The 2023 PGCBL West Division schedule will begin on June 2, with four of the seven teams in action. Geneva will host Auburn for their season opener at 7:05 on June 2, while Elmira hosts Batavia with a 6:35 scheduled first pitch. On June 3, Niagara will play their first game of the season at Auburn at 7:05 p.m., Newark will host Jamestown for a matchup at 7:05 p.m., and Elmira and Batavia will go at it again at 6:35 p.m.
The Batavia Muckdogs claimed the 2022 West Division regular season title with a 30-15 record. They then advanced to the PGCBL Championship Series with a win over Elmira in the first round of the postseason, followed by a 6-0 victory over Utica in the tournament semifinals. The Muckdogs will return pitchers Aidan Cooney (Rochester), Alex Hale (Niagara County), Dylan Kinney (Xavier University of Louisiana), Ryan Kinney (Xavier University of Louisiana), 2022 Second Team All-PGCBL Relief Pitcher Trey Bacon (St. Petersburg), Julian Pichardo (Fort Lauderdale) and Tyler Henshaw (Potomac State) along with infielder Caleb Rodriguez (Kean) and 2022 Second Team All-PGCBL outfielder Josh Leadem (Rochester). Leadem slashed .348/.437/.433 with 33 runs, 10 extra-base hits, 22 RBI and 29 stolen bases (3rd most in PGCBL) in 41 games last season for the Muckdogs. Rodriguez contributed 20 walks, 15 hits, 15 runs and eight RBI in 30 games last season for Batavia. Henshaw was outstanding in 10 relief appearances last season for the Muckdogs. In 23.0 innings of work, he allowed just five runs in total with 19 strikeouts for a 1.96 ERA. Bacon put together a 1.59 earned run average with three saves and 22 Ks in nine relief appearances and 17.0 innings pitched last season on his way to being named to the All-PGCBL Second Team. Among Batavia’s roster additions in 2023 will be outfielder Anthony Calabro (West Georgia) who is coming off an outstanding season with the UWG Wolves this spring. In 49 starts, Calabro led the Gulf South Conference in batting average (.418) and runs scored (65) to go along with 76 hits, 14 home runs, 57 runs batted in, a .500 on-base percentage, and a .725 slugging percentage.
The Auburn DoubleDays went 25-21 during the 2022 PGCBL regular season to earn the West Division’s third seed. The DoubleDays fell to the Blue Sox in the first round of the playoffs. Starting pitcher Ryan Bailey (Alfred State) and right fielder JC Preacher (Georgia Southern) both earned a spot on the All-PGCBL teams last season. Left-handed pitcher and Virginia commit Tommy Roldan will be among the DoubleDays additions for the 2023 season, along with local standout Cooper Polcovich, a left-handed pitcher from Auburn High School who will compete for Potomac State following the PGCBL campaign. Auburn’s 2023 group will also feature outfielder Sean Camacho (Siena) who started 26 games during his freshman campaign for the Saints this spring.
The Elmira Pioneers earned the final West Division playoff spot last season with a 24-21 regular season record. The Pioneers will return pitchers Alex Sweeney (Northern Essex), Billy Wilderman (Molloy) and Ethan Buckley (Ithaca) from the 2022 group along with catcher Gil Merod (Ithaca) and outfielder Alex Luccini (UMass Lowell). Luccini started 45 games this spring for the UMass Lowell River Hawks and slashed .274/.365/.394 with 32 runs, 12 extra-base hits and 37 runs batted in. Merod started 42 games this spring for the Bombers and helped lead Ithaca to the DIII NCAA Championship East Super Regional. Merod put together a .302 batting average with 29 runs and 19 RBI during his senior campaign with Ithaca.
The Geneva Red Wings finished the 2022 PGCBL regular season with a 21-21 resume, just 1.5 games back from a playoff spot. The squad will return right-handed pitcher Hayden Smith (Northeastern) and local outfielder Wyatt Patchett (Le Moyne), who played his high school ball at Geneva. Patchett smashed 12 home runs and tallied 38 RBI this spring in 56 starts in right field for the Le Moyne Dolphins. Catcher Brandon Biggane (Bates) will join the Red Wings for the 2023 campaign. Biggane started 30 games this spring for the Bates Bobcats during which he produced 24 runs, 36 hits, and 30 RBI with a .319/.394/.496 slash line. Devin Georgetti (Finger Lakes) will join the Red Wings’ pitching staff after a solid spring with FLCC. Georgetti completed a team-high 59.0 innings pitched for the Lakers with a 1.53 earned run average and 86 strikeouts (compared to just 11 walks).
The Jamestown Tarp Skunks also compiled 21 victories last season and narrowly missed the PGCBL playoffs. The Tarp Skunks will return right-handed pitcher Patrick DeMarco (Ohio University) from their 2022 roster. DeMarco made eight starts and completed 39.2 innings of work for Jamestown last summer with a 4-2 record. Jamestown’s pitching staff additions in 2023 will include Andrew Ayers (St. Bonaventure), Evan Chafee (Alabama), Tony DeLawrence (Barton), Kasey Gilman (Princeton), Jason Masick (Wagner), Will Saxenmeyer (Wagner) and Patrick Yoder (East Stroudsburg), among others. Evan Fragela (University of Pittsburgh at Braford) will join the Tarp Skunks this summer as a catcher/infielder following a solid junior campaign with the Panthers this spring. Fragela started 33 games this season for Pitt.-Bradford and tallied 29 runs, 42 hits, 23 RBI, 18 walks and eight stolen bases.
The Niagara Power tallied 16 wins last season and will look to get into the 2023 playoff picture with the help of returners Nick DiCarlo (Iona), Michael Huff (Western Michigan), 2022 Second Team All-PGCBL selection Billy Morris (D’Youville), Alex Dzimian (D’Youville), Andrew Fairbrother (Tiffin) and Brendan Morse (NCCC). Morris batted .325 with 16 runs, 37 hits and 25 RBI in 30 games played last summer Niagara while his D’Youville teammate Dzimian established a .328 batting average with 12 runs, 21 hits, 10 walks and five stolen bases in 20 games played for the Power. Morris also started seven games on the mound last summer and tallied 36 strikeouts with a 2-1 record in 41.0 innings pitched. Dzimian made 12 relief appearances and one start for Niagara in 2022, completing 34.1 innings of work with 20 Ks.
Morris was named to the ECC All-Conference First Team this spring after slashing .371/.432/.640 with 11 home runs, 47 RBI, 38 runs and 66 hits in 47 games started for the D’Youville Saints. Shortstop Zach Evans (Lenoir-Rhyne) will compete for the Power this summer after a solid sophomore campaign with the LR Bears. Evans started all 54 games for the Bears this spring and compiled a .294/.359/.467 slash line with 46 runs, 58 hits, 14 doubles, six home runs and 45 runs batted in.
The Newark Pilots recorded 15 wins in 2022 with the help of First Team All-PGCBL center fielder Aaron Whitley (Rochester). Right-handed pitchers Angelo Deer (Emerson) and Chris Lowe (Emerson) will return to the Newark roster in 2023. The Pilots will also get a boost from the return of outfielder Frankie DiMartino (Hofstra), who led the team in extra-base hits during the 2021 campaign. Both Deer and Lowe pitched over 50.0 innings with two complete games each this spring for the Lions.
The Utica Blue Sox, who finished second in the West Division last season, will now compete in the East Division for the 2023 campaign.