By Paul Gotham
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Consistency. Guidance. Focus.
Those are some of the words the Hornell Dodgers used to describe their manager, Tom Kenney. It was that combination which earned Kenney the 2014 New York Collegiate Baseball League Manager of the Year.
The second-year coach led his team to an NYCBL record for regular season wins and a post-season title with a steady everyday approach.
“He told us from the first day, ‘summer ball, you’re either going to get better, or you’re going to get worse,’” said second-year player Spencer Scorza (Cornell). “He instilled that get-better every-day mentality. He was so consistent with everything. You knew what to expect every, single day.”
Hornell won 14 of 15 in mid-June, took sole possession of first in the NYCBL’s Western Division on June 15th and never looked back.
“He was s a reminder every, single day to the players,” Scorza added. “Maybe if you come to the ballpark, and you don’t feel that great that day, he’s that driving force, that consistent let’s get after it for today for two and a half hours.”
Hornell led the NYCBL in runs (337), batting average (.296), hits (471), walks (223), and on-base percentage (.400).
“He always kept us together,” said Dodger infielder Thad Johnson (St. Bonaventure). “It’s a long season. A lot of things can happen with injuries and stuff. [It was him] keeping us all together, keeping us all positive, winning all those games and keeping our heads on our shoulders and then carrying that into the playoffs.”
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Hornell pitchers allowed a league-low 163 runs (120 earned). Dodger hurlers also set the pace with a 2.69 ERA. They limited opposing batters to .231 at the plate while issuing just 136 base on balls (second only to Rochester’s 131). The combination resulted in a league-leading WHIP (walks plus hits per inning) of 1.23.
“He kept us all together,” commented Hornell ace Jordan Accetta (Wofford) who finished with a league record nine regular season wins. “If we’re kinda struggling or whooping somebody, he made it so we stay focused and locked in and really kept us in the game didn’t let us fade out of it which allowed us to keep winning.”
The Dodgers clinched the playoffs on July 16th. Four days later they sealed first place and home-field advantage throughout the post-season.
“He’s just a great coach,” stated NYCBL CS MVP Brandon Sandoval (Vanguard). “He had so much guidance for us. I feel like he’s always telling us to do the right things. He’s one of the better coaches I’ve ever had in my life honestly.”
Hornell went on to sweep Oneonta in the LCS. The title was the fifth in franchise history and first since 2005.
“That’s the best Dodger record ever,” Kenney said of his team’s 38-8 2014 regular season ledger. “That’s the best NYCBL record ever. That’s gotta be the best winning percentage in American collegiate summer baseball this year.”
The championship was bittersweet for Kenney.
“That might be the last college game I ever coach,” Kenney said after the series-clinching win. “If it is, that’s a helluva way to go out.”
With the title, Hornell joined the Amsterdam (Schnectady) Mohawks in second with five all-time championships. Only the Broome Rangers have won more NYCBL titles (6).
After serving as an assistant coach with the Cohocton Red Wings, Kenney founded the Dodgers in 1994. He served as the team’s original general manager and oversaw Hornell championships in 1995 and 2000. He remained on the team’s Executive Board of Directors throughout the decade of the 2000’s. He returned to an active role in 2013 when he took over as manager.
“It’s not a big pond, but it’s my pond.”
Oneonta’s Joe Hughes finished second in the voting with three first-place votes and 31 points. Rochester’s Brady James, the Geneva Red Wings George Schaefer, Sherrill’s Greg Dombrowski and the Geneva Twins Nick Callahan also received first-place tallies.
2014 Manager of the Year
Tom Kenney (11) 72
Joe Hughes (3) 31
Brady James (2) 28
George Schaefer (2) 24
Greg Dombrowski (2) 20
Nick Callahan (1) 10
Massicci named NYCBL Defensive Player of the Year.
Niagara’s Verner tabbed Reliever of the Year.
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