Mainers Sign on Three Returners from 2016 Season
March 18, 2017 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Sanford Mainers News Release
SANFORD - During the offseason, the Sanford Mainers were able to pick up three returners from last year's roster. The Moose officially penned pitchers Joe Orlando (Endicott, NY), Cole Whitney (Campbell Hall, NY), and outfielder CJ Krowiak (Endicott, NY), for the 2017 summer season.
Joe Orlando had a successful 2016 campaign with the Mainers, making 13 total appearances on the mound. The Endicott, New York native recorded a 4.03 ERA on 29 innings pitched in a Mainer uniform, and was fourth on the team in strikeouts with 28. His most notable 2016 appearance came at home against North Adams, where the right-hander fanned six batters on a five-inning relief performance to get the extra-inning win. Currently a junior at Binghamton University, Orlando holds a 2-0 record through 11 relief innings. Giving up just one run this season, Orlando picked up a big win against nationally-ranked Virginia Tech, recording seven strikeouts in the appearance.
On returning to Sanford this summer, Orlando said that he couldn't think of a better place to play. "Living in Maine is beautiful in the summer months. The host families are so caring and committed to making our stay worthwhile, and the atmosphere at Sanford home games is unmatched throughout the league."
CJ Krowiak comes back to Sanford after a stellar 2016 season with the Binghamton Bearcats. The 6'0" outfielder started 54 games in center field for Binghamton, and was a unanimous first team America-East all-conference selection. Batting .314, Krowiak was ranked 9th in the country as the "toughest strikeout," with just 12 K's in 223 at-bats. The center fielder led his team in both stolen bases (16 of 19) and total runs (46). In 2017, Krowiak currently bats .261 with 12 hits in 46 at-bats. In Sanford, the Endicott, New York native had 11 hits on 40 at bats, and recorded five stolen bases in the 2016 season.
"I had a great experience here last summer," said Krowiak. "Sanford is a great town to be in, and it's a great organization to be a part of."
Cole Whitney returns to the Sanford roster this season after a successful 2016 with the Moose. Pitching 33.2 regular season innings, the right-hander recorded 36 strikeouts, good for second on the team. He also had a phenomenal postseason, hurling 13.2 innings on two starts. With a playoff ERA of 0.65, the Campbell Hall, New York native gave up 36 total hits on the season. Previously at St. John's University, Whitney transferred to Catawba Valley Community College for the 2017 season, where he has dominated thus far. With six total appearances on the hill, Whitney has started in five of them and sports a 4-1 record. In 31 innings pitched, he's given up 30 hits with an ERA of 2.03, while averaging just under 12 K's per outing.
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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from March 18, 2017
- Mainers Sign on Three Returners from 2016 Season - Sanford Mainers
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