Meet The 2010 Webster Yankees

By Paul Gotham

The countdown is on. Exciting New York Collegiate Baseball League action begins Friday, June fourth when the Webster Yankees travel to Scio and take on the Allegany County Nitros. Two days later, the Yankees open their home slate at Basket Road Field.

With Dave Brust in his third year at the helm, Webster opens its fifth year of existence in the NYCBL. Packed with plenty of talent and game-day activities, this season promises to be an exciting one.

Ollie Bertrand (Flagler) leads three players returning from last year’s squad. Bertrand was one of four Yankees to earn All-NYCBL honors last season. He hit .305 in 32 starts, most at catcher, for the pinstripes. The former MCC star earned 28 walks en route to an on-base percentage of .451.

Thomas Kufel (Mercyhurst) has some unfinished business with Webster. The middle infielder struggled through an injury-riddled 2009 campaign. Kufel made just 15 starts before ending his campaign with a wrist injury.

Bryant Guilmette (UMass-Lowell) made 17 appearances in relief for the home nine. None more impressive than three-game stretch last June.  In three relief appearances, the lefty allowed zero earned runs while striking out five and earning two saves. In his first appearance of the summer, Guilmette struck out the side on nine consecutive strikes. One night later, with the pinstripes clinging to a 1-0 lead, Guilmette entered the game with bases loaded and one out. Two pitches later, Guilmette extinguished the threat with an inning-ending double play. To round off his week, the southpaw came out of the pen with bases loaded and one out. The first batter Guilmette faced flew to left field. The next popped up to third base.

Two of Guilmette’s Riverhawk teammates will suit up for the Yankees. Monte Morrocco and Nick Bonfiglio join the team. Morrocco will share time at one of the middle infield positions. He made 13 starts for the Riverhawks collecting 12 hits. Bonofiglio redshirted the past season. He will work out the bullpen for Brust’s crew.

A quartet of pitchers will come from Ball State University. Blake Beamer, Kyle Raleigh, Michael Sandman and Wes Winkle will take the mound for the pinstripes.  The group marks the third consecutive to come from the Muncie, Indiana campus. Coach Brust was captain and MVP of the 1989 Ball State Cardinals.

Three Toledo Rockets will make the trip to Webster for the summer. Infielder Matt Delewski along with outfielder Tyler Grogg and pitcher Jared Locke will don pinstripes for the summer.  Delewski hit .377 in 44 starts for the Rockets. Locke went 1-1 in six appearances on the mound.

Penfield’s Corey Goggleman will see time with the Yankees. Goggleman hit .367 with 32 RBI in 36 starts for Waynesburg University.  Brust sees Goggleman as his starting third baseman.

Chase Grissom comes from MCC.  Grissom hit .403 in 43 starts for the Tribunes. He has signed to play at UNC-Pembroke in the fall.

Evan Wexler (Niagara University), Nick Carlson (Ithaca) and Gonkeylah Yerry (SUNY Stonybrook) round out the roster.

The New York Collegiate Baseball League, founded in 1978, is a summer wood bat development league for professional baseball. Major League Baseball funds a small portion of the league’s annual budget. The league gives college players who have not yet signed a professional contract the opportunity to develop their skills at a higher level of play, gain experience with wood bats and be evaluated by scouts. Current major leaguers Brad Lidge, Tim Hudson, Hunter Pence and Dallas Braden all spent time in the NYCBL. Braden recently pitched a perfect game for the Oakland Athletics.

Former Webster Yankees, Pat Urckfitz, Bryan Gardner, Adam Perlo, Cory Brownsten and Steve Muoio have all gone on to success after the NYCBL. Urckfitz pitches in the Houston Astros’ system with the Lancaster Jethawks of the Class A-advanced California League. Gardner was taken by the Cincinnati Reds in the MLB draft. Perlo plays with Ponte Di Piave of the Serie A-2  league in Italy. Brownsten earned first-team All Big East honors for the Pittsburgh Panthers. Muoio’s Georgia College Bobcats qualified for the D2 college World Series.

Webster’s 2010 home opener is set for Sunday, June sixth when the Alfred Thunder comes to town. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at “The Basket.” Webster Athletic Association Baseball will partake in Opening Day ceremonies with the Yankees.