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Y-D Red Sox Have the Roster to Return to Postseason

06/16/2004 10:54 AM

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for immediate release: 16 June, 2004

Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox Have the Roster
to Return to the Postseason in 2004


CAPE COD, Mass. – The Y-D Red Sox look to 2004 as one of their most exciting seasons yet. The Red Sox led the league in batting with an average of .260 in 2003. The organization hopes to match the talent of last year’s team.

     Returning players for the Red Sox in 2004 include Trevor Crowe (Arizona) who can play both infield and outfield, and Justin Meier, a right-handed pitcher for LSU whom head coach Scott Pickler hopes will anchor the team’s pitching. In 2003 Meier had a record of 1-1 with 6 saves. He struck out 42 batters in 22.2 innings and ended the season with a 1.19 earned run average. Crowe batted .283 with 18 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 43 games in 2003. Both Meier and Crowe were a part of the 2003 All-Star game hosted by the Falmouth Commodores.

     The Red Sox look to players from notable baseball programs, such as Georgia Tech, LSU, and Baylor. Wes Hodges (Georgia Tech), coming off an excellent freshman season at will play third base for Y-D. Hodges was drafted in the 13th round in 2003 by the Chicago White Sox, but chose to enroll at Georgia Tech instead. Hodges’ teammate Lee Hyde, an interesting mix of both an excellent pitcher and a competent batter, will pitch and be a designated hitter for the Red Sox. 

     Will Harris, a sophomore from LSU, will play first base for Y-D. Harris played very well in the 2003 Valley Baseball League, a summer wooden bat league in Virginia, batting .362 with 7 doubles, 4 homers, 14 RBI, and 14 runs. His older brother, first baseman Clay Harris, also at LSU, played for the league champion Orleans Cardinals in 2003. 

     Chase Gerdes (Baylor) joins the Red Sox as a pitcher and outfielder. Redshirted as a freshman in 2003, Gerdes cleaned up in the Northwoods League in the summer of 2003, finishing second in batting average at .335. Gerdes brings speed to the team, having stolen 12 bases in 17 attempts in the summer league.

     Cory VanAllen, also from Baylor, brings talented left-handed pitching to the team. He was drafted in the third round of the 2003 Major League amateur draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers but did not sign. the third-highest drafted player in 2003 not to sign, behind only Andrew Miller (Devil Rays/North Carolina) and Drew Stubbs (Astros/Texas)

     The Red Sox native son for the team is Frank Curreri, a catcher from UMass and a native of Weymouth. Curreri was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 41st round in the 2003 draft and was a second-team All-Atlantic 10 and first-team All-New England selection. He led the Minutemen with a .380 batting average, 54 RBI, a .464 on-base percentage and a .614 slugging percentage.

     At the helm of the Y-D Red Sox, Coach Pickler returns for his seventh season. Pickler has compiled 128 wins and is 14th on the leagues all-time win list. Concerns for the 2004 team include the inexperience of the team’s many freshman and sophomore players. While these players are of an excellent caliber and some of college baseball’s finest, it is difficult for any team, especially a young one, to “jell” into a championship contender. 

     The Red Sox begin their season June 17 at 5:00 p.m., hosted by the Hyannis Mets. The Red Sox’s home opener will be the following Saturday versus Wareham at 5:00 p.m. -- Britt Berry, 2004 CCBL Intern, [email protected]

John Garner, Jr.
CCBL Director of
Public Relations & Broadcasting
(508) 790-0394 [email protected]