Official League Website
League
Strength: **
New York Collegiate League top 15 prospects (list)
The
New York Collegiate Baseball League saw significant change from 2010
to 2011. Only seven of the 14 teams that played in the league last
year remained: the Allegany County Nitros, Alfred Thunder, Geneva
Redwings, Hornell Dodgers, Niagara Power, Oneonta Outlaws and Webster
Yankees.
Most
of the change was dictated when the other seven teams (Albany,
Amsterdam,
Cooperstown, Elmira, Glens Falls, Mohawk Valley and Watertown) broke
away to form their own league in up-state New York, the Perfect Game
Collegiate Baseball League. In the past, most of the best talent in
the NYCBL was found on those clubs.
Most
of the league’s potential professional talent this summer was
concentrated on four teams: Geneva, Oneonta, Utica and Webster. The
Oneonta Outlaws, who joined the league in 2010, were particularly
loaded, and their talent was evident as they defeated the Webster
Yankees in the league championship after knocking out a
similarly-loaded Utica Brewers team (new to the league in 2011) in
the Eastern Division finals.
Oneonta,
which hosted the league's all-star game, not only had the best team
on the field, but also blew every other organization away at the
turnstiles, drawing more than 1,500 fans per game, while no other
team averaged much more than 300.
Local
high school star Chris Bostick (Aquinas Institute, Rochester) of the
Webster Yankees was the near-unanimous favorite for the league's top
prospect. A 44th-round pick of the Oakland A's in this year’s
draft, Bostick signed in late July, in the process spurning an
opportunity to play for St. John's University, where he likely would
have been counted on to replace some of the productivity of
first-round draft pick Joe Panik, who signed with the San Francisco
Giants.
With
long, wiry-strong limbs, good bat speed and game-changing speed,
Bostick has exciting offensive tools across the board. He was leading
the league in hitting prior to signing, and finished second at
season's end. He was the league leader in on-base and slugging
percentage.
FAST
FACTS
Year
League Established: 1978.
States
Represented in League: New
York.
Level
of Competition (1-to-4 Scale, 1 being highest): 2.
No.
of Teams in League: 12
(14 in 2010).
Regular-Season
Champion / best overall record:
Utica Brewers (32-12).
Post-Season
Champion: Oneonta
Outlaws.
Teams,
PG CrossChecker Summer 30/Final Ranking:
No. 27 Oneonta Outlaws.
No.
1 Prospect, 2010 (per PG CrossChecker): Mel
Rojas Jr., of, Amsterdam Mohawks (Pittsburgh Pirates/West Virginia
Power in 2011).
First
2010 Player Selected, 2011 Draft:
Taylor Lewis, of, Amsterdam Mohawks (Maine/Pirates, 10th
round).
Player
of the Year: Chris Bostick, 2b, Webster Yankees.
Pitcher
of the Year: Jacob
Petitt, rhp, Utica Brewers.
Top
Prospect (as selected by league):
Unavailable.
BATTING
LEADERS (League games only)
Batting
Average: Brenden
Costantino, ss, Sherrill Silversmiths (.417).
Slugging
Percentage: Chris
Bostick, 2b, Webster Yankees (.652).
On-Base
Average: Chris Bostick,
2b, Webster Yankees (.503).
Home
Runs: Scott Krutel, 3b,
Utica Brewers (7).
RBIs:
Chase Presley, 2b, Hornell Dodgers (47).
Stolen
Bases: Brenden
Costantino, ss, Sherrill Silversmiths (63).
PITCHING
LEADERS (League games only)
Wins:
Jacob Petitt, rhp, Utica Brewers (7).
ERA:
Jacob Petitt, rhp, Utica Brewers (0.71).
Saves:
D.J. Schwartz, rhp, Hornell Dodgers (8).
Strikeouts:
Justin James, rhp, Niagara Power (57).
BEST
TOOLS
Best
Athlete: Chris Bostick,
2b, Webster Yankees.
Best
Hitter: Chris Bostick,
2b, Webster Yankees.
Best
Power: Matt Chavez,
c/rhp, Oneonta Outlaws.
Fastest
Base Runner: Aaron
Barbosa, of, Oneonta Outlaws.
Best
Defensive Player: Carlos
Asuaje, 2b/3b, Oneonta Outlaws.
Best
Velocity: Matt Chavez,
c/rhp, Oneonta Outlaws.
Best
Breaking Ball: Mike
Johnson, lhp, Utica Brewers.
Best
Command: Mike Johnson,
lhp, Utica Brewers.
TOP
15 PROSPECTS
1.
CHRIS BOSTICK, 2b, Webster Yankees (SIGNED/A's)
?SCOUTING
PROFILE: Fresh out of
Aquinas Institute in neighboring Rochester, Bostick was easily the
most talented hitter and overall player in the league playing for
Webster, drawing rave reviews for his bat speed and overall
athleticism prior to signing with the Athletics in late July as a
44th
round pick. He joined his older brother Ben on the Yankees, who has a
similar athletic profile, although he is not quite as dynamic as
Chris. The younger of the two brothers was leading the league in
hitting at the time of his departure (.413) and also led the league
in on-base percentage (.503) and slugging (.652), thanks to 17
extra-base hits. He also showed good foot speed, swiping 18 bases in
23 attempts, giving him a well-rounded offensive game. Bostick also
excelled in the league's all-star game in Oneonta, one of the
league's biggest parks, going 2-for-3 with a double, a triple and
three runs driven in. While he shows fluid actions on the infield,
his future position is in question, as he may be a better fit in the
outfield than up the middle of the infield as he continues to mature
and add strength to his wiry-strong build. A few coaches expressed
surprise that he signed with the A's as a late-round pick given his
commitment to play for St. John's, but it was indicative of his
desire to play professionally.