Announcement
May 24, 2002
The Johnstown Grays return 12 players from last year’s playoff team. The Grays finished in third place with a record of 19-16 last year under manager Chris Pfeil. The Grays took a 2-1 advantage in the Best-of-5 semifinal against Delweld before dropping games four and five of the series to end their season. According to Pfeil, “We got a taste of what it takes to win in the playoffs. Our guys are hungry to get back and make a run at it. We are real excited about our chances.”
The Grays will open the 2002 season on Tuesday, May 28, when they take on Assure Home Equity at the Point Stadium. Game time for the opener is set for 5:30 p.m.
Jason Wos, 20, and Scott Goss, 18, will play first base for the Grays. Wos is back for his third season with the Grays. Wos was named the 2000 AAABA League Rookie of the Year. Wos has a .270 career batting average. Goss comes to the Grays from the disbanded Galleria franchise. Goss hit .312 in his rookie season last year.
Adam Miscik, 18, will make the switch to second base from third base this season. Adam returns for his second season with the Grays. Adam hit .291 in his rookie season.
Ryan Miscik, 20, will be back to play shortstop in his second year with the Grays. Ryan was named First Team All-AAABA shortstop last year. He hit .316 and anchored the infield with a .963 fielding average.
Brandon DePhillips, 20, will join the Grays in 2002 and play third base and first base. DePhillips is a former Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Player of the Year while at Yough High School. DePhillips will hit in the clean up spot and help solidify the bullpen.
Chris Minarcin, 20, will begin his first season with the Grays. Minarcin will be used as a utility man and will bring a big bat to the lineup. Minarcin will also join the starting rotation. Minarcin played last year for Har-Brack State and was honorable mention for the league MVP award.
Chad Kamler, 19, and Nate Crookshank, 17, will handle the catching duties for the Grays. Kamler is back for his second season with the Grays. His season ended abruptly last year with a fractured wrist. Crookshank comes to the Grays from Hoops in the City Colt League. He will be called on to provide an offensive spark and speed.
Ryan Unger, 20, returns for his fourth season as the Grays’ center fielder. Unger hit .357 last season and was named First Team All-AAABA outfielder last year. Unger has a career batting average of .327 with 57 runs scored and 40 RBI.
Steve Siembak, 20, also returns for his fourth season with the Grays. Siembak hit .362 last season and was named First Team All-AAABA designated hitter last year. Siembak will see time in the outfield and will be used out of the bullpen.
Jeremy Shaffer, 19, is back for his second season with the Grays. Shaffer will primarily handle right field but also will be used behind the plate.
Ryan Kabana, 19, will be back for his second season in the Grays outfield. Kabana hit .257 last season for the Grays. Kabana also will be used out of the bullpen.
Matt Eppley, 20, will return for his fourth season with the Grays. Eppley will handle the designated hitter role, but also provides depth in the infield and outfield. Eppley has a career batting average of .295.
Kip Watkins, 20, will return for his second season with the Grays. Watkins will once again anchor the pitching staff. Watkins went 6-2 last season with a 2.70 ERA and was named First Team All-AAABA pitcher. Watkins will get the call on opening day.
Mike Cardamone, 19, will return for his second season in the Grays’ rotation. Cardamone went 4-2 last season with a 3.42 ERA and was named AAABA League Rookie Pitcher of the Year.
Josh Geiser, 19, will begin his first season with the Johnstown Grays. Geiser is a native of Buffalo, NY. He was the Erie County (NY) American Legion League MVP and was named All-Western New York his senior season at Eden High School.
Scott Riddle, 19, will join the starting rotation in his first year with the Grays. Riddle went 7-1 last summer for West Hempfield American Legion.
Dave Holtz, 20, will be back for his fourth season with the Grays. Holtz will be called upon to anchor the bullpen. He has made 16 appearances in his career and has a 3.71 career ERA.
Ryan Altimore, 17, will begin his first season in the Johnstown AAABA League. Altimore comes to the Grays from Hoops in the City Colt League. Altimore will add depth to the bullpen.
According to Grays’ manager Chris Pfeil, “There is a great deal of talent in the league this year. Every team has a good pitching and depth. I think the team that plays most consistently during the summer will put themselves in the best position to win the league.”
Pfeil added, “We ended last season with a bad taste. Our guys are focused on what we want to accomplish. The key for us is to keep the focus each night and build momentum for the playoffs. Our goal is to represent Johnstown in the national tournament.”
Pfeil will be assisted by Paul Knupp, Ray Stenger, and Chris Zakraysek. Larry Pfeil is the Gray’s General Manager. The Grays are sponsored by Denny Altimore.
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