Sports stats



From Bluff City to the Bronx - Former Bomber Is Now a Yankee

July 19, 2011 - Prospect League (Prospect)
Dubois County Bombers News Release


Huntingburg, IN July 16, 2011. Bomber owner John Bigness had heard the name Cory a lot in his 10 years as owner of the Dubois County Bombers and the former Bluff City Bombers (Alton, IL, 2002-04). When the New York Yankees signed Cory Wade on June 13th to shore up their bullpen, Bigness, a lifelong Yankee fan, couldn't help but think he'd heard this name before. "It seems like we've had a lot of Cory's on our teams over the years. I thought we once had a player in Bluff City by the name of Cory Wade, but I wasn't sure and sort of dismissed it. Then a few weeks after Wade signed with the Yankees, he was introduced into a game. He was from Indianapolis, IN and played college ball for Kentucky Wesleyan. That's when I started thinking that maybe this guy Cory was once a Bomber."

Bigness started researching the old CICL website (www.ciclbaseball.com) and sure enough there it was - Cory Wade was a Bluff City Bomber for 2 years in 2002 and 2003. During those years, Wade played shortstop, hitting .261 in 2003 as well as pitcher. For the Bluff City Bombers in 2002, he posted a 4-2 record and a 2.47 ERA in 43 innings with 7 walks and 32 strikeouts. The next year he went 2-1 with a 4.11 ERA in 30 innings with only 5 walks and 36 strikeouts. In the spring of 2004 at Kentucky Wesleyan he was 5-4 with a 2.39 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 71 innings. Those performances led to him being drafted in the 10th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers in June 2004. Since then he moved up the Dodger's minor league system making six stops in the minor leagues from 2004 to 2008 before making his MLB debut on April 24, 2008. His rookie year was impressive as he allowed just 51 hits in 71 innings with an ERA of 2.27. Since joining the Yankees, Wade has helped shore up their bullpen after they lost Rafael Soriano and Joba Chamberlain to injury. He recorded his first win for the Bronx Bombers on June 16th against the Texas Rangers retiring all 6 batters he faced. For the 2011 season, Wade sports a 1-0 record, with a 1.42 ERA in 11 games. His baseball journey as a Bomber has come full circle - from Bluff City to the Bronx.

Wade is not the only Bomber to make it the big leagues. Current Florida Marlin reliever Steve Cishek (Carson Newman College) played for the Dubois County Bombers in 2006 and 2007. Other Bombers are in the minors working their way to the show - Brandon Short played for the Bombers in 2007 and is in the Chicago White Sox farm system. Mills Rodgers and Justin Miller joinded the Washington Nationals system last year. And former Bomber Chadd Krist (2009) played in the College World Series for his California team and was a recent draft pick of the Chicago White Sox.

This is the fun and fascination with watching the games and following the players in the Prospect League - successor to the former CICL. Some of the names and faces you see this summer will be playing pro ball next summer.

The Bombers are home Wednesday and Thursday nights against the Western Division leading Nashville Outlaws. Game time is 7:15 (EDT) and gates open at 6:05.

• Discuss this story on the Prospect League message board...

Prospect League Stories from July 19, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Dubois County Bombers Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central