League News – Onondaga Flames

NYCBL and ACBL create All-Star Game Showcase

Cortland, NY – The New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL) and Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League (ACBL) have partnered to create an All-Star Showcase between the two leagues. This newly formed summer classic will showcase All-Stars from both leagues beginning with the summer of 2018.

The NYCBL and ACBL are both members of the National Alliance of Summer College Baseball (NACSB). Both leagues are amongst the oldest and respected summer collegiate wooden bat leagues in the country. The ACBL began in 1967 followed by the NYCBL in 1978.

The inaugural game will take place in Syracuse, NY at the Onondaga Community College baseball complex on July 9, 2018. The NYCBL All-Stars will host the ACBL All-Stars in an action paced day to include a luncheon, home run derby and game. The NYCBL will return the trip and travel to the ACBL in the summer of 2019.

The All-Star Showcase will serve as the “official” All-Star game for both leagues.

The NYCBL consists of 12 franchises located exclusively in the Upstate New York region. The ACBL consists of 8 franchises geographically located surrounding the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York.

“The ACBL is pleased to participate in this event and looks forward to playing an All-Star game with the NYCBL. This will be an excellent opportunity for our players to display their baseball skills in front of Major League scouts, said ACBL President Tom Bonekemper.”

NYCBL Commissioner Joe Brown also stated. “One of our NYCBL goals was to have an inter-league All-Star game, we are excited that we were able to partner with the ACBL. This will enhance the experience and is exciting for our players to play another league, we feel this is a win-win for both leagues and Major League Baseball.”

In 2017 seven former ACBL players made their Major League debuts and 108 former ACBL players have played in the Major Leagues including players such as Craig Biggio, Jamie Moyer and Frank Viola.

The NYCBL had numerous former players on Major League rosters in 2017. From the likes of J.D. Martinez, Rajai Davis, Hunter Pence, Mike Fiers, Jason Motte and Tim Locastro. The league has also had great success over the years throughout Major League Baseball. All-Stars Brad Lidge and Tim Hudson along with Gold Glover Kirt Manwaring, Perfect Game Pitcher Dallas Braden along with other notable names like Clay Bellinger, Jeremy Accardo and Tim Naehring all played in the NYCBL.

Stay up to date with information on both leagues by visiting NYCBL and ACBL.

NYCBL

Former NYCBL Star promoted to the Los Angeles Dodgers

Tim Locastro (pictured) has made appearances for the Los Angeles Dodgers in his first two major league games against the Colorado Rockies. Locastro is an alumus of the NYCBL having payed for the Syracuse Jr. Chiefs (now the Onondaga Flames) in the 2012 summer season.

Tim swiped his first base of the season on Saturday September 30th.

Read more here about Tim’s unique journey to Los Angeles:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-rockies-20170929-story.html

@NYCBL_baseball

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=nycbl%20baseball

Onondaga Flames Set to Return to NYCBL

Onondaga, N.Y. – The NYCBL is excited to announce that CNY Baseball, Inc is returning to play in the league with the Onondaga Flames. CNY had voluntarily suspended play last year in the NYCBL and the Flames played the 2017 season in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League. After a successful season, in which the Flames made the playoffs in their first year of play, the team has decided to return to the NYCBL for the 2018 season. The Flames, of Onondaga, NY will call Onondaga Community College home.

The Flames will play in the Eastern Division of the league, joining the Cortland Crush, Rome Generals, Syracuse Salt Cats, Syracuse Spartans and Sherrill Silversmiths. The Onondaga flames will be operated by Wayne Walker and Alyce Lee, as part of CNY Baseball Inc, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.

“Alyce and I are pleased to have the Flames playing in the NYCBL. Our goals are in concert with the non-profit nature of the league and the footprint of the East Division is optimal for us and our players. Syracuse is a terrific baseball town and we look forward to the great competition in Central New York as well as the league,” said Wayne Walker, President of CNY Baseball.

“The NYCBL continues our momentum in becoming one of the top summer collegiate baseball leagues in the country, the addition of the Onondaga Flames enhances our very competitive Eastern Division, said NYCBL commissioner Joe Brown.”

Reprinted with the kind permission of the New York Collegiate Baseball League.

Flames Matt Bowman Honored As PGCBL All-League Selection

Onondaga, NY August 15, 2017: The Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League announced today that the Flames relief pitcher Matt Bowman (SUNY Broome) has been selected to the 2017 Season All-League second team as a relief pitcher. Bowman, the Flames closer, appeared in 17 games, pitched 25 innings and allowed only 6 earned runs to post a 3-2 won-lost record and log 7 saves. Matt struck out 20 while only walking 11. The big right-hander struck out 20 while walking only 11 and allowed 25 hits with only 3 going for extra bases.

Bowman threw a strike on the first-pitch to batters 70% of the time, one of the most critical stats for a relief pitcher.

Matt is from Endicott, NY

Full story.

PGCBL President Jeff Kunion Announces Retirement

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Contact: Travis Larner, PGCBL Director of Communications
Photo Credit: Travis Larner

PGCBL President Jeff Kunion Announces Retirement

Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) President Jeff Kunion announced today his intention to retire from his role as president when his contract expires at the end of the 2017 calendar year.

“My family will shortly be moving to Florida and with all of our teams in upstate New York, I would no longer be able to continue my work,” Kunion said.

He added, “We have come a long way in the almost six years I have served as league president. We have added six new teams, increased our level of competition, had hundreds of players drafted by MLB and play professional baseball, increased our fan base and attendance, and created a footprint across upstate New York. We have become one of the premier leagues in the country and the No. 1 league in New York State.”

Kunion has amassed more than 30 years of experience in the baseball world during his professional career. He began with the New York Mets in 1980 and spent seven years in their business office. He subsequently owned, operated and managed teams in the Double-A Eastern League, Northeast League and Central League. He also spent more than 10 years as bench coach and/or Director of Player Personnel for the North Shore Spirit (Can-Am), Florence Freedom (Frontier), Jackson Generals (Central) and Elmira Pioneers (Can-Am). Prior to being named president of the PGCBL, Kunion owned the Elmira Pioneers (NYCBL/PGCBL).

In a statement, the PGCBL Board of Directors applauded the work of Kunion.

“We want to thank Jeff for his time with the league. His leadership and service has been instrumental in getting the league up and running. With his help we are one of the best run leagues in the country.”

About the PGCBL
The Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League is a 13-team summer collegiate baseball league in Upstate New York. Since its inaugural season in 2011, the PGCBL – which annually draws talent from some of the best NCAA, NAIA, and junior college programs – has quickly evolved into the premier wood bat league in the state of New York, while becoming one of the most widely respected summer leagues in the country. The PGCBL is affiliated with Perfect Game, the nation’s largest independent amateur scouting bureau. Last year, there were more than 1,500 players in the pros who either wore the uniform of a PGCBL team or participated in a Perfect Game event. For more information, please visit www.pgcbl.com.

Travis Larner
Director of Communications
Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League

(e) tlarner@elmira.edu

Playoff Scenarios for the PGCBL

By Tim Hansen | Albany Dutchmen

With the playoffs approaching, there is still a lot to be determined for seeding within both divisions. With so many possible scenarios, let’s take a look at how the regular season could play out for each team, and what that may mean for their playoff picture.

Playoff Format

Top four teams from each division advance into the playoffs

Division Semifinals: Tuesday, August 1 (one-game playoff)
No. 1 seed vs. No. 4 seed
No. 2 seed vs. No. 3 seed

Division Finals: Wednesday, August 2, through Friday, August 4 (best-of-three series)
Winners of first round matchup in each division play each other

League Finals: Sunday, August 6, through Tuesday, August 8 (best-of-three series)
Winners of division finals will face off for the PGCBL Championship

East Division

Amsterdam Mohawks
Record: 35-12
Current Seed: No. 1
Games Back: n/a

Remaining Games
7/31 at Glens Falls – 7:00 p.m

Amsterdam has clinched the first seed in the East Division. In doing so, it will have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Mohawks will host the fourth-seeded Saugerties Stallions in the first round and with a win, they advance to play the winner of the two-vs-three matchup in a best-of-three series.

Albany Dutchmen
Record: 31-16
Current Seed: No. 2
Games Back: 4

Remaining Games
7/31 at Mohawk Valley (Continuation game from 7/26, Albany leads 7-1) – 5:05 p.m.
7/31 at Mohawk Valley – 7:05 p.m.

Albany has clinched a top-three seed in the East Division. The two games against Mohawk Valley will decide which team will receive the No. 2 seed and which team will receive the No. 3 seed. One win by the Dutchmen will clinch the No. 2 seed in the East Division and they’ll host Mohawk Valley in the first round of the playoffs

Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs
Record: 29-16
Current Seed: No. 3
Games Back: 5

Remaining Games
7/31 vs. Albany (Continuation game from 7/26, Albany leads 7-1) – 5:05 p.m.
7/31 vs. Albany – 7:05 p.m.

Mohawk Valley has clinched a top-three seed in the East Division. Its two contests against the Albany Dutchmen will determine if they can reach the No. 2 seed and have the ability to host the first round of the playoffs. If Mohawk Valley wins both games on July 31, it will clinch the No. 2 seed in the East Division and will host Albany in the first round of the playoffs. If the DiamondDawgs to not win both games againt Albany, they will clinch the No. 3 seed in the East Division and Albany will be the host in the first round of the playoffs.

Saugerties Stallions
Record: 20-28
Current Seed: No. 4
Games Back: 15.5

Remaining Games
n/a

Due to cancellations and suspensions, Utica is unable to catch up to Saugerties, as both fall short of playing all 50 games on their schedule. This causes Saugerties to be locked into the No. 4 in the East Division and they will play the Amsterdam Mohawks on Tuesday, August 1, at Shuttleworth Park. The winner of the matchup will face the winner of the two-vs.-three matchup in a best of three series.

Teams Eliminated from Playoff Contention:
Utica Blue Sox – 18-30, 17.5 GB
Glens Falls Dragons – 17-32, 19 GB
Oneonta Outlaws – 14-30, 19.5 GB

West Division

Jamestown Jammers
Record: 33-15
Current Seed: No. 1
Games Back: n/a

Remaining Games
7/31 vs. Onondaga – 7:05 p.m.

Jamestown has clinched the No. 1 seed in the West Division. Due to this, they will have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They will host the fourth-seeded Onondaga Flames in the first round and with a win they will play the winner of the two-vs-three matchup in a best-of-three series.

Geneva Red Wings
Record: 28-21
Current Seed: No. 2
Games Back: 5.5

Remaining Games
7/31 vs. Elmira – 7:05 p.m.

Geneva has clinched a top-three seed in the West Division and it comes down to its last game to decide whether or not the Red Wings will host the first round of the playoffs. They take on Elmira, who stands one-game back of them in the standings. The season series is tied at four a piece. If Geneva beats Elmira, then the Red Wings will clinch the No. 2 and host the Pioneers in the first round of the playoffs. If Geneva loses to Elmira, then the two will be tied at 28-21 and the Pios will earn the No. 2 seed by winning the season series 5-4.

Elmira Pioneers
Record: 27-22
Current Seed: No. 3
Games Back: 6.5

Remaining Games
7/31 at Geneva – 7:05 p.m.

Elmira has clinched a top-three seed in the West Division and will face off against Geneva to decide who will clinch the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds. The Pioneers and Red Wings will play each other in the first round of the playoffs, but if Elmira beats Geneva on Monday, then the Pios will earn the No. two seed virtue of the head-to-head tiebreaker. Geneva would then get the No. 3 seed. If the Pios lose to Geneva, then the Red Wings will clinch the No. 2 seed and host Elmira in the first round of the playoffs.

Onondaga Flames
Record: 23-25
Current Seed: No. 4
Games Back: 10.0

Remaining Games
7/31 at Jamestown – 7:05 p.m.

Onondaga has clinched the No. 4 seed in the West Division and travel to Jamestown to play against the Jammers in the first round of the playoffs. The winner of the first round will take on the winner of the two-vs.-three matchup in a best-of-three series.

Teams Eliminated from Playoff Contention:
Newark Pilots – 19-31, 15.0 GB
Adirondack Trail Blazers – 16-32, 17.0 GB

East Tops West in 2017 PGCBL All-Star Game

By Adam Agresta

AMSTERDAM, N.Y. – In a back-and-forth battle between the best in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, the Eastern Division All-Stars beat the West Division All-Stars by the score of 10-8 at Shuttleworth Park in Amsterdam on Tuesday night.

This marks the 7th straight PGCBL All-Star win for the East Division. Since the start of the PGCBL, the West Division has yet to win an All-Star game.
Anthony Vaglica (LIU Post) of the Glens Falls Dragons went 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs, capturing the All-Star Game MVP award, and Luke Petterson (Minnesota) went 2-for-2 with a double to lead the East Division. Troy Dixon (Samford) had a 2-RBI hit to lead the West Division All-Stars.

Taylor Olmstead (Southern N.H.) of the Utica Blue Sox got the scoring started for the East division in the bottom of the 1st by parking a ball over the left field fence to give the East a 1-0 lead. The West division would tie it up in the top half of the 2nd on an RBI groundout by Christ Conley (Canisius) of the Jamestown Jammers.

The East Division would score a run in the 3rd, and a home run off of the bat of Will Holland (Auburn), representing the home town Amsterdam Mohawks, in the 4th would give the East a 3-1 lead.

However, that lead was short lived, as the West plated 6 runs on 7 hits in the top of the 5th, highlighted by a 2-run RBI single by Troy Dixon of the Elmira Pioneers, to make it 7-3 in favor of the West All-Stars.

That lead lasted just as long, with the East striking for 7 runs on 5 hits of their own, highlighted by a 2-RBI double by Anthony Vaglica of the Glens Falls Dragons, giving the lead to the East All-Stars once again, this time 10-7.

The West Division squad would get a run back in the 6th on a Mikey Arman (Geneva Red Wings/Kenyon) sacrifice fly, making it 10-8, but it wouldn’t be enough.

The All-Star game win goes to John Clayton (Albany) of the Saugerties Stallions, while the loss will be charged to Cory Blessing (Ohio) of the Jamestown Jammers. The save goes to Nathan Wrighter (Bryant) of the Oneonta Outlaws.

http://pgcbl.com/news/?article_id=3004

Ten Flames Earn All-Star/Prospect Team Honors

Flames Well-Represented on All-Star/Prospect Teams

Onondaga, NY July 13, 2017: Ten Onondaga Flames players have been selected for the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Games on July 18, 2017 at Shuttleworth Park in Amsterdam, NY.

This year’s All-Star Day has two games featuring All-Stars selected for their performance thus far in league play and a Prospect Team selected for draft potential. Both teams are selected by a vote of each division’s coaches.

The Flames All-Star selections are Kyle Gallagher (Cornell), Gage Lanning (Canisius), Alex Canty (Monroe CC), Trent Schulte (Gonzaga) and Matt Bowman (SUNY Broome).

Gallagher (.297/.341/.351) has been a consistent performer all season and leads the Flames with 14 RBI’s. Kyle has been solid in left field as well. He will be a senior at Cornell in the fall.

Lanning (307/.435/.533) leads the league in triples with 6 and has 5 doubles to add to his extra base hits as well. Gage has 23 hits and 13 RBI’s. He will be a senior at Canisius in August.

Alex Canty (.247/.336/.351), a talented middle infielder who has been playing injured all season, was selected even without his best performance. Alex has multiple 4-year college offers, including a D1 school. He will be a Junior wherever he decides to attend.

Trent Schulte (1-1 ERA .254) has appeared in 11 games pitching 17.2 innings of middle inning relief. He has 16 SO and 3 BB for a SO to Walk ratio of 5.3. He leads the Flames with a 1.13 WHIP. Trent has an impressive K9 (strikeouts per 9 innings) of 8.15. He will be a Sophomore when he returns to Gonzaga.

Flames closer Matt Bowman (3-1, 3 saves, ERA 1.39) has pitched 19.1 innings in 12 games and has allowed only 3 earned runs. “Bo” as his teammates call him, has a 2:1 strikeout to walk ratio and a WHIP of 1.19. Matt has caught the eye of Hall of fame Coach George Valesente and will be transferring to Ithaca College this fall.

Flames Prospect team selections are Sam and Webb Little (Ithaca) Chase Hagerty (South East Missouri State SEMO), Stephen Bennett (Canisius) and Ryan Marketell (Monroe CC). The Prospect Team is meant to identify players with the greatest future draft potential.

Rifle-arm Sam Little (.273/.373/.341) has delighted Flames fans with spectacular play in right field this summer. After a slow start at the plate due to a hand injury, Sam has been hitting the ball hard lately and has been climbing in the stats.

Brother Webb, also playing with a nagging injury, has done yeoman service at shortstop and second base and has been on a tear at the plate. He hit triples in back-to-back trips to the plate last week.

Chase Hagerty (2-2 ERA 3.46) has been the steadiest Flames starter this summer. Opponents are batting a meager .189 against the big right-hander from Missouri. Chase has started 5 games and pitched 26 innings in which he has struck out 32 batters for a whopping K/9 of 11.08. Hagerty will be a sophomore when he returns to SEMO.

One of the hardest working players on the team, Stephan Bennett (.286/.414/.386) has impressed league observers with his potential. Only a freshman, Stephan has shown he can thrive at this demanding level of play. He will return to Canisius ready to assume more responsibility.

Ryan Marketell has a live arm with great potential on his 6’5″ frame. In the 13.2 innings of short relief pitched over 12 games, opponents have managed only .184 batting average against this impressive freshman.

The PGCBL has 13 teams, seven (7) in the Eastern Division and six (6) in the Eastern Division.

PGCBL All-Star and Prospect Teams Announced Tomorrow

Onondaga, NY July 12, 2017: The Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League is holding two 7-inning games for its All-Star Celebration Day to be held at Amsterdam’s Shutteworth Park on July 18th. The two-game format will feature a traditional All-Star game featuring players selected for their performance thus far in the 2017 season. In addition, a Prospect game featuring younger players league coaches feel are the best draft prospects. League wanted to showcase these exceptional younger players for fans and MLB scouts.

The league will announce the teams tomorrow – one division’s selection in the morning and the other in the afternoon.

Stay tuned to see which Flames will be honored.

40 Former PGCBLers Picked in 2017 MLB Draft

June 14, 2017 Perfect game Collegiate Baseball League: The 2017 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft concluded after 40 rounds and over 1,200 selections on Wednesday afternoon. Forty Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) alumni were taken in this year’s draft, adding to the growing number of former PGCBLers in the professional ranks.

The Amsterdam Mohawks led all PGCBL teams with 11 former players taken in the draft, in addition to one 2017 signee in Max Roberts (Wabash Valley). Six former Elmira Pioneers who chosen, as were five Albany Dutchmen alumni. Jamestown also had five selections, including current Jammer Christian Young (Niagara County C.C.), who was drafted for the second consecutive year.

Among the programs with the most success showings in the 2017 Draft was the University of Kentucky. The Wildcats finished one shy of a program record with eight selections, five which played in the PGCBL during their collegiate careers.

Wildcat second baseman Riley Mahan, a 2015 Amsterdam Mohawk, was the first alum taken off of the board, as he was picked 89th overall in the third round by the Miami Marlins. Mahan batted .303 with 47 hits, 38 runs, 21 RBIs and 14 stolen bases for the Mohawks and was named to the 2015 PGCBL All-Star Game. Mahan’s teammate in Kentucky and Amsterdam, Zach Logue, was chosen by Toronto in the ninth round. The PGCBL’s Co-Pitcher of the Year, Logue went 7-0 with a 2.29 ERA and 50 strikeouts during the summer of 2015. A 2014 Mohawk, Connor Heady, was also selected out of Kentucky by the Dodgers in the 23rd round.

The other two Wildcat draftees who played in the PGCBL both pitched at historic Dunn Field for the Elmira Pioneers. Logan Salow, a 2014 Pioneer, was taken in the sixth round by Oakland. 2015 Elmira hurler Justin Lewis was picked up by Tampa Bay in the 11th round.

University of Virginia standout Ernie Clement was the second PGCBL alum chosen in this year’s draft, going in the fourth round (No. 132 overall) to the Cleveland Indians. The Rochester, N.Y., native played for the Albany Dutchmen following the conclusion of his prep career in 2014 and batted .322 in 19 games.

Of the 23 MLB clubs who drafted a PGCBL player, the Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates led the pack with three apiece. In addition to Mahan, Miami also called Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs J.D. Osborne (Tampa) and Andrew Turner (LIU Brooklyn). Osborne, a 22nd round selection, and Turner, who was chosen in the 40th round, both played for Mohawk Valley during its 2015 PGBCL Championship season.

The Pirates selected 2016 Newark Pilot Chris Sharpe (UMass Lowell) in the 14th round, 2015-16 Albany Dutchman Gavin Wallace (Fairfield) in the 15th round, and 2015 Geneva Red Wing Drew Fischer (Amherst) in the 35th round.

To view the entire list of PGCBL alumni who were chosen in the 2017 MLB Draft, click here.