By PAUL GOTHAM
OLEAN, N.Y. — Bobby Bell understands the power of a collective spirit. That’s why if the fourth-year Olean Oilers manager had his way, the New York Collegiate Baseball League would change the name to one of its season-ending awards.
Under Bell’s guiding hand, the Oilers went from outside the playoff picture in mid-July to 2015 NYCBL Champions three weeks later. The Oilers won eight of their final 10 regular season games before taking six of seven in the post-season to the organization’s first championship.
That is just part of the reason Bell was named 2015 NYCBL Manager of the Year.
“You know what, it’s awesome,” Bell said of the award. “I love it that my name has the title.”
Bell didn’t hesitate to mention the names of everyone with whom he works: team owners Brian and Rene O’Connell, director of baseball operations and assistant coach Sean O’Connell, fellow assistants John Dry and Brian Swift along with strength and conditioning coach Lucas Weitzel.
“I know my name gets put on the plaque or the trophy or whatever it is, but it should be those guys,” Bell stated. “It should just say Oilers’ staff.”
One year after missing the playoffs, Olean won a franchise-record 26 games.
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“It’s great,” Bell said of the accomplishment. “It’s a good feeling.”
They went on to sweep the Geneva Twins in the Western Divisional Series.
“He did a great job this year,” Geneva’s Andy Weeks said. “His team was struggling early on. Bobby’s team did a great job of peaking at the right time and making a run. He’s done a phenomenal job with that group. They played loose. They played hard. That’s the toughest thing to get out of a summer program.”
The Oilers carried home-field advantage into the Western Division Championship Series where they eliminated the Niagara Power in a decisive third game.
“He’s always about the next play, the next moment,” Niagara’s Josh Rebandt noted. “If there’s a play that goes against his team whether it’s a ball or strike call or an out or a safe call, he always so what. We’re on to the next play.
“That’s one of the biggest things that I’ve noticed about Bobby. It’s not about what has happened, but it’s about what’s going to happen. I think that really creates unity within the team. They know it’s about what’s coming up next. They had a lot of chemistry this year. All that’s due to Bobby’s leadership.”
Olean went on to sweep the Oneonta Outlaws in the 2015 NYCBL Championship Series.
“You get to the field at four, he’s already been here since 12,” Olean catcher Mike Fahrman (University of Florida) commented. “It just shows his hard work, his dedication. He cares about us. He hangs out with us off the field. I feel like he’s a brother to me. That’s how he is with all of his players.”
“He always comes to the field with energy,” Oiler outfielder Isaac Dillard (Gulf Coast CC) stated. “On the field he’ll get after it. He makes sure we get after it. Just the little things a great coach has. He’s just somebody to look up to. A great man to look up to.”
Hornell’s Tom Kenney was named 2014 Manager of the Year.
2015 Manager of the Year voting (first place votes in parentheses).
Bobby Bell (6) 40
Tom Kenney (5) 38
Mike Martinez (3) 22
Joe Hughes (1) 20
Josh Rebandt (1) 17
Bill McConnell (2) 15
Bob Shaffer (2) 11
Andy Weeks 7
Matt Colbert 6
Joe Shallenberger 3
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