By Paul Gotham
The Cortland Crush open their inaugural season in the New York Collegiate Baseball League with a roster bolstered by the likes of Christian Brown (Ithaca College/East Greenbush, N.Y.), Wesley Burghardt (The College at Brockport/Chittenango, N.Y.), Greg Jasek (Clarkson/Chittenango, N.Y.), Josh Mollett (St. Leo/Tampa, Fla.) and Tom Taplin (University at Buffalo via Pulaski High/Pulaski, N.Y.)
Brown (OF 5-10, 175 JR Bats Right/Throws Right) has played all 36 games (33 starts) for George Valesente’s Bombers. He is hitting .228 with 16 RBI and 22 runs scored and has 14 stolen bases in 16 attempts. He runs a 4.6 time in the 40-yard dash. His arm velocity has been tracked in the mid to upper 80s.
“He’s not performing offensively as well as he has in the past, and that might be some of our fault,” noted Valesente. “We were working on him switch-hitting. A lot of his indoor work was left-handed, and he possibly got behind in what he was doing. He does an outstanding job defensively. He is as good as there has ever been in right field for us. He’s a great baserunner. He has great instincts. He’s a clutch hitter.”
Burghardt (IF 5-10, 175 So Bats Right/Throws Right), an All SUNYAC performer, is hitting .351 with a team-leading 54 hits in 40 starts. He has scored 21 runs and has an OBP of .402. Burghardt is a contact hitter who hits well for average to all fields and can show gap power.
“Everything he has accomplished is a direct reflection of his hard work,” Brockport coach Justin Beach stated. “He’s always ready to hit. He’s got a good approach with what he’s looking for based on his strengths and weaknesses. He might lose hits and walks because when he swings he puts the ball in play.”
Jasek (RHP/IF 6-3, 210 SO Bats Right), a first team Liberty League All-Star, finished 5-3 in eight starts for Clarkson. He struck out 53 and walked 14 in 57 innings of work. Jasek also made 29 starts in the field and led the Golden Knights hitting .310 with 12 extra-base hits and 14 RBI. Jasek throws 86-89 and gets good run on his two-seam fastball. He has a hard slider which he throws at 81 with a 12-to-6 breaking ball in the 75-76 mph range. His change-up is a work in progress. He is 1.2 to the plate and holds runners by changing his looks.
“He is more of a power-type pitcher,” Clarkson coach Jim Kane noted. “He pumps the zone. That’s his thing. He’s a guy who we can rely on to go out there and throw strikes. His work ethic is great. He is a competitor on the mound. Nothing really flusters him. He just goes out and gets the job done.”
Mollett (RHP 6-2, 190 FR Bats Right) threw 10-plus innings in four appearances for the Lions. He fanned 10 and walked four. Mollett has a live arm and a big upside. His velocity fluctuates between 87-92 mph. He throws a hard curve ball with some depth at 74-76 mph. He is getting a feel for his changeup and is working on his command.
“He is tremendously hard worker,” said St. Leo assistant coach Lee Parks. “He leads by example. He is looking to get in every rep and be perfect with everything.”
Taplin (RHP 6-0, 175 HS Senior Bats Right) throws upper 80s and can touch 90. He has a live arm with a breaking ball and change up.
Click here to see the rest of the Cortland roster.
The Crush open the season June 1st at Wellsville. The 2013 NYCBL champion Oneonta Outlaws visit Beaudry Park for Cortland’s home opener on Tuesday, June 3rd. Click here to see the rest of the Cortland schedule.
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