In
a league that has been dominated in recent years by pitching and the Kutztown
Rockies, it was fitting that Kutztown lefthander Darin Gorski led the
Rockies
to another championship in 2008—their third in a row.
Gorski,
the league’s top prospect, went 7-0, 1.33 with a league-high 78 strikeouts
during the regular season, then took the mound in pivotal Game 3 of the
semi-finals as Kutztown knocked off regular-season champion Lehigh Valley, 6-2,
to advance to the league’s winner-take-all, one-game final. The
Rockies
methodically polished off the Hampton Whalers 8-2 for a three-peat
Historically,
the strength of the ACBL has been young pitching and form held in 2008—from
Gorski’s dominance to the league’s impact in the draft. Along those lines, the
ACBL has also earned a reputation as a steppingstone league for its young
pitching prospects. The first two players drafted with ties to the ACBL were
righthanders Bobby Lanigan (Twins, third round) and Pete Andrelczyk (Marlins,
fifth round), who worked in the league as freshmen in 2006 but elected to play
at a faster level of competition a year later. Last year’s top prospect,
righthander Ryan Buch, was also a freshman who chose to play in a rival league
this summer.
FAST FACTS
Year League Established: 1967.
States Represented in League: New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania.
Level of Competition (1-to-4 Scale): 3.
No. of Teams in League: 8.
Regular-Season Champion: Lehigh Valley Catz.
Post-Season Champion: Kutztown Rockies.
Teams, PG Crosschecker Summer 16/Final Ranking: No. 31
Kutztown Rockies.
No. 1 Prospect, 2007 (per PG Crosschecker): Ryan Buch, rhp,
Quakertown Blazers (Monmouth; played in Cal Ripken Sr. League in 2008).
First 2007 Player Selected, 2008 Draft: Ryan Page, lhp, Lehigh
Valley Catz (Liberty; Blue Jays, 20th round).
Most Valuable Player: Chris Sedon, ss, Kutztown Rockies.
Most Outstanding Pitcher: Darren Gorski, lhp, Kutztown
Rockies.
Top Prospect (as selected by league): Darren Gorski, lhp,
Kutztown Rockies.
BATTING LEADERS
Batting Average: Greg Folgia, 2b, Quakertown Blazers (.388).
Home Runs: Tim Morris, of, Lehigh Valley Catz (4).
RBIs: P.J. Como, of, Long Island Mustangs (29).
Stolen Bases: Harold Brantley, of, Metro New York Cadets (27).
PITCHING LEADERS
Wins: Darren Gorski, lhp, Kutztown Rockies (7).
ERA:Joe DiRocco, rhp, Lehigh Valley Catz (0.35).
Saves:Andrew Huebner, rhp, Quakertown Blazers; Ryan Smith,
rhp, Long Island Mustags (5).
Strikeouts: Darren Gorski, lhp, Kutztown Rockies (78).
BEST TOOLS
Best Hitter: Greg Folgia, 2b, Quakertown Blazers.
Best Power: Tim Morris, 1b-of, Lehigh Valley Catz.
Fastest Base Runner: Harold Brantley, of, Metro New York
Cadets.
Best Defensive Player: Alan Parks, of, Hampton Whalers.
Best Velocity: John Flanagan, rhp, Hampton Whalers.
TOP 20 PROSPECTS
| |
PLAYER |
POS. |
TEAM |
B-T |
HT |
WT |
YR |
2009 SCHOOL |
| 1. |
Darin Gorski |
LHP |
Kutztown Rockies |
L-L |
6-4 |
215 |
Jr. |
Kutztown (Pa.) |
| SCOUTING REPORT: Gorski was the ACBL’s dominant pitcher this
summer, topping the league in wins and strikeouts while going 7-0, 1.33. He
also allowed just 40 hits in 61 innings, while walking 15. Though he didn’t get
a decision in his only playoff start for the champion Rockies in decisive Game
3 of the semi-finals against Lehigh Valley, he went six strong innings, walked
none and struck out nine—giving him an aggregate 87 strikeouts in 67 innings on
the summer. For his efforts, he earned the inaugural Darrin Winston Award as
the league’s most valuable pitcher. Winston, a former ACBL pitching star who
made his major league debut at the advanced age of 31 in 1997, died of leukemia
on Aug. 15. Gorski went 8-4, 2.43 with 27 walks and 83 strikeouts in 81 innings
as a sophomore for Division II Kutztown, and the tall, projectable lefthander
continued his dominance this summer. He had command of four pitches, including
a fastball in the 89-91 mph range, along with a slider, split-finger and
changeup. |
|
|
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