Woodstock River Bandits

2007 River Bandits

Bandits fall in Valley League Classic

Woodstock loses 16-inning thriller to first place Waynesboro to end season.
Woodstock almost pulled off a monumental upset in the opening round of the Valley Baseball League playoffs, but fell an out short of doing so in dropping a 6-5 decision in 16 innings to regular season champion Waynesboro at Kate Collins Field.

The game had to be one of the most exciting in VBL playoff history and lifted the Generals into the second round while ending the season for the River Bandits.

The loss ended Woodstock's season with a 22-25 overall record while Waynesboro improved to 31-14-1. The River Bandits came into the playoffs as the No. 8 seed while the Generals are the top-seeded club.

Chuckie Pertuz almost rescued the River Bandits from a bases loaded nobody out situation in the bottom of the 16th coming on in relief of closer Ryan Simpson with a 5-4 lead. Pertuz struck out the first batter he faced then got a shallow fly out to center field leaving the bases full of Generals with two outs. However, Pertuz then gave up a single to right field scoring two runs and giving Waynesboro the hard-earned 6-5 victory.

Tied at 4-4 the teams went into extra innings where Woodstock missed a chance to grab the lead in the top of the 12th leaving the bases loaded. In that 12th Shayne Moody drew a leadoff walk and Nate Frazier laid down a sacrifice bunt. Matt Mansilla was intentionally walked and following a strikeout, a walk loading the bases. The next Woodstock batter failed to produce the key hit striking out to leave the bases loaded.

A run in the top of the 16th for Woodstock ending a seven inning scoreless drought for the River Bandits, but still they left the bases loaded. With two outs Jeff Bromley began the rally by drawing a walk. An infield single by Moody put runners on first and second before Frazier delivered a run-scoring single to right field for a 5-4 Woodstock lead. On the throw home both runners moved up a base to second and third. Mansilla drew another intentional walk and the strategy worked once again for the Generals as the next hitter flew out to right field ending the threat.

With a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the 16th Woodstock handed the ball to Simpson who had 10 saves entering the game. Simpson had a rare off night giving up back-to-back singles opening the ninth and walking the next batter to load the bases with nobody out. Woodstock skipper Donn Foltz summoned Pertuz from the bullpen and the move nearly worked until the fateful two-out, two-run single lifted Waynesboro to the victory.

For the game Woodstock managed only eight hits compared to 16 for Waynesboro, but due to more walks issued by Waynesboro (0-5) both clubs stranded 14 baserunners.

Collecting two hits apiece for Woodstock were Brandin Daniel, Frazier and Escue. Daniel had a double, single and drove home a run. Frazier had two singles, scored twice and knocked in a run. Escue had two singles on the night and officially went 2-of-2 in the game.

Woodstock's other two hits came off the bats of Moody and Mansilla with Moody picking up an RBI and a stolen base. Shaun Spearman chipped in with a RBI and stolen base while Bromley scored a run.

The River Bandits used six pitchers during the 16-inning affair. Zach Rosenbaum started on the mound going four innings giving up five hits, three runs (two earned), walked two and struck out three. Carter Clements tossed four innings of two-hit, one-run baseball with no walks and four punch outs. Ryan Schmidt fired two innings of perfect relief with three strikeouts. Luke Stahl worked five innings of six-hit scoreless relief with two walks and a pair of Ks. Simpson was next and suffered his first loss of the year allowing two hits and a walk to three batters he faced. Pertuz got two outs before giving up the game-ending and season-ending base hit.

Moody got things started for the River Bandits in the top of the first inning with a walk was sacrificed to second by Frazier, stole third and raced home on a throwing error by the Waynesboro catcher for a 1-0 lead.

Waynesboro put together three hits and a walk to score twice in the home first going ahead 2-1. It didn't take the River Bandits long to respond with Spearman drawing a one-out walk in the second and riding home on a double down the right field line by Daniel. The River Bandits took the lead with another run in the top of the third inning which began with consecutive singles to center field by Frazier and Mansilla. A sacrifice bunt by Escue put runners on second and third. After the second out of the inning was recorded Frazier raced home on a wild pitch and Woodstock led 3-2.

Frazier drew a leadoff walk in the top of the fifth followed by a strikeout then an Escue single to center field. An error loaded the bases with one out and Spearman worked the pitcher for a walk plating the go-ahead run for a 4-3 Woodstock lead.

Waynesboro tied the game at four in the bottom of the seventh on a one-out solo homer setting the stage for one of the most epic games in Valley Baseball League history.

Article from written by Randy McFarland of The Free Press, Thursday August 9, 2007. Photo by Sonja Graham

bandits

River Bandits drafted in the 2007 draft!!!

Congratulations to the following players!

Kevin Carkeek
Drafted by Houston Astros
25th round

Eric Perlozzo
Drafted by Baltimore Orioles
35th round

Matt Mallory
Drafted by Florida Marlins
36th round

Matt Hudgins
Drafted by Chicago Cubs
Played with River Bandits in 2005

Click on the Pros link on the left to view the River Bandit draft history.

Draft

2007 Camp photo

Camp 07

Roster Info

Shayne Moody will be returning to the Bandits for the 2007 season. Moody, who was the MVP in the Valley League All-star game last season, is playing for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. UNCC is ranked 23rd in the nation and is having one of its best seasons ever with Moody starting at shortstop. Joining Moody on the River Bandits roster this summer will be Zack Rosembaum and Luke Stahl. Both are having great seasons for UNCC.

River Bandits complete staff with the hiring of Anthony Macaluso!

Anthony Macaluso joins new Head Coach Donn Foltz and Assistant Coach John Cardamone to complete the 2007 River Bandits coaching staff! Anthony comes to the Bandits from Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, FL and will serve as an assistant coach working with the pitchers. Prior to coming to Hillsborough, he was an assistant coach at King High School in Tampa. King High won four district titles in a row from 2001-2004. The 2004 team was ranked 4th in the state of Florida. Anthony played two years at Hillsborough Community College until two shoulder injuries cut his playing career short. He began his coaching career when he graduated from University of South Florida.

Previously, Donn Foltz was named the River Bandits manager for the 2007 season. Donn had been an assistant coach for the River Bandits for all three years of the franchise and he has been a key figure in the success of the young Bandits franchise. The Bandits made the playoffs the first two years and made a big turnaround in the middle of the 2006 season when Foltz was named the manager. The River Bandits were one of the most competitive teams in the valley league the last twenty-two games of the season.

John Cardamone was hired as assistant coach in the middle of the 2006 schedule. He did an outstanding job of working with the River Bandit players. He played at Alfred State College in New York and has been an assistant coach for Donn Foltz at Central High since 2003.

Dave Biery, President of the Valley Baseball League and Doug Barrett, President of Future Media Sports are pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached to webcast all 210+ games of the 2007 Valley Baseball League season and postseason.

The season begins June 1, 2007. All games begin at 7:30 PM, unless otherwise noted on team schedules. All games will be heard “live and in their entirety, including pregame and postgame shows. The 2007 league champion will be crowned in July.

RIVER BANDITS END SEASON BY MAKING PLAYOFFS FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR IN SPITE OF NUMEROUS INJURIES.

With a 15-27 regular season record the River Bandits entered the playoffs hoping to rebound after an injury riddled season.The River Bandits lost seven regular position player and one pitcher to injuries during the regular season. All eight players would have been regulars in the line-up. Returning pitcher, Kyle Dubois, one of the top ten prospects returning to the Valley league, was lost early in the season due to arm surgery. Even with a losing record the season had many high points as the players played some exciting baseball for the Woodstock fans. The Bandits are in the process of signing a few returners and several new players for the 2006 season.

Thanks to all our sponsors and fans for making the 2005 season an exciting and family fun filled season. Looking forward to seeing all our fans and lots of new fans at the ball park next June.

7/19: Woodstock freshman outfielder Chris Joseph (Houston) put together a strong week to garner Southern Division Player of the Week honors in the Valley League. For the week, he ranked third in the league with a .474 batting average and tied for third with nine hits. Joseph led the league with a .947 slugging percentage and 18 total bases as well as tying for the lead with two home runs. In addition, he was second with eight runs scored and third with seven runs driven in for the week. Joseph raised his season batting average to .236 and now has three home runs and 12 RBI total.

7/14: River Bandits struggling with injuries. Woodstock has been hit with a slew of injuries this season. Recent injuries include Joseph Hunter (shoulder), Brandon Daniel (shoulder), Kyle Dubois (elbow), Steven Condotta (wrist), and Brendan Domaracki (leg).

6/28: Freshman right-hander David Stringer (Stanford) was Pitcher of the Week in the Southern Division. He made three relief appearances last week, going 2-0 with no runs allowed in 7 2/3 innings. Stringer allowed one hit and struck out six in two and two-thirds innings in an 11-9 win over Haymarket on Tuesday. He then struck out four and surrendered one hit in two innings of a 9-2 win over Staunton on Thursday. He closed the week on Saturday with three innings of one-hit ball and two strikeouts in a 4-3 win over Waynesboro. For the week, Stringer was fourth in the VBL in opposing batting average (.120), fourth in strikeouts (12), and tied for first in wins (two).

6/3: Click here to see Opening Day pics of the Woodstock's 3-1 loss to Haymarket.

Click here to see a the River Bandits autograph session at "A Way To Play" complex.

The Woodstock River Bandits finished their inaugural season with a third place finish in the Southern division with a record of 20-24. The Bandits made the playoffs and matched up with Staunton in the first round. With a 2-1 win over Staunton it was the first ever playoff win for the Bandits in the Valley League. The Staunton Braves went on to win the next two games 7-4, 6-4 to eliminate the Bandits from the tournament.

Highlights of the first season were the Bandits won 20 games, a feat not accomplished by first year franchise teams in the Valley League, finished with a 21-26 record, had two players named players of the week (Kelly Edmondson of Tennessee, twice, and Alex Gonzalez of Berry Univ.) the Bandits also placed five players on the all-star team. Kyle Dubois (ODU) was selected as one of the top ten prospects in the league. Coach Ricky Ware (St. Leo Univ.) and his staff did an outstanding job of putting a very competitive team on the field every night.

6/26: Click here to see a picture of Woodstock's night game at Central High School Baseball Complex.

6/25: Congratulations to Kelly Edmundson and Alexander Gonzalez for being named Players of the Week!

6/22: The Woodstock River Bandits had a 7-game winning streak from 6/16-6/22!