By Paul Gotham
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — There wasn’t much doubt when it came to choosing the league’s top player. One needed only to look to the guy who conjured discussions of a possible Triple Crown.
The Olean Oilers’ Jon Kemmer (Clarion) finished atop two of the three major statistical categories to earn the New York Collegiate Baseball League Player-of-the-Year honor.
Kemmer led the way with 53 RBI while his nine home runs was good for a four-way tie at the league’s top. The Shippenville, PA native ended the season three points off the batting average crown at .441.
“It’s kind of hard to put into words,” Kemmer said when asked about the significance of the award. “Basically, it’s all the hard work and everything that our team put together. It’s more of a team thing, but it’s a great individual accomplishment.
Kemmer strung together eight consecutive multi-hit games in late June as Bobby Bell’s expansion Oilers hovered around first place in the NYCBL Western Division throughout the season.
“Jon had a huge impact on our team especially being our first year in the league,” Bell said. “He’s the kind of kid we can put anywhere in the lineup and expect great things out of him. Throughout the year he hit one, two, three and four for us. Any time he was in the lineup at any position he always impacted our lineup as far as hitting. When it came to the field, he was the same kind of guy. We put him just about anywhere, and he instantly made an impact. Whether it was in the outfield, DHing or whenever we put him on the mound.”
Kemmer earned hitter of the week for June 25th – July 1st when he went 12-for-21 with five extra base hits (three doubles and two home runs) and 11 RBI including a solo home run in a win over the Hornell Dodgers.
“When Jon first got here, he stepped right into the cage and took his hacks and made a his presence known,” Bell added. “We definitely expected large things out of Jon after first day in the cage.”
Kemmer led the league in all three Triple Crown categories late in July. Eventually, Alex Sanchez, Jr. (Ave Maria) of the league champion Syracuse Jr. Chiefs claimed the batting title.
“Did I expect that he almost would win the Triple Crown?” Bell explained. “I can’t say I expected that. I don’t think you ever expect anyone to do that.”
Kemmer finished the season with 22 multi-hit games. He had two four-hit nights and finished five-of-six with four RBI in a 20-7 victory over Rochester on June 27th.
“Pitching to Jon Kemmer was tough,” said NYCBL Pitcher of the Year, Steven Beckham. “I didn’t know how to pitch to him most of the time, so I just tried to hit corners.”
Kemmer also made nine appearance on the mound. He finished 2-3 with 18 strike outs in 16 innings pitched.
He earned the American Baseball Coaches Association NCAA Division II All-Atlantic Region for the Clarion Golden Eagles this past spring. He started all 40 games hitting a team-leading .387 with 22 extra-base hits including five home runs and 25 RBI.
“It was great to be a part of a new franchise. I learned all about the rich history that came through there,” Kemmer said of his experience with the Oilers. “Hopefully, they keep it going and have great success like they did this year.”
“It was an awesome experience,” Kemmer said when reflecting upon his summer in the NYCBL. “We played forty-some games and played every day. It was great competition everyday. I couldn’t have been any happier with it.”
To date, there is no known Triple Crown winner in NYCBL history.
Leave a Reply