Pittsfield Suns season starts today

Under gray clouds heavy with rain, the Pittsfield Suns players returned to Wahconah Field with a warm welcome from team management and host families.

The Pittsfield Suns, in their second season, are under the leadership of General Manager Kevin McGuire.

The 27 young men will spend the summer months in The Berkshires as part of the Collegiate Futures Baseball League. All players in this league must be college students in good academic standing and eligible for college baseball. Players in this league receive no compensation.

The league requires, however, teams to provide housing for the players, and local families open their homes and their hearts to these young men.

For many players, being selected for a collegiate team is another step towards the dream of becoming a professional ball player.

Along the way to that dream, the host families play a critical role, providing not only food and lodging, but support. Most families are at all home games, cheering on “their” player, and the team and on home game Sundays, families are at Wachonnah field with potluck dishes for an after-game team picnic.

Meet the 2013 Pittsfield Suns

From Putnam Valley, N.Y., pitcher Alex Basso is a junior at Manhattanville College. The 6’2” Basso pitches and hits right handed.

A freshman at the University of Massachusetts – Lowell, Thulani Denaro hales from Littleton, Mass. The left-handed pitcher also bats left.

From Williamstown, left-handed batter and right-handed pitcher Mike Geannelis is a freshman at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst.

Hopkinton, Mass., native Christian Lavoie, a freshman at UMass Lowell, bats and pitches right handed.

Patrick Lia, right-handed pitcher and hitter, is a sophomore at UMass Amherst. Patrick comes from Morristown, N.J..

A junior at Arkansas State University, left-handed batter and right-handed pitcher Jon Luthe is from Searcy, Ark.

Franklin Pierce University freshman Josh Martin is from Lewiston, Maine. He hits and pitches right handed.

A sophomore at UMass Lowell haling from Liverpool, N.Y., Matt O’Kipney bats and pitches left handed.

Right-handed hitter and pitcher Harrison Paige, of Springfield, Mass., is a sophomore at American International College.

A leftie all the way, from Essex Junction, Vt., pitcher Aaron Plunkett is a junior at UMass Amherst.

Rounding out the pitching staff, from Carson City, Nev., is right-handed pitcher and hitter Adam Whitt, a sophomore at the University of Nevada – Reno.

Catchers/first basemen

Harvard junior Steve Dill throws and bats right handed. He is from Smithtown, N.Y.

Right-handed Derek Gardella, from Latham, N.Y., is a sophomore at the University of Rhode Island.

From Danbury, Conn., Manhattan College senior Brendan Slattery hits and throws right handed.

Infielders

East Longmeadow, Mass., resident Frank Crinella, a right-hander, is a freshman at Merrimack College.

University of Maine freshman lefty Brenden Geary is from South Hadley, Mass.

Righty Zach Goldstein, from Merrick, N.Y., is a freshman at Southern New Hampshire University.

From Great Barrington, Columbia University freshman John Kinne bats and throws right handed.

Rob McLam, from Terryville, Conn., is a right-handed sophomore at UMass Amherst.

Lincoln, Del., native righty Devon Reed is a sophomore at the College of Charleston.

From Friendswood, Texas, Northeastern State University senior Kyle Singleton bats left handed and throws right handed.

Xavier University junior Bo Slemons, from West Middlesex, Pa., throws and hits right handed.

Outfielders

Duke University senior and righty Ryan Deitrich is from Pottstown, Pa.

From Attleboro, Mass., left-handed hitter and right-handed thrower Ryan Olmo is a freshman at the University of Rhode Island.

A College of Charleston sophomore, the right-handed Morgan Phillips hales from Charleston, S.C.

Lefty Luke Reynolds, from Manchester, N.H., is a sophomore at UMass Lowell.

From Cypress, Texas, University of Pennsylvania freshman righty Gary Tesch rounds out the roster.

The first of 27 home games is slated for today (June 6) as the Suns host the Torrington Titans and top off the evening with a fireworks display. As demonstrated in the first season, the Suns offer affordable family entertainment and fun for all.

“As we look to build on our success of our first year, we have many exciting ideas and promotions for our fans that we will roll out in the near future,” McGuire said. “Rest assured the sights and sounds, excitement and energy that you experienced in Wahconah Park last year, will only get better in 2013.”

Wahconah Park has also been selected to host the 2013 FCBL All-Star game on July 25.

“We are thrilled to be hosting the 2013 FCBL All-Star Game,” McGuire said. “We pushed very hard to bring the All-Star Game to Pittsfield in our continued efforts to deliver consistent, high quality baseball to The Berkshires. With all of the league’s top talent descending on Pittsfield for the game and surrounding activities, I’m confident this will be one of this summer’s signature events.”

Throughout The Berkshires, players and fans alike look forward to hearing the umpires command, “Play ball!”

Story by Glenda Lee, Beacon Contributor

Posted by Staff Reports on June 6, 2013. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry