With the loss of Lee Post for the 2008 season, the questions lingers: Where will the remaining Lee players play this summer, if at all?
I talked to Joe Melioris Sr. this afternoon and he confirmed the rumor that his son, Joe, will try out for Smith Post. Melioris, a 6-foot-10 pitcher, is signed with Division 1 Stony Brook University and will join the Seawolves in the fall. His addition would make the Smith pitching rotation downright scary. This would give them three legitimate No. 1 guys in Melioris and RFA seniors Garrett Baker and Kyle Richardson. And we all know how very IMPORTANT pitching is when it comes time for the double-elimination format of county and district playoffs.
Baker told me today that he will return to Smith after taking last summer off to gain exposure and play with a traveling showcase team in Georgia. His plan worked as the 6-foot-5 lefty is all set to enroll at Western Carolina University in the fall. Richardson, the 2006 Oneida County Player of the Year, also returns. The crafty righty went 7-2 with two saves and a 3.21 ERA last summer. In his two seasons with Smith, Richardson has gone 14-3 with a 2.96 ERA and recorded 100 strikeouts and just 23 walks in 111 innings. I experienced Richardson's ability firsthand in 2006 when, as a rookie, he went up against and beat my New Hartford Post team (the eventual state champion) in the county playoffs. That night, he outpitched NH veteran George Jweid who was coming off a record-setting 8-0 rookie season at Division III power Cortland State. The kid isn't too shabby at the plate either - with a career batting average of .420.
But at this point, it appears that it's not a done deal. Smith manager Tony Abone Sr. said that tryouts for his team will not take place until after the RFA season concludes, adding that no one from Lee has been selected at this point. Joe Melioris Sr. also emphasized that his son is not guaranteed a spot on the team.
What do you guys think? I'd like to hear your thoughts. If Melioris does indeed join Smith Post, does it make them the team to beat?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Smith Post is definately the team to beat. Good luck to all teams this year.
The team to beat on paper. Abone does a great job though of making that team a team to beat on the field too. If Melioris is on Smith this year that makes the pitching depth on Smith unreal. Melioris would probably become a pitcher only as Smith as amazing talent in the field already. It definitely looks like it could be a fun year for the boys in Rome this year.
Mr.Donovan,
I would like your opinion on the upcoming College World Series tournament. I believe Florida State will make it to the finals and the University of Miami will fall in the first round. This will be due to superior pitching and hitting by the Florida State Seminoles. Do you concurr?
Uncle Junior
Post a Comment