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Alumni in Independent Baseball Above: Caleb Thielbar, a member of the independent St. Paul Saints in 2010, now pitching for the New Britain Rock Cats in the Minnesota farm system (Photo courtesy MiLB.com). Front: Josh Colafemina of the Quebec Capitales. (Photo courtesy le Soleil) AMERICAN ASSOCIATION Jeff Vincent (Watertown 2004), Laredo Lemurs Jacob Wiley (Watertown 2006, 2008), Kansas City T-Bones ATLANTIC LEAGUE Dan DeGeorge (Glens Falls 2007), Somerset Patriots Derrick Gordon (Amsterdam 2004), Sugarland Skeeters Shea Harris (Saratoga 2005), Camden Riversharks CAN-AM LEAGUE Alex Bardeguez (Little Falls 2006), Newark Bears Keith Brachold (Schenectady 2002), Rockland Boulders Josh Colafemina (Amsterdam 2004), Quebec Capitales Chris Cox (Watertown 2010), Quebec Capitales Quentin Davis (Amsterdam 2003), Newark Bears Will Hassett (Glens Falls 2006, 2008), Rockland Boulders Tony Patane (Amsterdam 2009), Worcester Tornadoes FRONTIER LEAGUE Rye Davis (Elmira 2008), Windy City Thunderbolts Brian Erie (Elmira 2010), Lake Erie Crushers Ryan Ferguson (Elmira 2009-2010), Joliet Slammers Ken Gregory (Glens Falls 2007), Southern Illinois Miners Sean Gregory (Amsterdam 2008), Florence Freedom Brian Heere (Watertown 2007), Traverse City Beach Bums Matt Howard (Cooperstown 2010), Traverse City Beach Bums Sam Mahoney (Watertown 2008), Gateway Grizzlies Ryan Quigley (Watertown 2007), Southern Illinois Miners Keli’i Zablan (Watertown 2008), River City Rascals NORTH AMERICAN LEAGUE Derek Marshall (Wat. 2008/Amsterdam 2009), Forth Worth Cats Blake Nation (Glens Falls 2008), Fort Worth Cats PECOS LEAGUE Jordan Stouffer (Albany 2010), White Sands Pup Fish Andrew Wall (Elmira 2010), Alpine Cowboys Current affiliated players Caleb Thielbar (Little Falls 2007) and David Valesente (Elmira 2007) used their success in the independent leagues in 2011 to sign contracts with Major League teams. Thielbar began last season with the American Association’s Saint Paul Saints. The 2009 Milwaukee Brewers draft pick struck out 62 batters in 49.2 innings and went 3-3 over 43 appearances. Before the end of the season, Thielbar was signed by the Minnesota Twins. He closed out 2011 with the Advanced-A Fort Myers Miracle of the Florida State League. Caleb pitched in a Spring Training game for the Twins two months ago and he is currently with the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats of the Eastern League. David Valesente (Elmira 2007) went undrafted out of Saint Joseph’s (Pa.) University. The four-year starter for the Hawks of the Atlantic-10 finished his college career with a .323 batting average, 216 hits and 124 RBI. David graduated in 2010. He began his professional career last summer with the Alpine Cowboys of the Pecos League. David was a Pecos League all-star. He belted out 40 hits in 43 games and compiled a .292 batting average. Three months ago, the Lansing, N.Y., native was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates. David is expected to play for the New York-Penn League’s State College Spikes beginning next month. NOTES: Josh Colafemina (Amsterdam 2004) has been a part of three straight Can-Am League championship teams with the Quebec Capitales. Les Capitales have advanced to the league championship series in each of his four seasons with the team…Keith Brachold (Schenectady 2002) was a Can-Am League all-star last season with the Brockton Rox. Brachold, now with the Can-Am’s Rockland Boulders, drove in 80 runs and launched 18 home runs a season ago…Like David Valesente and Caleb Thielbar, Keli’i Zablan (Watertown 2008) parlayed independent league success into a contract with a Major League team. Zablan won a Frontier League championship with the River City Rascals in 2010. He was signed after the season by the Seattle Mariners. The Ewa Beach, Hawaii, native spent all of the 2011 campaign in the Mariners farm system with Class-A Clinton and Advanced-A High Desert. |
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