Camden’s Von Hayes and Chiaravalloti Doing Double Duty

CamdenManager Von Hayesand part-time cleanup hitter Vito Chiaravallotiboth have a lot on their mind these days, and it is only partially due to the Riversharks’uphill battle to make the Atlantic Leagueplayoffs.            

The postseason is immediate priority No. 1, but Hayes, the onetime Philadelphia Philliesstar, also heads up a group that hopes to purchase the team, while Chiaravalloti’s time is split between trying to drive in runs and his new love, education.

While the Riversharks are nine games off the second half pace in the Liberty Division, they could well get into the playoffs if Southern Marylandand Yorkboth win each half of the regular season, which is a distinct possibility.  More on that topic later.

Aside from guiding the current team day to day, Hayes and the group of sports-oriented Philadelphia businessmen he has put together “are still negotiating”, he said, with current owners Frank Boultonand Peter Kirkto buy “maybe up to 75 per cent” of the team.   

“My goal (now is) to put out the best defensive team I can”, Hayes explained.  “I feel we now have a chance to make a run at this thing (playoffs).”  That’s where Chiaravalloti fits in.

Chiaravalloti played in three games for Somersetas a backup until Hayes and Patriotsboss Sparky Lylestruck up a discussion while exchanging lineup cards at home plate.  The problem for both teams is that the onetime Richmond Spidersplayer is starting his second year as Director of Admissions, psychology teacher, head swimming coach and jayvee baseball coach at Christian Brothers Academyin Lincroft, NJand is working on a master’s degree in administration at Seton Halland getting a teaching certification .

“I didn’t expect to play this year,” 6-foot-3 first baseman-designated hitter told this corner, even though “my heart has always been in baseball.  Education is kind of my new passion.”     

The right-handed hitter has hit safely in the last six games in which he has had an official at-bat, going 8-for-17 (.471) to raise his Camden average to .233 (10-for-43) with nine RBI but no home runs.

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Bridgeport Run Strengthens Its Playoff Bid

By winning 11 of its last 13 Bridgeporthas strengthened its pursuit of a playoff position by staying within one-half game of Liberty Divisionpacesetter Southern Marylandand building a five and a half game bulge in the wild card race, which goes into effect if at least one team takes both halves in the regular season.  The Bluefishactually have the second best overall record, moving slightly ahead of York, which won the first half in the Freedombracket.  Lancastercurrently leads that division by one game. 

This ‘n That

It took only three appearances and six mediocre innings (0-1, 7.50) before San Franciscopurchased the contract of right-hander Adrian Martinfrom Long Island.  He had been in Double-A with Toronto, and will go back to that level in Richmond, VA…The Duckshave brought in six-year major league vet Joey Gathright, who had been in Triple-A with Baltimoreafter increasing his big league games total to 445 when he spent time with Bostonand the Chicago Cubsin ’09… Tim Lavigneis the latest Atlantic Leaguer to move into a college coaching job.  “I haven’t found a ‘con’” to retiring as a player to become pitching coach at Old Dominion, the 32-year-old told MyCentralJersey.com , after taking off his Somersetuniform and ending an 11-year pro career.  He was 0-2, 4.97 in nine appearances, including four starts for the Patriots.

        (These are excerpts from the Atlantic League Notebook.  Subscriptions to the full Notebook are available via www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com or www.WirzandAssociates.com .  Bob Wirz also writes a weekly column, the Independent Baseball Insider, as well as a blog, www.IndyBaseballChatter.com. The author has 16 years of major league baseball public relations experience with Kansas City and as chief spokesman for two Commissioners and lives in Stratford, CT.)