Tag Archives: independent baseball

Independent Ball

Alternative Baseball, Pro Players Team Up For All-Star Game

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The Alternative Baseball Organization (ABO) is teaming up with professional baseball players to create a one of a kind All-Star game in Georgia this November.

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According to the ABO website:

The Alternative Baseball Organization was founded in 2016 by Taylor Duncan, a 20-year old softball coach/player and hardcore baseball enthusiast who himself is on the autism spectrum. Duncan founded the Alternative Baseball Organization to provide an outlet with many different purposes and goals for teens and adults with “disadvantages”… After all, to him, a difficulty, a disorder, is not a disability, it is simply a disadvantage. The purpose of this free-to-join program is to provide a social outlet, as well as to give them a place to compete for fun, and for them to improve their baseball/softball skills. In short, the program has the mindset of an endless pursuit to not only take on new challenges, but to break social and physical barriers.

As their second season is getting underway, Duncan is working hard to put together the very first ABO All-Star game that will feature both players from the ABO program (the Atlanta Revolution) as well as professional baseball players including many names from independent baseball.

Some players that have already signed on to play are: Brian Barton (former MLB player with the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves), Craig Maddox (New Britain Bees, former MiLB Braves, Gary SouthShore Railcats), Tim Battle (former New York Yankees prospect and independent player), Phill Bates (Joliet Slammers), Josh Wright (River City Rascals), and Bryan Hoover (The 38 Year-Old Rookie, Sioux City Explorers) with many more players to be added! For a complete list, check out the updated roster HERE.

Any player who is interested in participating, please contact Taylor Duncan at the phone number listed on the flyer posted above!

Independent Ball

2016 Arizona Winter League Player Updates

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Earlier this season, we took a look at how players from the California Winter League were doing during the regular season.

Now, we have updates provided by the Arizona Winter League on their players as well.

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Drafted out of AWL:

Chris Allen – Signed by the Lake Erie Crushers, played with the Old Orchard Beach Surge (Empire), Empire League All Star Selection, Empire League Home Run Derby Champion, currently with the East Side Diamond Hoppers (USPBL)

Manny Arciniega –  Signed by the Gary Southshore Railcats (AA), played 11 games with a 4.67 ERA in 17.1 innings. Now with the Lake Erie Crushers (Frontier), 11 games with a 3.55 ERA in 25.1 innings.

Shawn Blackwell – Signed by the Sioux Falls Canaries (AA), currently on the roster with 25 appearances and a 7.18 ERA in 89 innings

Gus Constantino – Signed with the Eastside Diamond Hoppers (USPBL), released

Jordan Etier – Signed by the Lake Erie Crushers, did not make the team out of spring training

Frank Fantino – Signed with the Vallejo Admirals (Pacific), currently with the White Sands Pupfish (Pecos)

Boone Farrington – Signed with the Schaumburg Boomers (Frontier), did not make team out of spring training

Josh Ferrell – Signed by the Sioux Falls Canaries (AA), currently on the roster with 36 appearances and a 4.05 ERA in 53.1 innings

Sam Forkert – Signed by the Sioux Falls Canaries (AA), didn’t make the team out of spring training

Eric Gutierrez – Signed with the Eastside Diamond Hoppers (USPBL), released

Jesse Holiday – Signed by the Lake Erie Crushers, played with the Sonoma Stompers (Pacific), released on 7/26/16

Trevor Keele – Signed with the Eastside Diamond Hoppers (USPBL), released

Todd Looney – drafted by the Eastside Diamond Hoppers (USPBL), currently playing with the San Diego Force

Joshua Martinez – Signed by the Florence Freedom (Frontier), played with the Old Orchard Beach Surge (Empire), Empire League All Star Selection

Aaron Owen – Signed by the Sioux Falls Canaries (AA), currently on the roster with 146 ABs, .205 BA, 2 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HRs, 12 RBI, and 8 SBs

Chris Power – Signed by the Normal Cornbelters (Frontier), currently with the East Side Diamond Hoppers (USPBL), 29 games, 107 ABs, .346 BA

Bobby Romano – Signed by the Normal Cornbelters on 4/5/16, released on 5/9/16

Marc Rutledge – Signed by the Ottawa Champions (Can-Am), currently with the Joliet Slammers (Frontier), 26 appearances with a 6.07 ERA in 46 innings

Robert Shiroky – Signed by the Normal Cornbelters (Frontier), retired from baseball

Michael Skoller – Signed by the Normal Cornbelters (Frontier), played in 29 games with 91 ABs, hitting .209, released on 7/22/16, currently with the East Side Diamond Hoppers (USPBL)

Colin Willis – Signed by the Lake Erie Crushers, played in 15 games with the East Side Diamond Hoppers (USPBL), on roster as of 8/16

James Wong – Signed with the Eastside Diamond Hoppers (USPBL), played with the Old Orchard Beach Surge (Empire)

Randy Wynne – Signed by the Lake Erie Crushers, currently with the Birmingham Beavers (USPBL), 4-3 with a 3.63 ERA through 47 innings

 

Undrafted out of AWL, but were later signed:

Benny Collesano – played with the Old Orchard Beach Surge (Empire)

Shaun Cooper – played with the Old Orchard Beach Surge (Empire), Empire League All Star Selection, currently with the Florence Freedom (Frontier)

Jacob Fabry – played with the Old Orchard Beach Surge (Empire), Empire League All Star Selection

Cody Frank – played with the Old Orchard Beach Surge (Empire)

RJ Fuhr – played with the London Majors (Intercounty Baseball League)

Todd Leavitt – played with the London Majors (Intercounty Baseball League)

Evander Ledward – played with the Sullivan Explorers (Empire), selected to Empire League Travel Team

Ryo Sanogawa – played with the New Hampshire Wild (Empire)

(All information courtesy of the Arizona Winter League)