Vipers' Ace Returning

April 27, 2010 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Calgary Vipers News Release


The Calgary Vipers announce today that pitcher Joe Sergent will return for his third season with the Snakes. Last year the left-handed starter went 2-0 with a league high 12 strikeouts in the playoffs to lead the Vipers to the Golden Baseball League Championship. During the regular season Sergent was a G.B.L. All-Star, seventh in the league in wins (7), eighth in strikeouts (72), ninth in earned run average (3.88), and was the team's opening day starter.

In the past two postseasons the clutch Manteca, California native has compiled a 5-0 record in six starts with 33 punch outs in 38.2 innings pitched. During his two regular seasons with Calgary the 6'0", 210 pounder has thrown in 30 games including 25 starts for an 11-6 record. In 152.1 innings the 31-year-old has struck out 112 batters while walking only 45.

Before arriving in Calgary Joe spent three seasons with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the Northern League. In 2005 he was named the Independent Leagues Second Team All-Star Starting Pitcher along with being the Northern League's All-Star Left Handed Pitcher. Prior to that Sergent spent four seasons in the Florida Marlins organization reaching "AA" after being drafted in the 21st round in 1999 out of Lamar University in Texas. Overall this will be the veteran's tenth professional season.

The Calgary Vipers open training camp on May 8th with workouts at Foothills Stadium. From May 11th - 13th the Vipers travel to Kamloops, British Columbia to host a baseball clinic followed by two preseason games against the Victoria Seals. On May 15th the team is hosting a Meet & Greet and serving up a BBQ Burger Cook-off at the Main Dish in Calgary. The Vipers open up the 2010 Golden Baseball League season on May 19th with a seven game road-trip through Yuma and Tucson, Arizona.

Opening Day is scheduled for May 27th at Foothills Stadium with the Strong Warriors of Maui, Hawaii making their first ever appearance in Calgary. Maui is one of two new teams in the G.B.L. with Tijuana, Mexico being the other. The league now stretches over three countries and three different time zones and this season a new rule change has been implemented that will eliminate the designated hitter and allow pitchers to bat for themselves.

Tickets are currently on sale at the Vipers' office (2255 Crowchild Trail NW), you can also call 403-277-2255 or visit the Calgary Vipers' brand new website: www.calgaryvipers.com .



Golden Baseball League Stories from April 27, 2010


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