RED SOX OR ATHLETICS

The Rockhounds added a pair of pitchers, the Yankees picked up two potentially good hitters, the Rockets got a former Caribbean Stars outfielder, the Seminoles added a young and promising shortstop and the Rockies (formerly Angels) drafted almost an entire team Sunday at the NABA Palm Beach fall league tryouts at the Santaluces Complex in Lantana. The Rockhounds, who are moving back to 18AAA after having a 16-2 record in 18AA this spring, chose 18-year old pitcher Kletus Stubblefield and 24-year hurler Michael Pichardo in the draft. In drafting Stubblefield, the Hounds may also have added a shortstop with pro experience. Stubblefield's stepdad, Thomas Coates, played minor league baseball and was with the two time league champion Pirates in the mid 1990's. Coates has indicated he would play with the Rockhounds to keep an eye on his stepson and to bring experience to the Hounds' roster. Pichardo pitched both in the Caribbean and a strong Adult League in the Miami area. The Yankees chose a pair of players who looked good in hitting drills on Sunday. Jason Davis, 27, first baseman-outfielder, demonstrated power by drilling several balls to the outfield, including one which left the yard. The Yankees also selected 31-year old infielder Herid Betancourt who played this spring with the Cardinals of the Men's Baseball Association. Betancourt, who can also pitch, had arrived at the complex because he thought his first place Cardinals'team was scheduled to play. When advised that the MBA had abruptly ended its season last week, he signed up for the NABA tryouts. The Rockets, now managed by Billy Brescia, picked up a veteran outfielder--30-year old Dennis Martinez, who played for several seasons with the Caribbean Stars (now Los Tigres). The Seminoles, represented by player Lino Batista in the absence of vacationing manager Joe Stone, made the only 18AA selection when they tabbed 19-year old shortstop John Laurino. Laurino played his high school ball at Pope John Paul HS in Boca Raton and is now enrolled at Palm Beach Community College. John Corporal's Rockies selected eleven players in the hope of creating a more financially solvent organization for the fall. The Rockies took 42-year old outfielder Harris Levitt, who played for the 18AA Cubs this spring; 26-year old outfielder John Aquino of Lantana and 19-year old infielder-outfielder Eric Wynn of Boca Raton, a former Pope John Paul HS player. In addition, the Rockies selected 21-year old infielder-pitcher Rolando Valdes; 40-year old shortstop Steve Tonoff; 25-year old outfielder Steve Grove, who was with the Seminoles this spring and has other Palm Beach league experience; 23-year old outfielder Don Hennessy who played with the Greenspace Royals in the spring; 35-year old outfielder-second baseman Marc Lichtenfeld of Boynton Beach; 37-year old shortstop-outfielder David Jackson, also of Boynton; 40+ third baseman Chris Lambert of Wellington who can also catch and do some pitching and 33-year old pitcher-outfielder Jason Markewitz. Markewitz, from Delray Beach, may turn out to be a steal since he pitched four years of Division I college ball. Corporal reported that several of his players had sponsor connections that could bring more financial stability to the team for the coming season, which begins on October 19.