West Virginia Black Bears 2016 Season in Review

This is the first of several articles recapping the 2016 New York-Penn League (NYPL) season.

The West Virginia Black Bears began the 2016 season as the defending Champion of the NYPL and finished the it with a 17-1 loss in the final game. Quite a contrast, but overall it was a successful season as they accomplished their mission of developing skills of players who hope to someday play for the major league Pirates in Pittsburgh.

Monongalia County Ballpark is an beautiful venue and the Black Bears front office staff do an outstanding job providing a family friendly environment. IMHO, they provide the best entertainment value in Morgantown. Promotions included Replica Championship Ring Giveaway, several game jersey auction nights, Wyatt Toregas Bobblehead Giveaway, and the Pride of WV Night.

 After starting the season with a six game win streak, the Black Bears were never seriously in the race for the Pinckney Division Championship or Wild Card spot and finished the season with a 38-38 record, 12 games out of the division race. Playing in the newest stadium of the NYPL, attendance was down slightly from their 2015 inaugural season. In 36 home dates, the Black Bears played before a total of 78,774 fans (compared to 83,796 in 37 games in 2015), averaging 2,188 per game (compared to 2,265 in 2015).

For the second season in a row, the Pirates number 1 draft pick was assigned to the Black Bears. Will Craig, the 22 overall pick in the June draft struggled early (.158 BA in June) in the season before finishing with a .280 batting average (.412 OBP, ,362 SLG, .775 OPS). Craig ended the season with 2 HRs and 23 RBIs and led the team in walks with 41.

Team Leaders

Batting Average: Chris Harvey hit .301 in 36 games. The Norristown, Pennsylvania native was signed as a free agent out of Vanderbilt in 2014 and played with the Black Bears in 2015. He was briefly called up to AAA Indianapolis during this season before returning to Morgantown.

Home Runs: Hunter Owen led with 4. Owen was a 2016 pick in the 25th round out of Indiana State and played in 52 games for the Black Bears.

Runs Batted In: First Baseman Albert Bauer led the team with 40 RBIs. A native of Philadelphia, Bauer was a 28th round pick in 2015. Bauer also led the team in hits (67) and total bases (99) This was his second season with the Black Bears.

Stolen Bases: Erik Forgione led with 12. He completed his second season with Black Bears after being drafted in the 25th round in 2015 out of the University of Washington.

Pitching Wins: Danny Beddes (6-3, 2.27 ERA, 71.1 IP)  and Luis Escobar (6-5, 2.93 ERA, 67.2 IP) led the team in wins with 6. Beddes was a 15th round pick in 2016 out of Utah Valley University. Escobar, from Cartagena, Columbia and has been in the Pirates farm system since 2014 and saw action in 2 games with the Black Bears in 2015.

All Star Game: Six Black Bears were named to the South squad for the 2016 NYPL All Star Game: Hunter Owen (OF), Kevin Mahala (INF), Kevin Krause (C), Sandy Santos (OF), Danny Beddes (P) and Brandon Bingel (P). Black Bears Manager Wyatt Toregas led the South squad.

Complete season stats are available at the team website. 

The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New-York-Penn League.

NYPL Attendance for 2016 Season

2016 Attendance by the numbers (source: NYPL website)

Team	Total	Openings	Average
Brooklyn Cyclones	207,702	37	5,614
Tri-City ValleyCats	149,847	35	4,281
Hudson Valley Renegades	152,328	36	4,231
Aberdeen IronBirds	141,070	35	4,031
Lowell Spinners	139,943	37	3,782
State College Spikes	125,875	38	3,313
Mahoning Valley Scrappers	92,117	35	2,632
Vermont Lake Monsters	83,955	36	2,332
Connecticut Tigers	82,488	36	2,291
Staten Island Yankees	85,513	38	2,250
West Virginia Black Bears	78,774	36	2,188
Williamsport Crosscutters	60,429	35	1,727
Auburn Doubledays	52,811	37	1,427
Batavia Muckdogs	30,007	37	811

The Stedler Report is not affiliated with Minor League Baseball or the New-York-Penn League.

State College Spikes Win NYPL Championship

The New York Penn League season is officially over after the State College Spikes swept the Championship Series with a 2-1 win over the Hudson Valley Renegades last night at Medlar Field in State College before 1,674 fans. Here is the final box score.

 

   

Photo Credits: Milb.com

Former NYPL Manager Wally Backman Epic Meltdown in 2007

Updated at 5:21pm on 9/13/16

It was reported by various news sources yesterday that Wally Backman has parted ways with the New York Mets organization. According to mlb.com, he left on his own because he didn't see any future with the Mets.. Backman spent the past seven years managing in the Mets organization. He managed the last five years in AAA with the Buffalo and Las Vegas farm teams and was the Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year in 2014.

Backman managed the Brooklyn Cyclones in 2010. He led the Cyclones to the McNamara Division Championship with a 51-24 record before losing in the NYPL Championship Series to the Tri-City Valley Cats.  He managed the AA Binghamtion Mets in 2011 before moving to AAA.

Here is his epic meltdown in 2007, while managing the South Georgia Peanuts. Strong language.

 

New York-Penn League Championship Series Sunday update

State College defeated the Hudson Valley Renegades today 3-0 at Wappingers Falls, NY. The Spikes can secure the New York-Penn League Championship tomorrow night at State College with a win. If the Renegades win tomorrow's game, the teams will play the third and final game of the series on Tuesday at State College.

NYPL Championship Series Set

The schedule for the New York-Penn League Championship Series (LCS) is set after the State College Spikes defeated the Staten Island (?) last night 6-5 to clinch their Semi-Final Series. See game box score.

The LCS starts at the Hudson Valley Renegades on Sunday, September 11 at 4:00pm. The second game of the best of 3 series will be played at State College on September 12 at 7:05pm. Game three, if necessary will be played at State College on Tuesday, September 13 at 7:05pm.

For tickets link to NYPL website.

With State College win tonight, the Staten Island Yankees are no more

Back in June, the Staten Island Yankees announced that after 17 seasons of being known as the Staten Island Yankees, the team would be changing its name. Officials disclosed that starting in 2017, the team would take on an identity of its own and drop the Yankees name.

In a statement, Team President Will Smith said: "The Staten Island community is proud to have our team here, and we believe rebranding the team to something more specific will make this local brand become more popular here, and ultimately internationally."

On September 8, the team announced the list of the five finalists under consideration for the rebranding. They include: Bridge Trolls, Heroes, Killer Bees, Pizza Rats, and Rock Pigeons.

Fans can help select the new team name over the next two weeks by visiting the team's website. Personally, I prefer the Yankees.

Imagine, the Staten Island Pizza Rats.  Kind of a creepy mascot, don’t you think?