Home » Sports
June 02. 2012 8:05PM
Kevin Gray's On Baseball: Laconia riding wave of momentum
The Laconia Muskrats must wait for the completion of Major League Baseball’s amateur draft before finalizing their roster. It’s a good problem.
That’s the type of talent we’ve grown to expect from the New England Collegiate Baseball League, founded in 1993. The Muskrats, entering their third season, are preparing for Opening Night on Friday while eyeing three players who may be drafted this week.
Meanwhile, host families are stocking their fridge. Paint has dried on the replica Green Monster. Some intriguing pro prospects will be spending the summer summer in the Lakes Region. Those who get here, that is.
Switch-hitting outfielder Bijan Rademacher of Orange Coast College (Calif.), power-hitting infielder Bruce Caldwell of Spartanburg Methodist (S.C.) and outfielder Marcus Davis of Walters State Community College (Tenn.) are just some of the names on MLB draft boards.
The three-day amateur draft begins with Round 1 and supplemental first-round picks Monday. Rounds 2-15 will be held Tuesday, followed by rounds 16-40 on Wednesday. Fans can follow the draft at MLB.com.
Muskrats general manager Noah Crane, just to be safe, has a tentative roster with 31 players, including right-hander Rob Blanc of Franklin Pierce University.
“This time of year, the roster is always in a state of flux somewhat,” Crane said. “Some guys are probably going to be drafted. There are pitchers who’ve thrown too many innings. Some guys go to summer school.”
Crane and the Muskrats are riding a wave of momentum following last year’s Eastern Division title and loss to the Keene Swamp Bats in the NECBL championship. Crane takes calls from college coaches across the country. On some days, everyone wants to be a Muskrat.
“We’ve had a great carryover from the playoff run. There’s no shortage of players who want to be involved with the NECBL,” said Crane, who played at the University of Massachusetts and coached at Mascoma Regoinal of Canaan, Spartanburg Methodist, Dartmouth and UMass.
He also worked for the Greenville Drive, a Red Sox affiliate, leading up to the 2006 season. Crane, who grew up in Woodstock, Vt., taps all those connections while attempting to form a team.
“You have to talk with a lot of people and sort through a lot of players to figure out which guys can truly play at this level and also be quality people off the field,” he said. “You look at skills and character. You talk to college coaches and scouts and try to fill in the gaps.”
Muskrats pitcher and third baseman Chris Costantino was named league MVP last season, parlaying a terrific summer into a lucrative deal with the Cardinals. The Rhode Island native was drafted in the 43rd round but did not immediately sign a pro contract.
Instead, he tore up the NECBL — throwing a no-hitter against Keene — before going back to the bargaining table with St. Louis.
“He’s the posterchild of what success in the NECBL can do for you professionally,” Crane said. “The Cardinals drafted him in June. He turned down their offer and became one of the best players in the history of the league. In August, the Cardinals came back and doubled their original offer and now he’s playing pro baseball.”
FISHER TRACKS: Fisher Cats opening day starter Drew Hutchison, called up by Toronto on April 19, will start today against the Red Sox. Hutchison (4-2, 4.84 ERA) is coming off a nine-strikeout performance against the Orioles in which his fastball popped 95-mph.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen 95 out of him,” Blue Jays manager John Farrell told reporters after the game. “When he’s at that velocity, he’s almost a different type of pitcher, for sure.”
FARM REPORT: Terry Doyle, a Salem High and Boston College graduate, took a no-hitter into the eighth inning for the Triple-A Charlotte Knights (White Sox) last week. He battled through a cramping right leg and won his third straight start, improving to 4-3 with a 3.05 ERA.
“I didn’t notice it was a no-hitter until the sixth inning. I really had to focus on making quality pitches even though my body was fighting against me,” he said.
Doyle has been racking up the strikeouts. He fanned 10 against Buffalo and leads Charlotte with 56 punchouts.
“I haven’t really changed much. The biggest difference is locating early in the count, getting ahead,” he said.
Staff writer Kevin Gray covers pro baseball for the New Hampshire Union Leader and New Hampshire Sunday News. His email address is kgray@unionleader.com.
That’s the type of talent we’ve grown to expect from the New England Collegiate Baseball League, founded in 1993. The Muskrats, entering their third season, are preparing for Opening Night on Friday while eyeing three players who may be drafted this week.
Meanwhile, host families are stocking their fridge. Paint has dried on the replica Green Monster. Some intriguing pro prospects will be spending the summer summer in the Lakes Region. Those who get here, that is.
Switch-hitting outfielder Bijan Rademacher of Orange Coast College (Calif.), power-hitting infielder Bruce Caldwell of Spartanburg Methodist (S.C.) and outfielder Marcus Davis of Walters State Community College (Tenn.) are just some of the names on MLB draft boards.
The three-day amateur draft begins with Round 1 and supplemental first-round picks Monday. Rounds 2-15 will be held Tuesday, followed by rounds 16-40 on Wednesday. Fans can follow the draft at MLB.com.
Muskrats general manager Noah Crane, just to be safe, has a tentative roster with 31 players, including right-hander Rob Blanc of Franklin Pierce University.
“This time of year, the roster is always in a state of flux somewhat,” Crane said. “Some guys are probably going to be drafted. There are pitchers who’ve thrown too many innings. Some guys go to summer school.”
Crane and the Muskrats are riding a wave of momentum following last year’s Eastern Division title and loss to the Keene Swamp Bats in the NECBL championship. Crane takes calls from college coaches across the country. On some days, everyone wants to be a Muskrat.
“We’ve had a great carryover from the playoff run. There’s no shortage of players who want to be involved with the NECBL,” said Crane, who played at the University of Massachusetts and coached at Mascoma Regoinal of Canaan, Spartanburg Methodist, Dartmouth and UMass.
He also worked for the Greenville Drive, a Red Sox affiliate, leading up to the 2006 season. Crane, who grew up in Woodstock, Vt., taps all those connections while attempting to form a team.
“You have to talk with a lot of people and sort through a lot of players to figure out which guys can truly play at this level and also be quality people off the field,” he said. “You look at skills and character. You talk to college coaches and scouts and try to fill in the gaps.”
Muskrats pitcher and third baseman Chris Costantino was named league MVP last season, parlaying a terrific summer into a lucrative deal with the Cardinals. The Rhode Island native was drafted in the 43rd round but did not immediately sign a pro contract.
Instead, he tore up the NECBL — throwing a no-hitter against Keene — before going back to the bargaining table with St. Louis.
“He’s the posterchild of what success in the NECBL can do for you professionally,” Crane said. “The Cardinals drafted him in June. He turned down their offer and became one of the best players in the history of the league. In August, the Cardinals came back and doubled their original offer and now he’s playing pro baseball.”
- - - - - - - -
FISHER TRACKS: Fisher Cats opening day starter Drew Hutchison, called up by Toronto on April 19, will start today against the Red Sox. Hutchison (4-2, 4.84 ERA) is coming off a nine-strikeout performance against the Orioles in which his fastball popped 95-mph.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen 95 out of him,” Blue Jays manager John Farrell told reporters after the game. “When he’s at that velocity, he’s almost a different type of pitcher, for sure.”
- - - - - - - -
FARM REPORT: Terry Doyle, a Salem High and Boston College graduate, took a no-hitter into the eighth inning for the Triple-A Charlotte Knights (White Sox) last week. He battled through a cramping right leg and won his third straight start, improving to 4-3 with a 3.05 ERA.
“I didn’t notice it was a no-hitter until the sixth inning. I really had to focus on making quality pitches even though my body was fighting against me,” he said.
Doyle has been racking up the strikeouts. He fanned 10 against Buffalo and leads Charlotte with 56 punchouts.
“I haven’t really changed much. The biggest difference is locating early in the count, getting ahead,” he said.
Staff writer Kevin Gray covers pro baseball for the New Hampshire Union Leader and New Hampshire Sunday News. His email address is kgray@unionleader.com.
- NH College Notebook: Honors keep coming for several Granite State athletes - 0
- Fisher Cats score in 9th to win - 0
- Former NASCAR driver Trickle dead in apparent suicide - 0
- NHIAA boxscores, summaries for May 14, 2013 - 0
- Manchester's Gill Stadium nearing centenial rededication, still going strong - 0
- Red Sox lose to Rangers - 0
- Glenn, Nolan power Fisher Cats to win - 0
- All done: Monarchs elminated from AHL playoffs three games to one - 0
- NH College Roundup: Evans in Pats' rookie camp - 0
Dave D'Onofrio's Sox Beat: These Red Sox don't quit
READER COMMENTS: 0- Talk of UNH logo change brings out passions - 0
- John Habib's City Sports: Gosselin stepping down as city AD - 0
- Lackey sharp as Red Sox pound Cleveland, Masterson - 0
- Manchester Vet Center just 'a great place' - 0
- NHIAA Roundup: Bedford netmen earn spot in state final - 0
- NHIAA Scoreboard, May 24, 2013 - 0
- NHIAA Div. I Track: Lynch, North boys prevail - 0
- Two found dead in Belmont; one man detained as part of investigation - 0
- Weather this weekend may be more like Veterans Day - 0
Sox in the city: World champs' appearance highlighted Gill Stadium opening
READER COMMENTS: 0- Which of the following prospective candidates do you think the Red Sox should hire to replace Bobby Valentine as the team's manager?
- Sandy Alomar Jr.
- 2%
- Brad Ausmus
- 2%
- John Farrell
- 15%
- DeMarlo Hale
- 2%
- Torey Lovullo
- 1%
- Dave Martinez
- 2%
- Tony Pena
- 5%
- Ryne Sandberg
- 4%
- Joe Torre
- 25%
- Jason Varitek
- 35%
- Other
- 8%
- Total Votes: 1840



