FL Washington Wild Things

Wild Things Welcome Two Pitchers Back for 2008

Published on March 24, 2008 under Frontier League (FL)
Washington Wild Things News Release


Washington, PA - The Washington Wild Things, presented by Washington Federal Savings Bank, announced the return of two pitchers Monday. Alan Stidfole and J.J. Hollenbeck are set to return to Washington for the 2008 baseball season.

Stidfole joined the Wild Things pitching staff in July of 2007 making his debut on July 5th versus Traverse City, pitching five shutout innings while striking out three to pick up the win. For the season he went 4-3 with a 4.36 ERA in 12 games striking out 58 in 64 innings pitched. Had a career high 10 strikeouts at Gateway allowing two runs and one walk, picking up the win on August 19th.

He signed a free-agent contract with the Toronto Blue Jays after his senior season at Penn State and made his professional debut in 2006 with Pulaski of the Appalachian League, where he was 1-2 with a 3.60 ERA. He allowed only 19 hits in 20 innings pitched, striking out 22, walking six while not allowing a home run.

Stidfole was Penn State's Friday starter for his entire 2006 senior season, and he led the team with 10 quality starts on the year. He started 14 games and went 3-5 with a team-best 4.06 ERA. He also led the team in innings pitched with 93 and was second in strikeouts with 76. A third team All-Big Ten selection for two straight years, Stidfole earned his third career Big Ten Player of the Week award after throwing a complete-game, seven-hitter against Northwestern (4/21) in which he allowed just one run and struck out five.

J.J. Hollenbeck, a Virginia Military Institute graduate, completed the 2007 campaign with the Wild Things with a 6-4 record, allowing 36 earned runs and striking out 74 batters. In July, Hollenbeck went 3-1 in six appearances, pitching 35 innings. On August 12th versus Florence he pitched 7.1 innings, striking out seven, and earning his sixth win of the season.

Hollenbeck completed the 2006 season with the Wild Things with a 3-0 record, allowing 29 hits, 12 runs and a 2.70 ERA in 26.2 innings on the mound. He originally signed a contract with the Chicago Cubs as a non-drafted free agent, then became a free agent and signed with the Wild Things in June. He made his professional debut at home versus Traverse City on June 28th of that year, allowing no hits and one walk in three innings of work. He went 2-0 with a 1.93 in eight home appearances, allowing 17 hits in 18.2 innings. He won his three decisions in August going 3-0 with a 1.62 ERA in eight appearances, covering 16.2 innings allowing 19 hits and only three earned runs.

Hollenbeck became the first pitcher in VMI history to rank in the top five in career ERA, strikeouts and innings pitched. In his 2006 senior season, Hollenbeck went 3-5 with a 4.71 ERA. He also tossed back-to-back complete games in his final two starts as VMI recorded its first winning season (30-26) in 41 years. During his junior campaign, Hollenbeck paced the Big South Champion Keydets in ERA (3.73), innings pitched (91.2) and strikeouts (67).

"We're pleased that both Alan and J.J. are returning to Washington," said General Manager Ross Vecchio. "The experience they bring is valuable, and we know they'll play a big role in our 2008 campaign."

The Wild Things will host their seventh annual Open House at CONSOL Energy Park on April 19th when individual game tickets will go on sale. The home opener is slated for Saturday, May 24th.

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