Geneva Red Wings have gone to the Bulldogs in ’14

By Paul Gotham

After back-to-back playoff appearances in 2011 and 2012, Geneva’s Red Wings found themselves on the outside looking in during the 2013 post-season. The Red Wings turn to a pair big sticks from the Alabama A&M Bulldogs for a trip to the New York Collegiate Baseball League’s second season. Julio Nunez (Miami, FL/Alabama A&M), Andrew Utterback (Sigourney, IA/Alabama A&M) and Mike Osinski (Vestal, NY/Longwood via Vestal HS) will lead Geneva’s Red Wings in 2014.

Nunez (SS/UT 5-11 215 JR Bats Right/ Throws Right), an All-SWAC performer, hit .332 with eight home runs and 45 RBI for the Bulldogs. He sprays the ball all over the field. Nunez runs a 6.8/60 time and has 14 stolen bases in 20 attempts. His velocity throwing across the diamond is 85-87 mph.

“He is probably one of the best in our conference as a guy who is going to stay down on the breaking ball and hit it the other way,” said Alabama A&M head coach Mitch Hill. “There is no question that when he gets that pitch, and he stays through it he can hit the ball out of the park. He’s a guy who can get his hands through the zone and take a ball out to left field as well. He reads pitchers well. He reads the scouting reports. He really pays attention to what we put together. He doesn’t strike out a lot.”

Batting .411 (seventh in NCAA DI) Utterback (OF/RHP 6-0 205 JR Bats Right) was named SWAC Hitter of the Year. With five home runs, two triples and a dozen doubles, he has a slugging percentage of .600 and on-base percentage of .517. He throws 90-92 MPH from the outfield and 87-88 off the mound with a hard slider. He commands a fastball and curve with a developing change up.

“Andrew has the best potential out of all the teams I have seen this year for hitting the ball the other way,” Hill said. “He’s probably got the best opposite field power that we’ve seen this year. It’s probably one the first times in the school’s history to have the swingers we have, and Andrew is at the top.

Osinski (SS/RHP 6-2 180 HS Bats Right) was a Class AA, Section 4 All-Star and All-Conference selection as a junior at Vestal Senior High School. 

“Michael is a tall, athletic shortstop who possesses a strong arm, good range and a solid glove,” said Brian McCullough via LongwoodLancers.com.  “He has the defensive skills to become an elite shortstop at the D-I level.  He is a tireless worker in the weight room, on the practice field and on game day.  We feel that Michael has a great chance to become an impact player, and possibly a Longwood great.”

Click here to see the entire Geneva Red Wing roster.

The Red Wings open 2014 with a battle against their in-town rival Geneva Twins on Sunday, June 1st. A 3 pm first pitch is scheduled at McDonough Park.

Click here to see the Geneva Red Wings 2014 season schedule.