The Webster Yankee pitching corps lost one of its best foot soldiers on Sunday.
Believe it or not, everyone was happy to see one of the troop get a chance to move on.
Webster Yankee and Monroe Community College standout reliever, Pat Urckfitz, has inked a deal with the Houston Astros.
Urckfitz, who spent the month of May helping MCC advance to the NJCAA DII World Series in Millington, Tennessee, will return, later this week, to the Volunteer State.
This time instead of wearing the Tribunes’ jersey, the southpaw will don a Greenville Astros uniform – the Houston Astros Appalachian Rookie League affiliate.
Urckfitz spent his Sunday morning meeting with Houston Astros’ officials firming up his contract as a free agent in the MLB supplementary draft.
The Penfield, N.Y. native worked 64 and a third innings for the Tribunes over the last two seasons. He struck out 91 and held opponents to a .219 batting average.
Urckfitz’s best work came in the last two months.
“Pat really defined his career in the last six weeks,” commented MCC Head Coach, Mike Kelly, referring to Urckfitz’s work with MCC and the Webster Yankees.
In 11 1/3 innings of relief during the JUCO World Series Urckfitz allowed just one run on four hits while fanning 15.
During his brief stint with Webster Urckfitz struck out 25 in 14 and 2/3 innings of work in the New York Collegiate Baseball League.
To sum up Pat Urckfitz with numbers would be telling half of the story.
“Pat is as fine a gentleman as I have ever worked with,” added Kelly. “He is really a throw back.”
Urckfitz attributes his recent development on and off the field to the coaching staff at MCC.
“I learned a lot about discipline during my two years at Monroe,” said Urckfitz. “(Pitching coach) Pete Dawes has taught me how to handle myself on and off the field.”
Urckfitz’s deal includes three years college tuition. During the offseason the 2006 Penfield graduate plans to study sports medicine at the State University at Brockport.
Urckfitz joins former Webster Yankee reliever, Bryan Gardner, in the professional ranks. Gardner was chosen by the Cincinnati Reds in the 34th round of the MLB draft and assigned to the Gulf Coast Reds.
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