Vipers Crowned Buckeye Classic Champions

Locals Win Four Games in One Day for Title

Vipers Set to Open Fourth Season

New Faces, New League and New Look

Tallmadge, Ohio

     The Tallmadge Vipers franchise begins its fourth season with high expectations.  Last season Tallmadge finished 21-7 as a 15U organization and were crowned champions of the 16U JV National division of the Stark Summit Baseball League.  It marked the third straight time the Vipers compiled a 20 win season.  The Vipers were 26-14 as 13U's and finished 24-7 in the summer of 2008.  The Circle City Boys have claimed four tournament titles in three seasons.  Seven players begin their fourth year on the team.

     The program has always looked for the best competiton and last year competed up an age level in the SSBL.  This season is no different for the 16U Vipers as they will play in the 18U division of the GABF during the summer regular season.  "We are trying to develop kids during the summer so they are better players when they return to their high school teams and part of that process is having them play against good competition," said General Manager Joe Wagner.  "These guys play a minimum of thirty games a summer and that's another whole season of experience they can pick up.  It doesn't do them any good to win thirty games and not get any better as a player.  Good competition will make them better."

     The Vipers will sport a new look uniform falling in step with two other Viper teams at 18U and 17U.  "We are trying to bring all the Viper teams under one umbrella.  Randy Keen brought a group through from age thirteen and we are trying to keep a nice tradition going," explained Wagner.  "The Vipers have a pretty good reputation for playing outstanding baseball."

     This years 16U squad has added four new players to the roster.  Sal Faetanini was a starter at Akron SVSM high school and was named the "Rookie of the Year" in his conference this past season.  Ben Habig is out of the Suburban League where he played for the Wadsworth Grizzlies.  Bryce Miller also has his roots in the SL after earning a letter on varsity for the Green Bulldogs.  Nate Williams joins the Vipers from Stow high school where he played as an outfielder and infielder for the Bulldogs.

     Tallmadge gets their season underway with a couple of league games and then opens tournament play June 4th.