New York and Penn Schools Bolster Dirt Dawgs Roster

Published on December 10, 2011 under Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL)
Wachusett Dirt Dawgs News Release


The Wachusett Dirt Dawgs are pleased to announce the signings of six additional players, all from colleges based in Pennsylvania and New York, bringing the team's 2012 roster to 22. Joining the team next year are Jake Archey and Joe Swindells of SUNY-Binghamton, Vin Teixeira of Manhattan College, Matt Lerner and Connor Ortolf of Lafayette College, and Sam Berry of Marist.

Team owner John Morrison expressed his excitement with the signings. "These players illustrate both our continued emphasis on New England talent, and a roster strategy of connecting with as many quality programs as we can, now at 15 schools and counting! We are also excited to see our roster's "pawprint" extend into NY and PA."

"I'm very excited about the talent being assembled by John Morrison and the staff at Wachusett," says head coach Mike Greene. "John continues to bring in quality baseball players from some of the best schools in and around New England. We will be able to build those relationships for future Dirt Dawg teams. I can see the commitment to excellence that the organization has put into signing players and improving the baseball field and facilities."

Jake Archey (Binghamton), a freshman from Darien, Conn., was a three-time first team all-conference selection and two-time captain at St. Luke's School. As a senior in 2011, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound catcher/first baseman hit .470 with 23 RBI and led the state of Connecticut with nine home runs.

Joe Swindells (Binghamton), a right-handed pitcher from Mansfield, Mass., is a 6-foot-4, 210-pound junior who was the team MVP as a senior at Mansfield High. As a sophomore at Binghamton, he made 25 appearances, five of them starts, compiling a 4-1 record with a 4.64 ERA and 19 strikeouts. His sophomore year, he went 1-1 in eight appearances, striking out 21.

Vin Teixeira (Manhattan), a freshman Hamden, Conn. native, played high school ball at Hamden Hall alongside fellow 2012 Dirt Dawg John Lefeber, hit .474 as a junior with 41 RBI and six home runs, as well as going 7-1 with 43 strikeouts on the mound. "Vinny is an excellent young man and we feel fortunate to have [a player with] his work ethic on our team," Manhattan Assistant Coach Rene Ruiz says about the 6-foot-2, 200-pound third baseman. "He has shown the ability to consistently make solid contact and is a very polished young hitter. We have high expectations of Vinny and believe that he will make an immediate impact to our lineup."

Matt Lerner (Lafayette) is a freshman out of Canton, Mass. and Thayer Academy. As a senior, he was selected for the Patriot League All-Scholastic Team. The 6-foot-2 outfielder, who bats left and throws right, earns a lot of praise from his coaches. "Matt's raw ability and speed were welcomed additions to our squad this fall, stated Lafayette Assistant Coach Ian Law. "As a left-handed hitter with exceptional speed, we feel that Matt can make an immediate impact. He is a hard worker that continually strives to learn and get better." Scott Patterson, his former AAU coach with North East Baseball, agrees: "Lerner has all the tools that every coach looks for. Now it is up to Matt to put those tools in action."

Connor Ortolf (Lafayette) hails from Ocean City, N.J. and was a league all-star, first team All-Atlantic City Press, and Ocean City MVP as a senior at Ocean City High. The southpaw made 12 appearances as a freshman last season, going 3-3 with 16 strikeouts. Coach Law says, "Connor made the most of significant experience on the mound as a freshman and worked his way into the conference rotation about halfway into the season. He is a great teammate with the outstanding mound presence and composure. We anticipate Connor being a big part of our 2012 season."

Sam Berry (Marist) is an outfielder from South Hamilton, Mass. The big freshman (6-foot-4, 195 pounds) played at Tabor Academy; he has been teammates with his older brother Jake both at Tabor and Marist. "Sam is a freshman with a large upside," claims Marist Assistant Coach Justin Haywood. "He is versatile in the field, with the ability to play both corner infield and outfield positions as well as being a quality arm out of the bullpen. For a young player, he has good command of his pitches and would be a valuable addition to any bullpen. Sam is a hard working young man who has an unmatched enthusiasm for the game."

"With these latest signings, the good news from the league office and the Doyle Field improvements, it's shaping up as a terrific first 'hot stove' season for the team," added Morrison.

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Futures Collegiate Baseball League Stories from December 10, 2011


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