The Pitt Greensburg baseball team will begin their season of destiny on Monday, February 2nd as official practice begins!!!!
Head Coach Adam Jack (pictured above) will take over the reigns of the Pitt Greensburg Bobcats baseball program as he enters his first season as Head Coach. Coach Jack’s coaching career began at Waynesburg University after a legendary career as a player at Waynesburg. As a middle infielder at Waynesburg , Jack was a 4-time All Conference Selection (PAC), a 5-time PAC Player of the Week, the 1998 PAC Player of the Year and named to the 1998 ECAC/Reebok NCAA Division III Southern Region 1st team as a 2nd baseman. At Waynesburg University, Jack took over as the Batting Coach, Infield Coach and First Base Coach for three seasons (1999, 2005-2006). In 2007, Jack helped Jeannette’s Varsity Baseball Team to a 6-10 record, more wins than the team had in its previous five years. The following year the program improved with a record of 9-10, the best season a Jeannette Baseball Team had in over 20 years. Coach Jack brings seriousness and pride to the Pitt Greensburg baseball program and will have an immediate impact on all of the UPG players.
Head Coach Adam Jack has four senior captains to his assistance. They are Mike Battocchi, Chad Hoffner, Ben Sorosky, and Matt Stanziano. All four players will play a pivotal role in the success of the team this season.
Catchers Mike Battocchi (left) and Chad Hoffner (right)Both players are experienced behind the dish and hit exceptionally well. Both have Home-Run power, but also hit for average. Battocchi reminds me of Dodgers catcher Russell Martin. He is smart, catches the ball well, and hits for power/average. Hoffner is more of a power hitter than average hitter. Therefore, he can be compared to the great Mike Piazza. Both Mike and Chad understand how to play the game and call great games as catchers. It makes it easy on myself to pitch and thus is a priveledge to pitch to them.
The next captain is Senior pitcher Ben Sorosky (above). Ben is one of the workhorses of the Pitt Greensburg pitching staff. He is smart and is a student of the game. Studying hitters' tendancies and helping out the other pitchers on the staff is why Ben is a leader of the pitchers. Ben is a fastball/curveball/changeup pitcher. However, his best pitch is the changeup. Ben resembles newly signed Arizona Diamondback Jon Garland in the fact that they are both tall pitchers and have good changeups. Ben struggled a little last year for the UPG Bobcats, but has worked hard all summer and offseason to be ready for the 2009 season!!!! 
Last and certainly not least is All-American captain Matt Stanziano (above). Matt is the prototypical ballplayer. He understands how to play the game and is a leader on the field. Matt is the Shortstop of the Pitt Greensburg Bobcats. Stanziano is speedy, hits for average, and also hits for power. In 2007, Matt earned numerous honors including becoming the school's first baseball All American (D3baseball.com - 3rd team) and AMCC Player of the Year. Stanziano reminds me of Jose Reyes in how he plays the game. He is a very solid shortstop and is ready to have another huge year.There is a lot of optimism for the Pitt Greensburg Bobcats 2009 baseball campaign. The team is senior-oriented and is loaded with experience. The Bobcats are ready to start practicing and are ready to compete for the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Title!!!
GO BOBCATS!!!!
The 2009 Gray Bats season has officially begun as the Pittsburgh NABA held a manager's meeting to discuss league rules, the amount of teams, and the direction that the league is heading. I attended the meeting with head coach Larry Zalewski to get insight on the agenda for the 2009 NABA season. The first set of games are set for the week of April 18, 2009. However, teams may declare that a no-game week if they find they will have trouble fielding a team if people are away or still have some players in college. Another issue brought up was the umpire association. The league may stick with the same umpire association as last year, but are also exploring other options. The amount of teams in the league will be around 10-16. Depending if teams like the Phantoms, Hurricanes, and Rakers stick around, there will be more teams in the league. Also, a few new teams such as the Gray Bats are starting their franchises for the first time this summer season.
Joe Graff (pictured above) is the President of the Pittsburgh NABA league.
He was quoted as saying, "The Pittsburgh NABA league is on the rise. The amount of teams grows every year. This league combines the youth of college players with experienced veteran players that creates a fun baseball atmosphere. The Pittsburgh NABA is growing at a rate that it will be one of the premier baseball leagues to play for in the city of Pittsburgh."
I agree with President Joe Graff. The league is fun and anyone can play. The only regulation is that you have to be of 18 years or older.
Attention Gray Bats Players: Check your email!!!!
Be sure to print out the NABA player information form and send it along with the first deposit to head coach Larry Zalewski to ensure your spot on the 2009 Gray Bats team!!!
Our goal this season will be to have "The Nicest Team in Baseball", but it won't hurt to play competitive baseball and dethrone the Olwzzzzzz as 2009 Summer League Champions. 
I do have one personal gaurantee: "I can't wait to sweep the Ducks. Don't take it personal Ben Gwin. The Gray Bats will sweep the Ducks this summer. And it will be extra juicy when I get a WIN on the hill!!! QUACK QUACK!!!"
And one message to Kenny Rayl: "If you thought losing to the Rakers three times last year was bad, the pain will continue for you as the Gray Bats will administer the same pain and MOREEEEE!!!"
The trash talking is all fun and games. I know all of us can't wait until the upcoming 2009 NABA summer season. Time for everyone to start working out and getting in shape for the season.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!!
GRAY BATS IN SUMMER 2009!!!!
With the ball dropping at New York City, the beginning of 2009 signifies the start of another fun baseball year. So much is to be said as the new year has begun. The new year gives a fresh start to every team. Each team is optimistic as to how they will do. The new beginning doesn't erase the glories of the past, but energizes every player to get better for the upcoming season.
(Side note: The ball shown above is like an exact image of Jeremy Barchie's fastball. Very easy to see and pummel into the outfield gaps. Haha just kidding Barchie!!!)
The 2009 season has begun for the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg Bobcats. Our team is a member of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. It is a Division III Baseball program. Even though it is Division III, the competition is highly competitive. Every team has a solid lineup of hitters and a good pitching staff. Last year, Pitt Greensburg finished in 5th place and lost in the 1st round of the AMCC playoffs. The first round is a best of three matchup. I pitched game one of the series and lost 4-0 to Pitt Bradford. Therefore, I can't wait until the upcoming season for a chance to avenge the loss. I have already started throwing long-toss and pitching bullpens to get the arm in shape. Also, pitchers need to be conditioned, so I have been running several miles every day to get in shape. As the season gets up and running, I will post updates as to how the Pitt Greensburg Bobcats are looking.
Another team that I am strongly involved in competes in the Pittsburgh NABA Baseball League. As a member of the 2009 Summer Gray Bats, I have been helping Head Coach Larry Zalewski assemble a team that is both talented and fun. The team is going to have the motto of being: "The Nicest Team in Baseball". The team has several returning members from the 2008 Fall League Champion Gray Bats team. They include Matt Crouch, Ben Sorosky, Benji Spicer, David Wallis, and Larry Zalewski. Free-agents added to the Championship Team of the Fall are Mike Brandt, Robb Galvanek, and Mario Poston. Head Coach Larry Zalewski and General Manager of Player Personel Ben Sorosky having been working hard to negotiate with high value free agents that bring both talent and character to the Gray Bats team. Attention Gray Bats fans: Check Head Coach Larry Zalewski's blog for Up-to-the-Minute Gray Bats team news!!!!
The link is listed on the right side of my page but is:
http://graybats2009.blogspot.com/
Lastly, I feel that head blogger of the South Oakland Ducks blog Ben Gwin should give the Gray Bats a little more credit. He feels that we will be a .500 team at best. I don't know about that Ben Gwin, but I do know that the Gray Bats won the 2008 Fall League Championship and are working hard to dethrone the Owlz and be crowned as 2009 Summer Leauge Champions. And Ben Gwin, are you assembling a 40 man army for your 2009 Ducks team?
All being said, I can't wait for the 2009 season to begin. Check back for Pitt Greensburg baseball and Gray Bat baseball updates!!!!!
