Steeplecats Roster Continues to Take Shape

Published on June 6, 2011 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
North Adams SteepleCats News Release


North Adams, Mass. - With the start of the 2011 season fast approaching on Friday, June 10, the North Adams SteepleCats of the New England Collegiate Baseball League announced the addition of five more players to the roster. The team has signed outfielder Drew Gadaire, right-handed pitchers Taylor Hart and Brian Gilbert, and brothers Mike Zavala (catcher) and Steven Zavala (outfielder).

Gainesville, Florida native Drew Gadaire just wrapped up his third consecutive season as one of the most dangerous players in the Southern Conference. The junior led the team in the following offensive categories: batting average (.362), hits (63), home runs (5), RBIs (36), total bases (99), and extra-base hits (23). Additionally, he amassed an OBP of .410 and slugged .569 during the season. Defensively, Gadaire was just as impressive with only three errors (.992 Fielding %) while seeing action in the outfield and some spot time at first base. He was successful on 7 of 12 stolen base attempts.

In 2010, Gadaire took home Davidson's Fielding Clark MVP Award after starting all 51 games in centerfield as a sophomore. Gadaire hit .346 (2nd Team, 15th Southern Conference) with 14 doubles, a home run and 30 RBIs. He also led the team with 23 multi-hit games and had seven multi-RBI performances. Gadaire put together a team season-best 15-game hitting streak from March 13 - April 3 and also led the team with 18 stolen bases on 19 attempts. During the summer, he moonlighted for the Front Royal Cardinals in the Valley League where he batted .279 and ranked 3rd on the squad with 27 RBIs.

Sophomore Taylor Hart, a native of Colbert, Georgia, was a reliever at Georgia College and State University in the spring after undergoing arm surgery within the past year. The tall right-hander saw his role increase as the season wore on and he showed no ill signs from the surgery. For the year, Hart logged 20 innings, giving up 27 hits while walking only eight batters and striking out 19. It is worth noting that he pitched more than half his innings against counterparts in the dangerous Peach Belt Conference, which at one point during the season had seven teams ranked in the top 25. In 2010, Hart pitched with fellow SteepleCats pitcher Gray Carden for the Middle Georgia College Warriors of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Brian Gilbert, of Toms River, New Jersey, was cast into the fire right away as a freshman under Rob Sheppard at Seton Hall University. After beginning the year in the bullpen, Gilbert pitched himself into a more prominent role and by season's end had become the Pirates' number three starter and will be arriving in North Adams after traveling to Texas in the NCAA Regional. Overall, he appeared in 16 games with seven starts, going 2-3 with a 3.36 ERA for the Big East Conference champions, the program's first title since 2001. In the conference tournament, Gilbert was the winning pitcher in the 12-2 mercy rule victory over top-seeded UCONN that sent Seton Hall to the championship game against St. John's. In 59 innings of work, Gilbert walked 24, struck out 29, and also picked up his first collegiate save.

Randolph, New Jersey product Mike Zavala is ready for his first season of summer collegiate baseball after completing his freshman year at Rutgers University. The right-handed hitting catcher started 30 games for the Scarlet Knights this season with an additional seven cameos off the bench, batting .219 with one home run, and 14 runs batted in. Zavala had a nice .346 on-base percentage thanks to 17 walks and 4 HBPs. Zavala was especially strong behind the plate and made just one error all season as his fielding percentage soared to .993. As a senior at Randolph High School in 2010, he was named the Morris County Player of the Year.

Like his brother Mike, Steven Zavala hails from Randolph, New Jersey and plays for the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers University. The sophomore is one of the few left-handed bat in the SteepleCats' lineup as he looks to build on his experience of starting 36 games this past season. He was a .216 hitter (27-for-125) with no home runs and 11 RBIs, but did add six doubles and 18 runs scored. By extension of his brother, Steve Zavala also had a knack for getting on base and finished the year with a .324 on-base percentage thanks in part to 19 walks and 1 HBP. He was a perfect 3-of-3 on stolen base attempts. As a true freshman in 2010, he also made eight appearances out of the bullpen, including outings against #12 Miami (FL) and 8th-ranked Georgia Tech.

This is the SteepleCats 10th Season in the NECBL and to thank their fans for their loyalty and support through the years, the SteepleCats are having a fireworks show following the game on opening night, Friday, June 10. In addition, the first 250 adult fans in attendance will receive a free commemorative 10th Season t-shirt compliments of the SteepleCats Presenting Sponsor, Hoosac Bank. Opening Night is Friday, June 10 at 6:30 when the defending West Division Champion SteepleCats take on division rival Vermont Mountaineers.

Don't forget to save-save-save by purchasing your Season Tickets at Val's Variety in Adams; Creations or Man's World Styling Salon in North Adams; Billmont's Country Store in Stamford, VT; or by calling 663-7333. For more information, visit the team's redesigned website at www.steeplecats.com .

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New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from June 6, 2011


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