AtL Lancaster Stormers

Barnstormers Add Third Baseman, Outfielder

Published on April 9, 2008 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Lancaster Stormers News Release


LANCASTER, Pa.-New Lancaster Barnstormers manager Von Hayes has used his connections to bring pitching and speed to his new team. Now, his past ties have brought two sluggers to his new lineup.

The Barnstormers signed third baseman Vasili Spanos and outfielder Brian Stavisky, who both played for Hayes with the Midland Rockhounds of the Class AA Texas League during the 2005 and 2006 seasons and stayed with the Oakland A's through last season.

Spanos, 27, signed with Oakland in 2003. The former Indiana Hoosier hit .308 with nine homers and 67 RBIs in 2006, his first full season with the Rockhounds. Last year, the Illinois native swung at a .276 clip with 10 homers and 52 RBIs in 100 games. His best season came in 2004, when he hit .311 with 12 homers and 80 RBIs with Class A Kane County.

A right-handed hitter with good alley power, Spanos has cracked an average of 27 doubles over the last four seasons.

"He's a consistent tough out with some power from the right side," Hayes said. "He hits to all fields and he'll never back down from a pitch. On defense, he may not be your prototypical third baseman, but he makes all the plays we need him to make."

Stavisky, also 27, had some outstanding seasons in the A's system. The lefty-batting outfielder was named MVP of the Class A California League playing for Hayes in 2004 in Modesto when he hit a league-leading .343 with 39 doubles, five triples, 19 homers and 83 RBsI. Along with winning the batting crown, Stavisky topped the Cal League with 108 runs scored and 282 total bases. The resident of Port Allegheny, Pa., followed Hayes to Midland in 2005 and put up another strong campaign, batting .316 with a TL-best 36 doubles, six triples, 11 homers and 88 RBIs. The former Academic All-American at Notre Dame has spent a portion of the last two seasons at AAA Sacramento.

Overall, he hit .306 in six pro seasons after being drafted by the A's in the sixth round of the 2002 draft.

"Stavisky is just a steady, steady player," Hayes said. "Both championships we won in '04 and '05 and the playoff trip we made in ‘06 were products of good years by Stavisky."

The Barnstormers now have 23 players under contract for the 2008 season. The club will head to Lakeland, Fla., for spring training on April 14 and will return to open the 2008 season at home against the Bridgeport Bluefish on Friday, April 25. Single-game tickets to all regular season games are available for purchase online at www.LancasterBarnstormers.com, over the phone at (717) 509-HITS or in person at the Clipper Magazine Stadium box office.

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Atlantic League Stories from April 9, 2008


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