Quakertown Blazers Baseball

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Blazers take DH from the Phenoms July 26, 2021 The Quakertown Blazers defeated the New York Phenoms 7-6 and 9-1 on Monday afternoon in Staten Island. Sam Barletta (Chesnut Hill) and Shane Harkins (Wagner) provided the big hits in the opener. Barletta hit a two run triple as the Blazers rallied for three runs in the 6th inning and ended the game with three hits and three RBI. Harkins hit a two run home run in the top of the 8th to give the Blazers the lead. David Owsik (Saint Joseph’s), Cory Barberio (West Chester) and Scott Paulson (Mansfield) pitched for the Blazers with Paulson picking up the win. In the second game the Blazer offense posted nine runs on 13 hits. Joe Gorla (Lehigh) put up six RBI with four hits including a home run and double. Casey Caulfield (Monmouth) added three hits while Brian Nicolas (Coppin State) chipped in with a home run and two RBI. Ben Christian (Lehigh) tossed five scoreless innings for the win and Kevin Small (LIU) allowed one run over two innings of relief. The Blazers (17-17) travel to Trenton on Tuesday for a 7pm game with the Trenton Capitals.
Wolff Division defeats Kaiser Division in All Star game July 23, 2021 Five Quakertown Blazer players participated in the Wolff Division 8-5 win over the Kaiser Division at First Energy Park in Lakewood, New Jersey, home of the Jersey Shore Blue Claws, the Phillies High-A affiliate on Thursday evening. Ben Watson (Elizabethtown) posted two hits including a RBI double while Casey Caulfield (Monmouth) added a single. Mitch Balint (Delaware), Joe Gorla (Lehigh) and Brian Nicolas (Bryant) also participated for the Blazers. The Blazers (14-16) host the New York Phenoms on Saturday July 24 in a noon doubleheader at Memorial Park.
Svanson leads ACBL in draft selections July 13, 2021 Matt Svanson Photo Courtesy of Lisa Stamford RHP Matt Svanson (Lehigh, Quakertown Blazers,2018) was selected in the 13th round of the 2021 MLB Amateur Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. The 6-5 RHP was pick number 392 and posted a 2.30 ERA for the Mountain Hawks this spring with 65Ks in 70 innings. RHP Jimmy Kingsbury (Villanova, Quakertown Blazers, 2018) was pick number 504 in the 17th round for the Seattle Mariners. Kingsbury posted a 5-4 record with four saves for the Wildcats this spring. In 64.2 innings he struck out 86. LHP Justin Fall (Brookdale CC, Arizona State, Ocean Gulls,2018) was selected in the 17th round, pick #509, by the Miami Marlins. The 6-6 LHP topped ASU with seven wins and in innings pitched with 77. Fall was the top prospect on the 2018 ACBL Prospect list, while Svanson and Kingsbury were ranked 8th and 9th respectively.
Trivino named AL Reliever of the Month July 3, 2021 Lou Trivino (Slippery Rock, Quakertown Blazers, 2011) of the Oakland A’s and Josh Hader of the Milwaukee Brewers were named MLB’s Relievers of the Month for June. Trivino won the American League award after collecting six saves in six save opportunities while posting a 0.71 ERA in 13 appearances. The 6-5 RHP did not allow a run until the final day of the month, putting together a streak of 12 consecutive scoreless appearances before then. On the season Trivino has 13 saves and five holds in 37 appearances with a 2.11 ERA and 1.17 WHIP.
Schwindel hits first MLB home run July 1, 2021 Frank Schwindel (St. John’s, Riverhead, 2011) celebrated his 29th birthday on Tuesday by being called up by the Oakland A’s and on Wednesday hit his first major league home run. The 6-1,220 lb. 1B/DH turned on a fastball and drilled it a projected 395 feet down the left field line at 108 MPH off the bat. Over the past eight years Schwindel hit 134 home runs after grinding through 832 minor league games with only a brief stint up with the Royals previously. He was tied for the Minor League lead in home runs with 16 home runs while playing at AAA Las Vegas. Lou Trivino (Slippery Rock, Quakertown Blazers, 2011), who was on the 2011 ACBL All-Star team with Schwindel, posted his 13th save as the A’s defeated the Texas Rangers 3-1 to remain at 0.5 games behind the Houston Astros in the AL West pennant race.
Blazers nab comeback win June 25, 2021 The Trenton Capitals were leading the Quakertown Blazers 10-0 going in to the bottom of the seventh inning on Thursday evening at Memorial Park. The Blazers rallied for four runs in the seventh and six runs in the eighth inning to tie the score. Ben Watson (Elizabethtown) then hit a walk-off double to score Tom Faggioni (Alvernia) with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Scott Paulson (Mansfield) pitched a scoreless inning to notch the win. Mitch Balint (Delaware) chipped in with three hits for the Blazers. The Blazers (4-5) travel to North Jersey for a doubleheader on Saturday and return home to host the Trenton Capitals on Sunday at noon.
Blazers split on the road June 20, 2021 The Quakertown Blazers split a doubleheader with the Ocean Ospreys on Saturday in Middletown New Jersey. The Blazers were edged 12-11 in a slugfest in the opener and came back to win the second game 8-5. Sam Barletta (Chesnut Hill) and Mason Hicks (Harford CC) each had two home runs on the day while Joe Gorla (Lehigh) added another home run. David Owsik (Saint Joseph’s) pitched five good innings in the second game while Kevin Small (LIU) posted a six out save. Casey Caulfield (Monmouth) had three hits in game two while Max Hitman (Saint Joseph’s) chipped in with two hits. The Blazers are now 3-4 on the season and play at home on Tuesday and Thursday evenings of this week.