Blue Sox Add Ciaglo to Coaching Staff
May 27, 2014 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Valley Blue Sox News Release
SPRINGFIELD, MA- The Valley Blue Sox have made an addition to their coaching staff, adding Fred Ciaglo as an Assistant Coach in addition to retaining Darryl Morhardt as Manager and Jim Woods as Assistant Coach, Team President Clark Eckhoff announced today.
"We're excited to hire a coach with Ciaglo's knowledge and his experience in the game of baseball," Eckhoff said. "He'll bring a great passion and enthusiasm to our coaching staff that will be a tremendous asset."
Ciaglo has been involved in baseball in the Valley since he was able to throw a ball, playing at Hopkins Academy and then at Springfield College, helping pitch the Pride to the 1986 Northeast-10 Championship when the school competed in Division II athletics.
He has been a staple of the Tri-County League for the last two decades, twice winning the league's Wes Carr Trophy for best pitcher and playing alongside Woods as well as Pittsburgh Pirates GM Neil Huntington.
He has taught and coached at Hopkins since graduating from Springfield, coaching boys and girls basketball as well as baseball over that time; in addition he spent a decade as Hadley Youth Baseball's Coaching Coordinator and on the Board of Directors for the Cal Ripken level.
"Obviously I think the thing that really stands out about Fred right off the bat is his ability to relate to people," General Manager Hunter Golden said. "While X's and O's are obviously a significant part of what is expected of our staff, managing the wide range of personalities and individual players' needs is ultimately what helps to drive success at our level and we think Fred is more than equipped to be able to meet that challenge and then some."
He has been involved with the Blue Sox as a host family for the last few seasons and will continue to do so, but is excited to be taking on a larger role with the team.
"I am excited to join the Blue Sox coaching staff. I have known Coach Woods since our days in college. I think my enthusiasm and passion for the game of baseball will fit in well with both Darryl and Jim," Ciaglo said. "Having been a coach and an educator my entire life I look forward to working with some of the best collegiate baseball players in the nation. I hope to bring that balance of making the game fun yet also being competitive at a high level to help bring an NECBL championship to the Valley."
Ciaglo, who earned a Master's in Education from American International College in 2011, resides in Hadley with his wife and three sons.
The 2014 season will represent the Blue Sox seventh season in the Pioneer Valley, playing at Mackenzie Stadium in Holyoke. The Blue Sox have been a member of the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL; www.necbl.com) since 2008. The NECBL is funded in part by Major League Baseball and is comprised of 12 teams throughout all six New England states who recruit the elite athletes and premier pro prospects from around the world.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from May 27, 2014
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- Blue Sox Add Ciaglo to Coaching Staff - Valley Blue Sox
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