With Baseball Players Always Looking for a Difference Maker, Brian Burgamy May Have Found It in Australia

Except for the relatively few who come into Independent Baseball with a superb professional resume, players always try to look for an edge, some type of door-opener that will help them get recognized as better than run-of-the-mill talent so they can elevate their career. The major leagues almost always are the goal. Brian Burgamy is […]

Former Geneva Red Wings Chaplin and Fennell sign free agent deals

Little more than a year ago they wore the uniform of the Geneva Red Wings. Later this month they may face each other in the Arizona Rookie League. Jake Chaplin (Haverford) will catch a plane headed to Arizona early this week. When he arrives he will find a locker, new uniform and a contract with […]

Sherrill’s Van Boom ends summer with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod League

Seventy-nine games was not enough. After starting 44 games for the Brown Bears and 35 for the Sherrill Silversmiths, Wes Van Boom went looking for more. He got what he wanted. Soon after his New York Collegiate Baseball League season ended, Van Boom headed east, crossed the Sagamore Bridge and ended the summer with the […]

Jr. Chiefs seize the NYCBL title

GENEVA, N.Y. — Pressure created a crack which eventually widened enough to make the difference. The relentless Syracuse Jr. Chief offense played to its character and in so doing caused uncharacteristic play from its opponent. Series MVP Tim Locastro (Ithaca) slapped a one-out bases loaded single to bring home the winning run as the Jr. […]

Relief Pitching Best Path to Majors For Indy Players, Including Saves Milestone-Chaser Wilhelmsen

Many baseball people like to say the easiest path to the major leagues is to become a catcher.  Statistics prove otherwise for Independent Baseball players striving to reach the promised land where the minimum salary is a not-so-measly $480,000 a year. Fifteen of the 18 players who have worn Independent uniforms and currently can boast […]

Suns Hit a Gnome Run With Harper Promotion

The Hagerstown Suns, the Nationals’ South Atlantic League farm team, handed out a rather interesting item this past Saturday night, when they gave away Bryce Harper Garden Gnomes to the first 1,000 fans who entered Municipal Stadium. The gates opened at 6:00, but fans began lining up before 5:00 to ensure that they would receive […]

Hornell’s Eck to finish summer in the Cape Cod Baseball League

Most players of the New York Collegiate Baseball League have returned home for rest and relaxation before heading back to campus this fall. That’s not the case for Eric Eck (Wofford). Not long after his NYCBL season ended, Eck agreed to make the trip to Massachusetts and finish the summer season with

Schweigert and Niagara advance to the NYCBL finals

GENEVA, N.Y. — On a night that saw 31 hits, defense made the difference. When it was over, the final out rested in an appropriate glove, and the Niagara Power clinched its first trip to the finals. Niagara swept the New York Collegiate Baseball League Western Division finals pounding out 19 hits en route to […]

Jr. Chiefs flex muscles and eliminate the Red Wings, 14-7

GENEVA, N.Y. – So much for momentum and any theories of inertia. The Geneva Red Wings came into the New York Collegiate Baseball League Eastern Division finals with a full head of steam after winning three straight in rousing fashion. That streak came to a screeching halt at McDonough Park. Frank Salerno (St. Thomas Aquinas) led […]

Eddy Rodriguez’s First At-Bat Homer Tough to Top Although New Leadership at Newark Makes a Statement

For every pitch during nearly three and a half hours (3:28), the game had every bit the look of the final game in a championship series.  The lead changed hands three times and the game was tied on four occasions.  Play was crisp throughout with 25 hits and 15 runs.  And the winning run scored […]

Red Wings reap the benefits of Heyman’s decision

GENEVA, N.Y. — It hasn’t taken long for Grant Heyman to get comfortable making his way around the base paths of the New York Collegiate Baseball League. Not that he needed any directions. Getting four bags at a time looks familiar to him. Heyman connected for his latest home run on Sunday as the Geneva […]

Stimpson’s perseverance paying dividends for the Red Wings

GENEVA, N.Y. — There was Leon Stimpson running along the right field line fence exchanging high fives with the denizens of McDonough Park. Less than four days earlier he breathed life into a season on life support. Now, Stimpson and his Geneva Red Wing teammates have a chance to play for a championship. No one […]

Geneva Red Wings advance with a 6-5 victory over Adirondack

GENEVA, N.Y. — Pitcher and team went looking for redemption. The hurler sought to put a disastrous start behind him. The club needed to make sense of a season of unfulfilled expectations. Both reached their goals. Aaron Benusis (Alvernia) notched a series-clinching win as the Geneva Red Wings defeated the Adirondack Trail Blazers, 6-5 to

Stimpson punches Geneva’s playoff ticket with walkoff hit

Around half-past ten EST Wednesday night, the playoff scenarios in the New York Collegiate Baseball League‘s Eastern Division were as tangled as a weed bed in nearby Seneca Lake. A three-way tie for the final two playoff spots looked probable. Then everything changed.

‘It Feels Really Good’ to Be Back on Diamond After Four Years Away for Fit-Looking Shea Hillenbrand

One of the more improbable of comeback attempts is that of two-time major league all-star Shea Hillenbrand, who averaged just over 85 runs batted in for his first four full seasons (’02-05 with Boston, Arizona and Toronto) before falling out of any level of affiliated baseball five years ago.  He did log 36 games (.340) […]

Ansett and Burkhardt lead the Ridgemen past Olean in home finale, 6-3

Looking for a sendoff to the 2012 home schedule, Taylor Hargrove and his Lake Ontario Ridgemen found the right combination. Spencer Ansett (Whitworth) held one of the league’s top offenses in check for eight innings, and Jonathan Burkhardt (East Texas Baptist) sparked an 11-hit attack as the Ridgemen downed the Olean Oilers, 6-3 in New […]

Lynch and Newton drive Niagara in victory over the Ridgemen

Hornell’s Dodgers had their streak. The Syracuse Jr. Chiefs put together their own – the season’s longest. Olean had a nice run. As did Utica. Now seems to be Niagara’s time. Chane Lynch (Dallas Baptist U.) collected a pair of hits as the Niagara Power defeated the Lake Ontario Ridgemen, 6-4 in New York Collegiate […]

A Key Acquisition From Independent Baseball Gets Attention Right Before All-Star Game

It was only a couple of hours before Tuesday’s All-Star Game in the massive tent outside of Kansas City’s handsome Kauffman Stadium where the official pre-game party was held when Royals Hall of Famer Art Stewart was remembering the important role Jose Lima played for the American League team after his contract was purchased from […]

MLB Draft Pick Heyman signs with the Geneva Red Wings

Looking to bolster their lineup for the stretch run, the Geneva Red Wings of the New York Collegiate Baseball League signed MLB draft pick, Grant Heyman. The Toronto Blue Jays chose Heyman out of high school in the 11th round with 355th overall pick of the 2012 draft.

Schwartz pitches Niagara to split with Ridgemen

WEBSTER, N.Y. — It’s not often that coaches enjoy surprises, especially when battling for playoff position late in the season.  Niagara’s Garrett Shivley got something unexpected Monday night, and he’s not complaining. Jordan Schwartz (Niagara Univ.) tossed a complete-game three hitter as the Power rebounded for a doubleheader split (6-5 / 5-1) with the Lake […]

Muglia and Adirondack make it two in a row with 6-2 triumph over Geneva

GENEVA, N.Y. — It’s not in the losing as much as it is in the getting up after defeat. After dropping five consecutive and falling to .500 at 12 wins and 12 losses, the Adirondack Trail Blazers got up off the canvas. Two strong pitching performances later have the Trail Blazers streaking in the opposite […]

Joliet Turns Windy Thunderstorm Into Its Latest Success With 550,110 You Tube Viewers

What is it some people say about all publicity being good? The Joliet (IL) Slammers hit the publicity jackpot, in a very unusual—and scary—manner this week, and more than half a million people have seen the visual evidence. Since no one was injured when a major thunderstorm hit Silver Cross Field in the suburban Chicago community, […]

Ansett and the Ridgemen beat Wellsville, 7-2

WEBSTER, N.Y. — Lake Ontario coach Taylor Hargrove has been looking for an angle to accentuate the positive. A new name and a clean slate might fit the bill. Spencer Ansett (Whitworth) tossed five shutout innings, and his offense got all the runs needed in their first at bat as the Lake Ontario Ridgemen defeated […]

‘Cookie-Cutter’ Approach Out the Window As Mark Mason Develops Pitchers

Mark Mason has been unusually busy in recent days as interim manager of the Atlantic League’s two-time defending champion York (PA) Revolution while Andy Etchebarren recovers from his latest back surgery, but with that stretch ending he will slide back into concentrating on being a pitching coach with a record most people can only dream […]

Hornell continues streak; defeats Rochester, 9-4

WEBSTER, N.Y. – Hornell’s Dodgers came north on route 390 toting a four-game win streak along with them. The NYCBL Western Division leading club left town adding another victory to their streak. Matt Calhoun (Harding) connected for a three-run home run in the pivotal fifth inning as the Dodgers came from behind to defeat the […]

Adirondack continues dominance of Geneva

An efficient Adirondack offense took advantage of six Geneva errors, and three pitchers combined for a shutout as the Trail Blazers downed the Red Wings 10-0 in New York Collegiate Baseball League action, Friday night. Adirondack pushed runs across the plate in each its last four at bats to put the contest out of reach. […]

Indy Domination? It Was in This Eastern League Game With Mates Getting Win, Save and All Six RBI

Independent Baseball players who have had their contracts purchased by major league organizations seem to understand what a neat little fraternity they have.  They are in the minority on affiliated minor league rosters with the norm probably only a couple of hopefuls on a 25-man team. Longtime Can-Am League first baseman Chris Colabello knew all […]

Olean Oilers dismantle Rochester AIA

WEBSTER, N.Y. – The Olean Oilers scored 19 unanswered runs en route to a 20-7 victory over the Rochester Athletes in Action in New York Collegiate Baseball League play at Basket Road Field, Wednesday night. Olean sent 14 batters to the plate in a 12-run seventh inning to blow the game away. Seth Heck (Tacoma […]

New Grip Helps Brock Peterson Slug Eight Homers in Nine Games And Climb to Top of Atlantic League Ladder

Brock Peterson remembers one time when he banged out something like 17 consecutive hits. But that was as an American Legion player, and he was using a metal bat. His latest streak was much more vital to his career because eight home runs in nine games in a 10-day period in the Atlantic League is […]

‘Fun to Watch’ Double Play Duo Helps Spark ‘Relentless’ Wichita to 13 Wins in Last 14 Games

It is not always easy to find just a word or two that describes a successful baseball team, but Kevin Hooper says he has found himself frequently using “relentless” in describing the Wichita (KS) Wingnuts he manages.  I have a feeling a second word to describe the American Association team that has run off 13 […]

Scheppers, Coello Added to Indy Roster in Majors While Stu Pomeranz’s Season Is Interrupted

It was just a week ago when we projected that Tanner Scheppers, who started his professional career with the St. Paul Saints in the American Association, could well be one of the next Independent players to reach the major leagues.  It happened Thursday when the Texas Rangers added the right-hander to their roster.  Scheppers was […]

Willie Upshaw Already Has a Significant Major League Resume, But Bridgeport Skipper Longs for Chance to Lead a Team

Willie Upshaw’s post-playing-days reputation as both a major and minor league hitting guru seems unchallenged and he enjoys the opportunity to be near his home in Fairfield, CT, but he is much like those he manages in the Atlantic League in that he wants a different job. “I get pigeonholed as a hitting coach”, the […]

While Early, Attendance Is Strong With Numerous Crowds of 7,000

Joke all you want about how everything seems bigger in Texas, but there is a certain truth in the early weeks of the Independent Baseball season with El Paso luring the biggest single game crowd (7,823) and Sugar Land reaching the 7,000 plateau in each of its first six home games. Lone Star State teams […]

A Tale of Two Teenagers

Another teenage phenomenon has made his way through Hagerstown, only this year he was wearing visiting gray and his stay lasted for only four games. Dylan Bundy, the Baltimore Orioles 2011 first-round draft pick who is rated by many scouts as the best high school pitching prospect in the last 25 years, threw five shutout […]

Triple-A Veteran Ed Nottle’s Willingness to Move In ’93 Was an Early Sign Independent League Baseball Would Work

The 20th season of modern day Independent Baseball gets going full steam tonight (Thursday) when the Frontier League, American Association and Can-Am League join the Atlantic League, which has a three-week head start. Miles Wolff and Ed Nottle, two of the prominent names in the business which currently has 50 teams and annually entertains from […]

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