2018 Diamond Notes

Matt Festa Photo Courtesy of MiLB.com

RHP Matt Festa (East Stroudsburg, Staten Island Tide) has been named the Seattle Mariners Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

He spent the majority of the 2018 season with the Mariners AA affiliate, the Arkansas Travelers. He posted a league high 20 saves for the Travelers with 5-2 record and a 2.76 ERA in 49 innings. He was promoted to Seattle and posted a 2.16 ERA in 8.1 innings at the Major League level.

Matt Swarmer (Kutztown, Allentown Railers) was named Chicago Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year previously.

Lou Trivino, Heath Fillmyer and Tim Mayza Photos Courtesy of MLB.com

Lou Trivino (Slippery Rock, Quakertown Blazers) and Heath Fillmyer (Mercer CC, Trenton Generals) started their big league careers with good first seasons.

The 6-5 RHP Trivino pitched for the Oakland A’s in the AL Wild Card game and limited the New York Yankees to an infield hit and walk over three innings. He appeared in 69 games for the A’s during the regular season and posted an 8-3 record with four saves and 23 holds. He struck out 82 in 74 innings with a 2.92 ERA and 1.14 WHIP.

RHP Fillmyer joined the Kansas City Royals rotation after being recalled from Omaha in mid June. He posted a 4-2 record in thirteen starts with a 4.26 ERA in 82 innings.

LHP Tim Mayza (Millersville, Quakertown Blazers), a teammate of Trivino on the 2011 Blazers, was in his second year with the Toronto Blue Jays with rookie status and was not charged with an earned run in his last 17 appearances, mostly as a left-handed relief specialist. Mayza had a 2-0 record with a 3.28 ERA in 35.2 innings.

RHP Kyle McGowin (Savannah State, Sag Harbor 2011-12) became the sixth former ACBL pitcher to make a MLB debut in 2018 when he allowed one run, a solo home run by Yairo Munez, while pitching the sixth inning for the Washington Nationals against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Nationals lost 7-6 to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday evening. McGowin was recalled from Syracuse where he posted a 3-2 record with a 1.20 ERA and 0.66 WHIP in 52.2 innings.

RHP Cody Carroll (Southern Miss, Center Moriches, 2012) made his MLB debut on August 1 after being traded to the Baltimore Orioles from the New York Yankees one week earlier.

Carroll pitched a scoreless inning against the Yankees in his debut and made nine relief appearances for the Orioles. The 6-5 RHP posted a 4-0 record with a 2.72 ERA and nine saves for the Yankees' Scranton/Wilkes-Barre affiliate.

In other news rookie Lou Trivino (Slippery Rock, Quakertown Blazers, 2011) tossed a scoreless inning in the A’s 8-2 win over the Yankees.

Trivino lowered his ERA to 2.12 in 61 appearances. He has a 8-2 record with four saves and twenty holds for the resurgent A’s who have a MLB best 50-21 record since June 16.

Anthony Ferrante managed the Staten Island Tide last summer and this summer he is a coach with the Mid-Island Little League team which has advanced to the World Series in Williamsport.

On Sunday Mid-Island plays the Texas team from the Houston area at 11am on ESPN and the winner advances to Wednesday’s winner bracket final.

RHP Heath Fillmyer (Mercer County College, Trenton Generals) pitched seven shutout innings against the National League's best offense, the Chicago Cubs, as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Cubs on Wednesday night.

Fillmyer, a 5th round pick of the Oakland A's in the 2014 MLB draft, allowed only three hits with two walks and three strikeouts as he lowered his ERA to 3.13.

By Don Leypoldt | Printed in the August 9th Bucks County Herald

Tim Mayza Photo Courtesy of Toronto Blue Jays Organization
Lou Trivino Photo Courtesy of Oakland Athletics Organization

All roads to the Major Leagues are arduous. Tim Mayza's and Lou Trivino's roads are no different.

But the strikingly similar roads of the local Big Leaguers frequently intersected. Trivino's Pennridge team beat Mayza's Perkiomen post to win the 2010 Bux-Mont Legion title, en route to Post 255's advancement to Nationals.

"Obviously Lou had a special arm that has continued to progress," Mayza noted. "It seems like his velocity has taken off since college. What stuck out was the power stuff. He always had a hard breaking ball and a hard fastball. You could see that he had the stuff to do it, and he definitely had the work ethic as well."

Three years later, Mayza's shutout enabled Millersville to top Slippery Rock in Trivino's final collegiate start.

"Tim Mayza works as hard as anyone," Trivino stated. "He and I have a very similar story. We got drafted, we were struggling early on in our careers and then at almost the exact time, figured it out. I keep up with him and I wish him all of the best. He is a great guy."

In 2013, the Toronto Blue Jays called Mayza's number just 14 players after the Oakland Athletics conscripted Upper Bucks Christian's Trivino. This April 18th, both players pitched in the Majors.

Their careers never intersected more than as teammates for the 2011 Quakertown Blazers. Trivino won Quakertown's pitching triple crown; Upper Perkiomen's Mayza fanned 22 in 24 innings.

"I remember the group of guys who were there," Mayza recollected. "I remember creating a tight knit team and any time you stick a group of guys together for months at a time, you create some sort of friendship with them."

"My game is movement and 2011 was the year I figured out how to throw a two seam fastball," Trivino added. "It was great being able to play in front of my hometown. When I was a kid, I went to a few Blazers games. You look up to those guys and think hopefully I'll be there one day. My grandfather was able to see me play a lot."

"It's a pleasure to see Lou and Tim progress to the major leagues. Only 1 out of 20 who sign pro contracts make it to the Major League level," said ACBL president and Quakertown's Tom Bonekemper. "We, the ACBL, are certainly proud of Lou and Tim. It's an unbelievably long road from the Rookie leagues to the Major Leagues with low pay, poor living conditions and a lot of travel along the way."

Lefty Mayza credits "trust and confidence" in explaining his huge leap forward during his junior year at Millersville. "I hit some bumps in the road going up to Cape Cod and pitching against some of the premier college talent in the nation," Mayza feels. "Being able to learn, and the amount of confidence that I was able to come back with, contributed to the amount of success that I had that year.

"I had a lot more trust in my pitches: my fastball, change-up and breaking ball, and it took off," Mayza added. "I started trusting the things I was doing, the work I was putting in and not putting so much pressure on myself. I let my preparation take over."

After two subpar professional seasons, Mayza broke out in 2015 at Class A Lansing, and followed it up with a 2.25 ERA in 42 games across High-A and Double-A.

"Once I started having some success," Mayza remembered, "it snowballed and I was able to gain some traction. I saw a little bump in velocity but really what changed in those two years was my breaking ball: being able to develop a good put away pitch is something that had to be done for me to have success at the next level."

Mayza debuted on August 15, 2017, throwing a shutout inning in Toronto against Tampa Bay in front of parents, coaches and his fiancée.

Toronto recalled Mayza six different times this season; he has a 4.67 ERA in 16 Big League games. Mayza currently pitches at Triple-A Buffalo but a promotion could literally happen tomorrow.

"Once you make it, you want to stay," Mayza pointed out. "I think everybody's goal once they make it is to establish themselves and be that every day Big League player."

After debuting this April 17th, Trivino is an integral part of arguably baseball's best bullpen. The Oakland A's were 34-36 on June 15th. Through Tuesday, they were 67-46, and held the wild card lead.

Oakland has the fourth best ERA in baseball after six innings. Trivino owns a sparking 8-1 record with a 1.16 ERA.

"It all starts in the clubhouse. There is not one guy who is selfish here," Trivino noted. "We're all playing for each other. We all enjoy being around each other as well. That helps, because you want to see everyone succeed and we are succeeding.

"I'm thankful I'm having a good year but if my defense doesn't make certain plays, my ERA is through the roof," Trivino candidly admitted. "Early in my career, I did struggle. Hearing other stories from people coming from different organizations, the A's very easily could have given up on me. I'm thankful to be here and they were able to stick with me."

In just his 11th game, Trivino threw two shutout innings at Fenway Park to help beat the Boston Red Sox 5-3. The game marked the return of teammate Stephen Piscotty, who homered in his first at-bat after burying his mother, a victim of ALS.

"I couldn't imagine what it would be like," Trivino said. "It's just a tough situation and not only is he a great teammate, but he is a great, great guy. He handled it as best as anyone could. To get called upon and be able to come through in that situation, I was really very blessed."

Trivino threw 1.2 beautiful, shutout innings on July 21st, an extra inning A's win in front of the largest crowd in Oakland Coliseum history.

"You talk about playoff atmosphere?" Trivino asked. "The electricity was in the air. A bolt of adrenaline goes through you as you're pitching. It was a really awesome experience and hopefully an experience that we can have if we, Lord willing, keep winning games and make a playoff push."

Trivino still gets together with his Legion coach, Rocky Wright, each offseason. If Oakland continues to thrive, Wright and a number of area A's fans will gladly lose sleep to watch West Coast playoff games.

Today's first round doubleheader between the #1 Seed Allentown Railers and the #4 seed Quakertown Blazers at Memorial Park has been postponed due to wet grounds and the likelyhood of additional rain today.

The doubleheader has been moved to ECTB Stadium tomorrow at 3pm, weather permitting.

Game 3 of the #3 seed Jersey Pilots and the #2 seed North Jersey Pilots is also scheduled to be played tomorrow at Overpeck County Park beginning at 1pm. The series is tied at 1 game a piece.

By Matt Nelson | Ocean Gulls

Solid pitching and timely hitting came through for the Ocean Gulls. The birds swept the Quakertown Blazers 2-0, and 2-1, at the Antrim Elementary School on Saturday.

It marks the first time the Gulls have swept the Blazers in franchise history.

In the opener, Johnny Zega got the scoring started with an RBI double in the bottom of the third. Two batters later, a sacrifice fly by Conor Gammond sealed the deal for Ocean.

Justin Fall gave up three hits and two walks, while tying his season-high with eight strikeouts in four innings. The Beachwood, New Jersey native gave way to Nick Zuppe in the fifth, as he walked two batters while setting a season-high with six strikeouts.

Kevin Blum was responsible for producing both Gulls’ runs in the nightcap. The Toms River, New Jersey native hit an RBI double in the bottom of the second. Quakertown tied the game with a run in the top of the third, but Blum responded with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth.

Despite walking five batters, Michael Soldo didn’t allow a hit and struck out four batters in three innings of relief. The Brick, New Jersey native picked up his first win of the season.

The Gulls are scheduled to return to the Antrim Elementary School on Sunday, July 22, when they play host to the Jersey Pilots in a doubleheader. Game 1 is set for 12 P.M.

The Ocean Gulls, proud members of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League, play their home games at the Antrim Elementary School and Point Pleasant Borough High School in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ, and Wall Municipal Stadium in Wall, NJ. Follow the Gulls on Twitter @OceanGulls and visit them online at www.acbl-online.com.

By Matt Nelson | Ocean Gulls

The Ocean Gulls and Allentown Railers have been postponed due to inclement weather. The teams were supposed to play a doubleheader at ECTB Stadium.

A makeup date is TBD.

The Gulls are scheduled to return to action on Thursday, July 19, when they take on the Trenton Generals at Wall Municipal Stadium. The Gulls will be the away team. First pitch is set for 6:30P.M.

The Ocean Gulls, proud members of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League, play their home games at the Antrim Elementary School and Point Pleasant Borough High School in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ, and Wall Municipal Stadium in Wall, NJ. Follow the Gulls on Twitter @OceanGulls and visit them online at www.acbl-online.com.

Nick Snyder Photo Courtesy of BlueGoldNews.com

Nick Snyder (West Virginia) allowed no hits or runs over seven innings as the Trenton Generals defeated the North Jersey Eagles 1-0 in the second game of a doubleheader today.

The 6-7 LHP struck out eight and walked two while facing 23 batters. He threw 93 pitches with 60 strikes.

He tops the ACBL in strikeouts with 40 in 23 innings and recently struck out all four batters he faced in the NYCBL/ACBL All-Star showcase.

By Matt Nelson | Ocean Gulls

The Ocean Gulls fell to the Trenton Generals 4-3 in extras at Wall Municipal Stadium on Thursday. A two-out home run was the difference maker for Trenton in the top of the tenth.

The hosts drew first blood on a wild pitch by the Generals’ pitching staff in the bottom of the first. Two pitches later, Johnny Zega’s RBI groundout gave Ocean a 2-0 lead.

The Generals tied scored three runs in the top of the 4th to take a 3-2 lead. An RBI double by Kevin Blum tied the game in the bottom of the sixth.

The Gulls are scheduled to wrap up their three-game homestand on Saturday, July 14, when they play host to the Jersey Pilots in a doubleheader at the Antrim Elementary School. First pitch is set for 11:30 A.M.

The Ocean Gulls, proud members of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League, play their home games at the Antrim Elementary School and Point Pleasant Borough High School in PointPleasant Beach, NJ, and Wall Municipal Stadium in Wall, NJ. Follow the Gulls on Twitter@OceanGulls and visit them online at www.acbl-online.com.

The New York Collegiate All-Star team defeated the Atlantic Collegiate All-Star team 7-6 at Onondaga Community College on Monday evening.

Nick Snyder (West Virginia, Trenton Generals) was named ACBL Pitcher of the Game after striking out all four batters that he faced.

Tatem Levins (LaSalle, Trenton Generals) was selected ACBL Position Player of the game after going one-for-one with an RBI. Johnny Zega (Monmouth, Ocean Gulls) had two hits for the ACBL team.

Jacob Buser (Florida Tech, North Jersey Eagles) won the Home Run Derby.

By Matt Nelson | Ocean Gulls

The Ocean Gulls came back to the Jersey Shore looking for a little bit of magic after finishing their eight-game road trip with a 1-7 record.

They got that and more with a sweep over the North Jersey Eagles, 4-2, and 1-0 at the Antrim Elementary School on Saturday. It marks the first time the Gulls have swept an opponent at home and the first time since June 4, 2017, when they swept the Jersey Pilots.

Marc Chernin gave Ocean a 1-0 lead in the opener with an RBI groundout in the bottom of the second. The Eagles tied the game in the top of the third.

The Gulls took the lead and never looked back with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. A solo home run by William Johnson began the streak. Four batters later, an RBI groundout by Easton Brown gave Ocean a 3-1 lead. After a walk by Andrew Holmes, a bases-loaded walk by Conor Gammond made it 4-1.

North Jersey scored a run in the top of the sixth, but it was too little, too late.

The night cap featured a pitcher’s duel heading to the bottom of the seventh. Brown reached on a one-out walk and stole second. Johnny Zega reached on a base-on-balls to bring up Gammond.

The Spring Lake, New Jersey native hit a routine ground ball to the Eagles’ shortstop. He threw to second for the force out, but the second baseman’s relay throw soared over the first baseman’s head, and Brown scored to give the Gulls a walk-off fielder’s choice.

The Gulls are scheduled to embark on a three-game road trip on Sunday, July 8, as they take on the Quakertown Blazers in a doubleheader at Quakertown Memorial Park. First pitch is set for 1 P.M.

The Ocean Gulls, proud members of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League, play their home games at the Antrim Elementary School and Point Pleasant Borough High School in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ, and Wall Municipal Stadium in Wall, NJ. Follow the Gulls on Twitter @OceanGulls and visit them online at www.acbl-online.com.

By Matt Nelson | Ocean Gulls

A rally in the top of the ninth inning wasn’t enough for the Ocean Gulls as they fell to the Trenton Generals 4-3 at Wall Municipal Stadium on Thursday. The birds were the away team.

Justin Bates tied the game with an RBI single before the Generals scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth.

Bates gave Ocean a 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth. Trenton took the lead by scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Brian Markoski made it a 2-2 game with a sacrifice fly of his own in the top of the eighth. The Generals retook the lead in the bottom of the eighth.

Justin Fall surrendered one hit and struck out eight batters in three innings.

The Gulls are scheduled to return home on Saturday, July 7, when they take on the North Jersey Eagles in a doubleheader at Antrim Elementary School. First pitch is set for 11:30 A.M.

The Ocean Gulls, proud members of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League, play their home games at the Antrim Elementary School and Point Pleasant Borough High School in PointPleasant Beach, NJ, and Wall Municipal Stadium in Wall, NJ. Follow the Gulls on Twitter@OceanGulls and visit them online at www.acbl-online.com.

By Matt Nelson | Ocean Gulls

Despite a pair of come-from-behind efforts, the Ocean Gulls were swept by the Allentown Railers, 7-4, and 3-2 on Sunday at ECTB Stadium.

A two-out solo home run by Conor Gammond gave Ocean a 1-0 lead in the top of the first of the opener. A two-run shot by the Railers made it a 2-1 game in the bottom of the first.

Allentown scored a run in the bottom of the second and three runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a commanding 6-1 lead.

The Gulls got a run back thanks to an RBI fielder’s choice by Steve Santigate in the top of the fifth. A run in the bottom of the frame by the Railers made it a 7-2 contest.

Ocean’s comeback began with one out in the top of the seventh. A two-run blast by Santigate cut the deficit to three. After back-to-back singles by James Donlan and Kevin Blum, Andrew Holmes struck out and Easton Brown grounded out to first to end the ballgame.

The Gulls scored the nightcap’s first run of the game on an RBI single by Ben Montenegro in the top of the second.

Allentown tied the game on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth. They would take the lead for good with two runs in the bottom of the fifth.

A wild pitch by the Railers’ starting pitcher made it a one-run game in the top of the sixth before the Gulls nearly tied the game the very next inning.

Blum led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Allentown’s relief pitcher. Montengero drew a walk before the Railers made a call to the bullpen. A double-steal put Montenegro and Blum on second and third before Justin Bates struck out and Brown flied out to put two outs on the board.

Thomas Holdorf drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases, but Craig Larsen flied out to end the game.

Donlan, Gammond, and Santigate combined to go 6-9 with a double, two home runs, four RBIs, and four runs, including a season-high three RBIs by Santigate.

The Gulls are scheduled to return to the diamond on Thursday, July 5, as they take on the Trenton Generals at Wall Municipal Stadium. The Gulls will be the away team. First pitch is set for 6:30 P.M.

The Ocean Gulls, proud members of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League, play their home games at the Antrim Elementary School and Point Pleasant Borough High School in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ, and Wall Municipal Stadium in Wall, NJ. Follow the Gulls on Twitter @OceanGulls and visit them online at www.acbl-online.com.

By Matt Nelson | Ocean Gulls

Thursday’s game between the Ocean Gulls and Trenton Generals has been postponed due to unplayable field conditions.

The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Thursday, July 26 at 5 P.M. at Wall Municipal Stadium.

The Gulls are scheduled to return to action on Saturday, June 30, as they take on the Jersey Pilots on the campus of Drew University in a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 P.M.

The Ocean Gulls, proud members of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League, play their home games at the Antrim Elementary School and Point Pleasant Borough High School in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ, and Wall Municipal Stadium in Wall, NJ. Follow the Gulls on Twitter @OceanGulls and visit them online at www.acbl-online.com.

By Matt Nelson | Ocean Gulls

The Ocean Gulls were swept by the Quakertown Blazers, 11-6, and 10-0, at Quakertown Memorial Park on Sunday.

The Blazers took a 1-0 lead on an RBI single in the bottom of the first before the Gulls scored four times in the top of the third in the opener.

Following a double by Thomas Holdorf, a single by Johnny Zega, and a base-on-balls by Marc Chernin, James Donlan drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game. Kendall Pierson’s RBI single and Kevin Blum’s two-run single gave Ocean a 4-1 lead.

Quakertown retook the lead for good with five runs in the bottom of the inning. The Gulls got a run back courtesy of Zega’s RBI single in the top of the fourth.

A run in the bottom of the fourth and four runs in the bottom of the fifth sealed the deal for the Blazers. William Johnson’s RBI groundout in the top of the sixth wasn’t enough to start a rally.

In the nightcap, the Blazers scored once in the bottom of the second before adding six runs in the bottom of the third. They added a run in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

The Gulls are scheduled to head to Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, to take on the North Jersey Eagles on Tuesday, June 26, at Overpeck County Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 P.M.

The Ocean Gulls, proud members of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League, play their home games at the Antrim Elementary School and Point Pleasant Borough High School in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ, and Wall Municipal Stadium in Wall, NJ. Follow the Gulls on Twitter @OceanGulls and visit them online at www.acbl-online.com.

By Matt Nelson | Ocean Gulls

The Ocean Gulls picked up their second win of the 2018 campaign, with their largest margin of victory, 9-2, over the Trenton Generals at Wall Municipal Stadium Thursday night.

The Gulls, who are usually the home team when playing at Wall, were the away team.

Ocean scored the game's first run in the top of the first on an RBI groundout by Brian Markoski. Two innings later, William Johnson drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 2-0.

Thomas Holdorf scored on a wild pitch by Trenton’s relief pitcher before Markoski picked up his second RBI of the game with an RBI groundout to give the Gulls a 4-0 lead in the top of the sixth.

The Generals got a run back in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run to cut the deficit to 4-1. It was Trenton’s first hit of the game. Two innings later, the Gulls blew the game wide open.

Marc Chernin was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The ensuing batter, Kevin Blum reached on an infield error to score the Craig Larsen from third. Back-to-back RBI singles by Johnson and Ben Montenegro gave Ocean an 8-2 lead. An RBI groundout by Justin Bates gave the Gulls a 9-2 advantage.

Another home run by the Generals in the bottom of the eighth wasn’t enough to begin a rally.

Michael Saldo didn’t allow a hit while walking three batters and striking out eight in four innings pitched.

The Gulls are scheduled to return to action on Saturday, Jun 23, as they take on the North Jersey Eagles in a doubleheader at the Antrim Elementary School. First pitch is set for 11:30 A.M.

The Ocean Gulls, proud members of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League, play their home games at the Antrim Elementary School and Point Pleasant Borough High School in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ, and Wall Municipal Stadium in Wall, NJ. Follow the Gulls on Twitter @OceanGulls and visit them online at www.acbl-online.com.

Heath Fillmyer Photo Courtesy of MLB.com

RHP Heath Fillmyer (Mercer County College, Trenton Generals, 2013) will be the second former ACBL player to make a Major League debut this year after being recalled by the Kansas City Royals.

Fillmyer was a 5th round selection of the Oakland A’s in the 2014 MLB Draft. Fillmyer started 13 games at AAA Omaha with a 4-5 record and 5.75 ERA in 67 innings this year after being traded to the Royals.

Lou Trivino (Slippery Rock, Quakertown Blazers, 2011) made his MLB debut in April and has a 1.69 ERA in 23 relief appearances for the A’s. He has a 3-1 record with one save and eight holds.

By Matt Nelson | Ocean Gulls

The Ocean Gulls were swept by the three-time defending Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League champion Allentown Railers by final scores of 5-2 and 3-2 on Saturday afternoon at the Antrim Elementary School.

Allentown scored a run in the top of the fourth and two runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 3-0 lead heading to the bottom of the fifth. Andrew Holmes reached on an infield error and advanced to second to lead off the frame. Two batters later, Ben Montenegro’s RBI single put the Gulls on the board. After Johnny Zega drew a five-pitch walk, Kendall Pierson scored on a double-steal attempt to make it a 3-2 contest, while Zega was caught stealing.

The Railers added a couple of insurance runs in the top of the seventh to preserve the Game 1 victory.

Dylan Taliafero held the Railers to no runs on no hits, while walking one batter and striking out four in the first three innings.

Allentown scored two runs in the top of the first and one run in the top of the second to begin the nightcap. Ocean’s offense came alive in the bottom of the fifth.

After three consecutive walks by James Donlan, William Johnson and Andrew Holmes, a wild pitch by the Railers’ starting pitcher, and a fielder’s choice by Steve Santigate, Thomas Holdorf drove home the Gulls’ first run of the game with an RBI single. A bases-loaded walk by Craig Larsen cut the deficit to 3-2, but it was all the Gulls could muster.

Ocean’s bullpen held the Railers to no runs on two hits, three walks and four strikeouts in the final five innings.

The Gulls are scheduled to play the Trenton Generals on Thursday, June 21 at Wall Municipal Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:30 P.M. and the Gulls will play as the away team.

The Ocean Gulls, proud members of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League, play their home games at the Antrm Elementary School and Point Pleasant Borough High School in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ and Wall Municipal Stadium in Wall, NJ. Follow the Gulls on Twitter @OceanGulls and visit them online at www.acbl-online.com.

RHP Matt Leon (Seton Hall, Lehigh Valley Catz, 2015) has signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Angels.

Leon was an ACBL All-Star in 2015 after he made the Seton Hall team as a freshman walk-on. This year he was an unanimous selection for the All-Big East first team after breaking the Pirates’ single season record with 12 saves while posting a team low 1.17 ERA in 30.2 innings.

Leon will be the sixth former ACBL pitcher to either sign as a free agent or be selected in the recent 2018 MLB Draft.

Former ACBL pitchers selected in the recent draft:

LHP Joe Baran (Lackawanna, Allentown Railers), Seattle Mariners, Round 22
RHP Gabe Mosser (Shippensburg, Allentown Railers), San Diego Padres, Round 27
LHP Joe Jacques (Manhattan, Trenton Generals), Pittsburgh Pirates, Round 33
RHP Cory Heitler (Ramapo, North Jersey Eagles), Cincinnati Reds, Round 34
RHP Andrew Ciolli (Mercyhurst, Jersey Pilots), Baltimore Orioles, Round 37

Paul Balestrieri Photo Courtesy of Allison Rhoades | Peoria Chiefs

RHP Paul Balestrieri (Cornell, Trenton Generals, 2014) tossed a no-hitter for the Peoria Chiefs as they defeated Kane County 8-0 on Thursday. He only allowed one baserunner on a first inning error.

Balestrieri was a 26th round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2017 MLB draft and Peoria is the Cardinals A level affiliate in the Midwest League.

Will Latchem (Coastal Carolina, Allentown Railers, 2015) was also drafted by the Cardinals in the 2017 MLB Draft as a 17th rounder. He currently leads the Florida State League in games finished with 17 and also has eight saves which places him a save below the league leader.

He is pitching for the Palm Beach Cardinals, the advanced A affiliate of the Cardinals.

By Matt Nelson | Ocean Gulls

The Gulls will have to wait another day to begin the 2018 season as their doubleheader with the Allentown Railers on Saturday has been postponed due to the threat of inclement weather.

The games will be made up at a date TBD.

The Gulls will hit the road on Sunday, June 3, to take on the Jersey Pilots at Drew University in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 P.M.

The Ocean Gulls, proud members of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League, play their home games at Point Pleasant High School (Antrim School) in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ and Wall Sports Complex in Wall, NJ. Follow the Gulls on Twitter @OceanGulls and visit them online at www.acbl-online.com.

Lou Trivino (Slippery Rock, Quakertown Blazers, 2011) began his MLB career with a hectic, but enjoyable 24 hours in Oakland.

Trivino learned of his promotion at a Des Moines, Iowa pizza restaurant late Monday night. On Tuesday evening he made his MLB debut with a scoreless ninth inning as the Oakland A’s defeated the Chicago White Sox 10-2.

On Wednesday afternoon the A’s and White Sox were involved in a 14 inning marathon affair. Trivino tossed three scoreless innings, the 12th, 13th and 14th. Matt Olsen’s walk-off single in the bottom of the 14th gave the A’s a 12-11 victory and Trivino picked up his first MLB win.

Tim Mayza (Millersville, Quakertown Blazers, 2011) recorded a scoreless ninth inning on Wednesday evening as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Kansas City Royals 15-5.

Nick Tropeano Photo Courtesy of Jamie Squire/Getty Images

RHP Nick Tropeano (Stony Brook, Riverhead) made his first MLB start since July 18, 2016 a big one as he tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings in a 7-1 Los Angeles Angels win over the Kansas City Royals.

The former ACBL All-Star struck out six with two walks and threw 88 pitches. Tropeano underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2016.

The Angels are off to their best start since 1979 with five straight wins and a 11-3 record.

Twenty former ACBL players are reporting to Major League spring training sites this week in preparation for the 2018 season. The following list includes players on the 40-man roster and non-roster invitees (NRI).

Angels, Nick Tropeano, RHP
A’s, Lou Trivino, RHP
Blue Jays, Tim Mayza, LHP
Diamondbacks, Zack Godley, RHP
Diamondbacks, Nick Ahmed,SS
Marlins, Chris O’Grady, LHP
Mariners, NRI, Matt Festa, RHP
Mariners, NRI, Casey Lawrence,RHP
Orioles, Donnie Hart, LHP
Padres, NRI, Kyle Lloyd, RHP
Reds, Stuart Turner,C
Rockies, Jordan Patterson,1B
Royals, Heath Fillmyer,RHP
Royals, Kevin McCarthy, RHP
Royals, NRI, Frank Schwindel, 1B
Royals, NRI, Nick Dini, C
Twins, Zack Granite, OF
Twins, Aaron Slegers, RHP
White Sox, NRI, Seby Zavala, C
Yankees, NRI, Cody Carroll, RHP