Chris Bostick

By Paul Casey Gotham

Add another to the list of accomplishments by the 2011 Webster Yankees. The team which set a New York Collegiate Baseball League record with 14 consecutive wins and reached the league finals for the first time in the organization’s history placed the a club record five on the all-league team including Player of the Year, Chris Bostick.

“I’m not surprised,” said Webster head coach Dave Brust. “Certainly Chris is the best player in the league. There was not a coach or a manager who didn’t see that.

Bostick hit .413 for the summer with 17 extra-base hits including five home runs and 32 RBI.

“It was my pleasure to coach him,” said Webster skipper, Dave Brust. “He is a gentleman, and he competes at a level that everyone hooked their wagons to.”

Signed after season started, Bostick joined a club that was playing .500 baseball with a record of four wins and four losses. Webster finished its season riding a 13-game win streak to win the  NYCBL West Division championship.

Drafted in the 44th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft, Bostick signed with the Oakland Athletics in late July. He started his professional career with a 13-game hitting streak and is currently batting .442 with the AZL Athletics.

Ben Bostick

Four fellow Yankees joined Bostick garnering end-of-the-season league honors.  Bostick’s older brother, Ben, earned first-team All-NYCBL as did pitchers Joe Greenfield and Kevin Johnson. Connor Sullivan grabbed second-team honors.

“He did things that made the club win,” said Brust of the elder Bostick. “Ben went about his business everyday.”

The older Bostick hit .362 and led the league with 64 hits including a team high 19 for extra bases.  He matched  a club record set a year ago by Tyler Grogg with 19 stolen bases.

But his biggest contribution might have been his adaptability. Bostick, a natural infielder, made the transition to outfield where he played both right and center field.

“His quiet day-to-day leadership made a difference,” Brust commented.

Joe Greenfield

Greenfield went 4-2 in eight starts for the home nine. He held opposing batters to just six extra-base hits in 60 innings of work.

“I thought Joe was the best starting pitcher in the league,” Brust said. “He would always figure out a team.”

The right-hander from from Orland Park, Illinois struck out 37 and walked 19 while finishing with an ERA of 1.80.

“He is a blue-collar type of player,” Brust explained by pointing out Greenfield’s habit of running on and off the field.

Johnson and Sullivan combined for a deadly one-two punch out of the bullpen. Both saved five games.  Johnson made 15 appearances with Sullivan getting on the bump 21 times.

Kevin Johnson

“He was probably the best reliever in the league,” Brust said of Johnson.

The right-hander struck out 28 and walked 11 in 19 frames of work.

“He is a strike pitcher,” Brust explained. “You can’t take a pitch with Kevin. He would get ahead 0-2. He had two out-pitches (slider and fast ball) with a lot of late movement.”

Johnson also made 41 starts in the field. The Webster, New York native hit .279 with 24 RBI.

Sullivan led the pinstripes with 21 appearances. The right-hander with a side-arm delivery finished with an ERA .88 fanning 17 while walking seven.

“He was the best strike thrower in the league,” said Brust. “That’s what made him so effective.”

When describing Sullivan’s 72 mph breaking ball Brust explained: “He threw what we called a frisbee.”

Brust pointed to an unofficial stat of double plays turned by Sullivan.

“He made plays for himself. Those double plays were innings killers for opposing teams.”

Chris Bostick and Greenfield were joined by Luis Diaz getting named to the league’s Top 15 prospects by Perfect Game.

Diaz finished the season driving in 20 while scoring 21.  He had nine extra-base hits including six triples while stealing 18 bases.

“Luis had some of our biggest hits,” Brust commented.

Diaz set a club record with five stolen bases in the post season.

Matt Boulter (So. New Hampshire) and Bryant Guilmette (U Mass-Lowell) represented Webster on the 2010 all-league team.

Shawn Bailey, Ollie Bertrand, Michael Craig and Steve Muoio represented Webster on the 2009 all-league team. Muoio also earned the honors in 2008. Bryan Gardner and Joe McIntyre nabbed all-league spots in 2007. The Cincinnati Reds drafted Gardner the following spring. McIntyre earned a spot on the Wallace Award Watch list for the top player in the NCAA.

Webster finished the regular season 30-14. The Yankees defeated Geneva in the NYCBL West Division finals before falling to Oneonta in the league championship.

2011 NYCBL Awards

NYCBL Champions – Oneonta Outlaws

Championship Offensive MVP – Chase Compton

Championship Defensive MVP – Bryan Galligan

NYCBL Player of the Year

Chris Bostick – Webster – BA – .413; 5 HR; 32 rbi

NYCBL Pitcher of the Year

Jacob Petitt – Utica – IP 50.2; ERA – 0.71

NYCBL Coach of the Year

Dave Brust – Webster – 6th year

All NYCBL – 1st Team

Pos Name NYCBL Team College Key Stats

C Derek Sprout – Allegany County – Bradley – BA – .275; 23 rbi

IF Brendan Consantino – Sherrill – Seton Hill – BA – .417; 37 runs

IF Chris Bostick – Webster – Aquinas – BA – .413; 5 HR; 32 rbi

IF Carlos Asuaje – Oneonta – Nova Southeastern BA – .369; 19 sb

IF John Howell – Oneonta – Binghamton – BA – .375; 30 rbi

IF Chase Compton – Oneonta – Louisiana Lafayette – BA – .351; 24 rbi

IF Scott Krutel – Utica – Missouri Baptist – BA – .304; 7 HR; 42 rbi

OF Leon Stimpson – Geneva – Alvernia – BA – .378; 23 SB

OF Dan Scahill – Rome – Buffalo – BA – 368; 53 hits

OF Ben Bostick – Webster – St John Fisher – BA – .362; 64 hits

DH Chase Presley – Hornell -  Harding – BA – .271; HR – 4 HR

Utl Matt Chavez – Oneonta – San Francisco – BA – .333; 29 rbi; ERA – 1.59

SP Jacob Petitt – Utica – Warner Southern – IP 50.2; ERA – 0.71

SP Joe Greenfield – Webster – Eastern Illinois – IP – 60 ERA – 1.80

SP Scott Weathersby – Oneonta – Mississippi – IP – 49.1; ERA – 2.01; 56 K’s

SP Tyler Mann – Rome – Alfred State CC – IP – 44; ERA 1.64

SP Jeff Croteau – Geneva – Bentley – IP – 41.1; ERA – 1.96

RP Kevin Johnson – Webster – Monroe CC – IP – 19.1; ERA – 0.93

RP Kenny Frosch – Rome – Palm Beach Atlantic IP – 48.1; ERA – 1.12

RP Tyler Brunneman – Rome – Harden-Simmons – IP – 22.1; ERA – 2.02

All NYCBL – 2nd Team

Pos Name NYCBL Team College Key Stats

C Omar Garcia – Hornell – Texas A&M – CC – BA – .313; 50 hits

IF Matt Neegard – Alfred – Northwestern – BA – .322; 20 SB

IF Vince Caesar – Alfred – Southeastern – BA – .297; 20 SB

IF Matt Kriss – Rome – Iona – BA – .329; 24 rbi

IF Dan Fiortio – Syracuse – SC Manhattanville – BA – .319; 44 hits

IF JP Frey – Hornell – Alfred State CC – BA – .318; 47 hits

IF Jeramie Marek – Hornell – Texas A&M – CC – BA – .318; 22 SB

IF Evan Mansell – Geneva – Freed-Hardeman – BA – .311; 24 rbi

OF Jake Matuszak – Hornell – Cent Conn St – BA – .360; 63 hits

OF Brendan Collins – Niagara – St. Leo – BA – .353; 55 hits

OF Daniel Mims – Utica – Southeastern – BA – 0.333; 49 hits

OF Shawn McGraw –  Syracuse Jr Chiefs – Binghamton – BA – .295; 46 hits

OF Ryan Burnett – Rome – Shawnee State – BA – .314; 27 SB

DH Mike DeCarr – Syracuse Jr Chiefs – Oneonta – BA – .313; 51 hits

SP Brent Kraus – Utica – St Petersburg – IP – 41.2; ERA – 1.30

SP Julius Storey – Allegany County – Urbana – IP – 51.1; ERA – 1.40

SP Justin James – Niagara – Ave Maria – IP – 57; ERA – 2.68

SP Chandler Knox – Hornell – Presbyterian – IP – 60.2; ERA – 1.48

SP Brian Galligan – Oneonta – Stonehill – IP – 45.2; ERA – 1.97

SP Mike Johnson – Utica – Hillsborough CC – IP – 52.1; ERA – 2.41

RP Connor Sullivan –  Webster – Niagara – IP – 30.2; ERA – 0.88

RP Paul Geuy – Niagara – Ohio State – IP – 44; ERA – 2.86

RP DJ Schwartz – Hornell – Rochester – IP – 21.2; ERA – 2.91

By Paul Casey Gotham

Four years in the making Dave Brust got his just due. The New York Collegiate Baseball League announced its post-season awards, and the Webster skipper nabbed the top honor.

Brust’s Webster nine set new organization standards and broke a league record en route to a 30-14 regular season mark and an eventual spot in the league championship.

“It means a lot when your peers see what you’re doing,” Brust said of the award voted upon by the league’s coaches. “I’m very proud of it.”

Brust’s Yankees used a league record 13-game win streak to clinch the NYCBL West Division title. The pinstripes eventually won 14 straight to clinch the organization’s first playoff series win.

“There’s no secret,” Brust added. “I was blessed with players, but that is the result of the years of development.”

Webster finished the campaign strong. After starting the season 4-4, the home nine went without a loss for 15 days in late July to take the NYCBL West Division running away.  Second place Niagara finished six games behind the Yanks. Brust gave much of the credit for his team’s late success to assistant coaches Olivier Bertrand, Bob Shaffer and Ryan Sullivan.

“If I have done one thing right, it’s that I got the right guys for my staff,” Brust commented. This award is because of them. They were a part of every decision made.”

Brust also pointed to the role of team owner, Mark Perlo.

“Mark has had complete faith in me. He turned over the car and gave me the keys. He stayed out of my hair and let me make my own decisions.”

Brust’s four-year tenure with Webster has been, if nothing else, an exercise in perseverance. He took over the club in 2008 and quickly the Yanks grabbed an early division lead. But three weeks into the season Webster lost its best arm out of the bullpen when Pat Urckfitz signed a free agent deal with the Houston Astros. One week after that the team’s best hitter, T.J. Baumet, left for personal reasons. Finally, all-league selection and current minor leaguer, Cory Brownsten took advantage of an opportunity to play more games for the season by moving to the Coastal Plains League. The Yanks lost 10 one-run games on the way to a 17-21 ledger.

Webster climbed to .500 a year later finishing 21-21 but missed out on the playoffs when the club dropped a rare triple-header on the final day of regular season play. Rain outs and scheduling conflicts caused the Yanks to finish one game and play two others against two different teams on the final day.

Last year the pinstripes earned a berth in the playoffs but fell in the third and deciding game of the first round to Allegany County.

Brust has been one to measure his work by the individual growth of each player. Rather than looking at what a player can do for the team, the coach envisions what a player can become.  Although the time spent with a team is a brief seven to eight weeks, he and his staff made a point to help each student-athlete improve.

“The schools trusted us with their players,” Brust mentioned. “It was fun to see each of them get better. We need to help kids get better for the next level.”

The efforts show, for example, when a pitcher develops a change-up to compliment his fast ball, or a batter who starts using the whole field for hits.

Brust noted his own growth over the past four campaigns.

“I have spent more time listening to my instincts. They are 19-20 year old kids. They have a lot going on in their lives.”

Brust’s instincts and perseverance come from a lifetime of experiences around the game.

He earned All-Greater Rochester honors at Cardinal Mooney High School and accepted a full scholarship to the University of Maryland. Once there, he quickly took over as the starting shortstop for the Terrapins. As soon as he took the position, he lost it. After ten games anchoring an infield in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Brust was sent to the bench. He later reclaimed the spot only to lose it again.

“I should have red-shirted like any other freshman,” Brust recalled. “I wasn’t ready for that.”

He returned home beaten but not broken. Brust transferred to Monroe Community College where earned third-team All American honors and then moved on to Ball State University. He was elected both team captain and Most Valuable Player twice while garnering more All-American accolades.

From school Brust signed with the Atlanta Braves in 1989 and played three seasons in the minor leagues. He was coached by former major league skipper Grady Little and earned one major league spring training start. He homered in that one game. Former Brave, David Justice waited at home plate to congratulate him.  Timing was not his ally. The Braves’ minor league system was stocked with prospects that would lead the club to 14 first-place finishes in 15 years.

Brust found himself on the outside looking in. He left professional baseball but took with him the lessons he has shared in his years of coaching. Besides leading Webster, he has served as an assistant in the MCC program for seven years.  The Tribunes have 22 Region III crowns in 47 years of existence. Seven of those titles have come during Brust’s time spent on the MCC bench.

While coaching Webster, Brust has overseen the development of several players who have gone on to professional baseball including Chris Bostick, Cory Brownsten, Bryan Gardner, Gary Helmick, Jordon Herr, Dan Jurik, Marcus Nidiffer, Jordan Petraitis, Jason Stifler and Patrick Urckfitz.

Brust announced that 2011 will be his last year coaching Webster. For now, he will focus on the MCC program.

Patrick Urckfitz pitching for the Astros during Spring Training

By Paul Casey Gotham

The New York Collegiate Baseball League has sent players to professional baseball for more than three decades, and the number of  former Webster Yankees in pro ball continues to grow. In Webster’s six-year existence seven draft picks have groomed their talents in pinstripes. Five former players currently earn a paycheck from professional baseball.

Patrick Urckfitz represents the longest-tenured former Webster Yankee in the minors. Urckfitz signed a free-agent deal with the Houston Astros in 2008 and is in his fourth season with the organization.  After experiencing continued progress through his first three years, the Penfield, New York native has had to show some resiliency during this campaign.

“I hit a little bump in the road,” Urckfitz said. “At first it was frustrating, but I’m looking to finish the season strong.”

Urckfitz started his professional career making 15 appearances for the Greeneville Astros of the rookie Appalachian League. The lefty went 1-0 striking out 23 while walking just nine finishing with an ERA of 1.40.

His efforts earned a promotion to the Lexington Legends of the Class A South Atlantic League. Urckfitz led the Legends in appearances (42) and saves (13). In 49 innings of work, he compiled a 4-1 record with a 2.57 ERA while striking out 42 and walking 13. He earned Legends’ Pitcher-of-the-Month honors for May going 1-0 with four saves with 0.71 ERA for the month.

Those numbers contributed to a late-season call-up to the Lancaster JetHawks of the Class A Advanced California League. The southpaw started the next season with the JetHawks and nearly doubled his innings pitched throwing over 104 frames out the bullpen.

Similar to the year earlier, Urckfitz received a late-season promotion and made one start with the Corpus Christi Hooks of the Class AA Texas League. He allowed two runs in five innings of work striking out four and walking one.

The climb continued from there.

Urckfitz moved on to the prestigious Arizona Fall League.  In his first six appearances with the Peoria Javelinas, he went 1-0 with an ERA of 2.25 while holding opposing batters to .148. He appeared in the the league’s Rising Stars game where he pitched a shutout inning in relief.

This season started similar to the past two with Urckfitz placed at a level higher than he was twelve months previous.  The pattern changed soon after that. After breaking Spring Training with the Hooks, he moved to the Triple-A Oklahoma City RedHawks of the Pacific Coast League. He struggled allowing 11 runs in five innings of work. For the first time in his career, Urckfitz was demoted. He returned to Corpus Christi. At the same time, the Astros made two trades, one including Hunter Pence, and received five pitchers in return. Urckfitz found himself back in Lancaster.

He has re-discovered his groove in California. In his last five appearances out of the bullpen, Urckfitz has tossed eight shutout innings allowing two hits while striking out 11 and issuing one free pass.

“It’s been nice to have this success of late,” Urckfitz mentioned.

Urckfitz fanned 25 in 14.2 innings of work for the 2008 pinstripes. Opposing batters hit .207 against the lefty.

From the longest-tenured Webster Yankee alum to the newest professional, success of late has been a common theme.

The Oakland Athletics chose Chris Bostick in the 44th round of the recent Major League Baseball draft. The Aquinas Institute grad took some time to decide before signing with the A’s in late July. After a brief orientation period, Bostick proved the wait was worth it. The Gates, New York native started his professional career with a 13-game hitting streak.

Bostick is hitting .442 with the Arizona-League A’s including six doubles, a triple and home run.

“The A’s got a deal when they signed Chris,” said Webster Yankee head coach Dave Brust.

Bostick played six weeks for Webster.  He joined a club that was playing .500 baseball with a record of four wins and four losses. Webster finished their regular season riding a 13-game win streak to claim the NYCBL West Division championship.  Bostick hit .413 for the summer with 17 extra-base hits including five home runs and 32 RBI.  St. John’s University offered the infielder a full scholarship to attend school in the fall.

Nidiffer during his Webster days listening intently to the Dave Brust's instructions.

Marcus Nidiffer continues to make good on his chances. He signed a free agent deal with the Astros last year and earned Appalachian League All-Star honors leading Greeneville with 11 home runs. Nidiffer earned a late-season call-up and played first base for the New York-Penn League champion Tri-City Valley Cats.

Those accomplishments meant little when Nidiffer returned to Spring Training. The Astros decided to move ahead without the Bristol, Tennessee native. Nidiffer quickly landed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organization and returned to his natural position behind the plate.  Nidiffer has made 64 appearances at catcher for the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Class A Midwest League. He has 16 extra-base hits including six round-trippers and 22 RBI for the Kernels.

Nidiffer made 28 starts with the 2007 Yankees. After a slow start, he finished with eight extra-base hits including three home runs and 12 RBI.

Cory Brownsten (’08) and Dan Jurik (’09) continue to play in the Atlanta Braves’ system.

Brownsten has struggled through an injury-plagued 2011.

Atlanta chose Brownsten in the 15th round with the 464th pick of the 2010 draft. He made 34 appearances with the Gulf Coast Braves in 2010 hitting .287 in 94 at bats. Brownsten finished the summer going 3-for-4 in one game with the Danville Braves of the Appalachian League.

Brownsten started 2011 with the Class A Advanced Lynchburg Hillcats and played six games getting to the plate 21 times before a recurring knee injury slowed him.  After a rehab assignment in extended Spring Training, Brownsten returned to play seven games with the Rome Braves of the South Atlantic League. His season ended in mid-July.

Brownsten earned all-league honors with the 2008 Webster Yankees. In 27 games, he hit .272, seven extra-base hits and 19 RBI.

Jurik is 2-3 for the summer. He has struck out 58 and walked 25 in more than 73 stanzas of work in the Braves’ system. The right-hander made 11 appearances for Webster in 2009. He fanned 38 and walked 13 in 35 innings of work. The Braves later chose Jurik in the 25 th round with 764th pick of the 2010 draft. Jurik earned the Braves Gulf Coast Pitcher-of-the Year honors going 3-0 in five starts.

MLB’s 2010 amateur draft included the names of 36 players with ties to the New York Collegiate Baseball League. From 2008-10 112 former NYCBLers heard their names called. Current Major Leaguers Hunter Pence, Tim Hudson and Brad Lidge all spent at least one summer in the NYCBL.

The Chicago Cubs took  former Webster Yankee Jordon Herr (’06 when the team was known as the Rochester Royals) in the 2007 draft and Jordan Petraitis (’06) in the 2008 and 2009 drafts. The Cincinnati Reds chose Bryan Gardner (’06, ’07) in 2008.  Gary Helmick (’06-’07) and Jason Stifler (‘o6-’07) both signed as free agents with the Baltimore Orioles. All are currently not playing professional baseball.

The Webster Yankees and the NYCBL – sending players to the pros since 1978.

Ben Bostick at the plate. (Photo by F. Bertrand)

By Paul Casey Gotham

The truth was as plain as the red, illuminated digits on the scoreboard at Basket Road Field.

Allegany County 8 Webster 0.

Dave Brust’s club didn’t have a chance to ignore the facts. Instead the skipper gave his team an up-close view. Brust gathered his team in center field that night less than ten feet from the scoreboard. There was no escaping the truth.

“I asked them to look at the score,” Brust said. “We were the reason for the score. “We were struggling with consistency on the defensive end. We weren’t taking care of the baseball.”

That was July 13th. Three weeks later the Webster nine established a new league record and a new standard for the organization.

Brust set the course for the remainder of the season informing his team that he would go with his playoff lineup – the group of guys that would give the team the best chance to win every night. The message was clear.

“If you don’t perform, you’re not going to play,” Brust said recounting his sentiment after the 8-0 loss. “It’s not going to happen again.”

Little did Brust know how prophetic he would be. The pinstripes rattled off 14 straight wins en route to capturing the New York Collegiate Baseball League West Division and eventually advancing to the league championship.

“What resonated most with me was that coach told us we were better than that [the score],” said Webster outfielder Ben Bostick. “We had a different outlook from that point forward.”

Bostick had a hit, scored a run and reached on a walk the following night as the pinstripes topped the Geneva Red Wings, 4-2.

“I took it personal,” Bostick added. “I knew I could play better.”

The Gates, New York native added a put out from right field that evening.  Six games later Bostick dropped a two-out, bases-loaded bunt down the first base line, and Nick Flemister scampered home as Webster came from behind in extra innings to defeat the Alfred Thunder, 6-5.  The win was the third of four consecutive one-run triumphs for the Yankees – all occurring in the team’s final at bat.

“We knew we could do what we eventually did,” Bostick continued. “We became more focused.”

Bostick’s younger brother, Chris, supplied the dramatics the previous night when he bounced a single down the third base line with two outs in the tenth as Webster trimmed Geneva 8-7. The younger Bostick, who was the 44th pick by the Oakland Athletics in this year’s MLB Draft, stayed with the team through regular season before signing a professional contract.

The younger Bostick led the club with five home runs, 32 RBI and 23 base on balls.

The older Bostick set the pace with 19 extra-base hits including 12 doubles and seven triples.  He matched  a club record set a year ago by Tyler Grogg with 19 stolen bases.

The Yankees took on a all-hands on deck mentality.

Flemister paced the Webster offense with three hits and two runs scored as the Yankees won the llth in a row downing the Hornell Dodgers 6-4. A mid-season signing, Flemister led the club with a .468 batting average in 12 regular season games.

One night later, the home nine made it a dozen in a row when Tyler Wilson made good on a spot appearance as the Yanks dismantled the Niagara Power, 8-1. Taking advantage of a change in the NYCBL by-laws, Wilson made his first appearance for the Webster nine and tossed six shutout innings for his first win in what will be his only showing of the campaign.

Luis Diaz and Zach Bricknell each had a pair of hits that night while Tyler DeClerck scored two runs.

Luis Diaz (Photo by F. Bertrand)

Diaz finished the season driving in 20 while scoring 21.  He had nine extra-base hits including six triples while stealing 18 bases.

“Luis had some of our biggest hits,” Brust commented.

Diaz set a club record with five stolen bases in the post season. Bricknell hit .302 with a home run, six doubles, four triples and 15 RBI. DeClerck notched 11 hits for the summer along with seven runs scored.

Nate Sermini and Jon Massad capped the regular season in style combining to no-hit Geneva.  Sermini picked up his fifth win of the campaign striking out 12 in eight innings of work while Massad came on and retired the side in order with one strike out in the ninth as Webster won 4-0.

The no-hitter was the second in club history. Brian Pullyblank tossed a gem on June 19th, 2009 as the home nine defeated the Niagara Power, 1-0. On that night, Webster won in dramatic fashion. Geoff Dornes (R.I.T.) slapped a one-out hit in the ninth, and Nate Koontz (Ball State) plated Dornes with a triple just inside the right field foul line.

Massad struck out 20 while walking just seven in 36 frames of work during June and July.  He struck out one while allowing two runners in an inning and two-thirds of shutout ball as Webster clinched the West Division title with a 5-2 victory over Geneva. With his first pitch that evening he induced a fly ball for an out the Diaz turned into a double-play when he gunned down a runner at the plate.

Webster rode its defense that night.

Corey Goeggleman ended the game with a spectacular play at second. After entering the game as defensive replacement, he leapt into the air and snared the line drive before returning to his feet and alertly completing a double-play at second base.

Kevin Spatkowski (Photo by F. Bertrand)

Webster’s defense turned four double plays on the evening with Kevin Spatkowski having a hand in two of the plays. Spatkowski stemmed a possible rally in the third inning  when he snared a line drive off the bat of  Geneva’s Leon Stimpson and doubled-up Scott Shields at first. One inning later Spatkowski stabbed a hard-hit ball off the bat of Brian Sullivan and started an around-the horn double play to Kevin Johnson and Jake Montgomery.

Spatkowski came to the club as catcher but expressed little reservation when being asked to play somewhere he hadn’t been since his sophomore year of high school.

“Anything I could do for the team,” Spatkowski remarked. “I had no problem as long as I was playing.”

The native of Bristol, Connecticut had 26 hits for the summer including five in the post-season.

Ryan Wilkinson picked up the win as the Yanks advanced to the championship. The right-hander went 6-0 for the summer striking out 30 while walking 14 in more than 57 innings of work.

Jasvir Rakkar (Photo by F. Bertrand)

Jasvir Rakkar hurled five shutout innings in relief during the Geneva series. The Brampton, Ontario native did not allow an earned run in his last 15 stanzas of work.

Montgomery hit .302 for the campaign driving in 15 with 15 extra-base hits. Johnson had 41 hits and 24 RBI during the regular season. The Webster, New York did double duty adding six saves in 17 appearances on the mound.

Dan Hurlimann finished with 21 hits including a double, three triples and home run. The Hilton, New York native drove in 12 and scored 15.

Dan Bick led the team with 136 assists from shortstop. He added 29 hits and scored 21 runs.

Tyler Huntey drove in six with six extra-base hits including one round-tripper.

Matt Jimenez (Photo by F. Bertrand)

Fourteen months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his throwing elbow, Matt Jimenez made 11 appearances for the pinstripes. He struck out 29 while walking just eight in 31 frames. He held Geneva to three hits and two runs over five innings for the game one win in the NYCBL West Division championship. It was the third start of the summer for the right-hander who had surgery March 14, 2010 to repair his pitching elbow.

Jimenez joined the list of former Webster pitchers recovering from elbow surgery. Brian Pullyblank got back on the hill after replacing a torn ligament as did Dustin Ramey and Scott Brothers.

Joe Greenfield led the home nine with 60 innings of work on the mound. The right-hander went 4-3 with a team best ERA of 1.80.

“He is blue collar guy,” said Brust of Greenfield. “He inspired his teammates.”

Connor Sullivan had a team-high 21 appearances. Working more than 30 innings in relief, Sullivan fanned 17 while saving five games.

Brian Tatleman was 2-0 with a save in 12 appearances. Gavin Guarrera struck out 23 in 31 innings. Cameron Schooley had a win and a save in 12 trips to the mound.

Brust was assisted by Bob Shaffer, Ryan Sullivan and Ollie Bertrand.

“It’s a blessing to have this staff,” Brust commented late in the season. “We are a young team, and a lot of our leadership comes from in the dugout.”

After taking a summer off, Shaffer rejoined the staff for his third season of work with the club. Sullivan played three years in the NYCBL including two with Webster.

Bertrand was getting his first experience as a coach after playing the last two seasons for the Yankees earning all-league honors and guiding the team from behind the plate to the playoffs last season.

Ultimately, Webster fell in the championship to Oneonta. Along the way, the Yankees set team records with 97 stolen bases, 30 regular season wins and 32 overall wins . The team advanced in the playoffs for the first time in club history. Webster lost to Allegany County in the first round of last year’s playoffs. The organization lost in the 2006 playoffs when known as the Rochester Royals.

Montgomery heading to the on-deck circle (Photo by F. Bertrand)

By Paul Casey Gotham

One summer collegiate wood-bat team. Two Major League Baseball draft picks. One player launching a professional career. Another player re-working a career. Both came to the Webster Yankees and got what they needed.

When Chris Bostick took advantage of a change in the New York Collegiate Baseball League’s by-laws, a unique situation was created. The Gates, New York native joined an amateur team with, among other players, Jake Montgomery. The two shared the distinction of having already heard their names called in the MLB draft.

The Oakland Athletics chose Bostick, a slick infielder, in the 44th round of the 2011 draft. Montgomery, a power-pitcher in high school,  heard his name called by the Atlanta Braves with their pick in the 32nd round of the 2009 draft.

Bostick needed time. Montgomery needed to re-invent himself.

Dave Brust and the Webster Yankees provided just that for both.

“It was my honor to coach these guys,” Brust said.

Bostick had to decide between a chance to play professional baseball and a full scholarship at St. John’s University. Prior to the 2011 season, the NYCBL required all players to be NCAA eligible which meant that all student-athletes must have played one year of college baseball and have one year of eligibility remaining. The league changed the rule to allow eligibility to drafted high school seniors.

Montgomery continued his transition from pitcher to two-way player. Sixteen months after shoulder surgery ended his prospects on the mound, the Marietta, Georgia native continued his progress with glove and bat.

Bostick joined the pinstripes on June 12th. In 36 games with Webster he hit .413 with 17 extra-base hits including five home runs and 32 RBI.

Poor weather conditions this past spring worked against Bostick and his draft spot. With his high school team, The Aquinas Little Irish, not playing from May 14th to the 29th, scouts could not get a chance to see him play.

“I thought the Cubs would draft him in the sixth to eighth round,” Aquinas head coach Mark Magliocco explained. “But 15 days of bad weather hurt his draft choice.”

“It helps to play in the south,” Bostick reflected. “They play 50-60 games. When it comes to the draft, they separate by warm-weather and cold-weather states with warm-weather going early in the draft.”

Bostick hit .510 his senior season for the Little Irish. This after hitting at a .507 clip his junior year and .490 as a sophomore when AQ when the New York State title.

“He is a gentleman,” Brust commented.  “He competes at a level that everyone hooked their wagons to.”

With a fast ball topping out over 90 mph, Montgomery led Pope high school to the Class 5A Georgia state championship.  He busted pitches down and in on batters using a 3/4 delivery to strike out 84 in 66 innings while posting a record of 10-1 with an ERA of 1.27.

Being drafted was tempting, but a scholarship to the University of Georgia caught Montgomery. His older brother played with the Bulldogs 2008 team which qualified for the College World Series. Montgomery witnessed several of those players earn hefty paydays with high draft selections.

He made his choice.  Montgomery would head to Athens in 2009. A place and team with which he had familiarity, or so he thought.

Once there, Montgomery discovered things weren’t as they appeared. He saw the business side of Division 1 baseball.

“There was more focus on the coach’s job than improving the players,” Montgomery recalled.

Disillusioned, Montgomery transferred to Young Harris – a school in North Georgia making its own transition – one from junior college to Division II athletics.

Montgomery arrived at Young Harris, but noticed something wasn’t right. His delivery had changed. Instead of releasing from 3/4, he was coming over the top. Problems continued.

“I never really felt loose all of sudden,” Montgomery explained. “Guys started hitting me.”

He went for an MRI, and the procedure showed what he probably already knew. He had a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder. Surgery was required. Rehabilitation would be lengthy. Doctors found scar tissue during the procedure that pointed to the possibility of the injury occurring during his junior year in high school. Montgomery could play baseball again, but he would not have a professional career as pitcher. He needed to re-invent himself.

After not playing competitive baseball for over a year he came to New York. In 34 regular season games with Webster, Montgomery hit .304 with five extra-base hits, 15 RBI and 17 runs scored. He helped Webster claim its first divisional title.

“He’s a very athletic kid,” Brust said. “He understands the game at a high level – at times almost too much, but that will be something he works out as he gets older.”

Bostick awaits his chance. He is on the roster of the Oakland Athletics affiliate in the rookie Arizona League. He has passed his physical and other required tests. His spot in the lineup should come any day now.

Montgomery will get s fresh start this fall. He will head to Wallace State in Alabama.  He still ranks in the top 300 for draft projections.

Two draft picks. Two journeys. One dream. Baseball.

Matt Jimenez (Photo by F. Bertrand)

By Paul Casey Gotham

ONEONTA, N.Y. — A trio of pitchers turned the trick as the Oneonta Outlaws defeated the Webster Yankees, 5-1 in the deciding game of the New York Collegiate Baseball League championship at Damaschke Field.

Artie Lewicki (Virginia) struck out four and walked three over seven innings of work to earn the win for the Outlaws.

Austin Young (Virginia) worked a perfect eighth while Brady Wager (Grand Canyon) turned in a scoreless ninth for the Outlaws.

Oneonta’s defense snuffed out a pair of Webster rallies.

Kevin Spatkowski (So. New Hampshire) led the top-half of the third with a base on balls. Corey Goeggleman (Waynesburg) followed with a ground ball. When the throw was mishandled at first, Spatkowski advanced putting runners on the corners. Spatkowski gave Webster an early lead when he scored on the next play, but the Outlaws turned a 6-4-3 double play – John Howell (Binghamton) to Bijan Mangouri (Binghamton) to Chase Compton (Louisiana-Lafayette) – ending the chance for more runs.

Webster threatened in the fifth. Spatakowski slapped a one-out single over the outstretched glove of Howell at short. Then Goeggleman fouled off four pitches before going inside-out and singling to right field putting runners on the corners.  Again, Oneonta’s infield had the answer with a double play.

The Outlaws took the lead for good in the bottom of the frame with a pair of runs.  Kaohu Gaspar (Fresno State) singled up the middle and scored on Mangouri’s double down the left field line. One out later, Carlos Asuaje (Nova Southeastern) doubled off the wall in right and Oneonta led, 3-1.

Oneonta added two more in the sixth. Howell reached on an error, and Compton plated the fourth run with an opposite field two-bagger down the line in right. On the next play, Compton beat the throw to third, and eventually scored on Gaspar’s ground ball.

Matt Jimenez (Mercyhurst) was the tough-luck loser.  After retiring the first ten he faced keeping batters off-balance with his change-up and busting his cutter down and in, Jimenez surrendered three earned runs in the next inning and two-thirds. Sixteen months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his throwing elbow, Jimenez threw 59 pitches – 45 for strikes, fanning five while walking none.

Jasvir Rakkar (Stony Brook) tossed three innings in relief. After giving up two in the sixth, Rakkar settled down and shut out the Outlaws in the seventh and eighth.

Compton was named Offensive MVP for the series while Bryan Galligan (Stonehill), the game-one winner, took home the Defensive MVP.

Compton had three hits and three RBI in the two games of the series. Galligan struck out ten in his complete-game victory of game one.

Spatkowski singled, walked and scored a run in a losing effort. The Bristol, Connecticut native had three hits for the series.

The loss ends the season for a Webster team which advanced in the playoffs for the first time in the organization’s history. The Yanks closed the season on a 13-game winning streak to clinch the NYCBL West Division. Eventually, the pinstripes won 14 in a row en route to defeating Geneva in the division championship.

Webster lost to Allegany County in the first round of last year’s playoffs. The organization lost in the 2006 playoffs when known as the Rochester Royals.

By Paul Casey Gotham

WEBSTER, N.Y. — Bryan Galligan (Stonehill) held Webster to four hits and tossed a complete game as the Oneonta Outlaws took game one of the New York Collegiate Baseball League championship, 5-1 at Basket Road Field.

Galligan struck out nine.

The teams traded runs early.

Matt Chavez (San Francisco) led the second with a ground-rule deep to deep center field. One out later, Kaohu Gaspar (Fresno St.) brought home the run with a triple into left left center that just eluded the glove of Yankee fielder, Zach Bricknell (Young Harris)

Webster tied the game in the bottom of the frame when Bricknell drilled a two-out home run over the fence in right center field.

But that was all Webster managed.

The Outlaws took advantage of Webster miscues to score two in the sixth.

Chase Compton (Louisiana-Lafayette) and Chavez led the stanza with back-to-back singles. Greg Baggett (Bentley) delivered with a line drive to center. When the ball was mishandled, the runners moved to second and third. Chavez scored when Gaspar’s pop up in shallow left field was dropped.

Oneonta added a run in the seventh. Aaron Barbosa (Northeastern) and John Howell (Binghamton) rapped identical singles through the right side of the infield. Compton followed with a sacrifice fly to Bricknell.

The Outlaws took advantage of a bases loaded walk in the ninth for their final run.

Oneonta finished with five runs on 12 hits without any errors.

Webster scored one run on four hits.

Kevin Spatkowski (So. New Hampshire) had a pair of hits for the pinstripes.

Oneonta threatened to blow the game open in the fifth. With runners on second and third and one out, Barbosa had a sharply hit ball to third that Spatkowski cleanly fielded, looked back the runner and made the play at first. Howell followed with a sinking drive to right field on which Luis Diaz (North Carolina Central) made a diving catch to end the rally.

The series shifts to Oneonta on Tuesday for game two. Matt Jimenez (Mercyhurst) gets the start for Webster. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Damaschke Field.

By Paul Casey Gotham

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Twelve teams competed for 44 games over two months. Six teams qualified for the playoffs. Two teams remain for a best-of-three series.

The 2011 New York Collegiate Baseball League Championship is on the line when the Oneonta Outlaws and the Webster Yankees meet at Basket Road Field tonight for game one of the series.

Oneonta finished the regular season in second place of the NYCBL East Division with a record of 29-15. They defeated the Rome Thunderbolts 5-4 in a one-game playoff before sweeping the Utica Brewers 5-4 and 7-1.

Webster claimed the top spot in the NYCBL West Division and outlasted the Geneva Red Wings to advance to the finals. Matt Jimenez (Mercyhurst) and Jasvir Rakkar (Stony Brook) combined to allow two runs on six hits as Webster defeated the Geneva, 5-2 in game one. Nick Flemister (Clark) paced a 13-hit attack, and Ryan Wilkinson (Toledo) battled for the win as Webster took the decisive game by the same score of 5-2.

Bryan Galligan (Stonehill) will make his eighth start of the season for the Outlaws. He is 4-1 with an ERA of 1.97. In 45-plus innings of work Galligan has fanned 32 and walked 26.

Bryan Tatelman (Stony Brook) gets the ball for Dave Brust’s Webster nine. The righty will make his third start and 13th appearance for the pinstripes. He is 2-0 in his starts. In 26 frames of work Tatelman has 26 strike outs and 24 walks.

John Howell (Binghamton) leads the Oneonta offense hitting .373 with 22 walks and 34 runs scored.  The Outlaws have stolen 79 bases while being caught 32 times.

Nick Flemister (Clark) paces the Webster bats. The Pittsford, New York native is hitting .468. Kevin Johnson (Pittsburgh) has driven in 24 for the Webster nine. Yankee runners have 97 swipes while being nabbed on just 29 occasions.

Oneonta went 4-0 against the West taking a pair at Hornell and sweeping a home-and-home with Geneva. The Outlaws hammered Geneva pitching for ten runs on July 10th.

Webster took three of four from the East sweeping a doubleheader at Utica while splitting a pair with Rome.

Oneonta won the champiosnhip in 2006 when the organization ws known as the Saratoga Phillies.

This is Webster’s first trip to the NYCBL finals.

Four former Outlaws were taken in this year’s MLB draft: Mark Lamm (Atlanta-6th round), Eric Potter (Oakland-19th), Dennis O’Grady (Atlanta-34th) and Matt Tomshaw (Minnesota-42nd).

Webster has had seven draft picks in the organization’s history.  The Chicago Cubs took Jordon Herr (’06) in the 2007 draft and Jordan Petraitis (’06) in the 2008 and 2009 drafts. The Cincinnati Reds chose Bryan Gardner in 2008 while the Atlanta Braves plucked Cory Brownsten and Dan Jurik in 2009. Chris Bostick was chosen by the Oakland in this year’s draft and signed a contract with the club just last week. Current Yankee, Jake Montgomery (Young Harris) was also chosen by the Braves in the 2oo9 draft.

Tonight’s first pitch is scheduled for 7 pm.

Flemister in the crouch (Photo by F. Bertrand)

By Paul Casey Gotham

Webster Yankee head coach Dave Brust needed a stop gap. His team had just lost to the Hornell Dodgers, 8-7, and in the process opposing baserunners swiped 10 bags. He knew a change was needed.

That day’s catcher, Tyler DeClerck (University of Rochester), had previously injured the labrum in his throwing elbow. Brust now understood the severity of the injury. He also understood the possible consequences of trying to navigate a New York Collegiate Baseball League season minus a catcher.

The fourth-year skipper leaned on his network of local coaches. He called former Webster and current Monroe Community College coach, Mike Kelly along with independent instructor Dave Parlet. The two agreed. Brust needed to sign Nick Flemister (Clark).

“I figured I’d get him in every other game and he’d make some good contact,” Brust explained. “That would help our other catchers get rest between games.”

Brust first put Flemister in the lineup on July 12th at Allegany County. The Yankees had a record of 16-12. The right-handed batter singled, scored and drove in two that day. Webster won 8-2.

In the 18 games since then, Flemister has been behind the plate on 14 occasions. The pinstripes are 12-2 with the Pittsford, New York native in the crouch. Flemister has 28 hits and 12 RBI.

So much for getting rest.

Making contact? Safe to say that has been accomplished.

With Flemister in pinstripes, the Webster Yankees have rattled off a club record 14 straight wins, laid claim to the NYCBL West Division regular-season title, won their first playoff series in club history and have a chance at the league championship.

“We brought him in as a defensive catcher,” mentioned Yankee assistant Ollie Bertrand. “He has given us the offensive spark we need.”

Flemister brings with him a winning attitude he learned in high school when he helped Pittsford-Sutherland win the New York State championship.

“He comes from a winning program, and it shows on the field,” Brust added. “Sometimes it’s a battle of wills.”

Flemister showed the depth of his will in game one of the NYCBL West Division championship on Thursday night.  With two outs and runners on second and third, he fouled off six pitches from Geneva starter, Sean White, before sending an opposite field single through the right side of the infield plating Kevin Johnson and Dan Bick.

“He spoils good pitches,” Brust explained. “Some guys get 0-2, and they give up. He knows how to battle.  Nick opens the door for opposing pitchers to cave in. His hitting mechanics are excellent from working with Dave Parlet.”

With Flemister catching, Webster pitchers allowed just five runs in five games including three shutouts as the Yankees clinched the division.

“He changes the body language of the pitching staff,” Brust noted. “They’re comfortable throwing to him because he is a good college receiver.”

“He blocks the ball well,” said Bertrand who caught the last two years for Webster including 2008 when he earned All-League honors. “It’s one thing to know technique and get in position, but you got to be willing to be hit. He is willing to do it.”

Flemister’s ability to block was never more apparent than it was during the sixth inning of Saturday night’s decisive game in the NYCBL West Championship. With bases loaded and one out, Geneva’s A.J. DeMarco (Toledo) lifted a fly ball into right field that Luis Diaz (North Carolina Central) settled under as Evan Mansell (Freed-Hardeman) tagged from third. Diaz made the catch, took two quick strides and one-hopped a strike to Flemister at home. Ball and runner met at the same time. Flemister never flinched. Geneva’s rally was extinguished.

Despite coming in halfway through the season Flemister has adapted well to opposing hitters.

“He’s a quick study,” Brust noted. “He uses our spray charts to note what hitters have done in the past. It adds on to what he is already calculating.”

“Our pitching staff is stupendous,” Flemister said. “These guys all throw hard with two secondary options. I know they are going to throw strikes.”

Flemister and Webster open the NYCBL championship series Monday night at Basket Road Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7 pm.

Nick Flemister making contact (Photo by F. Bertrand)

By Paul Casey Gotham

WEBSTER, N.Y. — It was a fitting end. Corey Goeggleman (Waynesburg St.), who had just entered the game as defensive replacement, leapt into the air and snared the line drive off the bat of Max Casper (North Dakota St.). When his feet returned to the ground, the second baseman alertly moved to double-up Ralph Alloco (Canisius College) at second base.

Another rally snuffed out by the Webster defense. This one being the last and punching the home nine’s ticket to the championship series.

Nick Flemister (Clark) paced a 13-hit attack, and Ryan Wilkinson (Toledo) battled for the win as the Webster Yankees defeated the Geneva Red Wings 5-2 at Basket Road Field to advance to the New York Collegiate Baseball League championship series.

After posting single runs in the first two innings, the pinstripes put three across in the third to take a commanding 5-1 advantage in the West Division Championship.

Flemister led with an infield single in the hole between shortstop and third base.  Two outs later, Kevin Spatkowski (So. New Hampshire) went to the opposite field with a single to right. Kevin Johnson (Pittsburgh) plated Flemister with a drive a into the gap in left-center field. Ben Bostick (St.John Fisher) kept the rally alive with a hit through the left side of the infield scoring Spatkowski. Dan Bick (Georgia College) capped the scoring with a bloop hit that neatly fell between three converging Red Wing fielders and bounded over the fence down the right field line for a ground-rule double.

The pinstripes defense made the lead stand.

Jake Chaplin Haverford), Geneva’s hero from Friday night, led the fourth with an infield base hit. He was erased when Spatkowski stabbed a hard-hit ball off the bat of Brian Sullivan (Clark) and started an around-the horn double play to Johnson and Jake Montgomery (Young Harris).

Geneva threatened again in the sixth combining to load the bases with three consecutive hits off Wilkinson. It appeared the threat was averted when the southpaw induced a ground ball from Sullivan. But heavy top spin on the ball and the distraction of a runner handcuffed Bick at shrtstop, and Kevin Knack (Oneonta State) came home with Geneva’s second run.

The Red Wings looked poised to tie the game with Dave Saluga (Youngstown St.) coming to the dish. The left-hander entered play Saturday with 12 RBI in his last seven games. Wilkinson fooled Saluga with a breaking ball for the strike out.

“That was big,” said Head Coach Dave Brust. “Wilky never stopped battling.”

With a right-hander coming to the plate and bases loaded, Brust called on Jon Massad (So. New Hampshire) from the bullpen, and the sophomore wasted no time. On Massad’s first pitch, A.J. DeMarco (Toledo) lifted a fly ball into right field that Luis Diaz (North Carolina Central) settled under as Evan Mansell (Freed-Hardeman) tagged from third. Diaz made the catch, took two quick strides and one-hopped a strike to Flemister at home for the inning-ending double play.

“It was do or die,” Diaz said of the game-changing moment. “I have been waiting for a chance to gun down a runner from right.”

Kevin Spatkowski (Photo by F. Bertrand)

Webster’s defense turned four double plays on the evening with Spatkowski having a hand in two of the plays.

“Kevin Spatkowski was outstanding,” Brust commented. “He saved our butts.”

In the third, Spatkowski stemmed a possible tide when he snared a line drive off the bat of Leon Stimpson (Alvernia) and doubled-up Scott Shields (Cal. State East Bay) at first.

Webster put a run on the board in each of the first two innings. Montgomery brought home Diaz with a two-out single to left to start the scoring.

In the second, Bick worked a bases-load walk delivering Spatkowski.

Wilkinson struck out two in five and a third innings for the win.

Massad struck out one while allowing two runners in an inning and two-thirds of shutout ball.

Jaz Rakkar (Stony Brook) continued his dominance of the Red Wings in the post-season pitching a scoreless eighth. Rakkar hurled four shutout stanzas in Webster’s game one victory using a combination of fastballs and off-speed pitches. Saturday night’s appraoch was simpler.

“I knew I was getting just one inning,” Rakkar noted.  “I was just going for outs.”

Johnson worked the ninth for the save. The Webster native also had two hits, a walk, a run scored and an RBI.

“It was awesome,” Johnson said. “They are our biggest rival. When we go out there to play them it is always fun with their bleacher creatures.”

The win ended a three-game series where the outcome always seemed in doubt. Geneva used an eight-inning comeback in game two and the Red Wings never relented in the series finale.

“I am happy this series went three games,” said Geneva Head Coach Dave Herbst. “It was great for the teams and great for the fans. This is a rivalry.”

Flemister finished with three hits. Diaz, Johnson, Montgomery and Spatkowski had two apiece. Spatkowski crossed the plate twice, and Bick drove in a pair.

Chaplin led the Red Wings with three hits.

Webster will take on the Oneonta Outlaws who advanced by defeating the Utica Brewers. Game one of the championship series is Monday night at Basket Road Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.