Daubach Has Pittsfield Overcoming Obstacles

The Pittsfield Colonialsfaced a monumental uphill task when they joined the Can-Am Leaguethis season because they got a very late start in putting together the remnants of Owner Buddy Lewis’sill-fated team from Nashua, NH.  The Berkshire Mountainarea in Western Massachusettsis renowned for its summer culture, which does not necessarily include baseball.

But the Brian Daubach-led Colonialshave put on a spirited run, including winning 10 of 11 at one stretch during a recent road trip, to take a slim second-half lead heading into a four-day series at Yogi Berra Stadiumin Little Falls, NJ,where the homestanding New Jersey Jackalshave a six-game streak of their own and are right on Pittsfield’s heels.

“We lost a lot of games early when we had leads,” Daubach said shortly after arriving in New Jersey Thursday afternoon.  That has been corrected, in no small measure because pitching coach Juan Padillais back from a scary health situation to bring together an altered staff and to close games himself.  Padilla (1-0) picked up his fifth save Wednesday.

 Padilla, who Daubach first got to know when they were teammates with the New York Metsin 2005, had a ruptured appendix while pitching winter ball in Puerto Rico.  He had surgery—“three times, I believe,” Daubach said—and spent 22 days in the hospital.

 The starting staff is anchored by right-hander Kyle Zaleski, who has come into his own after years of elbow issues and finally has his feet on the ground in his seventh Independent league since he got out of Illinois Statein ’04.

 “He’s probably the best pitcher in the league right now,” praised Daubach, who believes the 28-year-old has matured and benefitted from Padilla’s tutelage.  “He’s been fabulous”, the manager added, taking one no-hit effort into the seventh inning and another into the eighth.  Zaleski is 7-2 with a league-leading 2.02 earned run average, and the victory total is one more than he had for his career (6-6) coming into this season. 

Phillies Take Six From Five Separate Indy Leagues

       The Philadelphia Phillies, who have been one of the most active teams in going after Independent Baseball talent in recent years, have been at it again, buying no less than six pitchers who have played in five different leagues and assigning them to their Class A or rookie teams.

* * * *

www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com ADDED TO www.IndyBaseballChatter.com

FOR ADDITIONAL INDEPENDENT BASEBALL COVERAGE? 

* * * *

Lake County Stadium ‘Perfect’ to Costner

       “I don’t know many words higher than that, but I am content to say ‘perfect’”, was Kevin Costner’sdescription to The Daily Herald when he got his first look at the incomplete stadium in Zion, ILwhere he is co-owner of the Lake County Fielders. The actor flew in from Aspen, COto flip the switch that turned on the lights for the first time.  Costner said shortly before he arrived the sky reminded him of a scene from “Field of Dreams”, one of his three baseball-themed movies:  “I’ve just created something totally illogical.”

        (This is an excerpt from the column Bob Wirz writes on Independent Baseball.  Fans may subscribe at www.WirzandAssociates.com, enjoy his blogs, www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com and www.IndyBaseballChatter.com , or comment to RWirz@aol.com .  The author has 16 years of major league baseball public relations experience with Kansas City and as spokesman for two Commissioners and lives in Stratford, CT.)