The Pittsburgh Gray Bats enter the 2009 summer season of the Pittsburgh National Adult Baseball Association after a successful 2008 fall campaign. The Gray Bats made an improbable run and won the Pittsburgh NABA Fall Championship after a regular season record of 2-6. However, clutch play out of the Gray Bats helped them to beat the Ghostbusters in a close fought 9-8 victory in the play-in game to eventually beat the Orange Crush in an extra-inning affair to gain the 2008 Pittsburgh NABA Fall League Championship. The Gray Bats celebrated heavily after winning the fall league title, but know a lot of work must be done to repeat and win the 2009 Summer League Title…..
Key players that will return for “America’s Team” include Matt Crouch, Ben Sorosky, Benji Spicer, David “Iron Man” Wallis, and Head Coach Larry Zalewski. Free-agent acquisitions include Mike Brandt, Michael Fedorka, Robb Galvanek, Marrio Poston, Greg Smith, and Randall Soles. Each player will play a pivotal role in how the 2009 season pans out. However, the Gray Bats have been in deep contract talks with Pitcher Jeremy Barchie and P/IF Eric Chimenti. Both players played on the Rakers last season along-side Mike Brandt, Greg Smith, Ben Sorosky, and Larry Zalewski.
Jeremy Barchie was quoted as saying, “At first, I was not going to play this summer season, because of work and other personal issues. However, after speaking to Ben (Sorosky), I felt that a part of me would be missing if I didn’t play baseball in the NABA this summer season. I am going to take some time before making my decision, but if I do come back, Sorosky and myself will form the best 1-2 punch in the Pittsburgh NABA.”
The 2009 Summer Gray Bats will look to acquire a few more players through the “2009 First-Year Player Draft” in March. Head Coach Larry Zalewski has hired scouts to attend the player workouts so that he will be primed with the best scouting reports in order to draft players that will help out the Gray Bats.
All-in-all, the 2009 Gray Bats already have a solid 11 man squad.
The pitching staff will be anchored around “staff-ace” Ben Sorosky. Sorosky has pitched in the Pittsburgh NABA for 3 years now and has played on a different team for all 3 years…(Orioles, Knights, Rakers). However, Sorosky feels that he has found a home with the Gray Bats. He has thrown quality innings in each season and even played for the Pittsburgh Blues in the NABA “Blue-Gray Tournament”.
Sorosky does 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!!!"
Another quality pitcher on the squad is Michael Fedorka. Not much information can be given on this Gray Bat Prospect, but it is known that he has a “mean” curveball. He will pitch quality innings on the Gray Bats this summer season. Other options include Mike Brandt, Robb Galvanek, David Wallis, and Larry Zalewski for innings on the hill.
The infield will be manned by several players. Greg Smith will play on the Gray Bats this summer season after spending a year with the Knights and a year with the Rakers. Another Raker defunct, Greg Smith is a solid top of the lineup contact hitter. His best moment last season came when he played versus the Matadors. A sharp ground ball ran up on him like a bull and caught him in the marbles (above). However, he maintained composure and got the out at first base = solid infielder for the Gray Bats.
Another solid infielder for the Gray Bats is Randall Soles. Not much information can be provided on him except that he plays for the Winter League Groundhogs along-side Ben Gwin.
Ben Sorosky made his debut at shortstop for the Gray Bats in the fall. He did well fielding and will be a utility fielder anywhere Coach Zalewski needs him in the summer. Sorosky’s bat heated up midway through the season for the Rakers last season and he continued his hitting for the fall Gray Bats.
The outfield is stacked with speed and great gloves. Benji Spicer was the Centerfielder of the fall Gray Bats. He runs like a cheetah (above) and tracks down hard-hit fly balls. He made some “Web-gem” catches and will be looked upon to be the mainstay of the outfield. Spicer is a contact-hitter and has a great eye at the plate. He will be looked upon to get on base and to steal a lot of bags. Spicer will be a run-producer for the Gray Bats summer campaign.
Free-agent acquisition Marrio Poston is exactly what the Gray Bats needed. Electric speed, left-handed bat for the lead-off spot. He has been compared to a “Jose Reyes” (above), but in the outfield. He works the count and is a great hitter. Stolen bases is his identity. Poston will track down the fly balls and provide quality depth for the outfield. Spicer and Poston comprise the speed of the Gray Bats.
David Wallis, Larry Zalewski, and Mike Brandt will all be looked upon to provide depth in the outfield as well.
David “Iron Man” Wallis is an outfielder/infielder mix. His size as a tall-player makes it easy for him to catch fly balls and he is also a great scooper at first-base. At the plate, Wallis makes good contact and also draws walks.
Head Coach Larry Zalewski can play anywhere. He is the ultimate utility-man. Wherever he is needed, Zalewski can fill the void on the field. I have a feeling that Zalewski is going to pull a “Scott Patrick Sheldon” this summer season where he plays all 9 positions in one game.
Check out the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Sheldon
Zalewski came up big in the fall classic providing clutch hit after clutch hit. He looks for this to continue in the summer.
Mike Brandt comes from the 2008 Rakers franchise. He is another utility-man as well. He is versatile and can play all outfield positions. Brandt is a middle of the lineup bat and will look to collect hits and walks to manufacture runs for the 2009 Gray Bats. As seen on Larry Zalewski’s blog, Brandt is an Education Major. Therefore, he is smart and knows the “tidbits” of the game. Don’t mess with Mike Brandt.
The Catchers on the Gray Bats squad include Matt Crouch and Robb Galvanek.
Crouch caught all of the arms for the fall Gray Bats and will look to use the information he gained from his pitchers to create success in the 2009 season. Crouch is a tall catcher and blocks all the balls in the dirt. He gunned down several runners in the fall season so don’t run on him. Crouch is also another solid bat in the Gray Bats lineup.
Last, but certainly not least, is free-agent pickup from the Phantoms, Robb Galvanek. Robb played a few seasons at Pitt-Greensburg with Ben Sorosky and the two developed a good battery before Robb transferred to Pitt Main. Robb is a great catcher with a “GUN”. I would advise any base stealers not to run on Robb Galvanek. He also is a great contact hitter and will be a great asset to the Gray Bats lineup. Robb can play any infield or outfield position and is a huge acquisition. Robb created the motto “Squad Up” and the Gray Bats will look to exactly do this.
All eleven players listed above will provide a foundation for the 2009 Gray Bats success. The Gray Bats are a team to be reckoned with and are a definite contender for the 2009 NABA Summer League Championship. Check back for information when more players are signed to the team.
GO GRAY BATS!!!!!
