News and Announcements
August 30, 2003
Despite getting off to the worst start in franchise history, the Johnstown Grays finished strong and earned a trip to the AAABA League Championship Series to defend their 2002 title. However, the Grays were unable to make a return trip to the National Tournament, losing to Delweld, the eventual National Runner-up.
The Grays started off the season with a 3-1 win over P&H Architects. The Grays then dropped their next four to fall to 1-4. The Grays split their next eight games to move their record to 5-8.
According to manager Chris Pfeil, “We really didn’t get off to the start that we had hoped. We were making a lot of mental mistakes and leaving a ton of runners in scoring postion.”
Things did not get better for the Grays as they dropped five consecutive games to put their record at 5-13. On June 26, the Grays learned of the death of former teammate, Matt Eppley. Eppley played for the Grays from 1999-2002 and was a vital part of the 2002 National Tournament team.
Pfeil commented, “I can’t put into words what Matt meant to everyone associated with our organization. It really put things into perspective. It was a real emotional time for this team. We dedicated the remainder of the season to Matt and retired his jersey, which we hung outside the dugout for the rest of the year.”
The Grays lost their next two games, to extend the losing streak to seven games, putting their record at 5-15. The record was the worst start in franchise history.
Pfeil added, “We were 0-6 in one-run games at that point and had three more losses by two runs. Everyone was frustrated. We weren’t doing the little things to win the close games. But, the guys stuck together and were determined to turn the season around.”
The Grays did just that, starting with consecutive wins over P&H Architects and Galliker’s to move to 7-15. Following a loss to Galliker’s, the Grays beat P&H Architects and Delweld in a doubleheader to move to 9-16.
The Grays split their next eight games to finish the season with a disappointing 13-20 record. The Grays were set to play Galliker’s in the AAABA League Semifinals. The series was a rematch of the 2002 Championship Series.
The Grays got a complete game, one-hit shutout from Jabbar Brown in Game 1 of the series to help propel them to a three-game sweep of Galliker’s.
Pfeil commented, “We knew down the stretch we were playing our best baseball of the season. We put it all together in the Galliker’s series. The players were really focused on getting back to the Championship Series to defend their title.”
The Grays lost the first game of the series to Delweld 3-1. In Game 2, the Grays overcame a 5-0 deficit to take a 6-5 lead. Delweld put up two runs in the eighth to take a 7-6 lead. The Grays loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth, but were unable to score and fell behind in the series 2-0. Delweld beat the Grays 8-2 to complete the sweep and dethrone the defending champions.
Pfeil commented, “We let Game 2 slip away from us, which would have swung the momentum of the series our way. But, I was real proud of how this group stuck together all season and battled until the end. It just wasn’t meant to be this year.”
The Grays now look ahead to the 2004 Season. Pfeil said, “We have a good nucleus back and we are excited about the incoming recruiting class. Our goal is to make it back to the National Tournament.”
GRAYS NOTES: Joe Pichler was named 2003 Johnstown AAABA League Co-MVP … Pichler becomes the second Grays player to win the award (Ryan Unger, 2002) … Pichler was selected as one of four pickup player for Delweld in the National Tournament … Pichler is the second Grays player to be picked up for the tournament (Steve Holtz, 1999) … The Grays placed two players on the All-AAABA League Team: Arek Zambanini (UT) and Mike Cardamone (P).
2003 FINAL STANDINGS
23-10 x-Delweld
20-13 Galliker's
13-20 Johnstown Grays
12-21 P&H Architects
6-10 Altoona (against Johnstown opponents)
x-clinched regular season title
Delweld has selected Johnstown Grays third baseman and league co-MVP Joe Pichler as one of their four pickup players for the 2003 National Tournament. Delweld also selected three pitchers from Galliker's: Justin Ronan, Greg Lasinski, and Anthony Rebyanski.
July 17, 2003
The Johnstown AAABA League announced the award winners for the 2003 Season on Thursday night.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: tie, Joe Pichler (Johnstown Grays) and Casey Long (Delweld)
MOST VALUABLE PITCHER: Randy Dicken, Delweld
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Brandon Bowser, Delweld
ROOKIE PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Greg Lasinski, Galliker's
ALL-AAABA LEAGUE TEAM:
C: Josh Mearkle, P&H Architects
1B: Chad Kamler, Galliker's
2B: Kurt Elbin, Delweld
SS: Jimmy Mayer, Delweld
3B: Anthony Yarkowski, Galliker's
LF: Josh Wiltrout, Galliker's
CF: Brent Davison, Galliker's
RF: Bryan Hagerich, Delweld
UT: Arek Zambanini, Johnstown Grays
P: Jeff Butterworth, Delweld
P: Justin Ronan, Galliker's
P: Mike Cardamone, Johnstown Grays
P: Mike Demark, P&H Architects
BEST-OF-FIVE SEMIFINALS
Friday, July 18
Johnstown Grays 2 Galliker's 0
Delweld 14 P&H Architects 6
Saturday, July 19
Delweld 10 P&H Architects 2
Johnstown Grays 7 Galliker's 5
Sunday, July 20
Johnstown Grays 10 Galliker's 7
(Grays win series 3-0)
Delweld 6 P&H Architects 0
(Delweld wins series 3-0)
BEST-OF-FIVE FINALS
Tuesday, July 22
Delweld 3 Johnstown Grays 1
Friday, July 25
Delweld 7 Johnstown Grays 6
Saturday, July 26
Delweld 8 Johnstown Grays 2
(Delweld wins series 3-0)
