Read: Former UMass pitcher Dennis Torres continues to write improbable success story in Double-A
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Today in the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Matt Vautour has a feature on former UMass baseball right-hander Dennis Torres who is currently pitching for Double-A Bowie as a member of the Baltimore Orioles' organization.
UMass baseball alum Dennis Torres made his first Double-A start Wednesday night for the Bowie Baysox on the road vs. the New Britain Rock Cats. Torres threw four scoreless, allowing one hit with four walks and no strikeouts as part of a combined 1-0 shutout victory for the Baysox.
Since earning the call up to Double-A, Torres is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA over five appearances, 10.1 innings. Opposing batters are hitting just .114 against him.
Dennis Torres' MiLB stats & profile
UMass Sports Network feature on Torres
In today's Daily Hampshire Gazette, Matt Vautour has a piece on the experience of playing in Fenway Park for members of the UMass baseball team. The Minutemen were edged by Boston College, 2-0, for the Beanpot title last night at Fenway.
Read: Despite loss, playing at Fenway Park still memorable for UMass baseball team
| Massachusetts (11-15) vs. Boston College (21-18) - BEANPOT CHAMPIONSHIP | |
| Dates | Times | Wednesday, April 22, 2015 | 45 minutes following 3 p.m. Consolation Game |
| Location | Forecast | Boston, Mass. (Fenway Park) | Ticket Information |
| Live Stats | Audio | | Live streaming audio is available free of charge online through SportsJuice or on mobile devices by downloading the free TuneIn Radio app and searching for "UMass Baseball." Broadcasts typically begin 5-10 minutes prior to first pitch. |
| Social Media | @UMassAthletics | @UMassBaseball | @BCBirdBall |
| Probable Starters | UMass: RHP Mike Geannelis (0-0, 0.00 ERA) |
In today's Daily Collegian, Ross Gienieczko has a preview of UMass baseball's next two contests. The Minutemen play at Connecticut this afternoon at 3 p.m. and vs. Boston College at Fenway Park on Wednesday night for the Beanpot Championship.
The UMass baseball team picked up its fifth straight victory yesterday, defeating Hartford, 4-3, at Earl Lorden Field. Ross Gienieczko has a recap of the game in today's Daily Collegian.
Tyler Fiedler has a sidebar in today's Daily Collegian on the important role the pitching staff has played in UMass baseball's current five-game winning streak.
Today several men's and women's track and field athletes will begin competition in Holy Cross' Multi Meet down in Worcester, Mass. Nick Souza has coverage ahead of the event for the Daily Collegian.
Read: UMass athletes prepare for their first decathlon and heptathlon of the outdoor season
In today's Daily Collegian, Victor Pusateri has a recap of UMass baseball's 6-0 shutout victory over Central Connecticut yesterday, the fourth straight win for the Minutemen. UMass hosts Hartford this afternoon at 4 p.m. at Earl Lorden Field.
Read: UMass baseball blanks Central Connecticut State for fourth consecutive win
In today's Daily Collegian, Tyler Fiedler has a preview of UMass baseball's Tuesday afternoon tilt at Central Connecticut. The Minutemen, currently riding a three-game winning streak, will look to continue that this afternoon in New Britain, Conn.
Read: UMass baseball takes winning streak on the road to face CCSU
In the Daily Collegian today, Ross Gienieczko has a piece on how UMass baseball has excelled hitting in clutch situations and how that has led to wins for the Minutemen in 2015.
Read: Clutch hitting leads UMass baseball to wins early in season
In today's Daily Collegian, Victor Pusateri has a recap of UMass' baseball's Atlantic 10 series win over St. Bonaventure this past weekend at Earl Lorden Field. The Minutemen took the series, 2-1.
Read: UMass baseball clinches series vs. Bonnies with Sunday victory
In today's Daily Collegian, Tyler Fiedler has a recap of UMass baseball's come-from-behind win at Siena yesterday. The Minutemen scored five runs in the eighth en route to the 6-5 victory.
READ: UMass mounts late five-run eighth inning rally to stun Siena 6-5
CBS 6 out of Albany came out to Siena Field yesterday and has highlights of UMass' 6-5 win over Siena, including a great catch by redshirt senior Adam Picard in right field.
The UMass baseball team will head to Loudonville, N.Y., this afternoon for the first of two midweek games on the docket for the Minutemen this week.
Victor Pusateri previewed the contest in today's Daily Collegian here.
| Massachusetts (5-10) at Siena (6-15) | |
| Date | Time | Tuesday April 7, 2015 | 3:00 p.m. |
| Location | Forecast | Loudonville, N.Y. |
| Live Stats | Listen |
|
| Social Media | @UMassAthletics | @UMassBaseball | @SienaBaseball |
| Probable Starters | UMass: RHP Tim Cassidy (0-1, 10.38 ERA) |
Victor Pusateri previewed the contest in today's Daily Collegian here.
In today's Daily Collegian, Ross Gienieczko has a recap of UMass baseball's Atlantic 10 series vs. George Washington from this past weekend in Northborough, Mass. The Minutemen took game one of the series for their fifth Atlantic 10 win of the season before dropping games two and three, 3-1 and 8-2.
UMass baseball will play its first game in New England this spring this afternoon as the squad heads east to Northborough, Mass., for a meeting with Boston College at the New England Baseball Complex.
In advance of the contest, the Daily Collegian also ran a preview of the matchup by Ross Gienieczko.
| Massachusetts (4-7) vs. Boston College (11-13) | |
| Date | Time | Wednesday, April 1, 2015 | 3 p.m. |
| Location | Forecast | Northborough, Mass. (New England Baseball Complex) |
| Live Stats | Listen | | Live streaming audio is available free of charge online through SportsJuice or on mobile devices by downloading the free TuneIn Radio app and searching for "UMass Baseball." Broadcasts typically begin 5-10 minutes prior to first pitch. |
| Social Media | @UMassAthletics | @UMassBaseball | @BCBirdBall |
| Probable Starters | UMass: RHP Tim Cassidy | Boston College: RHP Eric Stone |
In advance of the contest, the Daily Collegian also ran a preview of the matchup by Ross Gienieczko.
In today's Daily Collegian, Tyler Fiedler has a piece on UMass baseball sophomore hurler Ryan Moloney. Moloney is off to a great start to his sophomore campaign with two straight wins and a 2.70 ERA through three starts.
Read: Ryan Moloney pitching with confidence for UMass baseball
Earlier this week Ross Gienieczko had this piece on UMass baseball sophomore catcher Matt Bare who excelled in his first collegiate action last week.
Read: Matt Bare excelling when called upon for UMass baseball
In today's Daily Collegian, Tyler Fiedler has a preview of UMass Baseball's weekend series at VCU. The Minutemen began the A-10 season 3-0 with a sweep of Dayton last weekend, their best start of conference play since 1998.
Read: UMass hopes to carry momentum into weekend series against VCU
In today's Daily Collegian, Ross Gienieczko has a preview of baseball's weekend matchup with Army. The Minutemen, after snow and cold resulted in the cancellation of their first five games of the seaaon, will finally open the 2015 campaign this Saturday in Tampa, Fla.
Read: Massachusetts baseball finally ready for season opener against Army
In today's Daily Collegian, Victor Pusateri takes a look at the NCAA's change to flat-seamed baseballs in 2015 and spoke with UMass head coach MikeStone to get his thoughts on the change.
In today's Daily Collegian, Tyler Fiedler has a preview of UMass baseball's season opening series at Kentucky. The Minutemen kick off the 2015 campaign this Friday, March 6, at 5 p.m. in Lexington, Ky.
Tyler Fiedler has the UMass baseball season preview in the Daily Collegian's Spring Sports Special Issue. The Minutemen are slated to open their 2015 campaign on March 3 at Central Connecticut.
Read: UMass baseball team ready to shake off snow, start 2015 season
Returning this season after redshirting 2014 with an injury, 2013 All-Atlantic 10 selection Rob McLam is profiled in the Daily Collegian's Spring Sports Special Issue by Victor Pusateri
With the Daily Collegian's Spring Sports Special Issue out today, Ross Gienieczko has a feature on UMass baseball senior captains Andrew Grant and Conor LeBlanc.
Baseball America recently had its Atlantic 10 baseball preview and included UMass baseball senior co-captain Andrew Grant on its list of the conference's top prospects. Grant, a right-handed pitcher, is listed at No. 4 on the top-10 list.
Today on College Baseball insider, Phil Stanton has a Q&A with UMass baseball head coach, UMass football alum, Mike Stone talking about the Super Bowl and the upcoming season for the Minutemen.
This morning Greg Swatek of the The Frederick News-Post out of Frederick, Maryland, has a fantastic profile of former UMass baseball right-hander Dennis Torres who is now pitching for the Frederick Keys, the Class A Advanced affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. Torres is currently 2-0 with four saves and a 3.33 earned-run average over 12 appearances.
UMass baseball lefthander Evan Mackintosh was named Futures League Pitcher of the Night last night after helping his team, the Wachusett Dirt Dawgs, to a 15-6 win over the Seacoast Mavericks.
Macintosh pitched four scoreless innings of relief and allowed just two hits and a walk while fanning six to earn a save in the contest.
UMass baseball rising sophomore, 2014 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year Mike Geannelis continued his success in summer ball yesterday, turning in another strong start on the mound for the Nashua Silver Knights.
To date, he is 2-1 over four appearances, three starts, with a 3.50 ERA in 18 innings and 18 strikeouts to just two walks. Geannelis is also hitting .294 in limited plate appearances (5-for-17) with a home run and five RBI. Fellow Minuteman Brandon Walsh is batting .350 (7-for-20) with a 0.00 ERA over 1.2 hitless innings of relief.
Recent UMass baseball graduate and 2014 draft pick of the Washington Nationals, DJ Jauss,was assigned to the Gulf Coast League Nationals late last week and made his professional debut for the GCL Nationals over the weekend.
Two members of the UMass baseball squad had a stellar evening last night playing summer ball for the Nashua Silver Knights of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL). A-10 Rookie of the Year Mike Geannelis pitched seven no-hit innings and struck out nine to carry the Nashua Silver Knights to an 11-0 victory over the Wachusett Dirt Dawgs. At the plate for Nashua, fellow Minuteman Brandon Walsh went 3-4, drove in one and scored two runs. He singled in the second innings and homered in the fifth inning.
The Daily Hampshire Gazette had coverage of both of UMass baseball's wins over VCU this past weekend:
UMass baseball beats VCU on walk-off wild pitch in 10th
Weekend college recaps: UMass baseball coach Mike Stone gets 700th win
Chris Corso of the Daily Collegian has a feature on the UMass baseball team and its improved play over the last few weeks which could help the Minutemen make the Atlantic 10 Tournament.
Tyler Fiedler of the Daily Collegian has a sidebar on the UMass baseball win over UConn focusing on the Minutemen's play and taking advantage of UConn's mistakes.
Ross Gienieczko of the Daily Collegian has a recap of UMass baseball's win over UConn marking the first time since 2007 that the Minutemen defeated the Huskies.
The Daily Hampshire Gazette has a short recap of the UMass baseball team defeating UConn on Tuesday afternoon.
Matt Vautour of the Daily Hampshire Gazette has an extensive notebook in today's paper which covers all of Friday's results from lacrosse to tennis. Vautour also highlights Saturday's jersey retirement for Brianna Scurry and April Kater and gives mention to a pair of academic award winners from rowing and women's lacrosse.
Matt Vautour had this piece in today's Daily Hampshire Gazette on former UMass pitcher Jeremy Demers, who is currently battling cancer.
When he's got a baseball in his hand, it's hard to tell Jeremy Demers has cancer.
Most of the weight he originally lost from his 6-foot, broad-shouldered frame has come back and so far his hair has been unaffected by chemotherapy.
When his right arm reaches back and sends the ball toward the plate, it's not hard to see the standout pitcher he was at Easthampton High School, the University of Massachusetts and the New England College Baseball League.
He has a beard now, and at 31, Demers still looks ready to battle hitters.
Read more: Former Easthampton, UMass pitcher Jeremy Demers stares down fight with cancer
The Daily Collegian had this recap of UMass' Atlantic 10 series victory over Saint Louis. UMass took games one and two by the scores of 7-1 and 3-2 before dropping game three, 2-1 in 11 innings.
Former UMass baseball and Easthampton pitcher Jeremy Demers will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before Easthampton's home opener vs. Greenfield on Thursday, April 10, 2014, at 3:15 p.m. at Daley Field in Easthampton, Mass.
Volunteers will be accepting donations at the event to help offset Demers' medical costs as he is currently battling Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Donations are also being accepted online here.
Tyler Fiedler of the Daily Collegian has a preview of UMass baseball's series at Richmond this weekend.
Before leaving Florida yesterday to head back to Massachusetts, the UMass baseball team paid a visit to the Pirates' Spring Training complex in Bradenton, Fla. Though the game was cancelled due to rain, the Minutemen did get to take in all of batting practice from the field and met several folks from the Pirates' and Yankees' organizations including Yankees' manager Joe Girardi, first baseman Mark Teixeira and Pirates' general manager/UMass alum Neal Huntington.
Check out the photos below:
UMass baseball alum Mike Gedman was featured in the Boston Globe on Sunday. Gedman was recently hired as the head coach of Framingham State University in his hometown of Framingham, Mass.
Ross Gienieczko of the Daily Collegian has a preview of the baseball season as the Minutemen head to North Carolina this weekend to kick-off the year.
Congratulations to former UMass shortstop, UMass Hall of Fame member Gary DiSarcina, who was hired by the Los Angeles Angels yesterday as the squad's third base coach.
The hiring was widely covered in the national media:
Los Angeles Times: Angels name former shortstop Gary DiSarcina as third-base coach
Los Angeles Times: Angels' Gary DiSarcina wants to be baseball's best third-base coach
ESPN LA: Angels hire Gary DiSarcina
MLB.com: Former Angel DiSarcina joins club as third-base coach
DiSarcina was featured on UMass Sports Insider back in September:
The Daily Hampshire Gazette did a Q&A with Men's Swimming and Diving Coach, Russ Yarworth. He has some funny answers you might enjoy reading! Here's a sample of some of answers.
Education: Attleboro High School, 1974; bachelor's degree in biochemistry from UMass, 1978; and a master's degree in exercise science from UMass, 1983
Who lives under the same roof as you? My wife, Sue, and all our critters
Children: None
Pets: Dogs -- Chili, a 15-year-old golden retriever, Buster, a 6-year-old Aussie mix, and Jep, a 3-year-old Aussie mix; a cat -- Mika, 14; and a parrot -- Marigold, maybe 50 years old or so
Hobbies: Camping, biking, swimming, kayaking, skiing, gardening
Book you'd recommend to a friend: Anything by Nelson DeMille
Favorite movie/TV show/musical group: Movie -- Mel Brooks' "History of the World" or "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"; TV Show -- "Seinfeld"; Group -- Joe Strummer and The Clash
Five things you can't live without: My wife, my dogs, my siblings, my stopwatches, my health
Last thing you purchased just for fun: A kayak
What's at the top of your bucket list? Skiing the Alps
Life-changing experience: Choosing to attend UMass. It gave me an education, a profession, and a home
Below are a few articles that do a very nice job of remembering former UMass baseball and basketball standout Ray Ellerbrook, who passed away on Wednesday. He was a star in both sports, leading each team to one of the more significant athletic achievements in their history - the first College World Series and first NIT appearance. He played freshman and varsity ball from 1967-70 during the end of one of the most successful decades in UMass history.
The following article was written earlier this summer...
Calling hours will be Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. at Czelusniak Funeral Home, 173 North St. in Northampton. A celebration of Ellerbrook's life will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at the Ray Ellerbrook Athletic Field at 48 Burts Pit Road.
After he helped Mexico's Yaquis de Obregon to the Caribbean Series title in the early hours of the morning, former Minuteman Doug Clark was mentioned in several recaps of the game, including highlights from ESPN:
MLB.com - Mexico captures Caribbean Series in 18-inning thriller
ESPN - Douglas Clark HR lifts Yaquis in 18th
Baseball America - Mexico Wins Caribbean Series Title In Dramatic Fashion
Among the "year in review" pieces out there recapping the events of 2012, Matt Vautour had this one about UMass pitcher Joe Popielarczyk's stellar 2012 season with the Minutemen baseball team:
For most freshman, not making it through walk-on tryouts is the end of their college careers.
They gave it a shot at being a college athlete. After being deemed not quite good enough, they hang 'em up, content to move on. Some will try to join a club team. Some will play intramurals. Most will just become regular college students, going to class during the week, parties on weekends, gaining weight and knowledge, while moving toward a degree and a job, and further away from their athletic careers.
It would have been hard to blame Joe Popielarczyk for following that route. The former Northampton High School baseball star was carrying a challenging major (civil engineering), while commuting to the University of Massachusetts every day from his home in Florence. Most people would have been tempted to just throw themselves into their studies and forget baseball.
But Popielarczyk wasn't ready to do that, and just making the baseball team as a sophomore after his second shot at walk-on tryouts made Popielarczyk a good story.
Our condolences to the family of former UMass baseball pitcher, UMass Hall of Fame member, Phil Tarpey, who passed away last week at the age of 79.
Tarpey earned UMass' first All-America award in baseball, being named third-team by the American Baseball Coaches Association in 1955. A member of two consecutive NCAA Tournament teams (1954-55), he helped UMass advance to the College World Series in 1954, the school's first ever appearance. In 1955, Tarpey was the MVP of the NCAA Regional, a member of the NCAA Regional All-Tournament team, and winner of the E. Joseph Thompson Memorial MVP trophy (team MVP). A native of Gardner, Mass., Tarpey was a managing partner of the Bulkely, Richardson, and Gelinas law firm in Springfield, Mass. He was inducted into the UMass Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999.
Congratulations to 2012 graduate, former UMass catcher Tom Conley, who was named the new manager for the Pittsfield Suns of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League.
From the Berkshire Eagle:
A former University of Massachusetts baseball player is the new manager of the Pittsfield Suns.
Tom Conley, a four-year starter at catcher for UMass, has been hired to manage the Futures League baseball team this summer. Conley replaces Jamie Keefe who stepped down after last season.
Conley, 22, is in the middle of his first season as an assistant coach at Division I Bryant University in Rhode Island.
To say this first year after he graduated with a Sociology degree has been a baseball whirlwind is an understatement.
"I didn't even get to go to my graduation. We were away," he said during an interview prior to a press conference Thursday announcing the hiring. "I feel like my season just ended. Then all of a sudden, I'm with Bryant and now I'm with Pittsfield. It's kind of a whirlwind, but it's exciting."
Conley joined Suns owners Jeff Goldklang and Tyler Tumminia, general manager Kevin McGuire and Futures League Commissioner Chris Hall at the press event, held in the main lobby of the Pittsfield Cooperative Bank on South Street.
In addition to his four years at UMass, the Quincy native played three summers in the New England Collegiate Baseball League.
"We started this process from, essentially, scratch. Every person Tyler spoke to, one name kept coming back to us and that was you really need to talk to this guy Tom Conley," said Goldklang. "He's got a future in this sport.
"We did our due diligence on everybody. At the end of the day, it wasn't even a question. Tom was the correct choice."
UMass Hall of Famer Gary DiSarcina was tapped to manage the Boston Red Sox Triple-A affiliate, the Pawtucket Red Sox, last Friday.
DiSarcina played for the Minutemen from 1986-88 and hit .336 for his career in a UMass uniform. The shortstop went on to appear in 1,086 games over 11 Major League seasons.
The Pawtucket Red Sox web site had this piece on DiSarcina
Several media outlets also covered the hiring:
Providence Journal: Job with PawSox is a homecoming for DiSarcina
Woonsocket Call: For New PawSox Manager DiSarcina, Communication Is Vital
WIth the help of SAAC, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, five representatives of the whole of UMass athletics sat down with the students at Crocker Farm Elementary School prior to the start of classes this morning. In addition to just interacting with the youngsters, each student-athlete took the opportunity to discuss the importance of eating healthy, staying active and working hard in school. Minutemen Joe Snyder (men's lacrosse) and baseball's Billy Jones and Alex Tuneski, as well as Minutewomen Katie Bettencourt (softball) and Jocelyn Providence (women's tennis) all participated in the day's activity.
For more information about SAAC can be found through the UMass Athletics website here.
For more information about SAAC can be found through the UMass Athletics website here.
Over the weekend, MassLive.com had a piece from David Driver on UMass baseball alum Matt Gedman, who is currently playing professionally in the Boston Red Sox farm system for the Lowell Spinners:
Matthew Gedman strolled out of the Lowell Spinners clubhouse about three hours before game time on Wednesday at Ripken Stadium, just north of Baltimore.
The 23-year-old was wearing the road grey uniform of the Red Sox minor-league team, complete with wrist bands on both arms, and was carrying a black bat and glove before a game against the Aberdeen IronBirds, whose co-owner is Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr.
Gedman, the former UMass baseball standout from Framingham, certainly looks the part of a pro baseball player. He has been around the game his entire life and said he was about 2 years old the first time he went to Fenway Park, where his father Rich was a catcher for Boston from 1980-90, then with Houston in 1990 and St. Louis in 1991-92.
"I remember more about the St. Louis Cardinals when my dad played for them," said the younger Gedman, who was born Sept. 26, 1988.
Now the elder Gedman, a graduate of Worcester High, is a hitting coaching with the high Class A Salem (Va.) Red Sox while his son is in his second pro season after being drafted by Boston out of UMass in 2011 in the 45th round.
"We talk about two or three times per week," said Matt Gedman, a 6-foot-2 left-handed hitter. "We don't really talk baseball too much. It is more how are you doing? He is pretty busy and I am pretty busy. In the off-season we hang out more."
The younger Gedman played shortstop for the Minutemen but has been used mostly at third base by Lowell, a short-season affiliate in the New York-Penn League. In games through Aug. 22 he was hitting .227 in 132 at bats with four doubles, three homers and 19 RBIs. Gedman made six errors in his first 30 games at third for the Spinners, who were 29-33 after a 3-2 win in 11 innings here Aug. 22.
"He is a great clubhouse kid. He has been around the clubhouse all of his life," said Bruce Crabbe, the Lowell manager. "He can play multiple positions if you need him to."
Read more of Matthew Gedman working his way up the Red Sox ladder
The Boston Globe is the latest media outlet to cover Dennis' Torres amazing story from walking on to the UMass baseball squad to becoming a Baltimore Orioles' draft pick earlier this month:
Dennis Torres remembers the doleful look he saw in the eyes of his father, Denesi, four years ago after he had played his final season for the Lawrence Legion Post 15 team.
There had been no high school career: He was cut four times from the baseball team at Central Catholic, and no college scholarships were in the offing.
"I talked to my pops, and he was so upset he couldn't watch me play anymore,'' Torres recalled.
Now, the elder Torres will be able to watch his son pitch as a professional after the 6-foot-2, 200-pound righthander was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 28th round (852d pick overall) of Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft last Wednesday.
"When my name came out, it was awesome,'' said the 22-year-old Torres, who went from walk-on to number one starter in his third season at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He signed a contract with Baltimore Monday morning, forgoing his final season of eligibility, and will report to the Gulf Coast League for two weeks before moving on to the Aberdeen IronBirds in the short-season New York-Penn League.
Read more of - Lawrence's Torres: From UMass walk-on to pro ball with Orioles
Recent graduate Joe Popielarczyk represented the UMass baseball program in the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) All-Star game on Monday night in Brockton, Mass., starting on the mound for the University Division Squad and helping the team to a 5-3 victory.
The right-hander tossed three innings and let up just one unearned run on three hits and stuck out three without walking a batter.
An excellent feature on Dennis Torres by the Springfield Republican's Harry Plumer. Torres signed with the Orioles this morning and will report to the Gulf City Orioles.
You wouldn't even know Dennis Torres played baseball if it weren't for the picture leaning against the wall in his bedroom.
Trophies and medals from years past are packed away in boxes somewhere. There are no framed cutouts of newspaper articles.
His career, at least at his mother's house, is nothing more than a ghost.
It won't be for long.
Phones have been ringing, text messages have been dinging and Torres' Twitter account has been blowing up since the UMass pitcher was drafted in the 28th round of the MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles on June 6.
People are coming out of the woodwork to congratulate him. They tell them they always knew he had it in him, even though he was cut from his high school baseball team all four years. They tell him they knew he could do it, even though he never gave baseball a thought during his first year at UMass.
Read more of UMass pitcher Dennis Torres overcomes odds to be drafted by Baltimore Orioles
Today ESPN Boston has a feature from Marty Dobrow on former UMass pitcher Matt Torra. In his seventh season in professional baseball, Torra is currently a member of Triple-A Durham Bulls and is 4-6 with a 5.02 earned run average through 61 innings over 11 starts.
Congratulations to Dennis Torres, who was selected in the 28th round of the MLB Draft yesterday. Matt Vautour had this nice piece in today's Daily Hampshire Gazette:
"Dennis Torres' high school team didn't want him.
The Lawrence native was cut by Central Catholic all four years of high school. No colleges wanted him either. Of course they didn't. Who recruits a kid that didn't play varsity in high school? Torres walked on at the University of Massachusetts as a sophomore, hoping to play third base. He wasn't even a pitcher until the Minuteman coaching staff saw him zip a throw across the infield.
But the Baltimore Orioles wanted him.
The Orioles selected the UMass junior right-hander four picks into the 28th round Wednesday of Major League Baseball's first-year draft. Torres was at Minuteman teammate Leif Sorenson's house in Haverhill watching the draft online and just before 3 p.m. after Boston College senior pitcher Matt Brazis was selected by the Seattle Mariners, the voice from the computer said the magic words: 'Dennis Torres, right-handed pitcher, University of Massachusetts.'"
Read more of UMass walk-on Dennis Torres drafted by Baltimore Orioles
Congratulations to the baseball team on capturing its sixth Beanpot Championship in program history. Multiple news outlets had coverage of the 8-7 win over Harvard:
Daily Hampshire Gazette: Freshman Conor LeBlanc pitches UMass baseball to Beanpot title
BostonSportsU18.com: Massachusetts 8, Harvard 7: Minutemen Cling to Lead, Capture Beanpot Title
Daily Collegian: UMass holds on to early lead for Beanpot title
Check out the highlights and postgame interviews, as well:
In today's Springfield Republican Dick Baker has a nice piece on UMass starting pitchers Dennis Torres and Joe Popielarczyk.
"Joe Popielarczyk, a Northampton native whose 3-2 victory Sunday at Saint Joseph's lifted the Minutemen's Atlantic 10 record to a much-better-than-expected 6-3. The win snapped the Hawks' seven-game winning streak."
Read the more of Walk-ons throwing strikes for greatly improved UMass baseball.
The Daily Collegian has coverage today of UMass' sweep of La Salle over the weekend along with a notebook from Scott Cournoyer. The Minutemen are in action tonight in Lowell, Mass., facing Northeastern at 6 p.m. in the first round of the Beanpot Tournament, which will be broadcast on WMUA 91.1 FM.
Rich Graef walks-off twice as Minutemen slide into first place
Dennis Torres, Anthony Serino heating things up for Minutemen
The UMass baseball team battled to a 2-1 win over La Salle in the Atlantic 10 series opener on Thursday afternoon at Earl Lorden Field. With the Minutemen now holding sole possession of first place in the conference standings, the teams will meet again in game two of the series this afternoon at 3 p.m.
Several media outlets had coverage of yesterday's win:
Daily Collegian: Minutemen Baseball Taking 2-1 Nail-Biter
Daily Collegian: Small-Ball Big Factor For Thriving Minutemen
Daily Hampshire Gazette: UMass Baseball Holds Off La Salle
Also check out the postgame interviews, as well:
The Daily Collegian's annual Baseball/Softball Preview issue hit newsstands on Monday and here are the baseball articles compiled by writers Chris Corso and Scott Cournoyer.
Congratulations to UMass baseball alum Mike Donato on being named the head baseball coach at Springfield Central High School. The following is from the East Hartford Gazette:
East Hartford's Michael Donato was recently named head varsity baseball coach at Springfield Central High School in MA.
After graduating East Hartford High School in 2006 where he was a standout student/athlete for coach Mike McDermott's successful Hornet teams and captain for Dan Lawrence's football team, Michael went on to UMass where enjoyed success on and off the field. He was a four year starter and senior captain for coach Mike Stone's Minutemen. While at UMass he was named to the Atlantic 10 All conference first team, A-10 All- Academic team and Lowe's Senior Class All-American Team.
Michael received his bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in education from UMass. He is currently employed as a social studies teacher at Springfield's South End Middle School.
Happy birthday to Adam Picard of UMass baseball!
Happy birthday to Brenden Cavallaro of men's track & field and Leif Sorenson of men's baseball!
Happy Birthday to senior baseball player Tom Conley!
Happy Birthday to Nik Campero and Ron Wallace of baseball and Josh Gosselin of men's soccer!
Former Minuteman Matt Torra continued his stellar work for the Durham Bulls in his latest outing on the mound this past Sunday:
The Tides (55-87) went three up, three down six times against Bulls starter Matt Torra (5-1) in the penultimate game of the season Sunday night.
The 27-year-old acquired from Arizona in July baffled Tides batters up until the eighth inning. Torra struck out six and averaged an efficient 10 pitches per inning through seven innings as Tides batters constantly swung on the first pitch. Durham improved to 10-1 when Torra starts.
"He's got a nice little slider," Tides manager Gary Allenson said. "He gets ahead with something else and throws that slider up there, and it's a tough pitch to lay off of."
Torra retired 13 straight batters between shortstop Carlos Rojas' single in the third and Hughes' stand-up triple to start the eighth. After the triple, second baseman Brendan Harris reached first base on a hit-by-pitch and catcher John Hester doubled, scoring Hughes, before Dane De La Rosa relieved Torra.
Hester left the game with an injury following the double. He had two of the Tides' four hits against Torra, which may not be a coincidence. In 2007, Hester caught Torra when the two were with the Arizona Diamondback's Class A-Advanced affiliate Visalia.
"I would think it would help you a little bit if you caught the guy before," Allenson said. "You get an idea of how he works and what his stuff does."
UMass' own Matt Gedman had the opportunity to play the 2011 season finale with the Red Sox's double-A affiliate, the Portland Sea Dogs, last night, getting the starting nod at third base.
Gedman was 0-3 in the contest in an 8-3 loss to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats but finished his first season of professional ball with a .234 batting average (46-for-197), five doubles, one triple, three home runs, 18 runs scored and 17 RBI combined across three different teams.
Gedman began the season with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox before being promoted to the short season-A Lowell Spinners in late July.
Former UMass hurler Matt Torra pitched six shutout innings and struck out three in game two of a doubleheader against the Charlotte Knights yesterday.
The Bulls swept the Knights Sunday at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, winning 4-3 in eight innings and then 3-0 in the nightcap in front of 10,015. Durham (77-57) reduced its magic number in the South Division to five and extended its lead to 3.5 games over Gwinnett, which comes to the DBAP Monday for a two-game series.
Torra started the year in Reno, where he had a 6.07 ERA before being traded to Tampa. He had a 6.86 ERA in his first four starts in Durham, but the 27-year-old righty has given up just nine runs in his last 39.2 innings and is 4-0 in his last six starts.
Torra credited pitching coach Neil Allen for making some mechanical adjustments, including moving him from the third-base side to the first-base side of the rubber and getting him more upright in his delivery. He gave up just four hits and no walks Sunday to lower his ERA to 3.81.
Read more of the recap from the Herald-Sun.
Several years before Mike Flanagan won his Cy Young Award with the Orioles in 1979, he was a riveting figure to watch on a baseball diamond.
As a student at the University of Massachusetts, I watched the Minutemen play a typically chilly April game against Maine in 1973. It was apparent that nobody really wanted to hit in the raw weather, and hardly anybody did.
Flanagan was running a 102 temperature with the flu but pitched anyway. He struck out 10 and allowed just two hits. But that wasn't the story.
Continue reading Remembering Flanagan's Glory Days, written by UMass alum Tom FitzGerald from the San Francisco Chronicle.
The two men stood side by side just in front of the Lowell Spinners dugout, longtime Red Sox catcher Rich Gedman resting his hand on the shoulder of son Matt as he passed along a few words of advice.
"It feels like old times," said Rich Gedman. "I use to drag him to the ballpark and throw him pitches, and watched all of his Little League games. Now he is following his dream."
At 22 years old and now noticeably taller than his dad, Matt Gedman still listened closely to his father's advice, just as he has done his entire baseball life.
"On the field he is coach," said Matt. "But off the field he is just dad. To see him every day, to be around him is amazing. He's been working with me since I was a little kid."
Little League has now been replaced by professional baseball, but the two Gedmans again find themselves in the same dugout, father and son donning the uniform of the Lowell Spinners.
Read more of Baseball Bond Runs Deep For Gedmans from the Eagle Tribune.
Since the news of UMass Hall of Famer and former Orioles pitcher Mike Flanagan's passing last night, there have been many tributes to the Cy Young Award winner and broadcaster throughout the media:
ESPN.com: Buster Olney Blog - Remembering the Funniest Man in Baseball
Daily Hampshire Gazette: Bergquist recalls Flanagan
MLB.com: Jim Palmer on Mike Flanagan
Chron.com: If you were lucky enough to know Mike Flanagan, you were better off for it.
MASNSPORTS.com, Earl Weaver and Scott McGregor remember Mike Flanagan
CSNBaltimore.com, Stan The Fan: Remember how Flanagan lived
BaltimoreSun.com, Flanny made his best pitch, on field and off
Union Leader - NH native Mike Flanagan recalled as top athlete
FoxSports.com: Ken Rosenthal - Flanagan will be missed
The UMass community was saddened to learn this evening of the passing of UMass Hall of Fame pitcher Mike Flanagan. He was 59.
Flanagan lettered for the UMass baseball team in 1972 and 1973, earning first team All-Yankee Conference and first team All-New England honors in 1973 before turning professional. Flanagan went 9-1 with a 1.52 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 1973, to lead the team in all three categories. His nine wins and .900 winning percentage set school single season records at the time. He received the E. Joseph Thompson Memorial Trophy as the team's MVP in 1973, after leading the team to an overall record of 21-9-1, including a trip to the NCAA Tournament and the Yankee Conference championship.
Flanagan had a career ERA of 1.19 and a career winning percentage of .923 (12-1), which are both still the best marks in school history. He also played in the outfield while at UMass, hitting .320 with six homers and 29 RBIs in 128 career at-bats.
After he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1973, Flanagan went on to pitch 18 seasons in the major leagues with the Orioles (1975-1987, 1991-1992) and Toronto Blue Jays (1987-1990). He had a career record of 167-143 with 1,491 strikeouts and a 3.89 ERA in 2,770 innings pitched, and won the 1979 American League Cy Young Award for the Orioles, going 23-9 with 190 strikeouts and a 3.08 ERA in 265-2/3 innings. Flanagan pitched over 200 innings seven times in his major league career, including four straight years from 1977-1980. He won 12 or more games in a season eight times during his major league career, struck out 100 or more batters six times, and was a member of the Baltimore Orioles 1983 World Championship team.
A native of Manchester, N.H., Flanagan received his degree from the UMass School of Education in 1975, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.
Since 2010, Flanagan had served as a color analyst on Orioles telecasts for Mid-Atlantic Sports Network.
Happy birthday to Glen Misho of UMass Baseball!
Make sure to head over to the Lowell Spinners' YouTube page and vote for former Minuteman Matt Gedman in the "2011 Favorite Spinner Election". Check out Matt's campaign video:
Former UMass left-hander Mitchell Clegg picked up the win out of the bullpen for the Potomac Nationals last night, a 4-3 victory over the Winston-Salem Dash.
Clegg allowed one run on two hits with no walks and two strikeouts in 2.2 innings of work. He is currently 4-5 on the season with a 5.22 earned run average over 79.1 innings in 25 appearances with 25 walks to 36 strikeouts.
In limited action since signing a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim last month, UMass baseball alum Peter Copa has hit safely in all three games he has appeared in with the Arizona League Angels.
This past Sunday against the Rangers, he had his first career multi-hit game as a pro, going 2-for-4 with a triple, a walk, a stolen base and a run scored.
Copa is currently hitting .364 (4-for-11) wth an RBI and three runs scored.
This past Sunday against the Rangers, he had his first career multi-hit game as a pro, going 2-for-4 with a triple, a walk, a stolen base and a run scored.
Copa is currently hitting .364 (4-for-11) wth an RBI and three runs scored.
Congratulations to our own Matt Gedman, who was promoted from the Gulf Coast League Red Sox at the end of last week to the Short Season A Lowell Spinners of the New York Penn League. In 31 games in the Gulf Coast League, he hit .282 with five doubles, a triple, two home runs, 15 RBI and 14 runs scored.
Gedman, who is now playing for his father, former Red Sox catcher Rich Gedman who is the Spinners' batting coach, has played in three games since joining the team. He logged his first hit last night against the State College Spikes.
Another former Minuteman, Matt's brother Mike, was in action with his team, the Worcester Tornadoes last night, as well. Mike threw a perfect inning of relief, but the Tornadoes came up short against the Rockland Boulders, 8-2.
Former UMass right hander Bryan Leigh pitched last night as the Everett AquaSox closed out the first half of the season with a 4-2 win over the division champion Eugene Emeralds.
Leigh (1-2) pitched 22/3 innings of scoreless relief to record his first win of the season for the Frogs. He currently holds a 2.92 earned run average in 12.1 innings over seven appearances with five walks and nine strikeouts and an opponent batting average of .205.
Leigh (1-2) pitched 22/3 innings of scoreless relief to record his first win of the season for the Frogs. He currently holds a 2.92 earned run average in 12.1 innings over seven appearances with five walks and nine strikeouts and an opponent batting average of .205.
Former UMass hurler Matt Torra will again be the host for the seventh annual Conor Dillon Memorial Golf Tournament this October 1 at the Waubeeka Golf Links in Williamstown, Mass., with proceeds benefitting Pittsfield Little Leagues and the Girls' Softball League.
The tourney has donated over $40,000 in the past six years to fund the sandlot needs of local youth. Last fall, over $12,500 was raised and used to buy - among more traditional items like bats, balls and bases - a hot water heater and slush machine for the South Little League concession stand plus bullpen fencing, bleachers and a batting cage net for the West Little League. And, participants in the Girls Softball League this spring honed their batting eyes with the use of a new fast-pitch batting machine as well as a new soft toss system.
Besides the lights, lawn mowers, tarps, scoreboards and other initiatives to improve the local playing fields over the years, the tournament has also established a scholarship fund for students of the culinary arts - a passion of Torra's childhood friend Conor Dillon for whom the tournament is named.
Click here to register for the event and to view sponsorship opportunities.
The text message received from Matt Torra Thursday morning was written with a sense of surprise.
"Who would have thought Bateman and I on the same team. The Durham Bulls," is what the text message said.
The Bateman in question is Joe Bateman, who has returned to Durham to join a Bulls' pitching staff that Torra is a member of.
"Two kids from the same high school team pitching on the same [minor league] team -- that's crazy," Pittsfield High baseball coach Bob Moynihan said. "That's just unbelievable."
Torra was traded to the Tampa Bay organization from the Arizona Diamondbacks, and was put into the starting rotation at Durham. He is still seeking his first win. Bateman, who spent the last two years with Durham, was released by Class AA Midland (Texas League) on Tuesday and signed with the Rays on Wednesday. Tampa Bay assigned him back in Durham.
"It was a complete surprise" to see Bateman in the Bulls' clubhouse in Rochester, N.Y., Torra recalled. "We hadn't touched base yet.
"I was starting so I came to the field later. I show up and he's in the locker room. It was pretty cool to see him and now to play with another Pittsfield guy, it doesn't happen too often."
Read more of Howard Herman's Pittsfield High School graduates are members of the Durham Bulls pitching staff from the Berkshire Eagle.
A month into his professional career, UMass' Matt Gedman is among the top hitters for the Gulf Coast League Red Sox.
Through 21 Games, Gedman is tied for the team lead with 18 hits, is tied for second in doubles (4) and is fourth in RBI (8) and on base percentage (.306).
The second baseman is hitting .234 in 77 at bats.
Through 21 Games, Gedman is tied for the team lead with 18 hits, is tied for second in doubles (4) and is fourth in RBI (8) and on base percentage (.306).
The second baseman is hitting .234 in 77 at bats.
Former UMass lefty Mitchell Clegg tossed two perfect innings of relief for the Potomac Nationals last night as the squad rallied from a 4-1 deficit to win 6-4 in 10 innings against the Frederick Keys.
Clegg pitched the sixth and the seventh, striking out two in his 16th appearance of the season. He has thrown 55.0 innings to date and holds a 4.91 ERA with 22 walks and 22 strikeouts.
Clegg pitched the sixth and the seventh, striking out two in his 16th appearance of the season. He has thrown 55.0 innings to date and holds a 4.91 ERA with 22 walks and 22 strikeouts.
In his first outing since being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays' organization, Matt Torra started for the Durham Bulls last night against the Norfolk Tides.
Torra threw five innings and allowed three runs on six hits, walked none and struck out four, but did not earn a decision in the Bulls' 11-5 win. All three runs came in the first as he followed up with four shutout frames.
Following this five-games stint against Norfolk, the Bulls will be making a trip to New England to face the Pawtucket Red Sox, July 14-17.
Torra threw five innings and allowed three runs on six hits, walked none and struck out four, but did not earn a decision in the Bulls' 11-5 win. All three runs came in the first as he followed up with four shutout frames.
Following this five-games stint against Norfolk, the Bulls will be making a trip to New England to face the Pawtucket Red Sox, July 14-17.
In his first outing since being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays' organization, Matt Torra started for the Durham Bulls last night against the Norfolk Tides.
Torra threw five innings and allowed three runs on six hits, walked none and struck out four, but did not earn a decision in the Bulls' 11-5 win. All three runs came in the first as he followed up with four shutout frames.
Following this five-games stint against Norfolk, the Bulls will be making a trip to New England to face the Pawtucket Red Sox, July 14-17.
Torra threw five innings and allowed three runs on six hits, walked none and struck out four, but did not earn a decision in the Bulls' 11-5 win. All three runs came in the first as he followed up with four shutout frames.
Following this five-games stint against Norfolk, the Bulls will be making a trip to New England to face the Pawtucket Red Sox, July 14-17.
Former Minuteman Matt Torra was traded over the holiday weekend, going from the Arizona Diamondbacks' organization to the Tampa Bay Rays for cash considerations. Torra, who was 4-2 this season as a member of the Triple-A Reno Aces with a 6.07 earned run average in 15 games has been assigned to the Durham Bulls' (AAA).
Locally, CBS 3 had coverage of the move: Howard Herman also had a nice piece on the Pittsfield native in Sunday's Berkshire Eagle.
Happy birthday to Kyle Multner of UMass baseball!
Chad Paronto lost his first three starts for the Pittsfield Colonials, but kept on saying that things would get better. This must be what he meant.
The right-hander (3-3) won his third straight start to even his record as the Colonials rallied to beat the Newark Bears 5-3 on Tuesday.
Paronto went six innings Tuesday, giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits. T.J. Wink, the fourth Pittsfield pitcher, threw a 1-2-3 ninth for his first professional save.
In his last three starts, Paronto has pitched 20 2/3 innings and has given up four earned runs on 18 hits, for an earned-run average of 1.75. That compares most favorably with the righty's first three starts, where he gave up 14 earned runs in 16 innings and had an ERA of 7.88.
On Tuesday, Paronto walked only two and struck out seven. He threw 112 pitches, 72 for strikes.
Read more from the Berkshire Eagle.
The right-hander (3-3) won his third straight start to even his record as the Colonials rallied to beat the Newark Bears 5-3 on Tuesday.
Paronto went six innings Tuesday, giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits. T.J. Wink, the fourth Pittsfield pitcher, threw a 1-2-3 ninth for his first professional save.
In his last three starts, Paronto has pitched 20 2/3 innings and has given up four earned runs on 18 hits, for an earned-run average of 1.75. That compares most favorably with the righty's first three starts, where he gave up 14 earned runs in 16 innings and had an ERA of 7.88.
On Tuesday, Paronto walked only two and struck out seven. He threw 112 pitches, 72 for strikes.
Read more from the Berkshire Eagle.
The Reno Gazette-Journal ran a nice Father's Day piece yesterday, featuring former Minuteman Matt Torra.
Torra, who took the mound in Las Vegas for the Aces against the 51s yesterday, celebrated his first Father's Day. Torra and his wife Jessica welcomed their daughter Isabel into the world nine months ago.
"Having a kid now has really put a lot of things in perspective for me," Torra said. "After a good game you go up and see your family and my daughter's like, 'Hey, let's go play. I don't care what you did on the field.' And it goes the other way, too. If you have a bad outing and you go up after the game and you see her, she smiles at you and it makes you just forget about it."
In his outing yesterday, Torra went four innings and allowed eight runs on 14 hits and struck out two. Reno rallied late, though, as the Aces went on to win 12-9 after scoring five runs in the eighth. Chad Paronto pitched the first complete game shutout of his 16-year professional career in game one of a doubleheader as the Pittsfield Colonials defeated the New Jersey Jackals 9-0 on Wednesday.
He threw 87 pitches, on the night, 63 of them strikes. He did not walk a batter and struck out four for the win. Paronto (1-3) allowed six hits, with no walks and six strikeouts in his first complete game since July 9, 2000.
Read more of the recap from the Berkshire Eagle.
He threw 87 pitches, on the night, 63 of them strikes. He did not walk a batter and struck out four for the win. Paronto (1-3) allowed six hits, with no walks and six strikeouts in his first complete game since July 9, 2000.
Read more of the recap from the Berkshire Eagle.
Framingham's Matt Gedman, the Red Sox' 45th-round draft pick out of the University of Massachusetts and son of former Sox catcher Rich Gedman, reported to the team's minor league complex in Fort Myers yesterday and is expecting to sign today after taking his physical. Gedman, who can play several infield positions, had a .334 career average in four seasons at UMass. He was a starting third baseman in the recent New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association All-Star Game. "It's definitely exciting and now it's time to hopefully take advantage of my opportunity,'' said Gedman, who most likely will be assigned to the Sox' Gulf Coast Rookie League team.
Read the full Red Sox Notebook on Boston.com
Read the full Red Sox Notebook on Boston.com
Former UMass hurler Bryan Leigh is about to begin his second season in professional baseball and will be pitching for the Everett AquaSox this summer, the short season A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, who announced their opening day roster yesterday. He is joined by three more former Atlantic 10 pitchers: Cameron Hobson (Dayton), Cody Weiss (La Salle) and Max Krakowiak (Fordham).
Leigh, who signed with the Seattle Mariners' organization last summer as a free agent, was 2-0 with a 1.71 earned run average over 21.0 innings with the Pulaski Mariners in 2010. He registered three saves in his 12 appearances, as well, with 19 strikeouts to just six walks and an opponent batting average of .203.
The AquaSox open their season this Friday, Jun. 17, on the road against the Tri-City Dust Devils.
Leigh, who signed with the Seattle Mariners' organization last summer as a free agent, was 2-0 with a 1.71 earned run average over 21.0 innings with the Pulaski Mariners in 2010. He registered three saves in his 12 appearances, as well, with 19 strikeouts to just six walks and an opponent batting average of .203.
The AquaSox open their season this Friday, Jun. 17, on the road against the Tri-City Dust Devils.
Happy birthday to UMass Baseball's Aaron Zaleznik and Joe Popielarczyk!
Marty Dobrow has a great piece on ESPNBoston.com about the Red Sox signing UMass' Matt Gedman. Dobrow mentions the possibility of Gedman being placed with the Lowell Spinners where his father, Rich, is the hitting coach. Rich also played for the Red Sox where he was a two-time All-Star catcher.
The New England Collegiate baseball league opened last night with current UMass catcher Tom Conley helping the Keene Swamp Bats to a 7-0 win in a rain-shortened contest against the Vermont Mountaineers. Conley hit fifth in the order and was 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.
On the day his younger brother was drafted, former Minuteman hurler Mike Gedman unfortunately took the loss for the Worcester Tornadoes after walking the leadoff hitter on a 3-2 pitch in the eighth inning vs. Chad Paronto's Pittsfield Colonials. The Colonials rallied for a 6-4 win.
Finally, Matt Torra will be on the bump tonight as the Reno Aces open a four-game series against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Torra will put his 4-0 record on the line against Sky Sox RHP Esmil Rogers (0-0, No ERA), who is on a Major League rehab assignment.
On the day his younger brother was drafted, former Minuteman hurler Mike Gedman unfortunately took the loss for the Worcester Tornadoes after walking the leadoff hitter on a 3-2 pitch in the eighth inning vs. Chad Paronto's Pittsfield Colonials. The Colonials rallied for a 6-4 win.
Finally, Matt Torra will be on the bump tonight as the Reno Aces open a four-game series against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Torra will put his 4-0 record on the line against Sky Sox RHP Esmil Rogers (0-0, No ERA), who is on a Major League rehab assignment.