At a time when the nation’s economy resembles a pendulum swinging from trough to crest, the New York Collegiate Baseball League has, on the other hand, started out on a gradual and steady increase of its stock.
Sanctioned by the NCAA and partially funded by Major League Baseball, the summer wood bat league established a new benchmark for success in 2007 when 37 former players heard their names called during the MLB draft. That number increased to 39 in 2008 and rose to 41 this past spring.
Fans looked on with pride last fall as former NYCBLer, Brad Lidge (Ithaca ’98), closed out a World Series victory for the Philadelphia Phillies. Hunter Pence (Schenectady ’02) added to the league’s status when he earned a spot in this year’s MLB All-Star game.
At the hub of this trend stands the Webster Yankees.
Dave Brust’s 2009 version of the Webster Yankees know all too well the capabilities of the NYCBL.
An early-season boom gave way to a mid-season slump, and the Webster nine finished 21-21, missing the post-season by the slimmest of margins.
Nonetheless, Brust’s boys invested in the future.
On June 9, the pinstripes christened their new home at Basket Road with a come-from-behind 4-2 victory over the Elmira Pioneers. It was a night of firsts.
Scott Brothers (Ball State) notched the first strikeout at the Basket as he set down Elmira’s Chris Paul (St. Ambrose College).
The Pios’ Ryan Ferguson (Temple) was the first base-runner when he worked a two-out walk in the top of the first. Nate Koontz (Ball State) rapped the first base hit, and Elmira’s Nate David (Cornell) scored the first run.
Brothers tossed six shutout innings on a chilly opening night. The right-hander, who became known as "Big Daddy," finished the season fanning 28 batters.
Not only did Koontz get the first hit at the friendly confines but he followed that with the first walk-off hit ten days later. Koontz slashed a two-out triple scoring Geoff Dornes (R.I.T.) from first as Webster trimmed Niagara 1-0.
Koontz’s triple provided plenty of excitement, but Brian Pullyblank (So. Illinois) hurled magic that evening. Striking out nine and walking none, the ‘Caledonia Kid’ tossed the first no-hitter in team history. Pullyblank won two more games on the campaign including a complete-game 9-1 victory over Brockport on July 22.
Pullyblank and Brothers shared a kindred spirit. The pair joined former Yankee, Dustin Ramey (UMass-Lowell) as pinstripes making a successful recovery from Tommy John surgery.
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