Muoio Finding College Life To Be A Peach

Few of Dave Brust’s Webster Yankees will have a shorter commute to Webster Town Park than Steve Muoio.  On the other hand, none of the home nine have travelled further than Muoio to continue their college baseball career.

When the New York Collegiate Baseball League season opens on June 9 ^th , Steve Muoio could measure the distance of his drive by the few stop lights he will pass through to Basket Road.  That’s quite a difference compared to the 900 mile trek the Webster Thomas graduate has made to continue his baseball career at Georgia College and State University.

Make no mistake, Muoio did not lose his ability to hit the baseball along the way.

The left-handed hitter has started 45 games for Georgia College and helped the Bobcats to a record of 16-11 in the Peach Belt Conference and an overall slate of 37-17.

“We knew he could play a variety of positions,” commented Bobcat head coach, Tom Carty. “Steve has earned the spot as our starting third baseman.”

Muoio has responded with five home runs and 27 RBI to go with an impressive batting average of .317.

“He’s swinging the bat really well for us,” added Carty.

Still, Muoio is not satisfied.

“I’m struggling to find my groove every game,” said Muoio.  “I’m doing whatever I can to help the team.”

Last summer Muoio led the home nine with 48 hits, 20 RBI, a slugging percentage of .469 and a .459 on-base percentage.  His batting average of .375 – including .405 with runners in scoring position – ranked third in the league and helped Muoio grab first team NYCBL honors.

“He can swing,” stated Brust. “I would expect Steve to hit in the 3,4, or 5 hole and to be a steady RBI guy.”

“I have been looking forward to the upcoming season,” said Muoio.  “Coach Brust and (former Webster assistant) Coach Parlet really helped me last summer.”

Muoio was an integral part of Monroe Community College’s run to the 2008 Junior College World Series. He hit .421 with six home runs, and 58 RBI as the Tribunes finished third in the nation.

“Every year I go to the JUCO World Series,” mentioned Carty.  “I noticed Steve as freshman and when he was still available, we brought him in.  Being a left-handed hitter he’s really helped us.”

That experience with the Tribunes has helped as the Bobcats earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional – the school’s fourth bid in the last five seasons.

31 Georgia College alums have earned pay checks from professional baseball.  Currently eight Bobcats play minor league ball in a variety of organizations.

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