Tag Archives: USPBL

Independent Ball

USPBL Unveils (Pre)Historic Fourth Team

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Indy Ball Island has been a proud supporter of the United Shore Professional Baseball League since their inception. After an amazing first season, the league has announced that there will now be a fourth team playing at Jimmy John’s Field for the 2017 season.

Rochester, Mich. – January 4, 2017 – The United Shore Professional Baseball League (USPBL), metro-Detroit’s first independent professional baseball league, founded by Rochester, MI- based General Sports and Entertainment, today announced the name of the league’s highly anticipated fourth team – the Westside Woolly Mammoths. Core team colors are dark and light blue with red accents.  Alternate uniforms will also bring in orange and animal print designs that harken back to “The Flintstones” – all independent league unique and trendsetting.

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“There have been numerous Mastodons found in Michigan over the last 100 years, and I always thought “Mastodons” had great potential as a sports team name. “Woolly Mammoth” was better, although one had not been discovered here,” said Andy Appleby, USPBL founder and commissioner. “Then, in 2015, a mammoth, complete with huge tusks, was unearthed on a farm in Chelsea, Michigan and our inspiration was complete. In addition to being distinctive, the “Woolly Mammoths” name also allows for a whole host of fun marketing and merchandising opportunities. We are absolutely thrilled with the results.”

The Westside Woolly Mammoths will play the 2017 season at the state-of-the-art Jimmy John’s Field in Utica, MI along with the USPBL’s three original teams – the Utica Unicorns, the Eastside Diamond Hoppers, and the Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers.  Shane McCatty, who served as Assistant Manager of the league champion Utica Unicorns in 2016, will manage the Westside Woolly Mammoths.  The USPBL’s 2017 Season begins on May 11, 2017 and runs through September 10, 2017, with games being played every Thursday through Sunday – perfect for families.

The USPBL was designed as a developmental finishing school for players seeking to make it to the Majors, and the 2016 season was an unqualified success, as 9 USPBL players were picked up by Major League organizations during the league’s first year of operation.  Tens of thousands of fans attending games at Jimmy John’s Field during the league’s inaugural season witnessed exceptional professional baseball, as they experienced a first-class ballpark, high-level of customer service, and affordable pricing that made it easy for an outstanding family night out. The USPBL also became an important new community asset, with more than 500 charities leveraging the USPBL and Jimmy John’s Field for various fundraising endeavors in 2016.

About United Shore Professional Baseball League 

Rochester, MI-based General Sports and Entertainment founded the United Shore Professional Baseball League (USPBL), an independent professional baseball league, in Metro Detroit in 2015. The league plays in the new, state-of-the-art $16 million ballpark named Jimmy John’s Field located in downtown Utica, Mich.  The first of its kind for the region, the USPBL provides a fun and exciting family atmosphere while showcasing top baseball talent to fans of all ages. The inaugural season of the USPBL, which began on Memorial Day 2016, featured three teams—the Utica Unicorns, the Eastside Diamond Hoppers and the Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers. The 2017 USPBL season will feature four teams with the addition of the Westside Woolly Mammoths, and the season will begin on May 11, 2017 and run through September 10, 2017.  Additional teams and ballparks will be added in future years.

2017 Tryout Information for the USPBL is also listed on our TRYOUTS page.

Independent Ball

United Shore League Sends Fifth Player to Affiliated Ball

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With all the negative news surrounding the start-up Empire League, it’s nice to see a new league that is thriving.

The United Shore Professional Baseball League (USPBL) has announced that they have had their fifth player signed to a major league organization.  The USPBL, which has had sold-out crowds all season long at Jimmy John’s field, is proving to be a great stepping stone for young players looking to get into affiliated baseball.

UNITED SHORE PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE SENDS FIFTH PLAYER THIS SEASON TO A MAJOR LEAGUE ORGANIZATION 
Eastside Diamond Hoppers First Baseman Dalton DiNatale signed by Los Angeles Dodgers  
 
ROCHESTER, Mich. July 24, 2016—The United Shore Professional Baseball League (USPBL) today announced that Dalton DiNatale, a first baseman for the Eastside Diamond Hoppers, has been signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He will report immediately to the Dodgers organization.
The signing marks the fifth time in the 2016 season that a USPBL player has been signed by a Major League Baseball organization.  Earlier this year, Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers pitcher Ross Vance was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals while Beavers infielder Aaron Bossi was signed by the New York Yankees, and Eastside Diamond Hoppers pitcher Chris McDonald and Utica Unicorns pitcher Evan Piechota were both signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.
Dalton DiNatale played college baseball at Arizona State University, and he was drafted in 2015 but released after 1 year in the minors.  The 6’4” left-handed hitting first baseman was snapped up by the USPBL earlier this year, and DiNatale worked extensively on his hitting during his time with the USPBL this season.
“I knew that I needed to make great strides with my swing to get another shot at affiliated baseball. The USPBL offered a great hitting program with top notch instructors so it was a natural fit. Forcehitting.com, the USPBL hitting program, really helped me understand my swing. I also was playing for managers in Jim Essian and Paul Noce with MLB experience, so it was the perfect combination to help me get back to the MiLB. I just want to give it my best shot, and the good Lord willing, things will work out,” said DiNatale when he received news that he was being signed by the Dodgers.
“Whether it’s a college kid passed over or an exceptional young man like Dalton who needs just a little bit of help, that’s our goal. We are a finishing school for these young men and we take great pride in making every player better,” said Andy Appleby, Commissioner and Founder of the USPBL.
 
About United Shore Professional Baseball League
Rochester Hills, MI-based General Sports and Entertainment founded the United Shore Professional Baseball League (USPBL), an independent professional baseball league, in Metro Detroit in 2015.  The league plays in the brand new, state-of-the-art $15 million ballpark named Jimmy John’s Field located in downtown Utica, Mich.  First of its kind for the region, the USPBL provides a fun and exciting family atmosphere while showcasing top baseball talent to fans of all ages. The inaugural season, which began on Memorial Day 2016, features three teams—the Utica Unicorns, the Eastside Diamond Hoppers and the Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers. Additional teams and ballparks will be added in future years.
Here’s a look at how the other four players are doing after signing:
  • Ross Vance (Johnson City Cardinals – Rookie) 7 games, 8.1 IP, 12 K, 4.32 ERA
  • Aaron Bossi (GCL Yankees East – Rookie) 11 games, 23 AB, .304 avg
  • Chris McDonald (GCL Pirates – Rookie) 4 games, 10.1 IP, 2-1 record, 6.10 ERA
  • Evan Piechota (GCL Pirates – Rookie) 3 games, 4.2 IP, 1-0 record, 0.00 ERA

(All stats courtesy of MiLB.com)