New-Look Crushers Eager To Open Season

Despite turnover in the front office and on the playing field, the have maintained continuity in a most important area. The goal of Avon's professional baseball team is still to give area residents a fun and exciting product.

The highlight of the regular season at will be hosting the on July 13. Manager John Massarelli and the players hope to top all the festivities with a return trip to the playoffs a little later in the summer. Two years ago, the Crushers won the Frontier League championship, but missed the playoffs in 2010.

Dan Helm, the team's vice president of business operations, believes the pieces are in place for another postseason run.

"The foundation that has been built the last two years has been great on and off the field," Helm said. "We think this will be the best team we will put on the field and I think that is saying a lot considering that we already won a championship."

Helm will assume many of the general manager duties that were handled by , now the GM of the Class A Bowling Green (Ky.) Hot Rods of the Class A Midwest League.

"I've worked closely with Ryan for many years, which makes the transition smooth," Helm said. "The same promotional ideas that have been so popular with our fans will continue. We're going to throw in a few more -- like a night where our players wear Cleveland Browns or Ohio State jerseys and we encourage fans to do the same. We always want to make coming to a Crushers game a fun experience. First off, that means trying to win the game. That's our top priority and we think we've got a good roster. On top of that, we have a lot of lined up, including lots of fireworks nights. People love fireworks."

They also enjoy winning teams and veteran manager John Massarelli thinks the group that is going through "spring training" is a good mix.

There are 36 players in camp and only 25 will be on the Crushers' roster for the season opener May 20 at Washington (Pa.).

"There's competition for spots, which is good," Massarelli said. "People are complaining about all the rain and that has kept us off the field a lot more than we would have liked. But I think it has made these guys hungry. They really want to get out there and get after it.

"I'm excited about some of the new guys we've brought in to add to the nucleus. The pitching is solid. We were able to bring back three all-stars there and we've added to the offense."

Starters Josh Roberts (10-5, 2.65 ERA) and Travis Risser (8-4, 2.70) and will relief ace Jeff Cinadr (4-3, 2.21) are expected to anchor the pitching staff. Third baseman Andrew Davis (10 homers, .285) and flashy shortstop Jodam Rivera are back, too. Both were fan favorites a year ago.

Likely to join them in fan attention this year are outfielder Kellen Kulbacki, the San Diego Padres' first-round pick in 2007, and infielder Chase Fontaine, a second-round selection of the Atlanta Braves in 2006.

Kulbacki had two big years in the Padres' organization before being hurt. He hit .301 with eight homers in 61 games in Class A ball in 2007, following up by hitting .304 with 22 homers in 102 games the next year. He played only 75 games total the next two seasons at Double-A San Antonio, batting just .208 with two homers.

"Kulbacki needs to stay healthy," Massarelli said. "He has shown he can put up solid offensive numbers. Fontaine should be an impact bat at the top of our lineup. Both guys have the tools to play in the big leagues. We have to help them play to their potential."

Fontaine has a .277 career average over five minor-league seasons, but has been limited to 402 games by injuries, too.

Roberts, as a Frontier League "veteran" entering his second season with the Crushers, knows exactly what those players are experiencing. After missing the entire 2008 season and pitching less than 90 innings total in two other years in the Florida Marlins system, the big right-hander had a big year for the Crushers last summer. He worked 137 1-3 innings over 21 starts and was among the league leaders in most pitching categories.

"This league is about putting careers together and keeping the dream (of playing in the majors) alive," Roberts said. "For one reason or another, usually injuries, you have players who have the talent, have the credentials, but just have not put it together. They're looking for a break, where something will click and big-league teams will notice."

Roberts put himself back on the radar last season, representing Lake Erie at the All-Star Game. He'd love to do it again on the home field.

"That was a lot of fun," he said. "I know the fans here are going to enjoy it. You have good players coming together for the game and three days of a lot of activities. Great stuff."

The Crushers have 10 rookies on their roster -- players who get that designation by being in their first two years of pro ball. Independent leagues such as the Frontier League have a cap on more experienced players to keep teams from loading up with 30-year-olds in an effort to simply win.

"The idea is always to win," Helm said. "But development comes first. That's what we're here to do, get players back in form."

The Crushers got the chance to add a veteran player when the St. Paul Saints were over their experienced player limit and traded reliever Ruben Flores to Lake Erie. The former Milwaukee Brewers prospect had 19 saves to years ago in Class A ball.

"He's going to help us this summer," Massarelli said. "We're going to have a summer, too. The calendar says it is spring now, even though we're wearing our winter sweatshirts out there. It's going to warm up. When we open on May 20, it's going to be fine. Springtime, headed for a Lake Erie summer."

LAKE ERIE CRUSHERS 2011 PRESEASON ROSTER

NO. CRUSHER, POSITION

  6      John Massarelli, Manager

24     Dave Schaub, Hitting Coach

29     Chris Steinborn, Pitching Coach

--       Andrew Berger, RHP

28     Kyle Breault, SS/2B

--       William Buzhardt, RHP

17      Jeff Cinadr, RHP

38     Austin Coan, RHP

33     Joel Collins, C

20     Nelson Curry, RHP

21     Andrew Davis, 3B

33     Jon Durket, LHP

25     Robert Flores, RHP

23     Chase Fontana, INF

--       Eric Gonzalez-Diaz, RHP

10     T.J. Greig, C/INF

   7     Adam Heisler, OF

37     Greg Hendrix, LHP

   6     Jason Jebbia, SS/2B

27     Kellen Kulbacki, OF

  1     Robby Kuzdale, OF

  9     Bobby Logan, 3B

16     Chris Luick, 1B

   8    Craig Maddox, C

   4    Nick Mahin, OF

22     Rick McGraw, RHP

12     Zac Messer, INF

  3     Patrick Norris, OF

35     Travis Risser, RHP

  2     Jodem Rivera, SS

36     Josh Roberts, RHP

14     Sean Ryan, OF

15     Kelyn Schellenberg, RHP

26     Kyle Shaffer, C

30     Raphael Turner, OF

18     Andrew Weeks, LHP