Diamond Notes

After the COVID induced cancellation of the 2020 season, ACBL fans eagerly anticipate the opening of the 2021 season on June 7 when the Ocean Ospreys travel to Staten Island to play the New York Phenoms in a doubleheader.

Some of the players on current ACBL rosters who have achieved league honors this spring include RHP John Modugno (Indiana, North Jersey Eagles) who received Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors after posting a 3-1 record with a 2.09 ERA in 38.2 innings which included 40 strikeouts and a .208 opposing team average. Catcher Brian Skettini (Rider, North Jersey Eagles) was selected to the MAAC Baseball All-Rookie Team and infielder Joe Gorla (Lehigh, Quakertown Blazers) was named to the Patriot League second Team after hitting .322 with 34 RBI.

RHP Christian Aich (Pace, New York Phenoms) was a first team Northeast-10 Conference selection in addition to being named Southeast Division Rookie Pitcher of the Year. Aich posted a 5-0 record with a 2.28 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 47 innings with 48 strikeouts for the Pacesetters.

C/OF Sam Barletta (Chesnut Hill, Quakertown Blazers) was selected to the first team of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. He topped the CACC with 18 stolen bases and hit .387 with a .613 slugging average. DH Gregory DiGiaro (STAC, New York Phenoms) was named to the East Coast Conference Second Team.

Catcher Tim Haverstick (East Stroudsburg, Trenton Generals) and shortstop Gavin Troutman (Lock Haven, Trenton Capitals) were placed on the All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Second Team.

LHP Eli Atiya (Rowan, Trenton Generals) was named to the first team of the New Jersey Athletic Conference after posting a 1.73 ERA over 62 innings with 66 strikeouts. RHP Darmany Rivas (Wm. Paterson, North Jersey Eagles) and catcher Phil Marcantonio (Kean, New Brunswick Matrix) were selected to the NJAC conference second team.

Justin Fall (Brookdale CC, Arizona State, Ocean Gulls, 2018) improved his record to 6-1 as he tossed the first complete game for the Sun Devils in over two years. The 6-6, LHP allowed two earned runs with seven hits and five strikeouts as he finished strong.

Fall, a redshirt junior and ACBL Top Prospect in 2018, allowed all seven hits in the first four innings as he retired the final 14 batters in the ASU win over California 6-3 on Saturday.

Kyle Roche (F&M, Ocean Gulls, 2019) was named the Centennial Conference Pitcher of the Week on May 4. On Saturday the 6-8 junior RHP scattered three hits over seven innings as the Diplomats defeated Dickinson 2-1.

Roche finished the season with a 7-0 record that included a 1.00 ERA in 45 innings and 54 strikeouts with only seven walks.

Photos Courtesy of MLB.com

RHP Lou Trivino (Slippery Rock, Quakerown Blazers, 2011) and LHP Tim Mayza (Millersville, Quakertown Blazers,2011) have continued their spring training dominance of hitters as both closed out wins on Tuesday.

Trivino tossed a 12 pitch scoreless ninth inning to get the save as the Oakland A’s defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-5. In seven games over 8.2 innings Trivino has posted a 1.04 ERA and allowed only one hit with nine strikeouts. He has a WHIP of 0.69 and opponents are hitting .074.

Mayza tossed an eleven pitch scoreless ninth inning as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the New York Yankees 7-3. In five games over 3.1 innings Mayza has a 0.00 ERA with no walks and five strikeouts. Outfielder Josh Palacios (Auburn, Staten Island Tide) put the Blue Jays on the board with a two run single in the second inning and is currently hitting .385.