Loss of two pitchers to pro ball appears to be a major factor in the Sullivan Spartans 8-18 league record this summer in the 2013 Hudson Valley Collegiate Baseball League (HVCBL).
Team manager Steve Alhona Wednesday night of last week following his teams 5-2 league loss to Eastern division powerhouse, Hudson Valley Canes, gave an analysis of the teams loss and season record.
Regarding the 5-2 loss to the Canes Alhona said, "I think for us it was just one of those days when we were trying to get some work in toward the end of the year and it's a good team right there (Canes) and we let their best hitter get up in RBI situations and he put three runs on the board against us."
"You can't let their best hitter come to the plate with opportunities to drive in runs," Alhona noted.
In talking about the 8-18 HVCBL league record Manager Alhona pointed out, "we have been mathematically eliminated from this years playoffs and overall our results comes down to pitching and we lost a couple of guys to pro ball and we just didn't have the arms to match up."
The two pitchers Alhona made reference to included left-handed pitcher Travis Renwick (Middletown, NY/Chapel Field HS/Orange CC/Brockport St.) and RHP Bryan Chudy (Goshen, NY/Clarkson College).Both were graduated seniors from their respective colleges and Spartans management lets graduated seniors play out their final summers.
Travis was signed by the Las Vegas Train Robbers (New Mexico) in the independent Pecos League. Bryan was signed by the Whitesands Pupfish in the Pecas League as well after throwing 10 innings for the Spartans this summer, striking out 14 and allowing 2 earned runs.
Travis is presently 1-1 with over 22 innings pitched, appearing in 14 games for the Trainrobbers who have advanced to the Championship series vs. the Roswell Invaders.
Bryan finished the season 0-2 with 6 starts, throwing 30 innings with an ERA of 4.01.
The Spartans have had eight players play professional baseball over their 10-year existance.
Coach Alhona noted that the Sullivan Spartans "have been mathematically eliminated from this years playoffs", and "the Canes are in the championship series."
In his analysis of the overall 2013 season Alhona said "the key for us was pitching as we lost a couple of guys to pro ball and towards the end of the year we got to the point that we did not have the arms to match up."
When asked if a team can benefit from a season like this the coach pointed out "for our young guys it was a huge learning experience and they got a lot of valuable at bats against good college pitching."
"We had three junior high school players with us this year and they got a great opportunity to pitch and come to bat against college pitching and have a lot of good work outs," Alhona added.
In regards to some of the local college kids from the area who Alhona pointed out "did not get a lot of playing time at their colleges they got 90 to 100 at bats here with us this summer and will go back to their schools with a lot of experience."
Addressing reports that have been rumored in regards to their being no Sullivan Spratans team next year the coach stressed "that we don't want to jump to any conclusions on that one because this team is a great thing and is a great thing for the college and it benefits the college kids in our area."
"In the three years I have coached this league we play in has progressively gotten better and there is interest in this team and as far as the future goes I think we'll have a team next year," Coach Alhona concluded.
The Collegiate Baseball League was formed in the spring of 1996 by two residents of Orange County, Tim Croker and Jim Bisaccia. Their intention being to provide collegiate, and some of the better high school aged ballplayers the opportunity to improve their game and showcase their talents in a league designed to attract college coaches, as well as professional scouts.
The league is comprised of teams from the Hudson Valley area of New York and southern Connecticut. Games are played from June through the second week in August.
General manager of the Sullivan Spartans is Jared Carrier. He also served as head coach from 2002-2008. Team advisory board members include Sullivan County Community College head coach Ryan Snair and Steve Cabarcas.
The 2013 players with local Honesdale,Pa. and Sullivan County connections include Jack Schilling, Honesdale HS (Sullivan CC), Joe Franke, Liberty HS (Oneonta St.),Mike Mills, Livingston Manor HS (Sullivan CC), Bobby Wagner, Monticello HS/Westfield St.), Tyler Lopez, Tri-Valley HS (Sullivan CC), Jesse Brown, Tri-Valley HS (Kings College), Rodney T. Jester III, Tri-Valley HS 2013 Grad (Tompkins-Cortland (TC3) CC), Bray Curreri, Eldred HS, 2014 Grad, Patrick Pierce, Sullivan West HS, 2014 Grad and Jon Harned, Monticello HS, 2014 Grad.
The 2013 awards for this years team go to top pitcher Mike Mills, Livingston Manor HS/Sullivan CC), top offensive player, Jake Schilling (Honesdale HS/Sullivan CC), top defensive player, Bobby Wagner, (Monticello HS/Westfield St.), top newcomer Joe Franke (Liberty HS/Oneonta St.) and most impdroved player Mike Ladka (Monroe-Woodbury HS/Sullivan CC).
In last Wednesday's game the Hudson Valley Canes scored single runs in the first, second, third, fourth and fifth innings while the Spartans pushed across single runs in the second and seventh innings.
Scoring highlights for the Spartans came in the second inning when catcher Joe Consorti from Newburgh blasted a long home run over the left field fence. Joe will take his baseball prowess to Misericordia University in Dallas, Pa. this fall.
The Spartans were scheduled to close out their 2013 season with an away double-header Monday against the Connecticut Titans.
IDENTIFICATION OF PHOTOS
Sullivan Spartans head coach Steve Alhona.
Sullivan West High School senior Patrick Pierce pitching for the Sullivan Spartans last week in the teams 5-2 loss to the Hudson Valley Canes.
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