In order to put a winning streak together, I have brought my blog back out of retirement.
The Gray Bats need a spark and this weekend is the perfect time to turn our season around. Two games against the Confederacy is just what the Doctor ordered.
The Gray Bats will be throwing pitchers Ben Sorosky (1-0) and Aaron Weitzman (0-1) this weekend against the Rebels.
Defense, Defense, Defense is what is needed for the Gray Bats this weekend.
Paul Altmyer threw a gem on Monday vs the Ducks but our defense let him down.
And I don't know how we got shutout either. I am still puzzled.
Rob Galvanek, Mark and Mike Lombardi, Sam Valetta, Paul Altmyer, and myself all took it quite personal to getting shutout last Monday and I feel bad for the beating we are going to put on the Rebel pitchers this upcoming Saturday.
I heard David "Iron Man" Wallis will bring a keg if we win 2?????
I see Larry is quite a man of words on other blog comments sections. Sorry Larry, I can't run my mouth until we put a winning streak together.
And thanks to all the members of the Pittsburgh Blues. I had a fun time playing and coaching the team. I will do an in-depth recap of the tournament including pictures and quotes from team members. The Atlantic City weekend will be a memory that lasts a lifetime.
GO BATS and let's get 2 on Saturday!!!!!
Larry is ready to coach the Bats to 2 wins!!!!
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!!!!!
The Pittsburgh Steelers won Super Bowl XLIII last night in one of the greatest games of all-time. "Big" Ben Roethlisberger drove the Steelers down the field in the last three minutes of the game to prove to the national audience that he is a PROVEN Winner. MVP Santonio Holmes made catch after catch and one of the best catches in Super Bowl history to give the Steelers their sixth championship in franchise history....
Now you guys may ask: How do the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers foreshadow the 2009 Pittsburgh Gray Bats summer NABA team?
Well, it is quite easy to explain. Pictured above (left to right) is a picture of Santonio Holmes, Ben Roethlisberger, Mike Tomlin, and Dan Rooney. All of these players had a distinct measure in how the Steelers won the Super Bowl this year. First, Mike Tomlin. What a heck of a head coach signed by Dan Rooney. Mike Tomlin said after the game that it was an honor to be the Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also went onto say, "The players bought into the philosophy of trusting each other and working hard on and off the field to get better and play hard for me." The comparison can be made to Head Coach Larry Zalewski of the Gray Bats. He can be pictured as the Mike Tomlin of the NABA in the fact that he is assembling a team that will trust each other and play hard throughout the 2009 summer season. Larry Zalewski has instilled pride in the Gray Bats franchise as they were crowned 2008 Fall Ball Champions. Higher management of the Gray Bats can be compared to Dan Rooney. They are very excited to have hired Larry Zalewski as Head Coach. In his inaugural season at the helm, he lead his team to a Fall League Championship. Mike Tomlin and Larry Zalewski both have the skills that lead their teams to dominance.
Next is Ben Roethlisberger. The clutch Super Bowl Quarterback. He can be linked to Ben Sorosky of the Gray Bats. The eery resemblance is that they both have the first name "Ben". Ben Roethlisberger is the Quarterback: leader on and off the field. This can be said of Ben Sorosky. As a captain on the Pitt Greensburg Bobcats, he will bring his leadership to the 2009 summer Gray Bats. Ben will play a pivotal role this season as pitcher and anywhere on the field that Head Coach Larry Zalewski needs to put him.
Lastly, MVP Santonio Holmes. During the season, any player can step up at the right moment and make a name for themselves. Players like Matt Crouch, Benji Spicer, "Iron Man" David Wallis, Mike Brandt, Robb Galvanek, Marrio Poston, and Greg Smith will all be pivotal parts of the 2009 Gray Bats campaign. If all these players buy into Larry Zalewski's game plan for the season, any player can step up at the right moment to make the season a success.
The Steelers won their sixth Super Bowl last night in my mind making them a dynasty. When the Gray Bats follow up their 2008 Fall League Championship with a 2009 Summer League title, they will be an instant Dynasty in the Pittsburgh NABA.
Now that it is February, it is time for everyone to start working hard! Good Luck this season!
GOOOOO GRAY BATS!!!!
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!!!!!
After watching the college football bowl games for the past week and also talking about baseball in general with my dad, I figured out a proposed realignment for the Pittsburgh NABA league. It is very similiar to Ben Gwin's plan, which I believe is awesome, and just adds a few variables to the mix.
My plan comes from the brilliant mind of Ben Gwin (pictured above. If I was in the NABA league in 2004, and was pitching this at-bat, there would have been no way Ben Gwin made contact with the baseball. Ha Ha just kidding. All kidding aside, I really liked Ben Gwin's idea of his Ben's Competition Standardization or BCS for short.
I like the idea of having one big division. Ben Gwin thinks that there will be sixteen teams (from the South Oakland Ducks blog):
1. Owlz
2. Warriors
3. Black Sox
4. Oilers
5. Ducks
6. Bull Dogs (yeah, I know)
7. Grounds Keeper Willies (rakers)
8. Hotel California's
9. Matadors
10. Hurricane Carter's
11. Phantoms
12. The Confederacy
13. Gray Bats
14. Grave Diggaz!
15. Blue Sox
16. Brewers
For my proposition, it doesnt matter the number of teams. 12, 14, 16, etc., it doesnt matter. However, in my mind 12 would be the ideal number.
Now let's say there is 12 teams:
1. Each team would have to designate a home field in which they could prepare and have ready for game days. It could be any field (Pie Traynor, Moore Park, John Herb, Findlay, PNC PARK, etc)
2. Since there is 12 teams, you would play every team twice: one home and one away. This means that since you have 11 opponents, you would get 22 games for the regular season.
3. I like the idea of ranking the teams like every two weeks by a Coach's Poll, a NABA Board Member's Poll, and by the NABA players poll. (3 players from each team would be chosen from the coach of their team to complete the poll every 2 weeks. The coach could switch up the players every 2 weeks. It would keep all players in the NABA interested in the polls, because they would be able to take part in ranking their opponents and their own team.) We would take the mean of these three things to determine the ranking of the teams.
4. At the end of the season, the rankings would have the teams ranked 1-12.
5. Every team would be entered into the NABA post-season tourny to crown the 2009 PITSBURGH NABA CHAMPION.
6. The first two rounds of the tournament would be single elimination. (The play-ins and the matchups with the top seeds).
7. The Semis and the Championship Series would be Best of Three series. The Best of Three has worked real well in the last few seasons of the Pittsburgh NABA.
Therefore, a team at the worst would play 23 games during the entire season, and at the most, 30 games. I like the best of 3 to give each team a home game for the series and the better seed would get the 3rd game at home if needed. Of course, the better seed in the early rounds would get the home field advantage.
I do believe that ranking the teams would have bias, but with thinking by everyone to establish a good ranking system, that my philosophy could work here.
I just think that ranking the teams during the season would make the NABA league real fun throughout the season. And I also believe that a Post-season tournament where every team is involved makes the league very enjoyable as well.
Also, you may ask: What if there is more that 12 teams?
I would say that you play some teams once based on total randomization but still play 22 games throughout the season. With the ranking system, every team would still make the tournament. There are brackets that would work to use a single elimination tournament until the Semis and Championship best of 3s if there are more than 12 teams like Ben Gwin's possible 16.I feel that it would be fun to have a total season where every team is involved in the rankings. And a post-season tourny to determine the 2009 NABA CHAMPION. I can tell you right now that it will be the Gray Bats, but at least every team can try to beat us. No 2 division nonsense to separate the league. All teams in 1 ranking system and the winner determined by a tournament where clutch play in the single-elimination games and the best of 3s determine the NABA CHAMPION.
A strong point can be brought up that the Post-Season Tournament makes the regular season somewhat insignificant. However, I feel that by strong play throughout the regular season will give your team a better seeding. This means a possible bye and an easier team to beat to make it to the Semi Best of Three Series.
I also feel that a post-season tournament with every team being involved would deter forfeits by teams at the end of the season. I know last year I was fired up when I would get a phone call the day of the game that the other team forfeited. So with every team being involved in the tournament, there would be definately less forfeits, because every team would be playing to improve their seeding.This is a knock-off of Ben Gwin's proposal, but I think having every team in the mix in the tourny would make the whole season fun!!!!!
And if everyone thinks that the Ranking System is a waste, then the seedings could be determined by team record: the traditional way. (2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss)
My main stategy is that this format gives every team in the league a chance to be named champion when it is all said and done, because every team is entered into the Post-Season Tournament!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL AND BE SAFE!!!!!!
