By Paul Gotham
Carlos Asuage (Oneonta ’11) and Joe Gunkel (Oneonta ’11) led Oneonta’s Outlaws to the 2011 New York Collegiate Baseball League championship. Chris Bostick (Webster ’11) helped Webster’s Yankees get in position for the organization’ s only championship series appearance. The three NYCBL alums are squaring off in the Advanced-A Carolina League Southern Division Series as the Salem Red Sox take on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
Bostick helped Myrtle Beach (Texas Rangers) to their fourth straight playoff appearance. In his fourth season of professional baseball, the middle infielder hit .251 including 50 extra-base hits and 62 RBI. His 81 runs scored led the Pelicans and was good for second in the Carolina League. He also finished fifth in doubles (31), ninth in RBI and second in total bases (204). He appeared in the 2013 New York-Penn League All Star Game.
Both Asuage and Gunkel started 2014 with the Single-A Greenville Drive (Boston Red Sox) of the South Atlantic League before earning call-ups. Asuage hit .310 with 67 extra-base hits including 11 home runs and 101 RBI. The Carolina League’s RBI leader collected 84. Asuage hit .269 with one home run last season – his first in minor league baseball. He grabbed Carolina League Offensive Player of the Week earlier this season.
Gunkel is 6-5 on the season. The right-hander struck out 101 while walking 24 in 103-plus innings of work. He made 15 starts this season including all 10 of his appearances for Salem. His combined WHIP of 1.08 would tie him for third in the Carolina League.
Bostick garnered 2011 NYCBL Player of the Year honors hitting .418 with 19 extra-base hits including five home. The Oakland A’s selected him that year in the 44th round. The Aquinas Institute (HS) graduate signed with the A’s at the completion of the NYCBL regular season.
Asuage hit .369 in 41 games for the 2011 champion Outlaws. He scored 35 runs, drove in 26 and stole 19 bases to grab first-team All-League honors. The Nova Southeastern product grabbed 2012 All-Star honors in the Cape Cod League.
Gunkel went 3-2 in six regular season starts for Oneonta. The West Chester alum fanned 40 and walked just four in 43.1 frames of work. He hurled seven shutout innings in his only post-season appearance.
Salem won game one of the Carolina League Southern Division series with a controversial home run in the 10th inning. Click here to read about the three ejections.
Oneonta swept the 2011 NYCBL Championship, 2-0.
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