The Saratoga Phillies were a summer collegiate baseball team in Saratoga Springs, New York

Saratoga Springs, New York

Saratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...

. They played in the New York Collegiate Baseball League

New York Collegiate Baseball League

The New York Collegiate Baseball League is a 12-team collegiate summer baseball league founded in 1978 and sanctioned by the NACSB and Major League Baseball. Each NYCBL team plays an eight-week, 44-game schedule from June to July with a playoff in early August...

, which is partially sponsored by the NCAA

National Collegiate Athletic Association

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...

 and Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...

, and has been in existence since 1978. It was announced that the Phillies would relocate to Oneonta, New York

Oneonta, New York

Oneonta is a city in southern Otsego County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, had a population of 13,901. Its nickname is "City of the Hills." While the word "oneonta" is of undetermined origin, it is popularly believed to mean "place of open rocks" in the Iroquois language...

 starting in the 2010 season.

History and Background

The Saratoga Phillies were started in 2004 by co-owners Keith Rogers and Dan Scaring. A not-for-profit organization, the Phillies are a registered New York State Charity Organization. Phillies’ players are provided housing, employment and transportation during the 42-game season. The Phillies are financed through corporate sponsorships and private donations, and are the only team in the NYCBL that does not charge admission to their home games.

Location

The Phillies play at East Side Recreation Field. The field also accommodates other local teams as well as the American Legion team, the Saratoga Stampede.

League Champions

The Phillies won their only league championship in 2006. The team posted a 32-14 record and swept their way through the playoffs, defeating the Amsterdam Mohawks and the Little Falls Diamond Miners to clinch the East Division. They then went on to defeat the Allegany County Nitros from the West division to gain the title.

Fielders

• Darin Mastroianni
• Chris Dove
• John Scaglione
• Donnie Webb
• Jojo Tann
• Justin Bunkis
• C.J. Wamsley
• John Nicolla
• Chance Smith
• Matt O’Rourke
• Tyler Zeronda
• Cam Brown
• Brandon Hathaway
• Robbie Whitman

Pitchers

• Lou Bernardini
• Chris Dove
• Cory Kuzmik
• Jason Downey
• Trevor Smith
• Joe Zongol
• Jon Spier
• Ezequiel Ruvalcaba
• Andrew Carraway
• Shea Ross
• Joe White
• Rorey Mckean
• Griff Occhigrossi
• Dan Stone

Awards/Notable Events

Mike Fiers was named NYCBL pitcher of the year in 2007. Fiers finished the regular season 5-1 with a 1.99 earned run average in 54 innings pitched. In eight appearances, Fiers allowed 13 runs (12 earned) on 30 hits, walked 12 and struck out a league-high 68 batters. He held opposing hitters in the Eastern Division to a .158 batting average and yielded just six extra-base hits. He pitched a complete game no-hitter against the Amsterdam Mohawks on June 22, 2007. Fiers allowed four base runners – one by walk, two hit batsmen and one on an error. From the start of the fourth through the end of the eighth, Fiers retired 15 straight batters, nine of them on strikeouts. He totaled 16 strikeouts over the nine-inning game.

During the 2007 season The Phillies hosted an exhibition game against the Russian Olympic Team. The Phillies went on to win the game 10-4, and drew one of the biggest crowds the organization has ever witnessed.

Drafted Phillies

Year	Name	College	Drafted by	Round
2004	Dan Griffin	Niagara Niagara University Niagara University is a Catholic university in the Vincentian tradition, located in the Town of Lewiston in Niagara County, New York. Originally founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1856 as Our Lady of Angels Seminary, it became Niagara University in 1883. The University is still run by...	San Francisco Giants San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....	5th
2004	Casper Wells	Towson	Detroit Tigers Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...	14th
2004	Jed Stephen	Ohio State Ohio State University The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...	Baltimore Orioles Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...	8th
2004	Jeff Stallings	NC State	San Francisco Giants	18th
2004	Cody Merill	Texas St.–San Marcos Texas State University–San Marcos Texas State University–San Marcos is a doctoral-granting university located in San Marcos, Texas...	Arizona Diamondbacks Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
2004	Caleb Mangum	NC State North Carolina State University North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...	Philadelphia Phillies Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...	24th
2006	Darin Mastroianni	Southern Indiana University of Southern Indiana The University of Southern Indiana is a public university in Vanderburgh County, Indiana. This publicly funded institution has been among the fastest growingcomprehensive state universities in Indiana. Record fall enrollment in 2010 reached 10,702...	Toronto Blue Jays Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....	16th -

2009 Andrew Carraway University of Virginia
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2009 J.D Martinez Nova Southeastern
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2009 Mike Fiers Nova Southeastern
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2009 Miles Mikolas Nova Southeastern

For more information check out www.MLB.com

External links

• Saratoga Phillies official website
• Saratoga Phillies page at NYCBL.com