Dirt Dawgs well represented at 2017 FCBL All Star Game

A record setting seven Wachusett Dirt Dawgs players were recognized by Future Collegiate Baseball League office on Friday morning, as the league announced its 2017 League All-Stars for the 2017 All-Star Game at Muzzy Field in Bristol, Conn. Tuesday.

All seven Dirt Dawgs Andrew Bene (Shippensburg), Mike Demarest (Adephi), Jon Gegetskas (Westfield State), Jack Gethings (Fairfield), Eddie Santiago (Michell), Joe Simeone (UConn) and Zack Tower (Franklin Pierce) were named to the Western All-Star team as voted upon by the FCBL head coaches.

 

Bene has appeared in 17 games behind the plate for Wachusett. He maintains a .306 batting average, and is in the midst of a 10 game hitting streak, raising his batting average .194 points over that stretch. The catcher has two home runs and has driven in nine runs. On the defensive end, Bene leads the FCBL with 18 assists.

 

Demarest has been a major pair of the Wachusetts bullpen who has been lights out this season. In 16.2 innings pitched, the Adelphi Panther product has struck out 25 batters, to just six walks. After starting the season with 14.0 shutout innings, his ERA sits at a baffling 1.08.

 

Gegetskas has been one of the FCBL best pitcher’s this season, the southpaw has pitched in 5.0 innings in all of his appearances and allowed with less than five or more hits all but once. Gegetskas has gone 3-2 this season, with a 3.16 ERA and a team leading 36 strikeouts. 11 of those strikeouts came against the Seacoast Mavericks back on July 3rd.

Out of the leadoff spot, Gethings has been a consistent force for the Dirt Dawgs. He is currently tied for seventh in the Futures League with 37 base hits and a .339 batting average. Gethings also has three home runs, 21 runs batted in and 10 stolen bases.   Against Team USA, Gethings went 2-for-3 with a walk in the exhibition for the FCBL prospect team.

 

Santiago has made the successful switch from the bullpen to the starting rotation for Wachusett. Since the change in late June, the Mitchell southpaw has lowered his ERA from 2.79 to 2.13. In 25.1 innings this season, Santiago has a 3-1 record with one save, and 23 strikeouts to just six hits. Over his last four outings, Eddie is 2-0 in 15.2 innings pitched , with 11 strikeouts to just four walks, and a 1.78 ERA.

 

Since joining the Dirt Dawgs in early June, Simeone has made an immediate impact in the back end of the bullpen. He has appeared in 10 games, with six save and two wins. His ERA is a baffling 0.79, while he has 23 strikeouts to just four walks and six hits. This past Tuesday, Simeone pitched a perfect sixth inning for the FCBL prospects as they took on Team USA.

 

Tower has been terrorizing opposing FCBL pitching staffs for the last four season. This season he is on pace for his best statistical season yet.  He currently has a .330 batting average, and leads the team with 23 runs batted in, while he is tied for the Leagues lead with nine homeruns. In the Blast Motion Homerun Derby to decide the game, Tower has 23 homeruns in the two Dawgs win in those games.

 

Kyle Cala (Wagner) is on the ballot for the fan’s vote. Cala this season has been a major part of the Dirt Dawgs outfield. This season the to-be senior is batting .294 with three home runs and 18 runs batted in. Cala has seven multi-hit games, including a 3-for-5 effort against the Pittsfield Suns on July 2nd, where he hit two homeruns and drove in seven runs too.

 

Coach Dan Generalli earned the nod to coach the West Team on Tuesday as the West team takes on the East All-Stars. He is currently leading the Dawgs to one of their best seasons since their inception back in 2012, and first place seeding in the Western Division. The team is on pace for 31 win this season, breaking the old team record of 26 wins back in 2014. A pitcher by trade, he has lead one of the most potent offense in the FCBL this season. The Dawgs lead the league in both homeruns (41) and stolen bases (76).