Webster Renews Pipeline With University of Toledo

Like peanuts and Cracker Jacks, Toledo Rockets coming to Webster is becoming one of the rites of summer.

When the Webster Yankees open the 2009 campaign on June 9 ^th , three players from the University of Toledo will don pinstripes.

Tyler Scott, Lincoln Rassi, and Jason Edwards will spend their summer months helping the home nine christen their new field on Basket Road.

Edwards is currently hitting .327 for a Toledo Rocket team that is perched atop the West Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC).  The sophomore outfielder has made 14 starts for Head Coach Cory Mee’s Rockets.

“Jason has been playing center and left fields for us,” noted Mee.  “Earlier in the year we used him more as a defensive replacement.”

When Toledo’s starting center fielder went down with an injury, Edwards proved worthy to play a more permanent role.  In 49 at bats the native of Trenton, Ohio has a home run, two doubles, and four runs batted in.  The left-handed batter has eight walks for an on-base percentage of .450.

Rassi has made six appearances out of the bullpen for Toledo.  Against East Division leading, Kent State, the right-hander from Goshen, Indiana tossed an inning and a third of shutout ball striking out two and surrendering zero hits.

“Lincoln throws 85-89 miles per hour,” noted Mee.  “He has some sink on his fast ball, and he has a curve and slider.”

Scott has made five appearances for the Rockets.  He has struck out five in five innings of work.

“Tyler has an above-average curve ball,” said Mee. “Right now he is searching for consistency.”

When discussing his freshman hurlers Mee added: “They will both be important to our program in the future whether that is the second half of this season or next year.  They are adjusting to pitching in college learning to get ahead in the count and staying low in the strike zone.”

In their three years of existence the Yankees roster has always consisted of student-athletes from Toledo.

Current Rockets, Jacob Bernath and Matt Zahel, pitched for Webster last summer.   Zahel finished the season hurling 16 and a third consecutive shutout frames earning himself a POTW . He posted a team-leading ERA of 1.65 – striking out 26 while walking 12 in 32 and two-thirds innings of work.

Bernath finished the season striking out 19 and walking 12 in 30 innings work. The south paw also pitched for Webster during the ’07 campaign.

After graduating from Hilton High School, Toledo head coach, Mee, went on to the University of Notre Dame where he was a four-year starter.  In his final year Mee earned Academic All-America honors.  After signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Mee played one season for the Yakima Bears of the Northwest League.

Webster opens the 2009 NYCBL season at Webster Town Park on June 9th when 2007 league champion, 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.

Pickin’ Splinters