By NoontimeSports.com
The Brockton Rox of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, (FCBL) announced on Thursday their most recent acquisition of three Concordia College baseball players — junior outfielder Luis Gonzalez, sophomore outfielder Joe Gallub and junior pitcher Salvatore Minichino – who’ll join the team this summer.
For more on this particular acquisition and the upcoming Rox season — CLICK HERE.
Jose Canseco will return to New England this spring and summer to play baseball with the Worcester Tornadoes! (Photo Credit: News.Softpedia.com)
By Matt Noonan
The Worcester Tornadoes, an independent baseball team, announced on Friday that they’ve signed former Boston Red Sox and MLB slugger Jose Canseco to a one-year contract.
“From a baseball standpoint, we lost two of the best power hitters in our league. We lost Chris Colabello to the [Minnesota] Twins organization, we lost Mark Minicozzi to Quebec in our league, and that’s a serious drop off, that’s right-handed power hitting and Jose Canseco, why not give him a chance and see what he’s got,” Tornadoes GM Jorg Bassiacos said on Friday morning. “If it helps sell a few tickets, there’s no harm in that either.”
Canseco, who hasn’t been involved with a Major League team since 2001, had originally planned to play in the Mexican League this spring, but those plans were derailed after he refused to take a doping test.
“He’s very excited [about the season]. He has a true appreciation for Boston, he has true appreciation for the fans of New England, who’re in his words, ‘savvy baseball people,’” added Bassicos. “If you perform, you’re going to be embraced, and I think that’s a very accurate statement.”
The former MLB slugger played 17 seasons in the big leagues, two of them with Boston, and ended his career with 1,877 hits, 1,407 RBIs, 462 home runs, and 340 doubles.
“The buzz has been palpable, the phones have been ringing off the hook here in the front office, and I think it’s great. I think it’s great for us, I think it helps us tell a great story,” said Bassicos.
“I think giving Jose an opportunity to showcase what he can do, as well as us an opportunity to tell a story of really turning this around is a good story.”
Canseco and the Tornadoes will begin their 2012 schedule at Newark on Thursday, May 17, and will play their home opener on Monday, May 21, against Quebec.
Worcester hasn’t won a CanAm League title since 2005, and will attempt to end their seven-year drought this season, too.
For more information on this particular acquisition – please check out the Tornadoes press releases by CLICKING HERE.
St. Mary's of Lynn celebrated their first Div. 4 championship since 2002 on Monday against Cathedral High School, 70-64. (Photo Credit: C.J. Legner)
By Matt Noonan
BOSTON, MA – For the first time since March of 2002, the St. Mary’s of Lynn boy’s basketball team danced on the TD Garden parquet, as they celebrated their 70-64 victory against Cathedral High School in the MIAA Div. IV eastern finals on Monday.
“Our school’s doing really well right now. Hockey teams, girls basketball team, [so] we just wanted to make our mark in the school and make our school proud,” said St. Mary’s junior Randolf Thurman, who turned in 14 points.
Cathedral constructed a 10-5 lead following the opening tap, thanks to seniors Brandon Kelly and Matt Owens, (13 points) but a missed free throw by sophomore Shayne Green opened the door for St. Mary’s to rally, as Thurman and senior Devin Thompson, (25 points) sank back-to-back baskets at the end of the session, which provided the Spartans a lead they never relinquished.
The Spartans then built off their late first quarter momentum by outscoring the Panthers, 15-8 in the second frame, and entered their dressing room with a 32-23 cushion.
“[In the] second quarter, I think that everybody wanted to buckle down, get off and try to execute, and then we had to focus on rebounding and stopping their transition, so that’s what we were getting on each other,” Thurman said.
“We knew they had five or six athletes that were going to come after us, and I think we tried to get on their three-point shots, and I think our offense started to flow a little bit, once that did it kind of made it a little bit easier for us,” said St. Mary’s head coach Kevin Moran.
Once the second half commenced, St. Mary’s offense relied heavily upon Thompson, but Cathedral countered with senior Kyle Lawyer, who’s two free throws and two buckets helped the Panthers cut the deficit to 51-42 entering the final quarter.
The Spartans eventually stretched their lead to 60-50 late in the fourth session, but numerous missed shots allowed the Panthers to rally back and cut the deficit to 62-58 off a layup by Lawyer.
“We had to stop them on transition. We had to box everybody out, and then we also had to run through our plays and keep our composure,” said Rudolf.
Cathedral was then forced to foul St. Mary’s, with very little time remaining, but two free throws at the stripe, and layups from Thompson and senior Nick Gagliolo, (19 points) secured the victory for the Spartans.
“These guys did everything you asked them to, [and] we knew that this Cathedral team was going to comeback,” said Moran.
“Words can’t describe how I feel right now, I really can’t,” said Gagliolo. “Once the ball went up, everything just kind of settled in.”
Cathedral’s last visit to the finals occurred in March of 2010, but similar to this particular matchup, they lost to New Mission.
Bill Buckner will return to Boise, Idaho, and act as the team's hitting coach this season! (Photo Credit: Matt Noonan for NoontimeSports.com)
By NoontimeSports.com
ESPNChicago.com confirmed on Wednesday that Bill Buckner will be the hitting coach for the Chicago Cubs’ Class A affiliate, (Boise Hawks) this summer, and won’t be returning to Fenway Park to assist the Boston Red Sox newest manager, Bobby Valentine.
Originally, there had been rumors swirling around Boston that Valentine and Buckner, who have known each other since their playing days with the Los Angles Dodgers in ’68, would reunite as coaches. However, ESPNBoston.com learned that the Red Sox front office was “resistant toward it.”
Bucker spent the past spring and summer coaching the Brockton Rox in the Can-Am League, and led the squad to a 51-42 record. However, the eventual league champions, Quebec Capitales, swept the Rox in the opening round of the playoffs, which ended his stint as the team’s manager.
Buckner’s last job held in the big leagues was with the Chicago Sox in ’96-’97, as the hitting coach.
By NoontimeSports.com
Saturday, Dec. 17 — UPDATE: According to a source close to the team, as well as a recent report via the Patriot Ledger, the Rox will most likely join the Futures Collegiate Baseball League next summer, (2012), but nothing officially has been confirmed.
Once news breaks on a decision, we’ll provide an update!
Friday, Dec. 16: The CanAm League announced on Friday that the Brockton Rox won’t be playing baseball in 2012, but are hopeful the club will return to the diamond and league in 2013.
According to the report on the league’s website, commissioner Miles Wolff announced that the league this year will only include the Newark Bears, New Jersey Jackals, Rockland Boulders and Worcester Tornadoes, who’ll take part in a 100-game schedule, which begins on Thursday, May 17, and concludes on Monday, September 3.
This season promises to be a special one, as all five teams will take part in an interleague schedule against various teams from the American Association.
For more information on the decision to postpone the Rox season, and Wolff’s statement from Friday, please CLICK HERE.
By Brian Willwerth
BROCKTON, MA – On a windy, Sunday night at Campanelli Stadium, the Worcester Tornadoes jumped out to an early lead, as well as hung on to win, 6-4, to complete a three-game sweep of the Brockton Rox.
The Tornadoes jumped out early in the first inning off Rox starting pitcher Freddy Flores, courtesy of back-to-back doubles by Abraham Nunez and Chris Colabello. Two batters later, Nick Salotti hit a deep, two-run homer over the left-field wall to make it 3-0.
Worcester played more long ball in the second. This time, it was Tony Patane, who hit one down the left-field line to increase the lead to 4-0. In the third, Colabello hit another blast to left to make it 5-0.
The Rox got on the board in the third, as Dominic Ramos led off the inning with a triple down the right-field line. He scored on a wild pitch by Tornadoes’ starting pitcher Ryan Bicondoa. Later in the inning, Jeremy Hunt scored the second Brockton run on a sacrifice fly to left by Mike Torres.
Worcester loaded the bases in the 5th, and capitalized on an RBI single by Alex Trezza. That hit knocked Flores out of the game.
After the Rox cut the lead to 6-3 on an RBI groundout by Mike Torres, Chris Valencia brought the home team even closer with an RBI double scoring Ramos. The Rox then loaded the bases with two outs, but Melvin Falu struck out to end the threat. Brockton put the tying runs on base again in the 8th, but Chris Valencia struck out to end the inning, and slammed his helmet on the ground in disgust.
The Rox brought the tying run to the plate again in the 9th, but could not cash in. The home team could never get the one, clutch hit that the energetic crowd of 2,320 was hoping for.
The Rox are back in action Tuesday night, when they travel to Rockland. Worcester plays at Pittsfield that day too.
By Brian Willwerth
BROCKTON, MA — The CanAm League game Sunday night between the Brockton Rox and Rockland Boulders was delayed at the start by 21-minutes due to wet weather. Yet, once the game began, the home team did not delay lighting up the scoreboard, as the Rox jumped out to a big lead early, and then cruised to a 9-2 victory at Campanelli Stadium, completing a four-game sweep.
The Rox got on the board in the bottom of the first. Dan Barbero drew a bases-loaded walk, with Melvin Falu trotting home from third. Then Trey Hernandez delivered the first big hit of the game, lining a two-run single to right that scored Keith Brachold and Chris Grossman. It was 3-0 Rox after one.
Norm Hutchins got Rockland on the board in the top of the second with a mammoth home run to right.
The Rox broke it open in the third. They added to their lead with yet another bases-loaded hit. This time, it was Tucker Nathans doubling down the right-field line to give Brockton a 5-1 lead. Then with runners on 2nd and 3rd, the Rox executed the suicide squeeze to perfection. Alex Sumner’s bunt brought home the sixth Brockton run. Then Chris Valencia made it 8-1 with a towering home run over the right-centerfield fence. It was his fourth home run of the season. That would also mark the end of the day for Rockland starting pitcher Will Hassett.
Barbero hit hisfourth home run of the season in seventh for the final Brockton run.
The nine runs were more than enough for Brockton starting pitcher Julian Sampson, who allowed only two hits over seven innings, one of them being the home run to Hutchins. Sampson earned his seventh win of the year.
The Rox are off Monday night. They’ll open a series against the first-place Worcester Tornadoes on Tuesday.
Lewis Glanz (left) holds the world's most expensive foot long hot dog.
By Matt Noonan
BROCKTON, MA – He may not be remembered for hitting home runs or helping the Brockton Rox win games in the CanAm League, although, executive chef Ben Glanz will most be remembered for creating the world’s most expensive foot-long hot dog.
“After a long home stand, it was me and my boss, Sander Stotland and he called up one of his AC chefs from back in the day and he said, we need a crazy idea and [we] came up with something after a really, really long day and this came to be, it was just like that,” Glanz said.
Ben’s father, Lewis Glanz was the first person that bought this particular concoction on Saturday evening at Campanelli Stadium and after watching his son display his culinary skills in front of a herd of spectators, he was eager to take a bite
“I am very excited [to eat this particular hot dog]. I came up here from Connecticut [to] partake in this little adventure,” Lewis Glanz said.
Glanz’s creation was marked at $80 and topped last year’s record that was set by the Foot Long Haute Dog, which sold for $69 at Serendipity 3 in New York City.
“Hands down this is the craziest thing [I ever created in the kitchen]. I’ve never thought to do something like this ever,” Ben Glanz said.
When asked about having his name inked in the Guinness Book of World Records, Lewis responded by saying, “Well, hey, what are you going to do. I’m sure there’s somebody who’s going to beat me out next year for a $90 hot dog.”
SIDE NOTE – The Rox handed out 1,000 free vouchers for regular hot dogs prior to Saturday’s first pitch against the Newark Bears.
Would you eat this particular foot long hot dog?
Nothing better than talking baseball with Scott "Skip" Nathanson!
By Matt Noonan
BROCKTON, MA – He may not win manager of the year, but New York State Federals commander, leader and of course, head coach, Scott “Skip” Nathanson is focused on having his team continue to play quality baseball everyday.
“Baseball is a great game because the only game that counts [on a particular day] is the one [that] you’re playing tomorrow. We can only win one game in a day and can always lose one game if you’re playing one game,” Nathanson said.
“You have to have a very short [term] memory in baseball. You have to learn from your mistakes and move forward.”
The Federals have indeed learned from their mistakes, but also, “moved forward” too. In fact, as the only travel team in the CanAm League, Nathanson was happy to report Tuesday evening after the team’s 40th loss to the Brockton Rox that already, other ball clubs has signed five players from his original roster.
“It’s very rewarding [to see my former players signed by other teams in the league],” We’re very proud of the fact that we’re able to send guys forward,” Nathanson said.
“That’s what we live for as coaches and managers to see a player explode onto the scene. We [currently] have Jacob Fabry, who’s a centerfielder, who has in the last 20 games, [recorded hits in 15-16 games] and at one point, he had a 11 game hitting streak and you could see it, day by day, he’s getting better and better and to be able to move a player to another team is very rewarding.”
It’s very unlikely that the Federals will make the playoffs this season, yet, despite wins or losses, Nathanson is committed to helping his young ball players improve, as well as get noticed by other CanAm or Independent baseball teams.
“Our goal is very simple. We go out every day, we play every pitch, every out, every inning and we go out there to try and execute whatever the play is on offense or on defense to help us win a game and if we do that then more of our guys will get signed, more of our pitchers will get signed and it will show that this was a very successful season for the New York [State] Federals and the CanAm League,” Nathanson said.
