By Paul Gotham
ROCHESTER, NY – There is a scene from the movie Liar, Liar where Fletcher Reede (played by Jim Carrey) hijacks a runway staircase to chase down his ex-wife, Audrey (Maura Tierney) and son Max (Justin Cooper) as they embark on a cross-country flight with Audrey’s new beaux, Jerry (Cary Elwes). Moments earlier, faced with the reality of leaving behind her son’s father to start a new life three time zones away, Audrey is overcome by nerves. It is at this point in the movie that the truth hits Jerry. Despite the cushy job with plenty of prospects, Jerry realizes he can’t win over Audrey’s heart.
In much the same way, the Geneva Red Wings have existed in the New York Collegiate Baseball League for the last few years. Try as they might, the Red Wings just CAN’T get the girl.
The Red Wings have been to the NYCBL’s post-season six of the last seven years. In 2006 and 2007 the denizens of McDonough Park claimed the Western Division title. In 2011 and ’12 the Wings advanced to the league’s final four only to come up short, left alone at the altar with ring in hand and someone else taking the pretty bride on a honeymoon.
If the Red Wings are to ascend the ranks to NYCBL’s elite in 2013 Tommy Bergjans (Haverford College, PA), Cameron Stimpson (Monroe CC) and Rob Winemiller (Case Western Reserve, OH) will need to play major roles.
Winemiller has made 17 starts behind the plate for the Spartans.
“Rob is a really talented kid,” said Case Western Reserve head coach Matt Englander. “He has worked very hard to become a polished position player.”
Winemiller is hitting .262 in 65 plate appearances this spring. The sophomore has two extra-base hits and nine RBI. He is throwing out nearly 42 percent of would be base stealers on the season. He has committed one error in 97 chances at the dish.
“He is one of those kids who isn’t happy just being talented,” Englander continued. “He wants to have those translate into tangible skills that he uses in games. He is hyper-competitive. He is probably in the best shape of anyone on the team. He’s maybe the toughest kid on the team.”
The Red Wings will also look to use Winemiller out of the bullpen.
“He has fantastic arm strength,” Englander added. “We’ve had him as high as 94 off the mound. He didn’t pitch in high school. He would be pitching more for us now but our second catcher has been out with an injury.”
Stimpson was part of last year’s Red Wing club which needed a dramatic final at bat to earn a spot in the playoffs. After starting slowly, the sophomore finished with hits in seven of his final nine games including a home run and three RBI in game one of the East Division finals.
“He’s a young kid with the potential to be very good in a lot of different areas,” said Monroe Community College head coach Mike Kelly.
Stimpson has 6.5 speed and can throw in the mid-80s from the crow hop.
“He has the five tools,” Kelly added. “At the plate because of his foot speed he is capable of hitting for average.”
Though just a sophomore, Bergjans will anchor the Haverford staff. As a freshman Bergjans earned a second team All-Centennial Conference honors with a 6-4 and 2.72 ERA in 76 innings of work. His 78 strikeouts led the club and were third in the conference. He set a school record with 15 Ks versus Muhlenberg College last April. Bergjans improved to 5-0 this season with a dominant performance against conference foe Swarthmore.
Geneva opens the season on the road against league champion Syracuse Jr. Chiefs on June sixth. The Red Wings’ home opener is two days later, June eighth when the Wellsville Nitros come to town. First pitch at McDonough Park is scheduled for 3 p.m.
The Red Wings clinched a spot in the playoffs with six runs in their final regular season at bat. Geneva eliminated the Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs before falling to the Jr. Chiefs. Geneva dropped the third and decisive game of the 2011 West Division Championship to Dave Brust’s Webster Yankees.
Founded in 1978, the NYCBL is a summer wood-bat league which provides eligible student-athletes the opportunity to develop skills over the course of two months in Upstate New York. Current major league players Tim Hudson, Hunter Pence and John McDonald all spent a summer playing in the NYCBL. Twenty-one former NYCBL players heard their names called during the 2012 MLB draft.
Leave a Reply