The Empire State Greys announced Mark Mason as the club’s new manager today, hiring the 4th most winningest coach in Atlantic League history.

Mark Mason was the head coach at Washington & Jefferson College through 2002. He was pitching coach and bullpen coach of the Washington Wild Things from 2002-2004, managed the Ohio Valley Redcoats in 2005 and guided the Chillicothe Paints in 2007-2008.

Mason most recently guided the Revs during their return to the field in 2021. The skipper steered the team through a season filled with roster turnover to a late-second half playoff push that saw them in contention all the way until the next-to-last day of the season. Some of the turnover came for good reason as York saw six players’ contracts purchased by MLB organizations, tied for the most in franchise history (2007, 2011).

Mason recruited a club record eight mid-season All-Stars, three post-season All-Stars, and the Atlantic League Player of the Year for the second time in three seasons. It was all part of leading the franchise to its eighth postseason berth and fourth under his guidance. Mason also managed the Freedom Division to victory at the Atlantic League All-Star Game for the second consecutive season, this time in York at PeoplesBank Park.

Mason guided the Revolution to a 76-win season in 2016. Mason’s squad became one of the most exciting in the league, setting a club record with 11 walk-off wins and nine extra-inning wins, while leading the league with 29 home runs in the month of September. The Revs’ 34 comeback wins fell just short of matching a then-club record of 36, tied the season before. York finished the season ranking second in the league in batting average and homers, and tied for second in stolen bases in 2015.

His first stint in Washington began in 2002 as pitching coach, where he remained for three seasons. In 2005, he became manager of the Ohio Valley Red Coats and was named Frontier League Manager of the Year in his lone season as skipper of the team. In 2006, Mason returned to Washington as pitching coach, before taking the managerial reins of the Chillicothe Paints, also of the Frontier League. He managed the Paints for two seasons before joining the Wild Things for a third stint, this time as manager. Mason’s pitching staffs led the Frontier League in wins in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006.

He will take over the managerial duties for the Greys for the 2023 season.

“I’m excited to work with Eddie and Jerry because of our relationship. I’ve known them for a very long time and we have done great work together. This is a great opportunity for all of us and I’m excited for the opportunity to return to the Frontier League and build a competitive ball club.” – Mark Mason

Article by Empire Media

Information from York Revolution

MALONE, NY – The Empire Baseball League has revealed the team name for the Malone Baseball Club to be the Border Hounds.

The team colors will be powder blue, sunshine gold and white.

After many discussions and meetings regarding the name of the Empire Baseball League club coming to Malone, NY, a name has been decided. League member wanted the name to engage the local board members and the community on the name. With over 50 names on the list, the one that stood out the most to all has been voted by all members.

The Logo has not get been revealed and will be announced on the teams social medias soon.

A stadium is in the process of being built and the Empire League and its surrounding cities are extremely excited for the Border Hounds to play in Malone.

Article by Empire Media

FT MYERS, FL – In 2022, the Empire League brought its Annual Instructs to the Terry Park Sports Complex in the beautiful south west side of sunny Florida. The program is designed to not only train and develop professional ball players but to have the opportunity to sign for the upcoming season with teams from MLB organizations to MLB partnered teams.

Last year the program signed 21 players to MLB partnered leagues and exposed over 65 talented players to MLB organizations by providing top notch facilities, a Scout day, and a month long development program that is coached by current MLB Partnered league managers.

This year will be even stronger as the league expects high level talented players to attend with the goal of reaching their highest levels in baseball by signing a professional contract.

The event will take place at Terry Park Sports Complex from November 25th check in to December 16th signing day. This will be an every day no days off event to help prepare signed and unsigned players. There will be scout day and managers from other organizations attending throughout the camp. For players interested in registering, you must visit the Tryouts link in our navigation menu of our website.

Article by Empire Media

TUPPER LAKE, NY  –  The series everyone has been waiting for has finally arrived. After the Plattsburgh Thunderbirds beat the Saranac Lake Surge in the Wild Card game, the Thunderbirds moved onto the Empire Baseball League finals to face the Tupper Lake Riverpigs. 

Game one saw fans packed to the brim at Municipal Park in Tupper Lake as the Riverpigs Jordan Warecke faced off against Rancys Nunez. Warecke had a solid start for the Riverpigs, going seven strong innings, allowing three runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out five batters. He was relieved by Zach Goree who struggled to get outs, going only 0.2 innings allowing two runs on one hit and two walks. Randy Alcantara entered the game for Goree and gave Tupper Lake a scoreless 1.1 innings in relief to solidify the Riverpigs 7-5 game one win.

For Plattsburgh, Nunez went 6.2 innings, allowing five runs on two hits and five walks while striking out eight batters. Andrew Bielicky relieved Nunez and allowed two runs in 1.1 innings, earning the loss for the game. 

For the Thunderbirds, Brandon Russo went 1-3 in the game with a double, one run scored and two RBIs. For the Riverpigs, Malik Blaise was on offensive force, going 2-5 with four RBIs. Mikey Edie also had himself two RBIs, going 2-4 with a triple.

Game two was the complete opposite of game one, being a lopsided affair in favor of the Thunderbirds. The Plattsburgh offense put up an offensive barrage against Tupper Lake pitching scoring 15 runs in the 15-2 win. Katsuya Arai and Derrick Pyles each had three RBIs while Hanley Acevedo tacked on two of his own. Plattsburgh was also led by starting pitcher Kyung Min Han, who went six innings, allowing two runs on six hits and six walks, while striking out eight. He was relieved by Hunter Davis who closed out the game with a scoreless inning of his own.

For the Riverpigs, Mikey Edie and Hector Martinez had an RBI each for the quiet Riverpigs offense. Dimitri Nunez got the start and struggled, only going one inning allowing three runs on three hits and two walks. The Tupper Lake relievers did not do much better allowing nine runs in five innings of work.

Game three was a back and forth affair with neither team being able to pull away. Plattsburgh started the game putting up five quick first inning runs, but the Riverpigs answered with three of their own. This trend would continue up until the ninth inning when Riverpigs designated hitter Sean Guida ripped an RBI infield single to walk-off the 11-10 game and lead Tupper Lake to a 2-1 series lead and one win from the title. 

Walner Espinal had five RBIs in the game and Mikey Edie and Hector Martinez had two RBIs each for the Riverpigs. For Plattsburgh, Marcos Estevez had two RBIs, while Olivber Moreno, Derrick Pyles, Brandon Russo, Jake Sisto and Hanley Acevedo had one RBI apiece. 

Hiroto Yasuda had a rough outing for Plattsburgh, allowing 10 runs in 5.2 innings pitched. Emmanuel Brantley entered in relief and was rock solid until the ninth when he allowed the game winning run.

Jared Dingus started game three for the Riverpigs, allowing five runs in 3.1 innings before being relieved by Jose Mieses who allowed four runs in four innings of work. He was relieved by Randy Alcantara who shut the door for Tupper Lake securing the victory. 

With the series on the line, the Plattsburgh Thunderbirds came to play. Although they went down early in the first inning as the Riverpigs scored two, they cut the lead in half in the bottom of the first then rode a three run fifth inning to take a 4-2 lead.

Thunderbirds starter Hunter Davis twirled a much needed strong start going six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out two batters. Davis had his curveball working, keeping the Riverpigs lineup off balance throughout his outing. He was relieved by Andrew Kramer who was able to hold the two run lead into the ninth inning before being replaced by Andrew Bielicky. 

In the ninth, the Riverpigs were able to rally to tie the game at four, and gave the team a chance to send the game to extra innings on a single to centerfield by Bramdon Perez that was misplayed by centerfielder Hanley Acevedo. 

The Riverpigs would lose the game on a walk-off walk at the hands of Olivber Moreno. Randy Alcantara came in for the Riverpigs to try and send the game to extras, but to no avail. 

Joseph Brennan started the game for Tupper Lake, going 4.2 innings allowing four runs on four hits and six walks while striking out three. Zach Goree relieved Brennan and bounced back from his previous shaky outing, going 3.1 innings, allowing one hit and striking out five. 

Olivber Moreno was the Thunderbirds main offensive force, going 1-3 with a run scored, two RBIs and the walk-off walk. For the Riverpigs, Bramdon Perez went 2-4 with two RBIs and a stolen base.

It all came down to a decisive game 5 situation. Both teams threw their aces out on the mound, Jordan Warecke for the Riverpigs and Keyvan Grenald for the Thunderbirds. The pitchers duel was as advertised as both starters had strong starts, Warecke going 5.2 innings allowing two earned runs, and Grenald allowed four runs in 6.2 innings. Grenald’s one mistake in his start was an early three-run home run by Hector Martinez.

Although Warecke had a strong start, Plattsburgh was able to come back to tie the game at four. But not all hope was lost, as in the bottom of the eighth inning with two outs, Sean Guida stepped up to the plate and delivered the game winning run on a sacrifice fly off Hiroto Yasuda, cementing the series with a 5-4 victory.

Jose Mieses entered the game in the late innings for the Riverpigs and shut the door, earning the victory. Sean Guida earned the title of Finals MVP hitting a walk-off single in game three and scoring the game winning run to seal the finals victory. 

That wraps up the 2022 Empire Baseball League season! Congratulations to the Riverpigs on their first ever EBL title.

Article by Ben Diamond

TUPPER LAKE, NY  –  On Tuesday, the #3 seed Plattsburgh Thunderbirds faced off against the #2 seed Saranac Lake Surge. Heading into the matchup, the Surge had a 1.5 game lead on the Thunderbirds with a record of 18-19 while the Thunderbirds sat at 18-22. Both teams came off of losing the final series of the regular season, the Surge to top seeded Tupper Lake Riverpigs and Plattsburgh to the #4 seed Japan Islanders.

Both teams threw out their best pitchers with the Surge relying on Cairo Selden and the Thunderbirds relying on Keyvan Grenald, and as expected both pitchers kept their teams in the game. Grenald came out firing, going seven strong innings in his start, allowing three runs on three hits and four walks while striking out 11 Surge batters. Selden also had himself a strong start going five innings, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks while striking out seven batters. 

Unfortunately, Selden needed to leave the game in the hands of the bullpen. Kenta Tanaka, a player picked up from the Japan Islanders, came in and gave the Surge 1.1 scoreless innings before handing the game to Levi Parker, who was also picked up from the Islanders. However, Parker did not have the same success, allowing three runs on three hits and one walk, while striking out four. He would be credited with the loss. For the Thunderbirds, Emmanuel Brantly came into the game and led Plattsburgh to the Empire Baseball League finals with two scoreless innings in relief. 

On the offensive side, Katsuya Arai, one of the Japan Islanders pick-ups on Plattsburgh, showed why he was one of the more valuable players on the Islanders roster. Arai went 2-3 with two runs scored, two RBIs and three stolen bases. Marcos Estevez also gave the Thunderbirds some offensive production, going 1-2 with two RBIs. For the Surge, Taiga Sato was the main offensive force, going 1-4 with one run scored and two RBIs. 

Although their season is over, we congratulate the Surge on a fantastic season. For the Thunderbirds however, still have one more obstacle to overcome, the top seed Tupper Lake Riverpigs. They will face the Riverpigs in game one of the finals starting on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

Article by Ben Diamond