Sunday, April 14, 2013

Dunellen, NJ

Former professional baseball player Steve Crampton struck out 24 Pirates on Sunday, pacing the Raritan Valley Indians to a 4-1 victory at Columbia Park on Opening Day. 

Crampton played 7 seasons of professional independent league baseball from 2002-2007. As a member of the Newark Bears in 2004 he was named team Pitcher of the Year, posting a 6-3 record with 2 saves and a 2.15 ERA in 46 relief appearances. Opponents batted only .163 against him and he struck out 68 batters in 75.1 innings of work.

Although it's been 6 years since Crampton last played professional ball, he apparently had no trouble transitioning into the New Jersey Amateur Baseball Association South Wood League. Working quickly and methodically all afternoon, Crampton struck out 8 of the first 9 Pirates he faced and 14 out of the first 16. He even managed to strike out 4 batters in a single inning when leadoff hitter Justin DeNapoli reached base on a throwing error by the catcher after striking out to lead off the bottom of the 4th.

"He is definitely the best pitcher I've faced in my entire baseball career," chimed first year Pirates Manager Sal LoBue, who was one of the few bright spots on the day for Dunellen having gone 2 for 4 with a run scored. "We look forward to getting another shot at him later in the season."

Despite being outmatched by far superior pitching that is something you'd expect to see in the NJABL Premiere League, the Pirates fought all afternoon and kept the game close. Rookie southpaw Frank Zurla threw 7 effective innings, giving up 3 earned runs on 9 hits and 3 walks, striking out 7. Down only 3-0 in their half of the 6th, the Pirates tried to rally when third baseman Brock Mundy drew a 1 out walk and center fielder Justin DeNapoli reached on an error. With men on 1st and 2nd, however, Crampton fanned Dave Pakenham and John Schleppenbach to retire the side. 

Dunellen finally got on the board in the bottom of the 9th when Sal LoBue singled and later came around to score on a base hit by Chris Osborn. 

The Pirates look to get into the win column next Sunday, April 21 when they tie up with the NJ Shockers for a double header. 

Zurla Pitches Dunellen Past Twins in Spring Training Finale

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Dunellen, NJ

Rookie southpaw Frank Zurla pitched 5 scoreless innings, walking none and only yielding 2 hits as the Pirates finished off their Spring Training slate with a 2-0 win over the Monmouth Twins on Sunday at Columbia Park.

Zurla has a 1.50 era through 9 innings of work this spring and has controlled his pitches impressively for a rookie hurler thrown right into the fire. "Z adds depth and youth to our pitching staff, something that was much needed for our organization this season" said 1st year Manager Sal LoBue. The Pirates are looking to replace veteran lefty and one time team MVP Bill Kurzius who went 8-2 with a 2.56 ERA and 56 K's in 2011.

Offensively, the Pirates were paced by leadoff hitter and center fielder, Justin DeNapoli, who was 3 for 3 on the day with 2 doubles, a single and a run scored. 

With another Spring Training in the books, the Pirates will send Zurla to the mound to take on the Raritan Valley Indians on Opening Day next Sunday, April 14th at 12 pm at Columbia Park. It will mark the 4th season of Dunellen Pirates baseball and their first in the newly from New Jersey Amateur Baseball Association

Snow-out: Bucs-Cubs Scrimmage Postponed 

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Dunellen, NJ

With snow falling late Saturday afternoon and the hourly forecast calling for temperatures in the low 30s for first pitch tomorrow morning, Pirates brass has decided to cancel their Sunday scrimmage with the Edison Cubs.

Next up on the Spring Training slate, the Pirates are scheduled to take on the Parsippany Pirates next Sunday, March 24 at Columbia Park in Dunellen. First pitch will be at 10 am.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Pirates Fall In Spring Training Opener

The Pirates opened their spring slate on Sunday with a 2-1 loss in 7 innings to Edison Athletics of the Amateur Baseball Association. 

Dunellen sent rookie southpaw Frank Zurla to the mound and he pitched efficiently in his first outing as a Pirate, giving up 1 earned run and striking out a pair in 2 innings of work. Offensively, the Pirates were paced by another rookie, centerfielder John Fakla, who lead off the bottom of the first with a double and later scored on a fielding error. 

First year manager Sal LoBue was pleased with what he saw out of his pitchers, specifically veteran Dave Pakenham. "Pak was a stud today. He threw strikes and kept everyone off balance. We're excited for what he can do for us in 2013." 

In his first action since pitching the Pirates to a Game 1 LDS victory on a broken foot last season, Pirates CEO/President/GM/Warrior Al Gelson pitched 2 scoreless innings and looked quite nimble fielding a high fly ball halfway up the 1st baseline in the top of the 3rd. "Thought Bovo had that one and then I realized that he was talking to the batter already. Guess I just have to do everything around here," quipped Gelson.

2nd year Pirate Joe Vargo worked a scoreless 5th and Pakenham did the same in the 6th. Ed Kania struck out the side in the top of the 7th before the Pirates went down without a wimper in their half of the frame.

Next up for Dunellen in Spring Training action will be the Edison Cubs next Sunday, March 17 at 11 am at Columbia Park. Opening Day will be Sunday, April 7th at 11 am at Columbia Park in Dunellen.