagini of College of DuPage, left-handed pitcher Brett Maus of Triton College, and outfielder Tom Lentine of Ave Maria University.

Top 25 Pitchers in the New York Collegiate Baseball League

It was a season of change in the NYCBL as several of its former teams left to form the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League. The twelve-team league was dominated by the Utica Brewers, Webster Yankees and  Oneonta Outlaws, with the Outlaws winning its first ever NYCBL title.  This summer, the Rome Thunderbolts will relocate and become the Adirondack Trial Blazers and the Olean Oilers will join the league as an expansion team.

Titans sign former Torrington High School star Conor Bierfeldt to contract for 2012

From the Register Citizen
TORRINGTON — The Titans continue to make a commitment to bringing in the best local talent.

Torrington’s Futures Collegiate Baseball League club announced Wednesday that it has signed former Torrington High School and current Western Connecticut State University star Conor Bierfeldt to a contract for the upcoming summer.

Stingers Bring Back Coach Shepple

From the Northwoods League
WILLMAR, MN- The Willmar Stingers of the Northwoods League announced today that pitching coach Tyler Shepple (pictured) will return for his third season with the club. This week the Stingers also announced four additional players to the 2012 team, which now brings the roster to 16 players committed for the upcoming season.

Knights baseball: Corban infielder signed to 10-day contract

From the Gazette Times
The Corvallis Knights announced the signing Thursday of Corban College infielder Marc Gallegos to a 10-day contract.

A 5-foot-10, 170-pound freshman, Gallegos was a first-team 4A all-state selection last spring as a senior at Astoria High.

Logger Sign Tyler Servais

From the Northwoods League
LA CROSSE, WI -- The La Crosse Loggers baseball club announced an addition to their 2012 roster and it's another name that La Crosse area baseball fans are quite familiar with. Tyler Servais, the son of former big league catcher and current Los Angeles Angels assistant general manager Scott Servais, will be dawning the Logger green in 2012.

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.

Stingers Will Return 8 Players in 2012

From the Willmar Stingers
WILLMAR, MN- The Willmar Stingers announced that eight players will be back with the organization during its third season of Northwoods League baseball in Willmar.

Four Questions With John Sheridan

John Sheridan is a junior outfielder from Brown University. He spent this summer patrolling the outfield for the Conejo Oaks of the California Collegiate League. He hit .303 in 119 at- bats for the Oaks. He scored 22 runs, drove in 13 and hit 4 triples this summer. He was also among the team leaders with 15 stolen bases this season.

Lakeway Inn, Bellingham Bells announce sponsorship/partnership agreement

From the Bellingham Bells
The BEST WESTERN PLUS Lakeway Inn & Conference Center in Bellingham will be the host hotel in 2012 for the Bellingham Bells, a collegiate summer baseball team in the West Coast League.

Fernandes brothers will team up with Mavericks

From Seacoast Online
Catcher Zac Fernandes has a couple predictions for the second season of Seacoast Mavericks summer collegiate baseball — one obvious, one less so.

Fernandes, who missed all of last summer while recovering from a hamstring injury, forecasts a better season for the team, which is hardly a stretch. The team was bad on the field (10-33) and struck by tragedy off it, with 20-year-old pitcher Adam Keenan collapsing and dying after the team's first workout.

Redding Colt.45's sign pair of Broncos from UC Santa Clara

From the Colt.45's
After a short stint with the .45's last summer 6'4/215 R/R Catcher Quinton Perry will return for 2012. Perry is a RsSo from Susanville, CA that attented Lassen HS. Quinton is the brother of former Colt.45 firstbaseman Aarason Perry.

Futures League coming to OOB

From the Journal Tribune
OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Don’t consign Dune Doggy to the dog pound, just yet.

And don’t put your Raging Tide shirts and hats away either.

Old Orchard Beach will have a baseball team next year – and possibly beyond – after all.

7TH ANNUAL BUCKS BASEBALL HALL OF FAME BANQUET SET FOR JANUARY 21

From the Waterloo Bucks
Waterloo, IA - The Waterloo Bucks, members of the Northwoods League, have announced that the Seventh Annual Bucks Baseball Hall of Fame Banquet will be held Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 7:00 pm at Beck's Sports Brewery in Waterloo. A chance for the Bucks to honor past Waterloo Buck greats, all proceeds for this event will go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The public is invited to attend with tickets available for $10.

Baltz Named A Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American

Current St. John's outfielder Jeremy Baltz was recently named a Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American. Baltz, a junior spent this past summer playing for the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod League. He hit .321 and led the league with 13 doubles this summer. He also hit .393 in the playoffs. I ranked him as the 6th best player in the Cape this summer. Baseball America ranked him as the 27th best prospect in the league, while Perfect Game has him ranked as the 31st best in the league.  You can view the press release about his selection here.

Where are the now- Greg Holle

From the NYCBL
Former Saratoga Phillies pitcher Greg Holle was selected in the 11th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. The Loudonville, NY native completed the 2011 season playing in the Class A Midwest League. The 6'8 right-handed pitcher played for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Holle finished the season with a 1-4 record while recording 19 saves in 61 innings of work. His 19 saves ranked 3rd in the Midwest league.

2011 Top Performer---Vince Voiro

Vince Voiro
Woodstock River Bandits of the Valley Baseball League
University of Pennsylvania
Senior
Pitcher

Shelter Island Becomes 7th Team To Join Hamptons Collegiate Baseball

From Press Release
On Monday, December 19, the Shelter Island school district voted in favor of adding a seventh team to Hamptons Collegiate Baseball (HCB), which makes up a division of the prestigious Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League. The team, which currently is without a nickname, will begin play in June 2012.

Hobbes to Return as Radio Talent in 2012

From the Walla Walla Sweets
WALLA WALLA, Wash. –Tristan Hobbes will return for his second season as the play-by-play radio broadcaster for the Walla Walla Sweets. Hobbes, a native of Utica, N.Y., quickly became a fan favorite as the on-air voice of the Sweets last season. In addition to working as the radio broadcaster for the Sweets, Tristan will also serve as the manager of media relations.

Sharks Re-Sign Wheaton College Stars

From the FCBL
Vineyard Haven, MA: The Martha's Vineyard Sharks announce two additional re-signings for the 2012 baseball season. 2011 Sharks Eric Jensen and Cory Laliberte, both from Wheaton College, have decided to return their talents to the Island for the 2012 campaign.

Titans Sign Siena University Infielder

From the FCBL
Torrington, Ct: The Torrington Titans are proud to announce the signing of Southbury, Ct native Brian Fay (Siena University) for the 2012 season. Fay attended Pomperaug High School. He is a versatile athlete who can play all four infield positions. He has been an All-Division, All-Conference, and All-State performer at Pomperaug, hitting .397 with two home runs and 24 RBI's his junior year. Fay is expected to compete at both in the infield, and outfield for the Titans in 2012.

Top 25 Pitchers in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League

There were many great pitching performances put up in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League in 2011, but  no one pitcher blew the competition away. To be considered for my list, a pitcher had to pitch in at least 15 innings this summer.

New DiamondDawgs Head Coach

From the Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs
Little Falls, NY – The Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs will have a new face at the helm for the 2012 season. Former professional baseball player Roberto Vaz has been named Head Baseball Coach.

BlueSox Reach New Agreement to Play at Pullman, Announce 2012 Schedule

From the Butler BlueSox
Christmas arrived a few days early for the Butler Community.

The Butler BlueSox and the City of Butler Parks Recreation Grounds and Facilities Authority reached an agreement for the use of Pullman Park. A two-year lease was agreed upon Tuesday afternoon keeping the BlueSox playing ball at Pullman Park through 2013. The team has the option to renew the agreement for the 2014 season.

Black Bears add five pitchers to 2012 staff

From TDN.com
Five pitchers hailing from Cornell, Cal-Riverside and Santa Clara universities have all agreed to join the Cowlitz Black Bears for the 2012 season.

Washington natives Nick Busto and Brian McAfee from Cornell University, Kevin Davidson and Kevin Sprague from Cal Riverside, and Tommy Nance of Santa Clara join returning hurlers Ian Eckery and Kody Watts, along with LCC pitcher Brandon Boyle to comprise the Black Bears' pitching staff.

2012 Northwoods League Schedule Announced

From the Northwoods League
(ROCHESTER, MN) The Northwoods League has announced the complete schedule for the upcoming 2012 regular season, the League’s 19th season of play. For the third consecutive year the Northwoods League will use a 70-game divisional schedule. All teams will play the other seven teams from their division a total of ten times throughout the season.

Four Questions With Joey Cuda

Joey Cuda is a senior pitcher from Eckerd College. He spent this past summer pitching for the Staunton Braves of the Valley Baseball League. In his three starts, he went 2-0 and had a 0.75 era in 12 innings of work. He walked just one batter and he fanned 13 this summer.

Brainerd Out of Northwoods League in 2012

From the Northwoods League
(ROCHESTER, MN) The Northwoods League will be unveiling the 2012 season schedule later today. The regular season campaign will begin on Wednesday, May 30th. But for the first time since 2004 a team in Brainerd, Minnesota won’t be part of the Northwoods League.

NC State's Chris Overman Named Preseason All-America

From WCTI 12
RALEIGH, N.C. - Junior righthander Chris Overman emerged as a dominant force out of the bullpen for NC State in 2011. On Wednesday, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association of America named Overman a 2012 third-team preseason All-American.

Cavemen release 2012 schedule

From Hannibal.net
It’s still a while away, but the Hannibal Cavemen have finalized its 2012 schedule.

The Hannibal Cavemen will begin their fourth season at Clemens Field starting at home on Thursday, May 31, 2012, against the Dubois County Bombers, a team out of Indiana.

Hannibal will play a total of 30 home games in the 2012 season, including six against the rival Quincy Gems.

Top 10 Pitchers in the Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League

In the Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League this summer, my list of top pitchers is dominated by starting pitchers, and right-handed pitchers.

Fitch Ball Field Issues Piling Up

From the Groton Patch
Groton Town Mayor James Streeter says he has questions about why baseball field improvements at Fitch High School cost $140,000 more than an anonymous donor provided, and yet the Town Council was not informed.

Pair of Anteaters Headed to Walla Walla

From the Walla Walla Sweets
WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The Walla Walla Sweets continue to add depth to their roster with the addition of UC Irvine freshmen outfielders, Kris Paulino and Ryan Cooper. The two players have signed contracts to play in Walla Walla next summer during the 2012 season of West Coast League baseball.

2011 Top Performer---Jeff McVaney

Jeff McVaneey
Santa Barbara Foresters of the California Collegiate League
Texas State University
Senior
OF/P

Prospect League Release 2012 Schedule

From the Prospect League
(December 15, 2011, Bartlett, TN) – Today the Prospect League, a college summer wood bat league, announces it 2012 schedule. The League enters its fourth season with an expanded schedule of 60 games, up from 56 games the last couple of seasons.

Mavericks Sign Two for 2012

From the Futures Collegiate Baseball League
NEWINGTON – The Seacoast Mavericks continue to add to their roster with the signings of D1 Oakland University (MI) players Kyle Bobolts (pictured) and Spencer Marentette for the 2012 Futures Collegiate Baseball League season.

Cape League 2012 schedule announced

From the Cape Cod League
HYANNIS – Commissioner Paul Galop has announced the 2012 Cape Cod Baseball League schedule.

The regular season begins June 14 with a full slate of five games, preceded by the annual Frank Finn/CCBL Invitational pre-season tryout on Saturday, June 9 at Spillane Field in Wareham. There are no scheduled doubleheaders this summer.

Tragedy Strikes Bulls, WMBL

From the WMBL
LETHBRIDGE, AB -- The Lethbridge Bulls and Western Major Baseball League are mourning a devastating tragedy after two of its own were murdered early Thursday morning.