Bleacher Report - Articles by Paul Gotham

George Bailey and the Demise of Hofstra Football

Paul Gotham — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:23:27 -0500

At one point in Frank Capra’s Christmas classic, It’s A Wonderful Life , George Bailey (played by Jimmy Stewart) encounters a dilemma. Prepared to “travel the world,” the youthful Bailey faces the prospect of his late father’s death causing the family’s building and loan to close.

As the bank’s executive board decides on its viability, the movie’s main character warns: “this town needs this measly one-horse institution.” Bailey peered into the future and saw the possibility of his hometown run over by the evil Mr. Potter—a shrewd businessman looking for personal gain rather than the overall good of the community.

As the story goes, Bailey does not travel the world. Instead, he remained in Bedford Falls and ran the Bailey Building and Loan. Bailey’s sacrifice gave the townspeople a chance as he quipped: “to live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath.”

Leaders of college football could glean wisdom from Bailey’s experiences.

Earlier this week, Hofstra University announced they will terminate their 72-year old football program . This decision comes on the heels of a similar move by Northeastern University that called an end to its football team after 74 seasons. Incapable of generating the excessive funds deemed worthy of a college football program, these “one-horse institutions” could not survive.

Unfortunately, this news will register nothing more than a tiny blip on the radar screen of big-time college football. Hofstra and Northeastern, members of the Colonial Athletic Association, competed in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA)—a far cry from the the six major conferences which generate the cash flow needed to support the BCS.

On the surface, 168 (84 players from each school) college football positions will go by the wayside. A tiny trickle-down effect will occur as these players seek spots at other schools. Each year this number will multiply as fewer and fewer student-athletes get an opportunity to play college football.

Speaking on the topic, Massachusetts Athletic Director, John McCutcheon, called the budget issues of late “a perfect storm of reduction.”

Could we see more reductions?

Beyond those raw numbers, how does one go about measuring opportunities lost? 20 current and former NFL players honed their skills on campus in Hempstead, New York. In volume, that number fails in comparison to the total graduated to "Sunday games" by the likes of Oklahoma, Ohio State, and USC—to name a few.

But consider that Marques Colston , the current leading receiver for the undefeated New Orleans Saints, and former New York Jet, Wayne Chrebet , spent their college careers on the gridiron at Hofstra. Would these two players have found a place to play in college if not for the Hofstra Pride?

A similar case can be made for Northeastern which has sent 13 players to the NFL . Sean Jones and Keith Willis combined for 172 sacks in the NFL. Both played college ball at Northeastern.

As big-time college football becomes increasingly exclusive, the question of motivation arises. Are decisions made for the better of the game? Or are a few schools benefiting at the expense of the game?

Football needs “one-horse institutions” like Hofstra and Northeastern if for no other reason than to have a place for players to learn the game—players like Marques Colston, Wayne Chrebet, Sean Jones, and Keith Willis.

Ultimately, George Bailey looked out for the good of all. Can the same be said for college football?

Pickin' Splinters

Duke-UConn: Tale of the Tape

Paul Gotham — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:10:29 -0500

Setting

The corner of 7th Avenue and 32nd Street will be hopping this evening when the Duke Blue Devils (5-0) take on the University of Connecticut Huskies (4-0) in the finals of the NIT Season Tip-Off.

Plot

For the first time in NCAA history, coaches with 800 or more victories do battle when Mike Krzyzewski (838) and Jim Calhoun (809) square off.

Flashback

The teams have split 4-4 all time with UConn taking the last four. When these two teams get together, there is usually quite a bit at stake. Christian Laettner’s buzzer-beater was the difference when Duke advanced in the 1990 East Regional.

Khalid El-Amin and the Huskies “shocked the world” when they downed the Blue Devils in 1999 NCAA Finals. Last meeting, UConn beat Duke, 79-78 in the 2004 National Semi-Finals. Duke has won the NIT Tip Off in 1985, 2000, and 2005.

Sub-Plots

UConn has led the nation in blocked shots for the last eight years. This year is no different, as the Huskies have blocked 10.3 shots per game.

On the other hand, Duke has made the transition on offense from a dribble penetration team to perimeter motion. Duke will need to convert outside the paint to neutralize UConn’s inside talents.

Conflict

Kyle Singler vs. Stanley Robinson or Finesse vs. Brawn. Singler is a versatile offensive player. He can score inside and outside. Singler can knock down a three-pointer one possession and on the next trip take his man in the post and play with his back to the basket.

Singler has done all that and more, but not against a player like Robinson.

The Husky forward knows no fear and does not seek style points. At 6′9″, Robinson has defended bigger forwards and smaller guards.

Characters

Jon Scheyer has committed just two turnovers while dishing out 27 assists in 171 minutes played this year. Eighteen-year-old Andre Dawkins leads the Devils in three point efficiency—48.3 percent (14 of 29).

Can these guys continue this success against UConn’s pressure?

Nolan Smith moved from point guard to shooting guard and has averaged 19.3 over his last three games.

Jerome Dyson and Kemba Walker provide UConn’s offensive punch from the outside. Dyson has averaged 20 ppg thus far, including 6-of-20 from long range. Walker is scoring 16 ppg, adding 6-of-11 from the three-point arc. Alex Oriakhi pulls down over 10 rebounds per game.

Resolution

If Duke is to win, the Blue Devils will need to hit over 50 percent from the field. The Huskies will give the Devils few, if any, second-chance opportunities. Many of Duke’s offensive rebounds will contribute to UConn’s staggering amount of blocked shots. UConn will need to take care of the ball and not give Duke easy buckets off steals.

First Team All-Casey

PG – Sherron Collins/Kansas

SG – Elliot Williams / Memphis

SF – Wesley Johnson/Syracuse

PF – Jason Love / Xavier

C – Larry Sanders / VCU

Pickin Splinters

San Francisco 49ers' Michael Crabtree: A Lesson In Hubris

Paul Gotham — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:06:38 -0400

Somewhere near the intersection of Kelly Stouffer Street and Darrius Heyward-Bey Boulevard, football fans will find the San Francisco 49ers' recent signing, Michael Crabtree. Hopefully, the rookie holdout will find the address of humility.

49er general manager, Scot McCloughan, announced Wednesday the team reached an agreement with Crabtree and his agent Eugene Parker, thus ending the second-longest holdout in league history by an NFL rookie.

Since Wednesday morning, Crabtree has joined his teammates on the practice field. The former Texas Tech standout is easy to find. He’s the one without a logo on his helmet. Instead, the Dallas, Texas native has his last name printed on tape across the front of his helmet. Not exactly the way Crabtree wanted to stand out from the group.

As last year’s Bowl Championship Series came to a close, and football fans began turning their attention to the upcoming draft, Crabtree’s status as the number one receiver seemed set. Media outlets and pundits fed the monster. Crabtree prepared himself to be the first wideout to climb the stage at the NFL’s latest made-for-tv event.

What happened on Draft Day should have surprised no one. What happened as a result may change everyone’s perception of NFL rookies. No one could blame Crabtree for failing to realize the illogical mind of Al Davis. Trying to use that lack of logic as a basis for negotiation makes Crabtree guilty of excessive pride.

With the seventh pick in the recent NFL draft, Al Davis did something he is famous for: he ignored conventional wisdom. No, he didn’t try and draft Gino Torretta. The owner of the Oakland Raiders overlooked Crabtree and took Darrius Heyward-Bey.

That mistake should have touched off a monumental celebration within the Crabtree entourage. They wouldn’t have to worry about their boy dropping into the abyss between Silver and Black. Instead, Crabtree sulked. With an ego the size of the bay between Oakland and San Francisco, Crabtree demanded a contract worthy of such arrogance.

The 49ers offered five years, $20 million, with a guaranteed $16 million. Davis signed Heyward-Bey to a five-yeal deal with $23.5 million guaranteed.

Crabtree balked at the 49ers offer, and so began the 71-day odyssey that ended Wednesday. Official details of Crabtree’s contract have not been made public, but an anonymous source close to the deal reported that Crabtree will receive $17 million guaranteed.

Crabtree earned a cool million by sitting out. He also might have learned a lesson for those who follow him. As July melted into August, and training camps opened, stories of holdouts gone awry must have made their way to Crabtree’s ears. Surely, someone mentioned the tribulations of Kelly Stouffer. While Crabtree’s current contract falls second to Heyward-Bey’s, his holdout also fell short.

In the ‘87 draft, the St. Louis Cardinals took Stouffer in the first round. The quarterback held out and sat out for a year. After the 1996 season, Stouffer retired into anonymity, until Crabtree’s experience recalled his mistake.

Crabtree has made his way back to the practice field. Here’s hoping he has learned a lesson. At a time when many people would do whatever it takes to have a job, Crabtree decided to put ego in front of common sense.

Here’s hoping his hubris doesn’t result in him sinking into anonymity like Stouffer did.

Pickin' Splinters

Joel Pineiro: Reality Stranger Than Fiction Et Al

Paul Gotham — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 11:23:50 -0400

Try as I might, there are just some things in sports that get stuck in my craw, and I can’t get them out.

Take for instance, Joel Pineiro. Last night, Piniero gave up one earned run over seven innings as the St. Louis Cardinals downed the Houston Astros, 11-2. With the win, the righty improves to 15-11. In 203 innings of work this year, Pineiro has an ERA of 3.24, with 100 strike outs and 25 walks. Let me get this straight. Joel Pineiro has an ERA of 3.24? Isn’t the same guy who spent ‘04 – ‘07 in the American League with an ERA no lower than 4.67? Pineiro has as many complete games (3) this year as he had combined in ‘05-’06 with Seattle.

I get the whole idea of the pitcher coming to the plate in the NL being more often than not an out. I get the the idea that with the Red Sox, Pineiro came out of the pen, and that takes adjusting. But he is a professional. In ‘07 Pineiro made 31 appearances for the Saux to the tune of a 5.03 ERA. Boston let him go. He finished the campaign with the Cardinals and made 11 starts earning an ERA of 3.96.

"Throwing BP is not my idea of work." AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

Add to Pineiro’s story that of John Smoltz, and I am scratching my scalp raw. Smoltzy made five starts with the Saux . He tossed 25 innings giving up 26 earned runs while fanning 23 and walking six. Boston waived him, and Smoltz headed to the gateway of the west. He has made five starts for LaRussa’s gang: 28 innings, 10 earned runs, 32 Ks, and 4 walks. Let’s just forget about the night that Smoltz pitched batting practice to the Yankees.

On July 26th, Smoltz pitched five innings and gave up six runs to the Baltimore Orioles. That’s the Orioles everybody—a team that currently has a record of 60-91. Six runs to the Orioles? That’s as many runs as Smoltz held the Cubs, Braves, Padres, and Nationals to in a combined 22 innings.

How did the Phillies win the World Series last year? How can any team coming from the National League hope to compete in the Fall Classic?

I don’t even want to think about Brad Penny. He goes 7-8 with Boston giving up 27 runs in his last 26 and 2/3 frames of work. With San Francisco? 11 runs in 22 innings. Although, Penny did get shelled (7 runs in 2 2/3 vs. LA) in his most recent outing.

Don’t worry. Baseball doesn’t have a corner on the market of oddities. For some reason, football players—those rough and tumble guys who play the most violent of sports—seem to need a key board to show their bravery. Or, at least for a little while.

"Did I say that?"

Washington’s rookie linebacker, Robert Henson and Green Bay’s Nick Barnett have taken to tweeting to express, of all things, their disagreement with fans. After the home fans booed his teammates (Henson hasn’t been on the field yet during a game) the rookie decided to call ‘Skins fans a bunch of ‘dim wits’ adding something to the effect that they all worked at McDonald’s. Oh boy. Robert, what were you thinking?

That’s okay. Barnett actually gets into the game. It’s just that he decided to celebrate a tackle in the backfield…in the final minutes of a loss to Cincinnati. I applaud the fans who booed Barnett. The only stat that matters is the scoreboard.

Both Henson and Barnett have since closed their Twitter accounts.

At least those guys get a paycheck in the NFL. Marcus Fitzgerald? He hopes to get a job in the NFL some day. The brother of Larry Fitzgerald didn’t exactly help his cause when he went a tweeting during and after Sunday’s game. While Kurt Warner was busy going 24-26 for 243 yards with two touchdowns and 0 picks, Fitzgerald decided to play en loco tweetist for his brother, Larry, claiming the wide receiver to be upset about his lack of touches. The younger Fitzgerald has since deleted the above comments. Of course, he then blamed the media for blowing the story out of proportion. Yeah, Marcus seemed to forget that his dad is part of the media.

None of those guys have anything on Michael Crabtree. What’s Mike doing these days? Holding out. How’s that working for ya Mike? At this rate you sure are going to earn yourself a big fat raise when you re-enter yourself into the NFL draft.

Diego Maradona is back in the news. Okay, so he wants to lose weight. How many weight-loss clinics are there in the world? Better yet, how many weight-loss clinics are there in the Western Hemisphere? Why would he choose a weight-loss clinic in Italy? A country where he still owes $54 million in back taxes. And all he had to turn over were his earrings? Geez, those must have been some good size rocks.

If you had a 15-year contract for more money than you could possibly know how to spend, would you be in a rush to suit up and have opposing players drill you with a hard rubber object? Consider that when you think about Rick DiPietro of the New York Islanders. What did the Isles do? They signed to the Lewiston, Maine native to a contract that no one in their right mind would offer. DiPietro gets hurt. Yeah, I would take my time rehabbing too. Let someone else play goal. He has what…11 years left to prove himself?

Pickin' Splinters

Pete Carroll and The Art Of Complacency

Paul Gotham — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:51:09 -0400

Admitting to something is the first sign of recovery. College football fans outside of Southern California might want to keep that one to themselves.

When the USC Trojans take the field Saturday at Martin Stadium against the Washington State Cougars, they will be in a familiar situation: trying to recover from a national title deflating loss.

Last Saturday, Erik Folk split the uprights with three ticks left on the board, and the Washington Huskies (near three-touchdown underdogs) upset the Trojans, 16-13. A week prior Washington ended a 15-game losing streak that began in the Ty ‘Losing’ham era defeating Idaho, 42-23.

After the game, SC running back, Joe McKnight, stated: “Washington wasn’t the better team, they just outplayed us.”

McKnight’s quote is eerily reminiscent of the comments made by another Trojan a few years ago. Moments after their loss in the 2005 Rose Bowl, Matt Leinart remarked: “I think we’re a better football team; they just made the plays in the end.”

That’s okay guys. You just keep saying that, and eventually you will convince yourself it is reality.

In the mean time, USC’s stumbling has become a rite of fall as common as a New York Mets’ implosion. In ‘06 the 10-1 Trojans ended the regular season with a 13-9 loss to the 6-5 UCLA Bruins.

A year later the Trojans’ 35-game home winning streak came to an end. Tavita Pritchard completed a fourth and ten pass with 49 seconds remaining as the Stanford Cardinal won 24-23. Stanford entered the game 41-point underdogs. Oregon State trimmed the Trojans a year ago, 27-21. The Beavers entered the tilt 25-point underdogs.

The constant throughout those upsets is Trojan head coach, Pete Carroll. Last week’s loss carried a different bite than previous setbacks. Washington’s first year head coach, is the former long-time Carroll assistant, Steve Sarkisian.

What are the chances the former USC offensive coordinator used the apparent complacency of the Trojans as a motivator?

What could get lost in the mix here is that aforementioned loss to Texas in the national title game. How many coaches in the history of college football have had two Heisman winners in the same back field?

That’s what USC had that year in Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart. Beyond that, had LenDale White returned for his senior season, he too might have climbed the platform at the Downtown Athletic Club. Still, Carroll’s bunch came up short, 41-38. Don’t forget the Bush push earlier that year that helped the Trojans avoid a loss to Notre Dame.

Carroll supporters will contend that his teams always find their way into the national champion discussion. There is no arguing that. One has to wonder if USC’s talent gets them into the discussion, and the coaching falls short.

Yes, Carroll is responsible for bringing the talent to the university. How much of a challenge is that? Let’s see. Prospective players are told that the coach has NFL experience. None of them are old enough to remember that dismal existence. All they hear is NFL, and they think they have punched their ticket.

Next, the teenager gets on a plane and flies to Southern California. Yeah, that’s got to be rough. The kid gets off the plane and it’s 75-85 degrees outside (Because everyone knows – it never rains in Southern California).

One of the staff greets the recruit and shuttles him off to campus. The prospect doesn’t have a chance to comprehend the traffic, and it really doesn’t matter anyway. Once there, the blue-chipper is introduced to the state-of-the-art facilities. Then a ride on the shuttle takes the delirious youth to the Coliseum.

If none of this works, some of the current Trojans take the recruit on a sight-seeing tour. The first stop is the beach. Done deal. Does anyone else wonder how many kids request a red shirt year so that can spend that much more time near the beach in Southern Cal?

In the past, I have lobbied for a playoff in college football. Pete Carroll and USC might cause me to change my mind (JD is laughing to the point of incontinence). A playoff would help the Trojans find redemption every year because more than likely they will win the PAC 10.

No, Pete Carroll is no longer the Coach Fredo he was once anointed as, he has just mastered the ability to overlook his opponents. Here's hoping his recovery takes a while.

Pickin' Splinters

Does John Calipari's "Refuse To Lose" Edict Mean Doing Anything To Win?

Paul Gotham — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:04:00 -0400

It’s one thing to lose—make sure you don’t lose twice.

Sage advice shared by many a coach.

In the past, the suggestion of such words offered perspective for young athletes. Losing a single contest should serve as an opportunity for learning. One needs to make sure to not lose respect through such a process—respect for the opponent, respect for the game, and respect for oneself.

On this day like so many other days, with sports stories swirling through the ticker, those words of advice need to find the ears of Coach John Calipari.

The Memphis Tigers’ 2007-2008 season faces extinction. Like a common advertisement delivered by the post man quickly whisked to the circular file, college basketball fans can dispose of the Memphis run to the NCAA finals. For Calipari, this is not the first time through such an experience.

Followers can consider what might have been for those teams that lost to Memphis. There was the first round victory over Texas-Arlington. It didn’t matter. The Mavericks earned a sixteen seed and would have only fallen to someone else.

Then came the three-point victory over Mississippi State in the second round. Memphis promptly blew out the ‘Sweet Sixteen’ candles of Michigan State before eliminating Texas and earning a spot in the Final Four. UCLA posed little threat to the Tigers in a national semi-final decided by 15 points.

Maybe fans of those schools can seek the counsel of Central Florida, Stanford, Arkansas, and Georgetown. After all, those teams found themselves trudging through the manure of Calipari’s University of Massachusetts Minutemen as they rode their horses into the 1996 Final Four.

Forgive me if I overlook those injustices.

I find it difficult to believe Coach Cal is “not implicated in either instance.”

Calipari made famous the mantra: ‘Refuse to Lose.’ As if he possessed some deep understanding of the virtues needed to inspire young men on a quest to become part of something larger than themselves.

Now, it seems impossible to separate Calipari from the allegations of a fraudulent SAT score, doctored high school grades, and paid trips for relatives.

Yet Calipari has conveniently left all of that behind as he now prepares his Kentucky Wildcats for the upcoming season.

Calipari and his fans can rationalize all they want. Hey, at least Calipari isn’t like that thug Michael Vick who killed defenseless dogs, lied to the Feds, and smoked pot.

No, Calipari didn’t do those things. All he did, in his dapper suit with a clean-shaven face, is lead a team of young men. And he led them to believe in another mantra: “It ain’t cheating unless you get caught.” Now, it seems Calipari has even figured out how to manipulate that adage. Calipari’s new motto reads: It ain’t cheating when you can run from the consequences.

Maybe, Calipari could consider the wisdom found on a wall of the Philadelphia Palestra: "To win the game is great...To play the game is greater...But to love the game is the greatest of all.”

Winning is NOT the most important thing; loving the game is what matters. For all those who came before him, Calipari needs to take responsibility for what he has done. From now on, all of us will wonder what could have really happened in the 2008 NCAA tournament.

Let’s hope Vick is not like Calipari. Let’s hope Vick can make good on his second chance.

Pickin' Splinters

Four Webster Yankees Earn All-League Honors

Paul Gotham — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:37:28 -0400

Webster Yankee Coach Dave Brust knew he had assembled a talented baseball team. The New York Collegiate Baseball League agreed naming four of the home nine to all-league honors.

Michael Craig (St. John Fisher) earned first team recognition while Shawn Bailey (SUNY Cortland), Ollie Bertrand (Flager), and Steve Muoio (Georgia C&S) each grabbed a spot on the second team.

Bailey proved the third time is a charm leading the team in average (.325), hits (52), and stolen bases (14). “It has been great to watch Shawn develop over the past three years,” said Brust. “He really blossomed this year into one of the best players in the league. He made so many big plays for us.”

Having earned first-team honors last season, Muoio faced lofty expectations. “Steve did what he was supposed, and that wasn’t easy considering last season,” noted Brust. “He took a lot of walks because people were throwing around him. Despite that he developed his power and made several spectacular plays with his glove.”

Muoio led the way with 14 doubles and tied for the team lead with 15 extra-base hits. The Webster native hit .324 with a .445 slugging percentage.

No one worked harder than Bertrand. With the pinstripes beset by injuries Bertrand caught the final six games of the season—including two doubleheaders. The work load did not negatively affect Bertrand’s performance.

“Hands down, Ollie was the best catcher in the league,” commented Brust. “He has a professional understanding of the strike zone and how to call a game. Ollie was a great leader.”

Bertrand’s 28 walks topped all Yankee batters. The native of Quebec hit .305 and had an on-base percentage of .424.

Craig opened the season holding opponents without a run for 28 innings. “It was great to see Michael do so well,” said Brust. “He is credit to St. John Fisher and to D3 baseball. He handled some big time hitters this summer.”

Craig finished the season 5-1. His ERA 1.50 was good for fifth in the league. The right-hander surrendered seven earned runs in 42 innings of work.

Only divisional winners Hornell and Amsterdam placed more players on the all-league teams.

Pickin' Splinters

Webster Baseball Stock on the Rise

Paul Gotham — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 20:46:17 -0400

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.

Pullyblank had the surgery 22 months prior to the start of the season while Brothers had his procedure done 14 months before opening night.

Ramey made his first rehab start with Webster last season and led the ’08 Yanks with four wins.

Webster opened this season grabbing the West division lead with a six pack of wins.

During the season-opening streak Bryant Guilmette (U Mass-Lowell) etched his mark on the season. The lefty reliever earned a pair of saves and pulled off one magic act to spark the pinstripes.

On June 10, Guilmette entered with Webster clinging to a two-run lead at Allegany County. The Hopkinton, Mass., native responded striking out the three batters he faced on nine pitches. Two nights later, Guilmette took the ball with bases loaded and one out. One pitch later, he retired the side with a ground ball for a double play.

Guilmette gave an encore of that performance against Elmira. The Pios loaded the bases without a walk before Guilmette came on to induce a fly ball and double play to consecutive batters.

Shawn Bailey (SUNY Cortland) paced his hometown team with 51 hits – good for third in the league. In his third tour of duty with the home nine, Bailey also led with 13 stolen bases and 20 runs.

On the defensive side, Bailey had 105 assists. Bailey joined teammates Ollie Bertrand (Monroe CC) and Michael Craig (St. John Fisher) at the league’s annual All-Star game.

Koontz along with Pullyblank, Lincoln Rassi (Toledo) and Steve Muoio (Georgia C&S) took part in the league’s Futures’ Game.

One year after earning all-league honors, local product, Muoio led the way with a .331 batting average. The Webster-Thomas grad ripped a team-high 14 doubles on the campaign.

Craig opened the season holding opponents without a run for his first 28 innings pitched. The native of Getzville, New York went 5-1 with an ERA of 1.50. He and Rassi led Webster five wins apiece.

Rassi struck out 44 and walked 13 in 43 innings of work with a 3.98 ERA.

Bertrand earned the respect of all as the best defensive catcher in the league. The pride of Quebec hit .308 and led the team with 25 walks.

Matt Jimenez (Mercyhurst) might not have led the team in wins, but two of his four came when it mattered most. With the Yankees caught in the throes of nine consecutive losses, Jimenez took the hill against scattered five hits over eight innings in a 5-1 triumph.

Seven days later, Webster was tied for the final playoff spot with the Allegheny County Nitros. Jimenez held the Nitros to six hits and three runs in eight frames of work en route to a 4-3 victory.

When commenting on Jimenez, Brust said: “His breaking ball dances like a ping pong ball.”

Tyler Scott (Toledo) came out of the bullpen for 17 appearances. The right hander struck out 24 and walked 13 with an ERA of 2.13. Onlookers had to wonder about the octane reading on his heat because there was no doubt Scott threw gas.

Ryan Chenoweth (Ball State) led the Yanks with five triples. In his second tour of duty with Webster, Chenoweth also rapped five doubles, a home run, with 11 RBI.

Matt Jacobs (UMass-Lowell) dazzled everyone with the leather, and the native of Hudson, Massachusetts had 23 RBI to go with his 34 hits for the summer.

Chriss Soldi (UMass-Lowell) banged 18 hits including two doubles and a triple to go with 12 RBI.

Dan Jurik (St. John Fisher) tossed thirty-two and a third for Webster. The native of Vestal, New York struck out 33 and walked 12.

Mike Walraven (Hofstra) hit .273 with 9 RBI and 14 runs scored.

In his second stint with the Yankees, Geoff Dornes (R.I.T.) struck out 21 and walked 9 in 31 frames of work. Dornes also collected 14 hits and 7 RBI.

Rhett Goodmiller (Central Michigan) hit .272 with five doubles, two triples, and 11 RBI.

Fellow Chippewa Ricky Clark recovered from an early-season injury to help the Yanks down the stretch. After taking a pitch off the wrist, Clark returned home to Mason, Mich. for x-rays. Those tests came back negative.

Clark worked to get full movement back in his forearm. He missed ten games before returning to the lineup. Clark stole nine bases and scored 13 runs on 25 hits.

Clark wasn’t the only to catch the injury bug. Dominic Catanzarite (Ball State), Jason Edwards (Toledo), Thomas Kufel (Mercyhurst), and Pat Devlin (UMass-Lowell) all missed significant parts of the season. The rash of injuries forced the Yankees to play their final ten games with just one position player on the bench.

One can only imagine how much of an impact the injuries had on the Yankees’ season. Finishing just percentage points from the playoffs, Webster was relegated to spectators as the Amsterdam Mohawks defeated the Hornell Dodgers for the league championship.

Adding to the frustration is the realization that four of Webster’s losses in the final two weeks came by a single run. Each time Webster had the tying run on base in the final stanza.

Pickin’ Splinters

Webster Sweeps Allegany County

Paul Gotham — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:56:23 -0400

If nothing else, Dave Brust’s Webster Yankees proved they learned their lesson. After a nine-game losing streak where they left the tying run stranded 90 feet away on three different occasions, the pinstripes struck twice in the late innings Monday night.

The Yankees used a pair of come-from-behind efforts for a doubleheader sweep of the Allegany County Nitros, 4-3 and 6-5 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Basket Road Field. In doing so, the Yankees vaulted to second place in the NYCBL West Division.

Matt Jacobs (UMass-Lowell) slashed a one-out triple off the fence in left center field 399 feet from home plate delivering Steve Muoio (Georgia C&S) and Ollie Bertrand (Monroe CC). Jacobs scored the eventual winning run on a ground ball by Geoff Dornes (R.I.T.).

Michael Craig (St. John Fisher) scattered seven hits while fanning four en route to his fifth win of the campaign.

Webster took the lead in the second. Jacobs and Dornes worked a pair of one-out walks. Using the hit and run, Mike Walraven (Hofstra) advanced the runners with a ground ball to the right side of the infield. Ricky Clark (Central Michigan) staked the Yanks to the lead with a single to right field.

Webster added a run in the fifth. After reaching first on a fielder’s choice, Clark stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Shawn Bailey (SUNY Cortland) brought home the run with a ground ball to the second baseman.

Bryant Guilmette (UMass-Lowell) struck out five of the nine batters he faced in the seventh and eight stanzas.

Lincoln Rassi (Toledo) worked the ninth for the save.

Vincent Malzahn (St. Thomas Aquinas) capped a four-run Nitro fourth with his second home run of the day. The blast measured at least 450 feet.

Ryan Chenoweth (Ball State) plated Muoio in the sixth inning of the opener. On the throw home to get Muoio, Chenoweth was caught in a rundown between first and second. Jacobs alertly scooted to the dish with the eventual winning run.

Matt Jimenez (Mercyhurst) scattered six hits over eight innings for the win.

“His breaking ball looked like a ping pong ball up there,” said Brust.

Jimenez stumbled in the second when he allowed three runs on two hits including a home run by Malzahn. After the Nitro first baseman took a first-pitch changeup out of the park, Jimenez could only smile and make adjustments from there.

“They were hitting my change,” said the right hander. “I figured I go away from that and use my slider and curve a little more.”

Starting with the final out of the second, Jimenez retired the next ten batters he faced.

“You gotta be willing to shake things up,” said Jimenez. “I had to do what I could to get out of there.”

Tyler Scott (Toledo) worked the ninth for the save. The right hander struck out two of the three batters he faced.

Nate Koontz (Ball State) went 2-for-4 with two RBI in the opener. Clark led off the first by being hit by a pitch. After stealing second, Clark advanced to third on a ground ball by Rhett Goodmiller (Central Michigan). Koontz followed with a single to center field plating the first run.

Goodmiller led the charge in the third with a one-out triple to right center. Koontz followed with a single to center for the home nine’s second run.

Webster improved to 21-18 and took significant strides towards earning a playoff berth. Webster travels to Elmira for another double dip. First game is scheduled for 5pm.

Pickin’ Splinters

Hornell Dodgers Nip Webster Yankees, 4-3

Paul Gotham — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:20:22 -0400

For the third time in the last eight games Dave Brust’s Webster Yankees left the tying run stranded at third as the Hornell Dodgers took the opening game of a doubleheader, 4-3 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Basket Road Field.

Webster rallied from a 4-1 deficit with a pair of runs in the eighth. Steve Muoio’s (Georgia C&S) two-out single to right field plated Shawn Bailey (SUNY Cortland) with the third run for the home nine.

Ricky Clark (Central Michigan) led the frame and was hit by a pitch. Bailey dropped a bunt single down the third baseline, and both advanced when the ensuing throw flew over first base. Eventually, Clark scored on a wild pitch.

Ryan Chenoweth (Ball State) slashed a one-out triple in the ninth. Hornell reliever, Chase Boroff (Carson Newman), extinguished the threat with a back-to-back strike outs.

The Yankees jumped to a one-run lead in the second. With two outs Chriss Soldi (UMass-Lowell) got caught in a run-down at first base. The designated hitter alertly continued the play so that Chenoweth could score from second.

But luck did not shine on the pinstripes Saturday. Hornell pasted runs on the board during the sixth, seventh, and eighth. Jeff Lockwood (Tennessee) tied the score on an opposite-field two strike single by Trey Bennett (Mercyhurst). Bennett fought off an inside pitch for the RBI.

Hornell took the lead one inning later. Adalberto Vargas (Alfred St.) doubled and scored on a single by Thomas Zurline (St. Joseph’s).

Lockwood and Bennett combined in the eighth for a deuce. Lockwood led with a triple. Bennett walked and stole second. Webster appeared to slow the rally when reliever, Scott Brothers (Ball State), put a glove on a come-backer.

Unfortunately, the ball caromed into the area vacated by shortstop, Bailey. Lockwood and Bennett crossed the dish, and Craig Shaefer (Webster) stood at second with a double on a ball that never left the infield.

Bennett made an outstanding catch in left center which turns out to be a game-saver. Matt Jacobs (U Mass-Lowell) led the seventh with a drive into the gap. Bennett sprinted, leapt and took away a sure triple – possibly an inside-the-park home run.

Clark and Bailey led the game with singles. Rhett Goodmiller (Central Michigan) advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt, but Webster could not take advantage from there.

With the loss, Webster falls to 18-18.

In the night cap, Webster took a 4-1 lead in the first before storms settled into Webster.

Clark and Goodmiller reached base on walks. Nate Koontz (Ball State) plated Clark with a single. Muoio drove home Goodmiller. Jacobs brought home Koontz, and Chenoweth delivered Muoio with a single.

Play was suspended. A new date and time are pending.

Webster travels to Brockport Sunday for a 4pm tilt.

Pickin’ Splinters

Webster Chews Up Brockport

Paul Gotham — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:30:52 -0400

It’s a dog eat dog world, and Wednesday night, Dave Brust’s Webster Yankees chewed on the Brockport Riverbats like they were Milk Bones.

Brian Pullyblank (So.Illinois) went the distance while Rhett Goodmiller (Central Michigan), Shawn Bailey (SUNY Cortland) and Matt Jacobs (UMass-Lowell) led a 16-hit attack as Webster downed Brockport, 9-1 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action.
Webster pasted runs on the board in the first four innings.

Bailey got things started for the home nine in the bottom of the first with a one-out single. Goodmiller followed with a base rap, and Nate Koontz (Ball State) plated the first run with a single to right center.

Webster used a two-out rally in the second. Chriss Soldi (UMass-Lowell) worked a base on balls. Ricky Clark (Central Michigan) kept the inning alive with a free pass. Bailey dropped a bunt inside the third baseline to load the bases. Goodmiller responded with a chop to third that allowed Bailey, going on contact, to get to second. Goodmiller’s high hop gave Brockport third baseman, Marcus Way (Harvard) no choice but to try and get the runner.

In the third, Webster worked some more two-out magic. Again, Soldi was in the middle of the play. Ollie Bertrand (Monroe CC) singled sharply to left center. When Jacobs’s slicing fly ball was mishandled in right, Bertrand advanced to third leaving two runners in scoring position. Soldi answered with a meatball down the right field line giving the pinstripes a 4-1 lead.

The Yankees blew the game open with three runs in the fourth. Bertrand’s single to center scored Goodmiller. Jacobs brought home Bertrand and Steve Muoio (Georgia C&S) with an opposite field single.

Goodmiller and Muoio finished the scoring in the sixth. Bertrand singled home Goodmiller and Jacobs plated Muoio.
Bailey, Goodmiller, and Jacobs each finished with three hits on the night. Jacobs added three RBI and Goodmiller crossed the plate twice and added an RBI.

With a recent rash of injuries, Goodmiller has proven himself to be invaluable as he has moved in to play second for the home nine.

“He’s blue collar type of player,” said Brust. “He’s one of our leaders.”

Up until last week Goodmiller logged his time at catcher.

Pullyblank improved to 3-1 on the season with second complete game of the campaign. The ‘Caledonia Kid’ struck out eight and walked one while scattering hits. On June 19th, Pullyblank tossed a no-hitter when Webster trimmed Niagara 1-0.

Brockport’s lone came in the third. Khyle Dimino (SUNY Cortland) roped an inside-the-park home run to right center for the tally.

Webster travels to Niagara, Friday, for a duel with the Power before returning home for a double-header with first-place Hornell, Saturday. It’s ‘bring your dog to the park’ day on Saturday. So grab your pooch and make a day of it.

Pickin' Splinters

Rally Falls Short; Webster Drops to Fourth

Paul Gotham — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 13:03:35 -0400

For the second consecutive night the Webster Yankees advanced the tying run to third base in the ninth inning. For the second consecutive night, Webster bats stranded that run 90 feet from home.

Jon Clinard (Austin Peay) brought home an unlikely winning run in the seventh as the Geneva Red Wings defeated Webster, 3-2 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action Saturday night. When Mike Blanchard (Austin Peay) appeared caught in a rundown at first, Clinard alertly scampered home with the eventual game winner.

Clinard led the frame with a walk issued by Webster starter, Michael Craig (St. John Fisher). Blanchard followed with a single down the left field line. Yankee reliever Tyler Scott (Toledo) appeared to have worked out of the jam.

The right hander from Novi, Michigan struck out Gordy Lahann (U Texas PB) and Jeff Cola (Toledo) before catching Blanchard wandering from first. Scott’s throw to first would have ended the threat, but Clinard created enough of a distraction to draw a throw to home.

Webster took the lead in the first. Ricky Clark (Central Michigan) opened the game with a double. Shawn Bailey (SUNY Cortland) followed with a bunt single. Clark was thrown out at home as Bailey stole second. When a ground ball by Mike Walraven (Hofstra) was mishandled, Bailey crossed the dish for the lead.

Geneva responded in the sixth. Ryan Walhardt (Oakland) walked to lead the stanza. Jack Wortley (U Texas PB) drilled a one-out home run to right field and the Wings had their first lead of the game.

The tallies represented the first earned runs surrendered by Craig this season. Craig entered the game 4-0 without an earned run in 29 innings of work. The right hander held opponents without a run for his first 28 frames of work this season.

Webster tied the score in the seventh. Clark’s bases loaded single to right field plated Matt Jacobs (UMass-Lowell).

Ryan Kassab (Long Island U) opened the ninth hitting Geoff Dornes (R.I.T) with a pitch. Dornes stole second and moved to third on Clark’s sacrifice fly. But that was as far as Dornes would get.

Clark is 6-11 for the last three games. In the third game of the season, the Mason, Michigan native took a pitch off the wrist that caused him to miss 12 games.

With the loss Webster falls to 15-15 for fourth place in the NYCBL West Division.

Webster fell to Brockport Friday night, 2-1.

Steve Muoio (Georgia C&S) smashed a one-out double in the ninth. After Chriss Soldi (UMass-Lowell) replaced Muoio as a pinch-runner, Jacobs worked a walk. The two moved into scoring position on a pass ball.

Lincoln Rassi (Toledo) took his first loss of the season, allowing four hits and striking out eight in seven innings of work.

Jacobs scored Webster’s lone run in the fifth. Leading the frame with a walk, Jacobs moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Rhett Goodmiller. After a single by Clark, Jacobs came home on Bailey’s ground ball.

Webster travels to Alfred Sunday for a pivotal double header versus the Oilers. Alfred currently holds third place at 16-14.

Pickin' Splinters

Webster's Road Woes Continue

Paul Gotham — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:43:50 -0400

Dave Brust’s Webster Yankees can’t get home soon enough. The pinstripes found more valleys than hills while traveling the roads of Upstate New York over the last nine days.

A quintet of hurlers held the Yankee bats in check Monday, as the Brockport Riverbats downed Webster, 7-0 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Ed Nietopski Field.

Chuck Fontana (Rutgers-Newark) danced through land mines for six innings to get the win, and Andrew Femath (Texas-Lutheran) added a spark with his glove and bat as Brockport grabbed a share of first place in the NYCBL West Division.

Webster loaded the bases in the fourth and fifth only to be denied both times. Ryan Chenoweth (Ball State) and Mike Walraven (Hofstra) rapped back-to-back singles in the fourth before Steve Muoio (Georgia C&S) worked a walk. Fontana got a fly ball to end the inning.

One frame later, Shawn Bailey (Cortland St.) picked up his second hit of the day. Dominic Catanzarite (Ball State) reached on an error, and Ollie Bertrand (Monroe CC) worked a base on balls. This time Fontana struck out a batter and induced an infield pop-up.

Bertrand walked to lead off the second. Walraven delivered a two-out single. Again, Fontana answered, this time with a ground ball to end the threat.

Brockport took the lead in the first. Richie Tri (Central CT St. U) singled and moved up on a wild pitch and fielder’s choice. Dave Ciocchi (Binghamton) plated the run with a two-out single to center field. Brockport would have all the runs they would need.

Webster starter, Dan Jurik (St. John Fisher), took the loss. The right-hander struck out five and walked three in five and a third innings of work. Brockport chased Jurik in the sixth. Femath led with a home run over the wall in left field.

Femath’s hit benefitted from the breezy afternoon in Brockport. “That wasn’t the best pitch I could throw,” said Jurik. “but I didn’t see that coming.” Brockport added another run when Ryan Skelle (St. Bonaventure) topped an infield single just over the glove of reliever Tyler Scott (Toledo).

Femath robbed Webster of a run in the seventh. With Matt Jacobs (UMass-Lowell) on second, Catanzarite ripped a shot into the hold between first and second. Femath ranged to his left, dove, and took away a sure hit and a run. The second baseman had eight assists on the day to go with two hits and a walk.

Tom Hembree (Texas-Lutheran) and Billy Cerruti (Rutgers-Newark) worked the seventh while Reid Rooney (Central Michigan) and Alex Adami (Binghamton) each worked a frame of relief.

Webster left 14 runners on base.

The loss comes on the heels of a double-header sweep at the hands of the Hornell Dodgers, 9-3 and 10-2. Hornell pasted numbers on the board in four different innings of the opener before breaking open the night cap with a six-run eighth.

This came one week after Webster dropped a pair at Allegany County.

One of the few bright spots of the last nine days came when Michael Craig (St. John Fisher) tossed his second complete-game shutout as Webster defeated Niagara, 5-0.

Bailey, Bertrand, and Craig will represent the home nine at the league All-Star game on Tuesday. Muoio, Nate Koontz (Ball State), Brian Pullyblank (So. Illinois), and Lincoln Rassi (Toledo) will participate in the Future’s game. Numerous Major League scouts will be on hand for both games.

Webster returns home Wednesday as the Allegany County Nitros visit Basket Road Field. Niagara and Brockport come to town Thursday and Friday. All games start at 7pm.

Pickin’ Splinters

Webster Yankees Top Geneva, End Skid

Paul Gotham — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:46:59 -0400

Tuesday, Dave Brust’s Webster Yankees put a pair of undesirable streaks behind them.

After managing just 18 hits and 2 runs in their previous three games, the pinstripes exploded for 12 hits while downing the Geneva Red Wings 9-2 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at McDonough Field. In the process Webster gave Red Wing starter, Casey Rana (UT Permian Basin), his first loss of the season.

Sean Bailey (SUNY Cortland) and Rhett Goodmiller (Central Michigan) combined for seven base knocks, and Lincoln Rassi (Toledo) struck out twelve as the Yanks ended a three-game losing streak.

Bailey led the way in the first with a one-out single to right field. Dominic Catanzarite (Ball State) and Steve Muoio (Georgia C&S) followed with hits to load the bases. Matt Jacobs plated Bailey with a sacrifice fly to center.

Webster added a pair in the fourth. Goodmiller’s bases loaded double brought home Muoio and Jason Edwards (Toledo). Jacobs played a role when his sacrifice bunt moved up Muoio.

Webster took a 5-2 lead in the sixth when Bailey’s opposite field, bases loaded single scored Edwards and Goodmiller. The Yanks took advantage of three walks and two errors to tack on three more in the eighth. Kufel scored in the ninth on Goodmiller’s second double of the game.

Rassi tossed six complete for team-leading fourth win of the season. The right hander from Goshen, Indiana struck out twelve, walked three, and allowed six base hits. Geneva’s two runs came in the fourth when the first three batters reached base.

Chris Dudics (Toledo) brought home Dan Pembroke (Dowling) with a single through the left side. Dan Gliot (Oakland) plated Will Harford (Notre Dame) with a ground ball to right side of the infield. Rassi ended the threat with a strike out. The freshman from the University of Toledo struck out the side in the second and sixth innings.

Rana entered the game with a 2-0 mark and both wins over the Yanks. The southpaw from Gilbert, Arizona had tossed two complete games allowing just one unearned run in eighteen innings pitched versus Webster. Tuesday, Rana gave up five runs (four earned) in seven innings of work.

Allegany County swept a double-header from the Yanks on Sunday. Trevor Conner (Frostburg State) allowed seven hits and one earned run as the Nitros topped the Yanks in the opener, 4-2.

Chris Camastro (Pace) shut out the pinstripes in the night cap, 2-0.
Monday, Brian Benedictine (Benedictine College) went the distance scattering seven Yankee hits while fanning 11 as Alfred topped Webster 4-0. Since starting the season 0-6, the Oilers have gone 11-4 and have moved into fourth place in the NYCBL West Division.

Webster still remains atop at 14-8. After an off-night Webster travels to Niagara, Thursday. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

Pickin' Splinters

College Baseball: Webster Wears Out Niagara

Paul Gotham — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:55:55 -0400

Dave Brust’s Webster Yankees wore out their welcome Friday night. Or, maybe they just wore out the Niagara Power pitching staff.

Nate Koontz (Ball State) and Shawn Bailey (SUNY Cortland) led a 22-hit barrage as the Webster Yankees buried the Niagara Power 13-4 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Sal Maglie Field.

Webster blew the game open in the sixth, sending nine batters to the plate and scoring five runs. Bailey led off with an opposite-field line drive base hit.

After the Webster native stole second, Dominic Catanzarite (Ball State) sent a flare into right field plating Bailey, and the romp was on.

Koontz walked, and Mike Walraven (Hofstra) brought home Catanzarite with a base hit past the outstretched glove of Power third baseman, Angelo Buscemi (Central Conn St. U).

Jason Edwards (Toledo) and Rhett Goodmiller (Central Michigan) greeted reliever Chris Kuenzle (Hannibal-LaGrange College) with back-to-back doubles. Ricky Clark (Central Michigan) delivered Goodmiller with an infield single.

Webster jumped on Power starter, Anthony Cimabue (Wilmington), for three runs in the first. Clark, returning to the top of the order for the first time since June 11, singled to open the game.

Bailey doubled, and Steve Muoio (Georgia C&S) walked. Koontz singled to score Clark. Ryan Chenoweth (Ball State) scored two with an opposite field double.

Matt Jimenez (Mercyhurst) retired the last seven he faced for his second win of the season. The native of Elma, NY struck out five and walked two – surrendering four earned runs. Jimenez worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth allowing just one run.

Niagara scored three in the third with a pair of infield singles and one hit batsman. Travis Latz (Abilene Christian) highlighted the scoring with a triple to right center.

Cimabue went the distance on June 18, limiting the pinstripes to two runs on seven hits as the Power took a 6-2 decision. Since then, the Yanks have taken three consecutive from their West Division rivals outscoring the Power 22-5 in the process.

Koontz finished the game 5-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, four RBI, three runs scored, and a walk. Bailey went 4-for-6 with a double, three runs scored, and a stolen base.

“This is the potential of these guys,” noted Brust. “You can only hold down this team for so long.”

Geoff Dornes (R.I.T.) and Bryant Guilmette (UMass-Lowell) came out of the bullpen and held the Power scoreless for the final three stanzas.

Clark returned to action Thursday night for the first time since June 11, when he was hit by a pitch. The infielder returned home to Mason, Michigan for an MRI. When tests proved negative, Clark patiently worked to regain movement in his hand.

“It still feels a little sloppy, but it’s getting stronger,” said Clark.

After an off day, Webster travels to Scio Sunday for a double header with the Allegany County Nitros. Scott Brothers (Ball State) gets the start in game one while Dan Jurik (St. John Fisher) takes the hill in the night cap.

Pickin' Splinters

Photo: Bailey

Geneva Squeezes Webster

Paul Gotham — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:50:40 -0400

Photo - Chenoweth courtesy of Ball State Athletics

Casey Rana (U Texas – Permian Basin) tossed a complete game one-hitter, and Geneva executed a suicide squeeze in the top of the ninth to defeat Webster 4-2, in New York Collegiate Baseball League action, Thursday night.

Gordy Lahann (U Texas – Permian Basin) dropped a one-out bunt, and pinch runner, Mike Blanchard (Austin Peay), raced home with the eventual game-winning run. Eddie Bleiler (Holy Cross) worked a one-out walk off Webster reliever, Bryant Guilmette (U Mass-Lowell) before giving way to Blanchard. Chris Dudics (Toledo) came home with an insurance when Brendan McCrea (Holy Cross) hit a sacrifice fly.

Geneva plated a run each in the sixth and seventh frames. Bleiler led the seventh with a single and scored on Lahann's triple into left center. McCrea started the sixth with a walk off Webster starter, Brian Pullyblank (So. Illinois) and came home on a base hit by Jack Wortley (U Texas – Permian Basin).

Webster's runs came in the fifth when Ryan Chenoweth (Ball State) hit a blast over the fence in right field scoring Nate Koontz (Ball State). Chenoweth’s home run represented the only hit of the night for the pinstripes. Koontz reached on a throwing error in the infield.

For the second time in as many opportunities, Rana tamed the Yankee lineup. On June 24, the southpaw scattered nine hits for a complete game shutout as Geneva beat Webster, 4-0. Thursday, the native of Gilbert, Ariz. allowed just five base runners while striking out six. Using his breaking ball early in the count Rana kept Webster batters off-balance all night.

With the loss, Webster’s record stands at 12-5.

Webster travels to Niagara, Friday, for a game with the Power. First pitch is set for 7 pm. Matt Jimenez (Mercyhurst) gets the start for the pinstripes.

Pickin' Splinters

Webster Yankees Pound The Niagara Power

Paul Gotham — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:40:11 -0400

For now, there appears to be no slowing the Webster Yankee bus.

Three pitchers combined to hold Niagara to six hits and one run while Steve Muoio, from Georgia C&S, led a 13-hit attack as the pinstripes pounded the Power 8-1 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action, Wednesday night.

Muoio’s two-out single in the first scored Geoff Dornes, from R.I.T., from second and gave the Yanks an early lead. Dornes reached second when his fly ball was mishandled in center field.

However, Niagara countered in the second. Jacan Warren, of Mississippi College, led with a double into left center-field gap. One out later Bobby Harper, who is from Penn St. Brandywine, delivered with a check swing ground ball to the right side of the infield.

That is as close as Niagara would come.

Mike Walraven, from Hofstra, led the bottom of the frame with a double. Matt Jacobs, of UMass-Lowell, followed and was hit by a pitch. Both moved up on a balk. Shawn Bailey, from SUNY Cortland, plated Walraven with a bunt single. Jacobs moved to third on the play and scored, when Bailey stole second, and the throw eluded the Andrew Ahrendt, from Augustana, covering the bag.

Webster put the game out of reach in the fourth when the first four batters rapped hits. Again, Walraven led—this time with a single. Jacobs followed with a hit and run single that scored Walraven. Chriss Soldi, from UMass-Lowell, doubled scoring Jacobs. Jason Edwards, out of the Toledo camp, added another run with a double of his own. Two outs later Muoio brought home Edwards with Webster’s third double of the stanza.

In the sixth, the Yankees added one last run. Bailey rapped a one-out single, stole second, and scored on a base hit by Dominic Catanzarite, who is from Ball State.

Meanwhile, Lincon Rassi, who is also from Toledo, mowed down the Niagara line-up. The right-hander surrendered three hits and one run while striking out four. Rassi is now 3-0 on the campaign.

Scott Brothers, from Ball State, came out of the bullpen for the first time this season. The native of Monticello, Indiana struck out three of the seven batters he faced while allowing one hit.

Bryant Guilmette, another player from UMass-Lowell, worked the ninth fanning a pair of would-be Power hitters.

Muoio finished 4-4 with a double and two RBI. Walraven went 3-4 with two runs scored.

The win is Webster’s third consecutive and six in the last seven games. The pinstripes improved to 12-4 to strengthen their lead in the NYCBL West Division.

Webster hosts Geneva Thursday night. First pitch is set for 7:00pm at Basket Road Field.

Pickin' Splinters

Craig and Muoio Lead Webster

Paul Gotham — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:46:52 -0400

A non-weather-related delay and showers that became a downpour could not stop the Webster Yankees, Sunday afternoon at Basket Road Field.

Michael Craig, of St. John Fisher, went the distance while Steve Muoio of Georgia C & S, collected two hits and the game-winning RBI as the pinstripes triumphed over the Alfred Oilers, 2-0 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action.

After a miscommunication prevented players from entering the stadium until an hour before the scheduled first pitch, the Yankees started sluggishly managing just two hits in the first six innings.

Fortunately, Craig held the Oilers in check allowing just five base runners during those same five frames. Alfred never advanced past second on the right hander from Getzville, New York.

When talking about the eleven outs from ground balls that induced by Craig, head coach Dave Brust commented: “He uses the field well. They’re not going to take him out of the yard, and he throws strikes.”

Craig finished with four strike outs on the day including three of the last six batters sent to the plate. Alfred put multiple runners on base in only one inning. The fifth when Frank Darden of Louisiana Tech, worked a two-out and Nate Hillery followed with a single. Craig stranded the two runners. With the win, Craig improves to 3-0.

Webster struck in the sixth when Chriss Soldi (UMass-Lowell) led off and was hit by a pitch. After the native of Clinton, Mass. stole second, he moved to third on a come-backer by Geoff Dornes (R.I.T.). Muoio delivered with a two-out single through the right side of the infield.

Soldi’s effort exemplifies the personality of the 2009 version of the Webster Yankees. Mired in a 0-12 slump that spans his last two games, the center-fielder looked to do anything to help his team. After the free pass, he stole second easily.

“He’s a hard-nosed player,” noted Brust. He’s had some good at bats. A lot of his hard hit balls are right at people. Give him time. He’ll get hot.”

Soldi also supplied one of the day’s best defensive efforts. In the top of the seventh, Nathan Papadeas (Texas-Tyler) hit a towering drive into the deepest part of the park that Soldi chased down for the out.

“He ran a long way with rain drops poking him in the eyes,” added Brust.

Webster added an insurance run after the seventh-inning stretch. Dominic Catanzarite (Ball State) chased Alfred starter, Josh Matthews (Northwood) with a one-out triple. Mike Walraven (Hofstra) greeted Matt MaLossi (Wheaton) with a double off the fence in right center. For Catanzarite, the run represented his first time crossing the plate this summer.

Craig retired six of the last seven he faced while pitching through the downpour.

Webster stays atop the NYCBL’s West Division with a record of 11-4.

After two days off the home nine hosts, the Brockport Riverbats on Wednesday. The first pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. at Basket Road Field. Out-of-town fans can listen to games here.

Pickin' Splinters

Webster Tops Allegany County

Paul Gotham — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:22:21 -0400

Saturday night’s New York Collegiate Baseball League match up at Basket Road Field pitted the West Division’s second-place Allegany County Nitros and the first-place Webster Yankees.

Coming off a pair of rainouts, Webster skipper, Dave Brust, had concern for his team’s performance in this pivotal game.

The Yankees responded with a 13-hit outburst en route to an 8-4 victory.

Steve Muoio (Georgia C&S) and Ollie Bertrand (Monroe CC) led the way with three hits apiece and Rhett Goodmiller (Central Michigan) scored three times while driving in two as the Yankees won their tenth game of the season.

Webster sent eight batters to the plate in a four-run fifth and never looked back from there.

Matt Jacobs (UMass-Lowell) led with a walk before Goodmiller earned a pass when hit by a pitch. Thomas Kufel (Mercyhurst) dropped a sacrifice bunt, but Nitro starter, A.J. Dusablon (S. N.H. University), sent the throw down the first base line allowing Jacobs to score. Goodmiller then moved to third.

Jason Edwards (Toledo) delivered two more runs with a single into right field. One out later, Muoio brought home Edwards with his first of two doubles on the night.

Webster tacked on two more runs in the sixth. Ryan Chenoweth (Ball State) opened the frame with a triple to deep left center. One out later Goodmiller plated Chenoweth with a seeing-eye single into right field. After Kufel and Goodmiller executed the hit and run, Edwards singled into center bringing home Goodmiller for the 6-3 lead. Edwards has seven hits over the last three games.

Allegany County closed the gap the in the top half of the seventh. Martin Gordon (Francis Marion) worked a leadoff walk. With the hit and run on, Gordon advanced to second before stealing third. The center fielder came home on a ground ball in the infield.

Webster added insurance runs in the seventh. Bertrand led with a single and moved to second on Chenoweth’s single. Goodmiller plated Bertrand with a two-out base rap. After moving to second on a wild pitch, Goodmiller stole third and scored on an error.

“I went up there looking to be patient,” said Goodmiller. “I worked the count just looking for a pitch that I could put the bat on the ball.”

Brian Pullyblank (So. Illinois) struck out six and walked three for his second win of the season. The right-hander held the Nitros hitless for the first three innings, running his streak to 12. Pullyblank tossed a no-hitter in his last outing on June 19th. Allegany County’s run in the fourth was the first surrendered by Pullyblank this season, a string that lasted 17 innings.

Bryant Guilmette worked the ninth striking out two of the three he faced.

“We’re playing good baseball,” said assistant coach, Bob Shaffer. “That’s the second-best team in the league, and we outplayed them. Our hitters are coming around.”

Webster hosts Alfred on Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Basket Road Field. Michael Craig (St. John Fisher) will get the start for the home nine.

Pickin' Splinters

Geneva Blanks Webster

Paul Gotham — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:10:47 -0400

Wednesday, Casey Rana (U Texas Permian Basin) held the Webster bats at bay, and Geneva’s offense struck early and late to defeat the Pinstripes 4-0 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Basket Road Field.

Webster left eight runners on base, as some of Rana’s best pitching came when the the Yanks had bases loaded in the fourth and two runners on in the third.

The Yankees’ leadoff batter reached safely in three stanzas, but Rana never flinched. The lefty struck out seven and walked one.

In the second, Steve Muoio (Georgia C & S) led off with a single and advanced to second on wild pitch. But Rana pitched out of the inning, getting a ground ball to short, a come-backer, and strike out.

Webster also slapped three hits in the fourth, but Rana got a weak pop out to end threat.

Geneva scored two in the first with two hits and a hit batsman off Yankee starter, Matt Jimenez (Mercyhurst). Jon Clinard (Austin Peay) swiped a pair of bases. Jack Wortley (U Texas Permian Basin) and Dan Pembroke (Dowling) supplied an RBI single and double.

The Red Wings added two insurance runs in the ninth. Will Harford (Notre Dame) led off with a double, and Eddie Bleiler (Holy Cross) singled before Gordy Lahann (U Texas Permian Basin) and Brendan McCrea (Holy Cross) brought home the third and fourth runs.

Ryan Chenoweth (Ball State) and Jason Edwards (Toledo) led the Yankees with two hits apiece. Edwards has gone 5-for-8 with a walk in the last two games.

Webster falls to 9-4 with the loss.

Pickin' Splinters

Webster Outlasts Brockport

Paul Gotham — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:02:12 -0400

Tuesday night, Dave Brust’s Webster Yankees needed eleven innings to dispatch a resilient Brockport Riverbat squad, 6-5 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action.

Ollie Bertrand (Monroe CC) made the most of an elventh-inning walk as the pinstripes rebounded after their stellar defense abandoned them for one inning.

Bertrand led the eleventh with a free pass. One out later, Jason Edwards (Toledo) singled into left field. Chriss Soldi (Umass-Lowell) followed with a ground ball that looked destined for an inning-ending double play. That is until Bertrand did his best to distract Riverbat shortstop, Mitch Wells (Central Conn St. U).

With bases loaded and Shawn Bailey (SUNY Cortland) at the plate, a Chance Williams (Texas Tyler) breaking ball kicked off the glove of Josh Bishop (St. Augustine’s). The ball barely left the home plate dirt, and Bertrand scampered home with the game winner.

The Quebec native fooled Williams, who was covering, into thinking he would slide. Bertrand then deftly tiptoed around the tag and to the plate.

It was fitting that Bailey be at bat. The Webster shortstop finished the game 3-5 with two stolen bases and an RBI. Still the Webster native needed redemption.

Brockport took a two-run lead in the third. Khyle Dimino (SUNY Cortland) and Andrew Femath (Texas Lutheran) led with back-to-back free passes from Webster starter, Scott Brothers (Ball State). Reid Rooney (Central Michigan) and David Ciocchi (Binghamton) plated the runs with RBI singles.

Webster tied the score in the bottom of the frame. Edwards singled to lead the home half, and Mike Walraven (Hofstra) walked.

After a double steal, Bailey and Dominic Catanzarite (Ball State) delivered with singles. Catanzarite’s hit and RBI were the first of his Webster career.

Brockport responded in the fourth with a run and could have tacked on several more had it not been for the fine defense of Bailey, Thomas Kufel (Mercyhurst), and Matt Jacobs (Umass-Lowell). Ryan Nokelby (Texas Lutheran) walked to start the rally. Kufel then went to his knees to take away a hit from Kevin Johnson (St. Augustine’s). With Nokelby on second, Bailey dove behind the bag and robbed Bishop of a hit.

Wells then singled and stole second. Dimino followed with a blast to deep center that Jacobs made a spectacular play on. The center fielder turned on a dead sprint and with his back to the plate, leaped and made the over the shoulder catch to end the inning.

Webster tied the score in the sixth. Nate Koontz (Ball State) tripled to deep center and scored one-out later on Bertrand’s single.

In the seventh, Koontz displayed his own defensive prowess taking away extra bases when a Wells drive seemed destined for the gap in left center.

Once again, Edwards and Walraven sparked the home nine. This time in the ninth.

Edwards walked to lead. Walraven followed with a perfectly placed, opposite field, hit and run single to put men on the corners.

Walraven moved to second on Soldi ground ball. Both scored on an ensuing wild pitch.

Every thing looked right for a Yankee victory—a two-run lead, great defense, and Bryant Guilmette (Umass-Lowell) on in relief. Then three Yankee errors led to two Riverbat runs and a 5-5 tie.

Unfortunately, Bailey was charged with one of the miscues—a mere blemish in an otherwise outstanding performance.

Tyler Scott (Toledo) worked the eleventh for his second win of the campaign. Webster improved to 9-3 with the win.

Pickin' Splinters

Webster Makes It A Happy Father's Day

Paul Gotham — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:55:46 -0400

(Photo - Koontz courtesy of Ball State Athletics)

Dave Brust’s lineup pasted pairs of runs in three separate innings and a trio of pitchers held opposing bats in check, Sunday, as Webster defeated Geneva, 6-2 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action at Basket Road Field.

Nate Koontz (Ball State) smashed his second home run of the season and Lincoln Rassi (Toledo) tossed six stanzas for the win.

After surrendering three hits and two runs to the game’s first three batters, Rassi shut down the Wings from there. The right hander struck out three, walked none, and scattered three more hits.

Webster’s bats took over from there.

Shawn Bailey (SUNY Cortland) led the fourth by reaching second when Travis Capps (Indiana) dropped his fly ball in right field. After moving to third on a ground ball, Bailey scored on a sacrifice fly by Steve Muoio (Georgia C&S).

Koontz followed with his blast to right center that easily cleared the fence 385 feet away. The home run marked the first at Basket Road Field.

Geoff Dornes (R.I.T) started the rally in the sixth with a one-out hit. Then, with the hit and run on, Muoio slapped a single into the space vacated by Geneva’s second baseman, Tommy Chase (Notre Dame). Koontz followed with a sacrifice fly scoring Dornes from third. After a wild pitch helped Muoio move to second, Matt Jacobs (UMass-Lowell) delivered with a single and a 4-2 lead.

Webster added insurance runs in the seventh. Jason Edwards (Toledo) and Thomas Kufel (Mercyhurst) chased Geneva starter, Matt Lamothe (Oakland), with back-to-back walks. Rhett Goodmiler (Central Michigan) moved the runners with a sacrifice bunt, and Bailey plated Edwards. Kufel came home when Bailey stole second and the throw skipped into center field.

Bryant Guilmette (UMass-Lowell) worked the seventh and eighth striking out one. Tyler Scott (Toledo) struck out one in the ninth. Webster hurlers have allowed just one walk in the last 26 innings of work.

“Everything is working right now — clutch hitting, pitching, defense, and base running,” said Brust when referring to his team’s ability to execute the fundamentals. Brust pointed to the sacrifice bunt in the seventh by Goodmiller.

“While the relief pitcher warmed up, I talked to Rhett and gave him the choice drop the bunt or swing away.”

The catcher from Ossian, Ind. responded with a bunt on the first pitch of the at-bat.

“That play goes a long way to helping the team,” said Brust. “He gave himself up for the good of the team. We need that as the season goes on.

Bailey finished with two hits and now has 12 on the season. Koontz leads the club with 10 RBI.

Webster improves to 8-3 on the campaign.

Brockport visits Basket Road Field Tuesday night. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. Scott Brothers (Ball State) gets the ball for the home nine.

Pickin' Splinters

Pullyblank Hurls A No Hitter!

Paul Gotham — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:26:14 -0400

Brian Pullyblank (Southern Illinois) forgot his cleats for Friday night’s New York Collegiate Baseball League game. The right-hander certainly remembered his pitching arsenal.

Pullyblank went the distance and held the Niagara Power without a hit as the Webster Yankees won with a walk-off triple, 1-0.

The Caledonia, N.Y. native struck out nine and walked none for his first win of the season.

“You don’t do it all yourself,” said Pullyblank referring to the work of teammates. “Ollie (Webster catcher, Bertrand) called a great game and the defense was great behind me.”

The Webster hurler needed just 104 pitches (69 for strikes) to complete the no hitter.

“My slider was really working; it was nice and tight.”

Pullyblank finished the game striking out three of the last four batters he faced including the final hitter, Jacan Warren (Mississippi College).

“He was just hitting the mitt running his fast ball in on everyone,” noted Bertrand. “Every righty was just fishing at the plate. It’s pretty easy calling a game when every pitch is in the zone.”

Only Mark Donahue (Chestnut Hill College) and Travis Latz (Abilene Christian University) reached base for the Power. Latz advanced to first when Pullyblank brushed his jersey with a pitch in the seventh.

“Yeah, that was probably the only pitch that didn’t have any bite on it tonight,” said Pullyblank.

Pullyblank is 22 months removed from Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow.
As the starter noted, the game wasn’t without defensive gems.

Shawn Bailey (SUNY Cortland) climbed the ladder at short to take away a sure hit on a line drive by Jake Gill (Mid-America Nazarene). In the seventh inning the shortstop turned in another pair of spectacular plays – ranging behind the bag at second and making the throw to first.

Bailey finished the game with two hits in four at bats including a bunt single in the first.

Steve Muoio (Georgia C & S) turned away a pair of Niagara batters trying to reach base by bunt.

With two outs in the second, Andrew Ahrendt (Augustana College) hoped to catch Muoio back at third. Instead Muoio rushed the ball, barehanded it and made the throw to first. Muoio repeated the play on the eighth when Donahue tried reaching with a bunt.

Muoio just missed hitting the first home run at Basket Road Field. In the seventh the Webster native led with a blast to right field that caromed off the top of the fence 320 feet from home.

Despite all that Muoio’s most important play of the day didn’t show up in the box score. The Monroe CC grad provided his former Tribune teammate with the necessary footwear for the game.

“I accidentally picked up the wrong bag at home and brought my work shoes for the game,” said Pullyblank. “Steve’s cleats were magic tonight.”

Webster’s offense left their best for last.

Geoff Dornes (R.I.T.) slapped a one-out hit in the ninth. Nate Koontz (Ball State) followed one out later with a triple just inside the right field foul line. Dornes scored from first with the winning run.

With the win Webster snaps a three-game losing skid and improves to 7-3. The pinstripes fell at Niagara last night, 6-2. Anthony Cimabue (Wilmington University) tossed a complete game for the Power last night. Webster lost a rain-shortened affair at Brockport on Wednesday, 4-3.

Shelby Robertson (Millsaps College) took the tough-luck loss. The native of Madison, Mississippi tossed eight and two-thirds of shutout ball before surrendering the game winner.

The Yanks travel to Allegany County tomorrow for a 7 p.m. game.

Pickin' Splinters

Webster Uses Clutch Hitting and Pitching to Beat Elmira

Paul Gotham — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 21:24:52 -0400

Webster Yankees head coach Dave Brust knows well of the necessary ingredients for a winning baseball team.

Sunday afternoon, Brust’s pinstripes showed they can punch clutch hits, play stingy defense, and provide effective pitching.

Steve Muoio (Georgia College) rapped a pair of doubles and Michael Craig limited the Elmira Pioneers to one hit over six as Webster won 4-1 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action.

Webster showed a penchant for timely hitting, as all four runs occurred with two outs.

Muoio rapped a one-out double in the second. After Mike Walraven (Hofstra) was thrown out at the plate, Muoio crossed the dish on a wild pitch.

In the seventh, Muoio ripped another one-out double off the base of the wall in right center. One out later, Olivier Bertrand (Monroe CC) delivered with a single.

Bertrand finished the game 1-for-1 with three walks.

None of the Webster runs were more impressive than the one scored in the fourth.

With two outs Shawn Bailey (SUNY Cortland) dropped a text book bunt on the first base side of the pitcher’s mound.

The ball advanced past the pitcher but died in front of the Pio second baseman, J.J. Edwards (Sacred Heart). After Bailey stole second, Chriss Soldi (UMass-Lowell) slapped a single into left center, plating the speedy Bailey.

Webster added an insurance run in the eighth.

Thomas Kufel (Mercyhurst) worked a one-out walk. One out later, the third baseman stole second. Again, Soldi delivered with an RBI single.

Webster stole four bases in as many attempts.

“The bottom of our order executed well today,” said Brust. “Shawn Bailey had a great day. We did a good job of making contact with two outs. We have veteran guys who make adjustments after their first at-bat.”

Craig allowed just two base runners striking out three and walking one.

“I couldn’t get a lot of strikes early with my curve,” said the right hander. “I relied mostly on my fastball early.”

That didn’t keep the Getzville, N.Y., native from mixing up speeds. Craig retired the last nine batters he faced, many with his breaking ball. Craig used just six pitches in the sixth keeping the Pio batters off-balance.

Bryant Guilmette (UMass-Lowell) came on in the eighth picking up his second save of the week. The southpaw showed a flair for the dramatic again.

With one out and bases loaded, Guilmette induced a sacrifice fly to left field before popping up the final batter of the frame. Guilmette retired the side in order in the ninth.

On Thursday, the Hopkinton, Mass., native came in with bases loaded and got the inning-ending double play.

“Honestly, I am not thinking about the situation when I come in,” noted the freshman. “I’m just hitting the mitt. It’s an easy game when you don’t think too much.”

With the win, Webster improves to 6-0 on the season.

After a day off, Webster travels to Hornell Tuesday. Game time is 7 p.m.

Pickin' Splinters

Webster-Elmira: Webster Yankees Continue To Impress

Paul Gotham — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:04:40 -0400

If first impressions mean anything, Dave Brust’s Webster Yankees possess all the traits of a quality baseball team.

The Webster nine used a combination of effective pitching with timely hitting and impressive defense to defeat the Elmira Pioneers at Dunn Field 4-2 on Saturday night.

Lincoln Rassi (Toledo) limited the Pios to two hits and two unearned runs over seven innings for his first win of the season.

“They didn’t hit one ball hard all night,” said Brust. “Those two hits were bleeders. Lincoln has great movement on his ball and throws a lot of strikes.”

After playing three games in four nights on the artificial turf of Basket Road Field, the deep cut grass of Dunn Field may have caused some timing dilemmas for the Webster infield.

“The long grass contributed to the two runs,” added Brust. “You take away those two errors and Lincoln goes another inning.”

For the third time this week, Nate Koontz (Ball State) provided timely fire power for the pinstripes.

Koontz’s two-run bomb in the sixth proved to be the difference. The one-out blast cleared the sign in left center, 385 feet from plate, scoring Mike Walraven (Hofstra) with the eventual winning run.

“Nate is aggressive with great hand speed,” commented Brust. “He’s a tough, hard-nosed kid.”

Friday night, Koontz brought home the winning run in the eighth with a one-out double. Tuesday night the freshman added an insurance run with a two-out triple.

Webster and Elmira traded runs in the fourth and fifth frames.

In the fourth Walraven and Steve Muoio (Georgia College) led with singles. Walraven moved to third on Muoio’s hit before scoring when Koontz grounded into a double play.

Olivier Bertrand (Monroe CC) doubled to start the fifth and advanced to third on a ground ball by Matt Jacobs (UMass-Lowell). Tom Kufel’s (Mercyhurst) ground ball to the right side of the infield brought home Bertrand.

Chris Burgess (Central Michigan) worked the eighth and ninth for his second save of the season.

The ninth was not without some drama. Elmira loaded the bases on a pair of free passes before Burgess induced the game-ending double play.

Through five games Webster pitchers have allowed eight runs, of which only four have been earned.

Webster hosts Elmira tomorrow for a 1:00 pm start at Basket Road Field. Mike Craig (St. John Fisher) gets the start for the home nine.

Pickin' Splinters

Dornes and Koontz Lead Webster

Paul Gotham — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 01:01:57 -0400

Eights are wild at Basket Road Field.

For the third consecutive game Dave Brust’s Webster Yankees saved their best until the eighth inning.

Geoff Dornes (R.I.T.) tossed seven innings and Nate Koontz (Ball State) capped a four-run eighth as Webster came from behind to defeat the Alfred Oilers 4-2 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action.

Koontz drilled a hanging slider to the base of the wall in straight away center plating Rhett Goodmiller (Central Michigan) with the tying and Matt Jacobs (UMass-Lowell) with the go ahead run in the three-run eighth. The double was the second big hit of the week for the Indianapolis, Indiana native. In Tuesday’s season-opener, Koontz’s triple added insurance as the pinstripes downed Elmira by the same score, 4-2.

“It feels pretty good right now,” said Koontz. “I’m seeing the ball pretty well.”

Dornes turned in an efficient performance for the home nine. Over seven complete the Landisville, Pa. native struck out and walked two.

“I really didn’t have my curve working early,” commented Dornes. “”I tried filling it up with my fast ball and worked on not walking many.”

The two-time Empire 8 player of the year showed his versatility at the plate driving in Koontz with a two-out single in the eighth. Dornes scored Webster’s first run in the fifth. The left-handed batter led the stanza with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. One out later Mike Walraven (Hofstra) beat out an infield single. Dornes scored when the throw from third went down the right field line.

Of Webster’s 17 runs scored this year, 13 have come during the eighth inning.

Tyler Scott (Toledo) worked two frames for his first win of the season.

“He throws a heavy fast ball,” commented Brust.

Scott struck out two and walked two.

Alfred scored a run each in the fifth and eighth. Nathan Papadeas (Texas-Tyler) staked the Oilers to a lead when he drove in Scott Haddock (Southern Tech) with a sacrifice fly to left field.

With the win, Webster improves to 4-0 on the season.

“Nothing is as good or as bad as you think it is,” noted Brust. “We gotta stay consistent and play every game like it was our first or our last.”

The Yankees play a home-and-home with the Elmira Pioneers this weekend. Webster travels to Elmira Saturday before returning home for 1 p.m. first pitch Sunday.

Pickin' Splinters

Webster Delivers Opening Night Win

Paul Gotham — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:02:57 -0400

(Photo - Koontz / Courtesy of Ball State Athletics)

At least for one night Dave Brust’s Webster Yankees proved good as advertised.

After weeks, even months, of speculation about the strength of the 2009 lineup, the pinstripes christened their new home with a come-from-behind 4-2 victory over the Elmira Pioneers, Tuesday night.

Ryan Chenoweth (Ball State) scored the winning run when Steve Muoio (Georgia College) slapped a two-out ground ball down the first base line. Pioneer first base man, Chris Paul (St. Ambrose College), struggled fielding the ball cleanly and the hustling Muoio kept the inning alive.

Elmira took a two-run lead in the seventh.

After six scoreless innings, the Pios took advantage of a walk and an error to tack a pair on the scoreboard. Nate David (Cornell) earned the free pass and stole two bases before scoring when a ground ball by Michael Hartz (Mansfield) was mishandled. Hartz moved up to second on the error and crossed home plate on a single by Sean Jamieson (Canisius).

But the home nine were not to be denied.

Sean Bailey (Cortland State) started the rally in the eighth when he dropped a one-out bunt single down the third baseline.

Ricky Clark (Central Michigan) followed with a walk before Chenoweth singled home Bailey with the first Webster run at their new home, Basket Road Field. Clark tied the game when Pat Devlin (UMass-Lowell) pushed a ball to right side of the infield.

Muoio finished the scoring when Nate Koontz (Ball State) tripled off the base of the wall in right center field. Koontz went 2-4 on the night.

Michael Craig (St. John Fisher) struck out one over two innings of work for his first win of the season.

Chris Burgess (Central Michigan) came on in the ninth for the save. The right-hander induced a 6-4-3 game-ending double play.

Webster starter, Scott Brothers (Ball State) locked horns with Sean Stewart (College of New Jersey) for six frames. The pair of hurlers surrendered just three base hits a piece before giving way.

Opening night had its share of first. Brothers notched the first strike out at Basket Road when he set down Elmira’s Paul. The Pios’ Ryan Ferguson (Temple) was the first base-runner when he worked a two-out walk in the top of the first. Koontz rapped the first base hit and Elmira’s David scored the first run.

Pickin' Splinters

Chauncey Billups: The Significance Of One Play

Paul Gotham — Sat, 23 May 2009 15:39:55 -0400

It started as a simple baseline out-of-bounds play.

With just a few seconds remaining in the first half of Game Two of the NBA’s Western Conference Final, the Denver Nuggets had the ball under the basket of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Nuggets had put together a 12-2 run to close within three of the Lakers.

Chauncey Billups took the inbound.

Denver put three across the foul line extended with Linas Kleiza on the three-point arc.

It didn’t take long to sniff out the play’s first option.

Carmelo Anthony, lined up on the opposite side of the floor, would weave through a pair of screens and come out on the ball side.

Chris Andersen set a screen at the elbow and stepped toward the basket.

Kleiza moved into the spot vacated by Andersen.

Kenyon Martin provided a safety valve on the opposite side of the floor.

At this point the play abandoned its script.

Whether the Nuggets had previously identified a flaw in the Lakers defense, or Chauncey Billups turned to his instincts, the point guard’s basket could prove to have more value than the two points indicated on the Staples Center scoreboard.

As Anthony came off Andersen’s screen, he left behind the Lakers’ Trevor Ariza.

Kobe Bryant, who lined up in front of Billups, recognized the situation and stepped in to help with Anthony.

With his back completely turned in the direction of the ball, Bryant provided an easy target. Billups tossed the ball off Bryant’s back, moved inbounds, retrieved it, pivoted, made one dribble, and used the window for the deuce.

In the end the two points might not have mattered because the Nuggets won the game by three.

But Billups’s play carries more meaning than the two points.

Bryant started the play in front of Billups with his back to the ball. This strategy could work because Billups would not have enough room to step inbounds and catch the ball.

As soon as Bryant left the baseline, he became vulnerable.

Bryant was not the only Laker caught out of position. Both Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom did not see the ball leave the hands of Billups.

Moments later, Bryant found himself in one of those intrusive halftime interviews that leave true sports fans wondering how the time spent indulging the media affects the game’s outcome.

As Bryant exited the floor, the in-studio analysts commented how his brief responses must be the result of his concern for the Lakers’ poor play in closing the first half.

On the other hand, Bryant’s terse remarks probably resulted from his wounded ego.

Not only had Bryant been made a fool of on the play, but his teammates provided no support. The Lakers star stepped out to help a teammate, but while Billups used Bryant’s back, no Laker had Bryant’s back.

The play should have fueled the Lakers efforts for the second half. Instead, Los Angeles surrendered home court advantage.

After the game, Billups commented that he had not done that since high school. The Nuggets point guard stopped short. He should have mentioned that he hadn’t found a player since high school who would put himself in position to allow such a play.

In the end, the basket counts for two points. But Billups’s bucket sends a message—throw out the rules of decorum. The Nuggets will do whatever it takes to win.

Pickin' Splinters

Central Michigan Sending Experience to Webster

Paul Gotham — Fri, 22 May 2009 08:34:13 -0400

Dave Brust knows well the purpose of the New York Collegiate Baseball League.

As a returning head coach, Brust understands that some of his players lack experience, and growing pains can result.

On the other hand, some players come with plenty of innings played and will seek to
fine-tune their games.

The latter is the truth with the Central Michigan Chippewas coming to play in Webster this summer.

When Rhett Goodmiller and Ricky Clark don pinstripes this summer, they will bring significant experience with them.

The Central Michigan pair will fortify Webster’s up-the-middle defense. Goodmiller and Clark have made over 60 starts this season for the Chippewas.

When speaking on Goodmiller Central Michigan Head Coach, Steve Jaksa commented: “He’s caught quite a bit.”

The freshman from Ossian, IN is hitting .261 with two home runs and 23 RBI along with 24 walks for an on-base percentage of .404.

“We’re trying to put him in a position where we can use his bat everyday in the lineup,” added Jaksa. Clark has made 20 starts this Spring, most of them at second base.

“He’s a quality kid,” said Jaksa. “Ricky always gives you his best.”

Clark has seven stolen bases in eight attempts to go with a batting average of .286. The Mason, Michigan native has a fielding percentage of .941 with 70 assists
and 60 put-outs.

Right-handed pitcher, Chris Burgess, will follow his teammates to Webster.

The freshman from St. Charles, Illinois has spent the season as a red shirt.

“We like Chris’s potential,” said Jaksa. “He’s got a good arm. He just needs to play. We’ve clocked him throwing 85-87. He knows he needs to perform.”

Webster opens the 2009 NYCBL season on Tuesday, June 9th when the Elmira Pioneers come to town.

The New York Collegiate Baseball League, founded in 1978, is a summer wood bat development league for professional baseball. Major League Baseball funds a small portion of the league’s annual budget.

The league gives college players who have not yet signed a professional contract the opportunity to develop their skills at a higher level of play, gain experience with
wood bats, and be evaluated by scouts. Current major leaguers Brad Lidge, Tim Hudson, John McDonald, and Dallas Braden all spent time in the NYCBL.

Former Webster Yankees, Bryan Gardner and Pat Urckfitz, currently play in the minor leagues. Gardner pitches in the Cincinnati Reds system while Urckfitz comes out of the bullpen in the Houston Astros system.

Pickin' Splinters

Pat Urckfitz Adding to His Legend with Houston Astros Class A Team

Paul Gotham — Thu, 21 May 2009 22:06:26 -0400

Pat Urckfitz spent last May coming out of the bullpen to help the Monroe Community College Tribunes finish third in the National Junior College World Series.

One year later, Urckfitz still makes that walk from the pen, but now the lefty does his work for the Lexington Legends of the Class A South Atlantic League.

He may have changed uniforms, and the scenery differs a little, but once again Pat Urckfitz is proving himself worthy.

Earlier this week, with the Legends clinging to a one-run lead in the ninth over the second place Savannah Sand Gnats, Coach Tom Lawless called on Urckfitz. The Penfield, New York native responded by retiring the three batters he faced for his first save at the Class A level.

“He’s found a rhythm and doing a nice job,” commented Lawless. ”His slider is starting to work for him, and he’s getting ahead in the count.”

Urckfitz has allowed one earned run in his last six appearances striking out 10 in seven-and-two-thirds innings.

“He’s a multiple inning guy,” added Lawless. “But we’ve also brought him in to face lefties in some situations.”

After a rough start Urckfitz has settled into his role.

“I struggled early in the season locating the ball,” said Urckfitz. “I wasn’t throwing my slider where I wanted.”

Over 13 appearances Urckfitz has struck out 18 and walked six for the Class A affiliate of the Houston Astros.

In last year’s NJCAA tournament, Urckfitz tossed 11.3 innings of relief, surrendering just one run while striking out 15.

Before signing as a free agent with the Astros, Urckfitz fanned 25 in 14.2 innings of work with the Webster Yankees of the New York Collegiate Baseball League. Opposing batters hit a paltry .207 against the lefty.

From there Urckfitz made 15 appearances for the Greeneville Astros of the Rookie Appalachian League, fanning 23 in 19 innings of work while notching an ERA of 1.40. The southpaw finished 1-0 with three saves for the campaign.

Those numbers earned Urckfitz a spot in the Astros’ fall instructional league at Kissimmee, Florida.

“If they don’t think much of you, they don’t invite you,” said Webster Yankee Coach Dave Brust of the invite to fall league. “It’s an investment.”

For his efforts Urckfitz earned a spot in early Spring Training.

“That was a good experience,” commented Urckfitz. ”It was a big challenge with mostly Double-A guys.”

One difference for the 20-year-old has been life on the road.

“At first it was an adjustment because we go on the road for eight days at a time. It took some getting used to. But it’s all right now.”

Wherever Urckfitz has gone, he leaves behind a positive impression.

“You’re not going to meet a better human being than Pat,” said current MCC and former Webster Yankee head coach, Mike Kelly. “As good of a pitcher as he is, Pat is twice that as a person.”

It’s only a matter of time before Lexington Legends fans learn the same.

Pickin' Splinters