Connexion Baseball Club: Connexion HOT News
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Connexion Baseball Concludes the Fall HS 2010 Season!
Final League standings are in! Connexion Baseball finished with 35 points, the 35 points earned us a 13th place finish out of 38 teams! The Blacksox went undefeated at 20-0, and boy o boy we had em beat that one game, until a few errors led to four unearned runs. All in all the 2010 Connexion team finished ahead of Frozen Ropes, Langan National, New Jersey 9ers, New Jersey Marlins White, Langan Baseball American, New Jersey Marlins Blue, Game Time Baseball, and New Jersey Niners Madia.
The 2011 season will see us returning all of our underclassman, in addition we'll have open roster spots for additional players.
The Connexion Baseball Club prides itself on equal playing time for all. We are proud to preach the 3'ds of Baseball (Desire, Dedication and Determination), team play, and sportsmanship. A few of our seniors got looks from local colleges and time will tell where these guys on what colleges our seniors will attend. Connexion Baseball during the course of the season contacted 25 colleges throughout the fall season.
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Connexion Wins in Extra Innings
It took 10 innings, however Connexion Baseball triumphed over Mon Don in todays extra innings contest. Connexion Pitchers Pamler (Pinelands), MeGeehen (Mon Don), Ruiz (St Joe's), Brandon (RBR) and Rodriquez (RBR) allowed only 7 hits in the 7-6 win.
Sunday (Mon Don) and Hnarahan (Middletown North) paced the offense and Clayton (Lenape) had another signature long ball!
Sunday, August 1
Connexion Baseball enters 10th Season in the Jersey Shore Baseball League
Over the years Connexion Baseball has accomodated many HS Varisty players when their High School Varisty Team did not have a team.
With Connexion Baseball everyone plays, our team is coached by former College players that have a respect for the game, and respect for the players. Over the years I stated that those players that shop up the most end up playing the most. It's all about showing up, right?
Many of our players have gone on to play baseball at the Collegiate level and a few have made it to some type professional baseball. We're their to teach, instruct and help all players achieve their goals with baseball. We are also there to ask questions about the college recruitment process and we're able to reach to college coaches when asked.
We're not and ELITE team that travels from tournament to tournament, we're NOT a team that sits players because of their talent level.
We ARE a team that plays everyone, we ARE a team that respects the game and how it's played. We ARE their to help each player progress to the next level of baseball.
Art Post
General Manager
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Connexion Holds Open Tryouts from Fall HS Baseball
Connexion Baseball will be holding open tryouts on August 1st at Middletown South HS @ 1PM. This is for Varisty HS players, you'll need to send me and email to obtain the try-out documents art@p4photel.com
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Connexion Baseball gears up for another Summer Collegiate Season at the Jersey Shore
Connexion Baseball is back for another our 8th Summer Collegiate Season in the Jersey Shore Baseball League.
Games will be played in Monmouth and Ocean Counties and our season will consist of 30-35 games. We're returning about 12 guys from last years team and we're looking to compete for another playoff position as in years past.
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Connexion Baseball Starts New Fall 2009 Season
Middletown, NJ:
We've just about completed our roster for the fall 2009 season. This season Connexion Baseball will piited against some of the best Fall Teams in the state. On October 2,3, & 4 we will be at a Showcase Tournament in Eastern PA for a minimum of three games. Traditionally we have faired well in this tournament and hope that we play well.
This years Head Coach is Bobbie Piccardo. Bobbie is a former Middletown South graduate, Connexion player, and recently graduated from Catholic University. Coach Piccardo loves the game and his enthusiam will transfer to the team. Piccardo holds two three records for Connexion Baseball, Most Hits, Most AB's and Most Games Played. We are extremly pleaed to have him as our Head Coach!
Our Pitching Coach is Nick Riker, Riker is a graduate of Red Bank Catholic, Brookdale Community College and Felician College. Nick was a standout performer as a RHP for all of these teams, pitched in the JUCO World Series, threw a no hitter against the Blacksox in a Fall Moosic Tournament and played a year of Professional Baseball with the Texarkana Gunslingers in the Continental Baseball League. Riker's time will be limited to some Sundays and the tournament, he will be getting married this December.
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Connexion & Disney Wide World of Sports
If you are interested in attending this week long tournament please email me or call me. We are looking for 18 serious players for this tournament!!! There is an additional cost associated with this tournament.
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10th ANNUAL ALBANY ATHLETICS BASEBALL FEST DATES NOW SET
April 1, 2009
10th ANNUAL ALBANY ATHLETICS BASEBALL FEST DATES NOW SET
Longest running Stan Musial invitational tournament returns to Schenectady’s Central Park
The Albany Athletics have announced it will host its 10th annual Baseball Fest at Central Park A, B and C diamonds in
Schenectady on July10-12, 2009.
This year the event, which is the largest and longest running Stan Musial invitational tournament in the northeast, willexpand to 10 teams from across the northeast thanks to renovations to all three baseball diamonds at Central Park.
Each team will be required to pay a tournament entry fee by May 1st to ensure its spot in the tournament. Teams are also required to bring to the tournament three baseballs as their contribution for the entire weekend. Each team will play a minimum of three games plus have the opportunity to qualify for the championship or 3rd place game on Sunday afternoon.(First round games will begin no earlier than 4 pm on Friday.)
Perennial powers from all over the northeast and locally compete in the tournament each year. The following notables have come to the region to compete in this event in the last few years: Pelham Mets, Milford FPA (CT), Brothers Oven Pizza (RI), ABCO Phillies (PA), Ottawa Nepeans (ONT), Sherman Park Phillies, New Jersey Connexion (NJ), and Sullivan Spartans.
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Lynn University wins National Championship DII with two Connexion Alums on Sqaud
Congrats to Kevin Rickert (Toms River) and Greg Franklin (Freehold) with becoming National Champs!! Both Kevin and Greg played on the 06 & 07 Connexion Summer Squads. Here's the link for the article http://www1.lynn.edu/index.php?src=news&refno=7431&category=Athletics%20Top%20Stories
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Pitcher inspired by Jim Abbott
Way to go Sully!!!!!!!!! Congrats from EXC
PARAMUS — Bryan Sullivan just wanted to be a pitcher.
He never cared about newspaper headlines or the chase for a college scholarship.
He was not concerned with racking up strikeout totals in Little League or one day leading his high school team to a championship.
All Sullivan wanted was the chance to take the mound and play the game he watched on television, and he was willing to do whatever it took to live out his childhood dream.
He was 6-years old and a long way from becoming the winning pitcher for Paramus High School on opening day, which he was 11 days ago. He never gave any thought to how daunting the realization of that dream was going to be.
“I watched two games and I fell in love with the game,” said Sullivan, a senior. “I was going to be a pitcher; I remember asking my dad, ‘Can I learn how to play baseball? The only promise his father, Steve, made was that they were going to try.
There were going to be challenges, considering Bryan was born with cerebral palsy and suffers from hemiparesis, or slight paralysis or weakness that affects the right side of his body. He would be forced to learn how to catch and throw with only his left hand.
The Sullivans hoped for the day all Bryan would have to worry about was earning playing time, keeping his ERA down and adding a few miles per hour to his fastball, but they knew his quest would involve so much more.
“His determination was there from the very beginning,” said his mother, Donna. “He always believed that, with hard work, he could achieve anything.” Bryan certainly has achieved something special, and not only with what he has done, but how he’s gone about doing it.
Today, the 18-year-old is a pitcher and a remarkable one at that, one of the greatest examples of what perseverance and dedication can produce, yet not without talent and an uncanny ability to master technique despite obvious physical limitations. Bryan was not given the ball as Paramus’ starter April 1 against Kennedy – he earned it.
“I never would have projected him to be a varsity pitcher when he was in the ninth grade,” Paramus coach Joe Cervino said. “Since then, he’s managed to put it all together, and most of that has clearly come from his own will.”
Included in that will is an undeniable passion to prove he can. At least five times a week for the last four years, he has awakened at 4:30 a.m. for a grueling workout at the Gold’s Gym in town.
He was one of the youngest to enroll at the Parisi Speed School and has trained there since the age of 7. No one could have imagined that level of training regimen for someone who underwent physical and occupational therapy for six years, starting at 10 months old.
Note: from Art, after our FALL 2008 season I wrote this blog in reference to you gotta have heart!
http://mfpsolutions.blogspot.com/2008/11/mfp-copier-sales-you-gotta-have-heart.html
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Connexion BB Holding onto last Playoff spot
With 3 games left in the regular season, Connexion BB stands in 8th place with 35 points. We actually have 37 points, however that point will not be added until the end of next week! We will play our final games against the Staten Island Cadets and Farrah Building (10/20 @ 7pm).
Connexion Basball wwept a DH from Baseball Parks of America over the weekend by the score of 12-5 and 2-1. We have a possibility of garnering another 9 points if we sweep the rest of our games. Keep in mind that there are teams below us that still have many games to make up. We have to win out to get us in.
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Standings after 18 Games | Games Status | Points |
| 1 | BLACK SOX Toms River | 14W, 1T, 2L, 1 TBP | 46 |
| 2 | FARRAH Builders | 13W, 1T, 2L, 2 TBP | 43 |
| 3 | SOUTHERN Regional | 10W, 2T, 6L | 40 |
| 4 | ALL STAR Sports Academy | 12W, 3L, 3 TBP | 39 |
| 5 | MARLINS Ocean Sports Acad | 12W. 2L, 4 TBP | 38 |
| 6 | SELECT Jersey Shore | 10W, 1T, 5L, 2 TBP | 37 |
| 7 | Baseball PARKS of America | 10W, 6L, 2 TBP | 36 |
| 8 | CONNEXTION East Coast | 9W, 1T, 6L, 2 TBP | 35 |
| 9 | ANGELS Belmar | 7W, 11L | 32 |
| 10 | BRAVES Manalapan | 9W, 4L, 5 TBP | 31 |
| 10 | AMERICAN Farrah Builders | 8W, 7L, 3 TBP | 31 |
| 10 | BULLDOGS Brick American | 7W, 1T, 8L, 2 TBP | 31 |
| 11 | LANGAN Baseball | 9W, 3L, 6 TBP | 30 |
| 12 | LANCERS St. John Vianney | 7W, 2T, 4L, 5 TBP | 29 |
| 12 | CARDINALS North Jersey | 7W, 1T, 6L, 4 TBP | 29 |
| 12 | BALLPARK @ Farmingdale | 7W, 8L, 3 TBP | 29 |
| 13 | REDS Central Jersey | 7W, 7L, 4 TBP | 28 |
| 14 | REBELS Howell | 6W, 9L, 3 TBP | 27 |
| 15 | KNIGHTS Wall | 5W, 11L, 2 TBP | 26 |
| 16 | MUSTANGS Marlboro | 4W, 1T, 11L, 2 TBP | 24 |
| 17 | OCEAN Township | 4W, 11L, 3 TBP | 23 |
| 18 | PANTHERS Point Pleasant Boro | 2W, 16L | 22 |
| 19 | RICHMOND Cty Baseball Club | 4W, 8L, 6 TBP | 20 |
| 20 | COLONIALS Freehold | 1W, 16L, 1 TBP | 19 |
| 21 | CADETS St. Peter's SI | 4W, 1T, 4L, 9 TBP | 18 |
| 21 | NATIONAL Farrah Builders | 3W, 9L, 6 TBP | 18 |
| 22 | FALCONS St. Joseph's | 3W, 1T, 6L, 8 TBP | 17 |
| 22 | JAGUARS Jackson | 3W, 1T, 6L, 8 TBP | 17 |
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Connexion Splits with Belmar Angels
Connexion Baseball dropped the first game 2-0 to Belmar Angels on two unearned runs in the first inning. Pat Bonner (RBR 09) pitched 6 solid innings for 2 hit baseball. Marco Carracappa (RBC 09) pitched a hitless and scoreless 7th inning for Connexion.
Game 2 saw Connexion pitcher Byran Sullivan (Paramus HS 09) get off to a rocky start, the Angels wanted to play some Bush League baseball. Connexion players then respnded with 12 hits and 6 runs after the first inning and Connexion pitchers threw a shut out the rest of the way for a 6-4 win. Eric Hogan (Middletown South 09) pitched four solid innings of 1 hit baseball, while striking out 6, Tims Ens (Middletown South 09) pitched a scoreless and hitless 6th, Ian Wladika (Holmdel HS 09 Committed to NJIT) closed out the 7th for the Connexio Victory!
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Connexion Baseball Selects All-Stars
While there are many good players on the squad this year and many good underclassmen. ABCCL All Stars are reserved for our best Juniors and Seniors who have not committed to a college yet. Thus we congratulate the following players that were selected.
Pat Condon (CF) Middletown North 09 Grad
Scott Bruno (CF) Middletown South 10 Grad
Pat LeCompte (OF/RHP) CBA 09 Grad
Tyler Cotterell (Catcher) Middletown South 09 Grad
Joe LaCugna (3B) Manalapan HS
Hornorable Mention:
Eric Hogan (RHP) Middletown South 09 Grad
Bryan Sullivan (LHP) Paramus HS 09 Grad
Mike Farrell (1B,3B) Middletown South 09 Grad
Will Siegrfried (RHP) Middltown South 11 Grad
Congrats to all!!!!!!
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Connexion Pitchers Combine to No-Hit Select Jersey Shore Team
Connexion Pitchers threw a combined no hitter vs Select Jersey Shore in a 1-1 tie after seven innings. Tims Ens (Middletown South) struck out 5 in 3.1/3 innings worth of work, Alex Gonzales (Arts HS/Newark) came in with bases loaded and registered the final two outs of the 4th inning. Gonzales started the fifth with a walk, and then a k, and the walked the next three batters which broke the 0-0 tie. Eric Hogan (Middletown South) came on in relief of Gonzales and induced a ground ball to second and the force out and home, and the struck out the next batter to end the 5th. Hogan then retired the next six batters in a row and recorded three more k's. Pat Condon (Middletown North) singled in the tying run in the top of the seventh, scoring Conner Pricolo (Red Bank Catholic).
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Former Connexion Players Sign Pro Baseball Contracts
| 3/7/08 BASEBALL - Pair of Alums Sign Pro Baseball Contracts | |
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Kenny Vanderhee '07 signs his first professional contract.
The CBL played its inaugural season in 2007 with four franchises. Two of the original clubs remain for this season, with the Gunslingers, based in Texarkana, Texas, one of a pair of new teams. The league plays a 42-game regular season beginning on May 23, and Quintana and Vanderhee will report for spring training in the first weekend in May. Quintana, of Miami, Fla., is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in elementary education/general science. He is Felician’s all-time leader in homeruns (35) and runs batted in (147), and as a senior in 2007, was an honorable-mention Daktronics All-American and won four player of the year awards. He had 207 career base hits, second in program history. A 6-foot-1, 220-pound first-baseman, he is a 2003 graduate of South Miami High. Vanderhee, from Aventura, Fla., was a career .303 hitter for the Golden Falcons before graduating in 2007 as a business administration major. A four-year starter at all three outfield positions, he had 183 career hits, 78 stolen bases, and is the school’s all-time leader in runs scored with 138. He is a 2003 graduate of Dr. Michael Krop High. Quintana and Vanderhee helped lead Felician to a school-record 29 victories in 2006. The pair becomes the third and fourth former Felician baseball players to sign professional contracts in the nine-year history of the program. |
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Riker Inks Deal with CBL!!!
| 7/10/08 BASEBALL - Riker, VanEs Join Quintana On Gunslingers | |
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Frank Quintana x07 and Nick Riker x08 as Texarkana Gunslingers.
VanEs becomes the fourth former Golden Falcon to sign a contract with the Gunslingers, who were 6-0 in the second half of the CBL season before the league headed into its all-star break. 2007 graduate Kenny Vanderhee signed prior to this season but was released at the end of spring training. Frank Quintana (Miami, FL/South Miami), Felician's all-time homerun leader, is a rookie first-baseman for Texarkana. Quintana is batting .217 with three doubles, 13 runs and 11 RBI in 37 games. Riker made his first professional start for the Gunslingers on July 6, allowing one run on three hits with six strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision during a 9-2 Texarkana victory over the McKinney Blue Thunder. Quintana had three hits that night. VanEs has yet to appear in a CBL game. |
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Riker Named CACC Pitcher of the Week
| 3/10/08 BASEBALL - Riker Named CACC Pitcher Of The Week | |
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N.J. – Felician College senior Nick Riker of Highlands has been named the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week, the CACC announced today. Felician has won both such awards handed out this season.Making his second start of the season, Riker settled for a no-decision against regionally-ranked Pace University in the Golden Falcons’ home opener on Thursday. The 6-foot-2 right-hander pitched 6 2/3 innings, yielding two earned runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and two walks, leaving the game with a 3-2 lead in an eventual 9-3 Felician loss. Felician teammate B.J. Senna of Wallingford, Conn., was the season’s first CACC Pitcher of the Week on March 3. Riker is 0-1 with a 2.77 earned-run average and a .217 opponent batting average this season. He is a 2004 graduate of Red Bank Catholic, and played his first two collegiate seasons at Brookdale Community College. Also today, graduate student Chris Flynn of Keyport was named to the CACC Weekly Honor Roll. |
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Connexion Baseball appoints Chris Langan as Head Coach for 2008 Summer Collegiate Season!
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It is with great please that we announce the return of Chris Langan as Head Coach for the Summer 2008 Collegiate team in the JSBL! Chris Langan was the Head Coach for the 2006 Summer Season that saw Connexion Baseball reach the playoffs for the thirs consecutive year.
Chris Langan has been Felician's head baseball coach since the 2004 season, and has led the Golden Falcons to back-to-back CACC Tournament appearances. In 2006, Langan guided Felician to a school record 29 victories, its first in-season regional-ranking, a runner-up finish in the CACC playoffs, and its first ECAC Tournament berth.
Langan has a school-record 83 victories in his four years with Felician. He has coached 12 all-conference and two-all region players, including 2007 CACC Player of the Year and honorable-mention All-American Frank Quintana. Langan was promoted after serving as an assistant in 2002-03, during which time he was the hitting coach and worked with the catchers and outfielders.
Langan was an all-state performer at Keyport High School and helped the Red Raiders to a state championship in his junior season. Collegiately, he was a two-time all-CACC performer at Bloomfield College before transferring to Kean University, where he was a key contributor to the Cougars' 1998 NCAA Tournament team. Langan was a non-roster invitee to the Kansas City Royals' major-league spring training in 1999.
Langan owns bachelor's degrees in special education from Kean in 1998 and in social services from Almeda College in 2003. He is pursuing a master's in speech pathology from Kean. He resides in Hazlet with his wife, Danielle, and daughter, Chelsea.
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Collin McGowan (LHP) Commits to Seton Hall University!
Collin McGowan (LHP) from Stratford, NJ has commited to Seton Hall University. Collin is finishing his senior year @ Sterling HS in South Jersey. We all wish him well and we are proud that we were able to introduce him to the Seton Hall University Baseball Program.
Danny Merklinger (LHP) played for Connexion Baseball in our 03 season and was drafted this year by Major League Baseball. Danny also played his college baseball at Seton Hall. We hope the same will be true for Collin McGowan.
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Connexion Falls to Blacksox 4-0
We had em, tied 0-0 until the bottom of the sixth! Connexion Pitchers Matt Mizerek, Ryan Clark, Rob Shannon and Ryan McGowan tossed 5 scoreless innings while srtiking out 9 Blacksox batters. However the powerful Blacksox offense scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth off Marco Carracappa, Pat Bonner then closed the inning for Connexion.
I thought that this was one of the best games played to date even though we lost. Pitching and defense did the job for 5 2/3 , Everyone needs to be reminded that it is not the wins and losses that count, its how you play the game! Biy did we play the GAME!
Sunday, September 16
Connexion Holds on To Outlast Jersey Shore Select in 9
When Steve and I spoke about the game, Steve said it was a great team win. He was very impressed with how everyone made the plays when they had to. Kudos to Pat Bonner RHP (09 Grad RBR) for coming in with the bases loaded and getting out of it. Kudos Rob Shannon LHP (09 Grad Robert Morris HS) for his quality start. More to follow......
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Win One! Lose One!
Zach Scott Chris Daniele Ryan Garber
Connexion Baseball split another doubleheader! On Sunday the 23rd against Central Jersey Reds. After dropping the opener 3-1. Connexion bounced back to take the nightcap by a 5-4 margin for the win!
Rob Shannon (09 Grad) James Caldwell HS pitched 4.33 , and was relived by Anthony Castelli (09 Grad) Marlboro HS pitched 2.67 of no hit ball, came on relief in the 5th.
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Connexion Baseball Wrong End of Shutout
Eddie Czech
Baseball U Pitchers toss shut against Connexion. A cool night @ Oak Glen seemed to have cooled Connexions hot bats. Baseball U shut them down. Eddie Czech RHP (08) Grad from Manasquan had two scorless innings for Connexion. Connexion will be back at Oak Glen this Sunday @ 12:00 noon for a DH against Jersey Shore Select! Come on out and enjoy some baseball.
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Connexion Runs Wild Over Colonials
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Caracappa, Castilli and Casey Out Gun Farrah Builders National
Ryan Casey Anthony Castilli
Fine pitching performances and an aggresive offense yields a 4 run margin of victory over Farrah Builders National.
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Connexion Splits with Powerfest Baseball
Connexion Baseball dropped the first game 8-6, however came back to shutout Powerfest 6-0 in the nitecap. Details will follow during the week!
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Connexion Splits with Gethired.com
Kevins Yorks Rob Shannon Joe Brescia
Connexion Pitchers Rob Shannon and Joe Brescia threw a combined no hitter in the first game, however 9 walks and two errors allowed GetHired.com to slip past Connexion 4-3 for the first loss of the season.
Game two saw Kevin Yorks get a key bases loaded single that drove in two runs, and Yorks then took GetHired out of a big inning by making an unassisted double play. Marc Somerhalter (Pitcher) crusied until he was removed with and injury, Edin Mehmedagic relieved and was also injured, along came Eddie Czech and then Matt Mizerek to seal the victory for Connexions 3rd win of the season. Connexion record is now 3-1.
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Connexion Baseball Selects Roster for ABC Fall HS Season!
Connexion Baseball for the sixth year in a row will compete in the Elite ABC HS Fall League in New Jersey. Key returning players for the Connexion is Matt Mizerak (6'4" RHP) from Matawan, New Jersey. Mike Pilot (Catcher) from Howell, New Jersey, plus we'd like to welcome all of new players and families to Connexion Baseball!
This seasons Head Coach is Steve Langan and assisting Steve will be Kevin Barrett of Brick, New Jersey and Nick Riker of Highlands, New Jersey. For the fall season we will be competing in two show case Tournaments in Reading, PA.
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Connexion Opens 2007 Fall Season!
Connexion takes two from Marlboro Mustangs in Marlboro......, more to come once I get the stats!
Saturday, August 26
Connexion Baseball Alumni
Matt Hicks (Drew University)
Justin Distler (Drew University)
Brett Thaler (Lynn University)
Billy Lawson (West Florida)
Mike Rooth (Felician College)
Pete Miller (Felician College)
John Tingos (Felician College)
Joe Owsinski (Felician College)
Artie Kaylor (Brookdale CC)
Jay Wlison (Brookdale CC)
Steven Morealle (Brookdale CC)
Mike Barry (Brookdale CC)
Greg Kryzanowski (Brookdale CC)
Greg Franklin (Brookdale CC)
Greg Geran (Brookdale CC)
Bill Hemberger (Rider University)
Gene Crimoli (Rider University)
Joe Socci (Brookdale CC)
Steve Pietrucha (York College)
Rob O'Gorzat (Monmouth University)
Greg Smith (Ramapoo College)
Nick Papa (Wagner College)
James Scelzo (Montclair College)
John Marzella (Montclair College)
Gary Amatrudo (Mercer County College)
Steve Lindstrom (Ocean County College)
Chris Yamaguchi (Brown University)
Rahul Charkravarthy (University of Pittsburg/Green Campus)
Joe Sandomeirski (Rowan College)
Anthony Gambale (Stockton College)
Tory Pricncpe (Stockton College)
Mike Dougherty (Brookdale CC)
Sean Petersen (Seminole County College)
Lou Gerhig Speach
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Connexion Baseball in Semi Finals @ BerkShire Tournament!
Early Bird, gets the worm! Connexion baseball had a Saturday 8:00AM start at Kutztown University. Dreary weather and a game temp of 43 degrees supplied the ingredients when Connexion Baseball faced off against Play Ball Stars. Matt Buragina (Matawan HS 07) grad pitched a complete game shut-out out to win the opener 1-0. Connexion scored its only run with a hit, steal of second base and then a throwing error from the catcher.
Game #2 matched us up against Exton Legion at Kutztown University for a 10:00AM start. Will Comer (Princeton HS 07 Grad)pitched the first inning and allowed two runs. Will then suffered a back injury and left the game. Matt Mizerek (Matawan HS 08 Grad), started the second and pitched 5 innings, where he allowed zero runs. In the top of the 7th with Connexion leading 3-2, James O'Hanlon (keansburg HS 07 Grad) came on to pitch and ran into trouble. Exton Legion scored 4 runs in the top of the seventh. Connexion was not able to come back and then suffered the first lost in our bracket 6-3.
Game #3, 8:00AM Sunday morning in Fredricksburg, PA at Earl Wenger Legion Field, and oh what a facility! The best Legion facility I have ever been to.
Joe Brescia (Holmdel HS 07 Grad) was the starter and he was masterful in only allowed three hits and one run with a complete game, while striking out 4! Connexion 11, Elite Baseball 1. Connexion bats also came up big, Brad Hoover (Keansburg HS 07 Grad) went 2-3 with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI. Bill Lupo (Nutley HS 07 Grad) batted 2-3, with 2 RBI's and a walk, while Mike Pilot (Howell HS 08 Grad) went 2-2 with two runs scored and a walk. Kevin Yorks (Hazlet HS 07 Grad), 3-3 two runs scored, a sac and one RBI. Mickey Zudonyi (Holmdel HS 07 Grad) was 1-2 with two walks, 3 RBI's and one run scored!
Championship Series/Semi Final Game #4, 2PM at Alvernia College in Reading saw Bill Hauer (Souther Regional HS 07 Grad) take the mound against the Berkshire Red Sox (host team for Tournament). Bill Hauer went the distance with Connexion dropping the game by a 3-1 score. Bill was able to make the pitches when he needed and showed good command of all of his pitches. Bill Hauer struck out 2, walked 2 and only allowed four hits. Devon Cocuzza (Southern Regional HS 07 Grad) 2-3, Mike Pilot (Howell HS 08 Grad) 2-3, and was on base in all four AB's with a walk and Hit by a pitch, Bill Hauer (Souther Regional 07 Grad) was 2-3. All in all Connexion baseball had eights in the game but could not plate the runners when needed.
Toms River Blacksox won the Championship Game against the Berkshire Red Sox.
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Danny Merklinger (Seton Hall University)
Former LHP Danny Merklinger was selected #191 in the MLB draft on Friday June 7th. Congrats from all of the Alumni and current EXC players, coaches and GM's!
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Stats
ERA:
4.15
W-L:
1-0
SV:
1
SO:
37 |
Full Name: Daniel Merklinger
Born: 11/19/1985
Birthplace: South Orange, NJ
College: Seton Hall U
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 195
Bats: L
Throws: L
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2008 Fall Season in the ABCCL Super League!
Our sixth season in the ABCCL Super League will start August 24th. Over the past six season Connexion Baseball has seen 5 Alumni advance to Professional Baseball at some level.
Connexion Baseball is not one of the elite teams in New Jersey, more we are here for the guys who do not have a HS Fall team. If you are looking to go to college, improve your level of play, and stay local, we can help!
This years squad will be coached by current Pro Nick Riker (Texarkana Gunslingers) . Riker (RHP) played HS ball at Red Bank Catholic (Four Year Varisty), Brookdale College (Regional & JUCO World Series), Felician College ( CACC Tournament).


N.J. – Felician College senior Nick Riker of Highlands has been named the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week, the CACC announced today. Felician has won both such awards handed out this season.