(RAMAPO, N.Y.) – While the 2014 Rockland Boulders season won’t officially begin until May 23, players report for Training Camp on Monday, May 12 to prepare. Entering their fourth season, the Boulders will have two home exhibition games on May 16 & 17 where fans can get their first glimpse of the team.
“We are lucky enough to play in front of a good fan base that knows the game of baseball and knows what to expect on an everyday basis from their players,” said manager Jamie Keefe, who returns for his second season at the helm. “They know that we aren’t just out here to put on a good show every night; we’re here to win ballgames and get ourselves in the playoffs and give us a chance to win a championship.”
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The Boulders are looking to build off a 2013 campaign that saw them win a franchise record 49 games, including beginning the year with a 6-0 mark. Rockland also won a franchise-best 27 games at Provident Bank Park last season.
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“There’s a big home field advantage here,” noted Keefe. “We looked at the top-10 crowds that we had last year and we were 8-2 in those games. That’s a big thing to look back on knowing that the bigger the crowd, the better these guys play.”
As a squad, the offense helped break multiple franchise records, including batting average (.278) and stolen bases (109). Outfielder Donnie Webb set new marks in walks (50) and stolen bases (30), while Danny Bomback broke the single-season doubles record with 34, tying the Can-Am league mark. Both Webb and Jerod Edmondson were named to the Can-Am League All-Star team. Jerod’s brother, Chris, started the season hitting .413 before being picked up by the Atlanta Braves organization marking the first time a Boulder had his contract purchased by a Major League club.
“We crossed some big barriers last year, we were able to get our first Boulder signed,” Keefe said. “The Boulders brand itself and the Boulders name has come a long way here in just three seasons.”
The fourth season officially begins on May 23 as the Boulders welcome defending league champion Quebec to Provident Bank Park, kicking off a seven-game home stand; the longest of the summer. Rockland will also play two exhibition games during Training Camp on May 16 against the New Jersey Jackals and May 17 against the NYPD Baseball team. This will mark the third consecutive year that the Boulders and the NYPD will meet in a preseason contest with South Korean knuckleballer Min Hur getting the start.
“The guys really enjoyed it last year, I really enjoyed it; not just playing them but hanging out with them for the day,” Keefe said of the annual battle with New York’s Finest. “I hope that we are able to put a lot of fans in the stands and show the NYPD and their families and friends that we appreciate the service they provide to the city.”
Admission to both exhibition games is free but tickets are required. Fans can pick-up their tickets at the Provident Bank Park box office or reserve them online (online processing fees apply). Parking for the exhibition games is $5 per vehicle.
Players report for Training Camp on Mon., May 12 as 28 players look to compete for a roster spot. With 21 new faces coming to Rockland, building team chemistry will be the first task for the 2014 Boulders.
“You’ve got so many guys who look forward to getting to know the area but don’t know too much about the Boulders way and what we expect of them which is maximum effort for 96 games,” explained Keefe. “They also need to know and realize right off the bat that no job is safe. They all have to go out and win a job and then show that they want to be here and they are strong enough physically and mentally to stay and handle that 96 game schedule.”
Where the roster sees the most turnover is on the pitching mound as Bobby Blevins was traded and Pat Moran retired. The pitching staff sees 10 new arms join the staff including 13-year veteran Richard Salazar. He won 10 games in the American Association for Sioux City and reached as high as triple-A Norfolk with the Baltimore Orioles in 2007. Shaun Teufel also boasts triple-A experience, reaching Toledo in the Detroit Tigers organization. The son of former New York Met, and 1986 World Series champion Tim Teufel, he spent the majority of 2013 with the Mets double-A affiliate, Binghamton. They join a staff that sees four hurlers return including starter Charlie Law, who tossed the first ever no-hitter for Rockland, and reliever Alex Kreis, who appeared in 38 games.
“Not having the likes of Blevins and Moran anymore, I knew we really needed to work our rotation and build around our younger guys,” Keefe admitted. “Salazar is a bona fide number one. We know that we are really happy with what we brought in on the pitching side and there is more to come.”
Jerod Edmondson headlines the list of returning players along with infielders Matt Nandin, Steve Nyisztor, Stephen Cardullo and catcher Billy Alvino. Both Cardullo and Edmondson played in all 100 games in 2013 and were anchors at their respective positions, while Alvino was a calming presence behind the plate. Nyisztor made his professional debut with the Boulders last year, while Nandin became a regular in the lineup after missing the first half of the season due to injury.
Fans will soon learn the names of such everyday players as Justin Dalles, Ernie Banks, Jr. and Antone DeJesus. A former 16th round draft pick by St. Louis, DeJesus spent four years in the organization reaching as high as AA Springfield. In 2013, he hit .330 with Gateway of the Frontier League. Banks, Jr. (no relation to Mr. Cub) has proven his worth as a power hitter, driving in 59 runs and belting 13 homeruns for Newark last season. Drafted three times in his career, Dalles spent last year with double-A Reading in the Philadelphia Phillies organization.
“We were able to go out and swing the bats and score a lot of runs; we did a lot of good things last year offensively,” mentioned Keefe. “We just struggled defensively and that came back to bite us. We had injuries and we know that but there are no excuses. We need to be stronger with the backup players we have so when someone does go down we have someone who can step in, not just offensively, but defensively as well.”
Another new aspect to the 2014 season is the enhanced partnership the Can-Am League and American Association now hold. The Can-Am will be one of four divisions within the American Association and Can-Am players will be invited to the American Association All-Star Game on July 29 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
“We are going to be fighting for our lives all season in this league,” Keefe noted. We’re all going to know each other’s holes and what each other’s’ strengths and weaknesses are. It’s just going to come down to who can take advantage of those early and continue to take advantage throughout the season.”
Tickets are available for Opening Weekend and fans can enjoy the experience even more by purchasing an “Opening Weekend 4-Pack”. Each pack includes four tickets to one of the four games against Quebec May 23-26, four ticket vouchers to another Boulders home game later in the year and a $15 gift card. There will be post-game fireworks on both May 23 and 24 as well as special giveaways. The first 1,000 fans in attendance on Opening Night will receive a free magnetic schedule while the first 1,000 fans at the ballpark on Saturday get a free rally towel. For more ticket information, slide to www.RocklandBoulders.com.
