BROCKTON ROX NAMED FCBL ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR

Brockton Rox Named FCBL Organization of the Year

BROCKTON, MA – The Brockton Rox have been named the 2012 FCBL Organization of the Year after setting a league attendance record with 41,141 total fans and averaging 1,714 fans per night.

The 2012 season was Brockton’s first in the Futures League, and in summer collegiate baseball. Prior to 2012, Brockton had been affiliated with independent professional baseball in the Can-Am League. As President of the Rox Michael Canina said, “There were some skeptics on whether a switch in leagues would be successful, but we believed in what the FCBL was doing and we knew we wanted to be a part of it. It was an amazing year both on and off the field. We couldn’t have enjoyed this success without our fans, corporate sponsors, the support of the Brockton 21st Century Corporation, and the City of Champions. We are looking forward to bringing the Championship back to Brockton in 2013.”

The Rox immediate success on both the business end and on the playing field quickly vaulted the franchise into the upper echelon of summer collegiate baseball across the entire country. In their inaugural season, the Rox drew the 12th highest attendance in all of summer collegiate baseball, and made the playoffs in a league that had rapidly expanded in terms of talent from the prior season. The on-field success can be attributed to manager Jud Thigpen and his assistant Ted Currle who guided the Rox to playoff contention.

The Brockton organization was led by President Michael Canina and general manager Tom Healy both of whom had prior experience with Brockton in its past affiliation with independent baseball. Despite the organization’s immediate and tremendous success in the FCBL, the organization still has tremendous growth potential, making the Rox a serious player on the national landscape for summer collegiate baseball in the coming years.

The FCBL provides student-athletes from New England and New England Colleges the opportunity to compete and play with the elite players from across the country and to promote them to MLB organizations. The Brockton Rox successfully fulfill the FCBL mission of providing a family friendly, affordable, and fun experience to their community in a professional minor league setting.

The FCBL currently competes within four New England states. The Torrington Titans play in Connecticut, the Brockton Rox, Martha’s Vineyard Sharks, Pittsfield Suns, North Shore Navigators, and Wachusett Dirt Dawgs play in Massachusetts, the Seacoast Mavericks and Nashua Silver Knights play in New Hampshire, and the Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide play in Maine. You can visit the league’s website at http://www.thefuturesleague.com.
“We are extremely proud and honored to win this award and are thankful to commissioner Chris Hall and the owners of the FCBL Franchises for all their help and support,” said Canina.

Season tickets and groups packages for the upcoming season at Brockton’s Campanelli Stadium are currently on sale now. CLICK HERE for more information or to purchase your tickets now .

KEVIN HARRIMAN

BROCKTON ROX OFFER A GREAT ALTERNATIVE FOR FAMILIES

If you were wondering what has happened to the Brockton Rox, well they are back and what great baseball the Future’s League presents.  Come see players that are on their way to the major leagues! If you like the fast paced and excellent offence or defense, then this is your venue.  The Rox have home games this Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday – with some fun activities!  You cannot find a more affordable family activity.
So if you are planning an office outing or a family fun night right in your back yard, come to a Brockton Rox game.  You will have a great time.  See you there!

Mary Waldron

FORMER ROX PLAYER MAKES IT TO BIG SHOW

STEVE DELABAR BECOMES FIRST ROX PLAYER TO REACH MAJORS

 Anaheim, Calif. – Former Brockton Rox righthanded pitcher Steve Delabar was promoted to the Seattle Mariners from Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday, becoming the first Brockton alumnus to reach the major leagues in the club’s ten-year history. He was on the Mariners’ expanded roster for the club’s 2-1 victory over Los Angeles yesterday evening, but did not see action in the game.

Delabar started the season in Single-A with High Desert of the California League, and was subsequently promoted to Double-A Jackson in May and Tacoma in August. He assembled a 2.25 ERA with 68 strikeouts and 15 saves in 56 innings of work between the three clubs. The 28-year-old was signed by Seattle as a minor league free agent in April after not pitching professionally in 2010.

The Fort Knox, Ky., native spent parts of the previous two seasons with Brockton. In 2009, he made 12 appearances, nine of which came out of the bullpen, and went 3-3 with a 3.76 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 26 and one-third innings pitched. He made 11 starts for the club in 2008, putting together an identical 3-3 record and a 3.01 ERA in 68.2 innings of work, fanning 43.

Originally a 29^th-round draft pick of San Diego in the 2003 draft out of Volunteer State Community College, Delabar played for four and a half seasons in the Padres’ system, reaching as high as Single-A Lake Elsinore in 2007.

 

ROX MAKE ROSTER MOVES FOR PLAYOFF RUN

                                                      Brockton makes moves to finalize playoff roster;

                                                                       Game one in Quebec 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday

Rox acquired RHP Mike Petrowski from  New  York (New  York State League) in exchange for cash – official as of August  27, 2011 Petrowski joins the Brockton Rox after stints with the New York Federals and New Jersey Jackals in 2011.  He gave up six earned runs in three starts (21 innings) with New
York before making his way to the Jackals bullpen, back to New  York and  eventually to the Rox at the end of August.  Petrowski started 14 games at Rider  University in 2009  and went 3-6 with a 7.45 ERA, before pitching in the New York State League in  2010.

 Rox  placed RHP John Kelly on the disabled list  – official as of September 4, 2011. Kelly exited with a right elbow injury after just one inning in his September 3^rd start against New Jersey.  The veteran righthander posted a 1-1 record with a 2.15 earned run average in 29 and 1/3 innings with the Rox in
2011.

Rox activated RHP Freddy Flores from disabled list  – official as of September 4, 2011

Flores returned from a trip to the disabled list in late August to record his seventh win in 19 starts by defeating the New Jersey Jackals in the regular season finale.  He gave up two runs on six hits in five innings and struck out six in his first appearance since August 25.  Flores went 7-9 with a 4.90 ERA in 112 innings pitched in 2011.

 The Brockton Rox roster now stands at 22 active (11 pitchers, 11 position players, 2 Disabled, 1 Inactive)

KEVIN HARRIMAN

CAN-AM LEAGUE PLAYOFF MATCHUPS

IT’S TIME FOR THE PLAYOFFS

Brockton Visits Quebec; Pittsfield Takes on New Jersey

DURHAM, NC – The Can-Am League playoffs begin on Wednesday night, as the #4 seed Brockton Rox
take on the first and second half champion and #1 seed Quebec Capitales. The #3 seed Pittsfield Colonials visit the #2 seed New Jersey Jackals. The winners of  the two series will meet in the best-of-five championship series beginning Tuesday, September 13. The series winner with the best overall record winning percentage will host game three, and if necessary, games four and five. If Pittsfield advances, all championship series games will be played at the winner of the Brockton-Quebec series.

2011 Can-Am League Playoff Schedule (All times are Eastern):

Wednesday, September 7
Game 1 – Brockton (Zach
Woods) at Quebec (Bryan Rembisz) – 7:05 PM
Game 1 – Pittsfield (Chad Paronto)
at New Jersey (Isaac Pavlik) – 7:05 PM

Thursday, September 8
Game 2 –
Brockton (TBA) at Quebec (Karl Gelinas) – 7:05 PM
Game 2 – Pittsfield (Pat
Moran) at New Jersey (AJ Wideman) – 7:05 PM

Friday, September 9
Game 3
– Quebec (John Mariotti) at Brockton (TBA) – 7:05 PM
Game 3 – New Jersey (Jon
Kibler) vs. Pittsfield (David Qualben) at New Jersey – 7:05 PM

Saturday,
September 10
Game 4 – New Jersey vs. Pittsfield at New Jersey – 6:35
PM*
Game 4 – Quebec (Ryan DiPietro) at Brockton – 7:05 PM*

Sunday,
September 11
Game 5 – Quebec at Brockton – 1:05 PM*
Game 5 – Pittsfield at
New Jersey – 2:05 PM*

ROX GAME SUSPENDED

Game three of four game set will
resume Monday with score tied at two

 (Little Falls, N.J. – August 27, 2011) – After 40 minutes of rain delay  Saturday morning, the Brockton Rox (47-38, 21-18) and the New Jersey Jackals (52-33, 26-13) managed to get through almost four innings of baseball, before  the game was suspended in the bottom of the fourth inning tied at  two.

The Rox  scored on a Keith Brachold (75) sacrifice fly in top of the first and an RBI single from Dan Barbero that scored Melvin Falu in the bottom of the second.

Brockton’s latest acquisition, Mike Petrowski got the spot start for the Rox and allowed two runs in the second frame on a sacrifice fly from Nick Giarraputo and an RBI single from Mike DeJesus to tie the game.

Tropical rains poured, forcing the teams off of the field with two outs in the bottom of the fourth frame.  The affair is scheduled to be resumed at 5:05 p.m. Monday.  Brockton and New Jersey will play the final game of the
series in seven innings, 20 minutes following the conclusion of game three.

 

 

ROX FALL FRIDAY NIGHT; BILL LEE TO PITCH SAT NIGHT

Monger gives
Worcester first lead on game-winning single
in final frame

 

 

(Brockton, Mass. – August 19, 2011) – Trailing 3-2 heading into the ninth inning, the Worcester Tornadoes (19-11, 40-37) rallied for four runs on five hits, besting Jimmer Kennedy and the Brockton Rox  (20-12, 46-32) 6-3 on the way to a series opening victory at Campanelli Stadium Friday night.

Alex Trezza and Nick Salotti started the rally against Kennedy (2-2) with back-to-back singles to
open the ninth, followed by a Ryan Crespi walk to load the bases.  Tony Patane smacked a single to tie
the game, before Cameron Monger gave the Tornadoes their first lead with a two-run single.  Alex Nunez
added the final tally, as Worcester pulled even with Brockton in the second half standings and spoiled the potential win for Dustin Birosak.

Birosak tossed seven and 2/3 strong innings in the no decision, allowing two runs on  five hits, while striking out five and walking none.  The only damage against the southpaw came on  three straight hits in the fourth frame, capped off by Trezza’s two-run double  that tied the game at two.

Brockton  assumed the early lead, scoring a run on three straight singles in the first  inning and a Tucker Nathans sacrifice fly in the second, making the score  2-0.  Worcester went on to tie the game  in the fourth, but Mike Torres connected for an RBI triple as the Rox  retook the lead in the fifth.

Torres  finished the evening 4-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.  Dominic Ramos (3-for-4, SB) and
Shawn Williams (2-for-4, RBI) also had multi-hit games for the  Rox.

Kevin  Cooper took a no  decision, giving up three runs on six hits in five innings, but it was Nick
Serino (3-5) who earned the win with two and 1/3 innings of scoreless  relief.

Albert  Ayala locked down  his second save with a scoreless ninth, striking out two.

The battle  for first place in the second half continues with game two Saturday night at  7:05 p.m.  Zach  Zuercher (11-4, 3.95) gets the call for the Tornadoes and will be opposed by Jake Loye (3-4, 4.05) as the Rox look to even the series.

Bill ” Spaceman” Lee (64) will pitch on Saturday night for the Rox when they take on Worcester. The former Red Sox All-Star pitched for the Rox last Labor Day weekend and picked up a win.

KEVIN HARRIMAN 

 

 

BILL LEE ON THE MOUND FOR ROX

BILL “SPACEMAN” LEE BACK FOR CELEBRITY
SATURDAY

Brockton, Mass. – The Brockton Rox of the Can-Am
League announced on Thursday that former Boston Red Sox and Montreal Expos lefthanded hurler Bill Lee will be
on hand to sign autographs and throw out the pre-game ceremonial first pitch on Saturday, August 20 at 7:05 p.m., as the Rox take on the Worcester Tornadoes.

Lee, 64, returns to Campanelli Stadium nearly one year after setting the professional baseball record as the oldest pitcher to win a game, picking up the victory for the Rox over Worcester on September 5, 2010. His hat and glove from the game were procured by the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., for their  archives.

One of the best southpaws in Red Sox history, Lee pitched for the team from 1969 through 1978, and owns the franchise record for games pitched by a lefthander with 321. The native of Burbank, Calif., won 17 games each season from 1973 to 1975, was selected to the 1973 American League All-Star team, and was a member of the 1975 American League champions. He was traded to the Expos in 1979, where he won 16 games in the first of his four seasons there. 

  Lee currently lives in Vermont and pitches over 200 innings per year in over-40 men’s leagues in New England and Atlantic Canada. One of baseball’s more colorful personalities during his playing days, he has also published four books, and owns his own bat company which provides lumber for major league players, including David Ortiz. He was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2008.

 The first 500 fans through the gates will receive a voucher good for one item autographed by Lee. All other fans are not guaranteed an autograph. Tickets for the game are available through the Rox box office by calling (508) 559-7070, or visiting brocktonrox.com.

KEVIN HARRIMAN

ROX MAKE ROSTER MOVES

Rox placed RHP Mike Smith on disabled list (right  wrist) – retroactive to August 11^th, 2011 Smith, who doubles as the pitching  coach and the staff ace of the Brockton Rox, was placed on the disabled list on Tuesday. The veteran was scratched from his scheduled start minutes before he  was slated to take the mound after injuring his right wrist. Smith is 8-5 with a  3.99 in 15 starts in 2011, and is the reigning Can-Am League righthanded pitcher
of the year.

Rox signed RHP Zach Woods – official as of August  16^th, 2011 Woods rejoins the Rox after  previously pitching for Brockton earlier this season. The former East Carolina  University standout began the season with the New York Federals of the New York  State League before appearing with the Rox in late July. In 11 and 1/3 innings
of work with both the Rox and Federals, Woods is 0-1 with 13 strikeouts and a  2.38 ERA.

Rox placed IF Alex Sumner on irrevocable waivers  – official as of August 17^th, 2011 In 61 games with both the Brockton Rox and New York Federals of the New York State League, Sumner hit .226 with 16  runs scored and 14 RBIs. The middle infielder drove in four of those runs during  an 18-game stint with the Rox in July and August.

Rox signed IF Jeremy Hunt – official as of August 17^th, 2011 A power-hitting corner infielder,  Hunt joins the Rox after spending 2010 with the Quebec Capitales of the Can-Am League. The former San Diego Padres prospect hit .268 in 75  games with three homers and 40 RBIs in 2010. Hunt also appeared in 25 games as a  pitcher, going 1-3 with a 4.96 ERA. In 2011, Hunt played briefly with the New  Jersey Jackals of the Can-Am League, as well as the Camden Riversharks of the Atlantic League and the Lake County Fielders of the North American Baseball
League.

The Brockton Rox roster now stands at 22 active (11 pitchers, 11 position players, 1 Disabled)

ROX GAME RESCHEDULED

Doubleheader at Campanelli Stadium begins on Tuesday at
5:05 p.m.

 

(Brockton, Mass. – August
15, 2011) – The series opener between the Brockton Rox (18-9, 44-29) and Quebec Capitales (15-11, 50-22)
was washed out on Monday night after steady downpours drenched the New England region.

The two clubs will open up a doubleheader on Tuesday beginning at 5:05 p.m., as the Rox kick off a seven-game
homestand that includes four tilts with Quebec, and three with the Worcester Tornadoes.

RHP Mike Smith (8-5, 3.99) will toe the rubber for Brockton against RHP Bryan Rembisz (5-1, 3.17) in the first of the two seven-inning contests. In the second game, the Rox will send RHP Freddy Flores (6-6, 4.15) to the mound to face RHP Guillaume Duguay (4-0, 2.50).

Tickets for Monday night’s game are redeemable for any Brockton Rox home game during the 2011 regular
season.