The two biggest news items this past season were the Player Development Contract with the Philadelphia Phillies was renewed through the 2018 season and the stadium lease with the City of Williamsport was extended through the 2020 season.
Williamsport, Pennsylvania has a rich baseball history. Organized baseball has been played at Bowman Field (now known as BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field) since 1926. BB&T Ballpark was voted as the Best Stadium in Short Season Class-A in 2016 by fans on BallparkDigest.com. A road trip to north central Pennsylvania is recommended if you have never attended a game at the old ballpark. I attended several Williamsport Bills games with my family back in the 1980s when the Bills were a Cleveland Indians affiliate in the Double A Eastern League. Mike Hargrove was the manager and Turner Gill played shortstop, before he got back into football as a coach.
Groundbreaking took place in May on a new “Premium Deck” that will accommodate up to 250 people along the first base side of the stadium. The deck will feature rail seating, high top and 4-top tables on two levels along with full bar and food service for fans. Completion is scheduled for the 2017 season. There are also plans for additional renovations that would include converting all bleacher seating in the stadium to new individual seats while also redesigning the current box seating area to be more fan friendly with wider seats, aisles and cup holders.
2016 Season in Review:
Attendance: Totals 60,429 for 35 dates, Average per game 1,727
Record: 39 wins; 36 losses.
There were several bright spots for Williamsport in 2016. Four of the 2016 Crosscutters to follow in the future are:
Adonis Medina was signed as an international free agent by Phillies in May 2014. Pitching in his third year of organized ball, Medina went 5-3, 2.92 ERA, 1.10 WHIP in 64.2 innings over 13 starts. He was selected to the NYPL All-Star game in August.
Signed as an international free agent by Phillies in July 2013, Outfielder Jesus Alastre was a NYPL All-Star game pick last summer. He batted .290/.345/.327 and had 14 stolen bases in 50 games for the Crosscutters.
Pitcher Ranger Suarez was a NYPL All-Star game pick in 2016. A native of Venezuela, Suarez was signed as an international free agent by Phillies on April 1, 2012. He went 6-4 in 73.2 innings and finished the 2016 season with an ERA of 2.81 and a 1.15 WHIP. On July 26, Suarez pitched a seven inning no hitter (on 79 pitches) against the Auburn Doubledays.
First baseman Darick Hall showed good power with 9 HRs and 29 RBIs, while batting .282/.372/.518 in 195 AB (55 hits; 57 SO) over 57 games. The Phillies picked Hall in the 14th round in 2016, out of Dallas Baptist. Bats left and throws right and is 6’4”, 236.
The Crosscutters home opener for the 2017 season is on June 20 against in-state rival State College.
The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New-York-Penn League.
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