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December 2, 2015
 Field manager Dewey Oriente recently announced that Bill Hezel has been named pitching coach of the Quakertown Blazers for the 2016 season.
Bill Hezel enters his fourth season as pitching coach for Northampton Community College after spending six seasons as an assistant coach for the East Stroudsburg American Legion team.
A graduate of East Stroudsburg University, Hezel played two years for the Warriors after transferring from Division 1 Lehigh University.
Hezel was named to ESPN Magazine's Academic All-District team and went 6-1 with a 3.75 ERA during his senior year.
Hezel graduated from East Stroudsburg North High School where he was named MVP, All-Conference and All-Area and was recently inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame.
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October 2, 2015
 Ryan Vogelsong (Kutztown University, Quakertown Blazers, 96-97) allowed only one hit in four innings with no walks and six strikeouts in relief as the San Francisco Giants lost 3-2 to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.
Although the Giants moved Vogey to the bullpen in early September he feels that he could still provide 30 or more starts for a major league team next year and will become a free agent at the end of the season.
In 2015 he posted a 9-11 record in 22 starts and pitched 135 innings with an ERA of 4.67.
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September 19, 2015
 Dewey Oriente, a former ACBL All-Star and outstanding player at Saint Joseph's University, has been named field manager of the Quakertown Blazers for the 2016 season.
Dewey Oriente is in his first season at DeSales where he will serve as the Recruiting Coordinator. He will work with the Bulldogs' hitters and outfielders. Oriente comes to DeSales after serving as Widener University’s Hitting Coach, Recruiting Coordinator and JV Coach for the past four years. Widener enjoyed tremendous success while Oriente was on staff helping guide the Pride to back-to-back 25+ win seasons. Oriente played a role in helping the Pride capture the 2014 MAC Commonwealth Championship and 2015 ECAC Southeast Region Championship. During his work with the Pride’s hitters, he mentored eleven All-Commonwealth Conference and five All-Mid-Atlantic Region hitters. He also saw two of his hitters go on to win the Conference Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards in 2014. Additionally, the Pride were statistically ranked among the top of the MAC Commonwealth in several key offensive statistics each season.
Oriente competed four years for Saint Joseph’s University from 2006-2010. In 2009, he was named ABCA All-Region, Honorable Mention All-Atlantic 10 Conference, Philadelphia Big Five Team and Philadelphia Big Five Academic Team. In his breakout season, Oriente finished the year hitting .403, which still stands as the last Hawk player to reach that plateau in program history. Following the 2009 season, Oriente was selected Second Team All-Atlantic 10 and First Team All-Big Five. He completed his second season as an Assistant Coach with the South Jersey Giants in the ACBL where he guided them to back-to-back playoff berths.
Oriente graduated Saint Joseph’s in 2010 with a Bachelor’s of Finance and is currently pursuing his Master’s of Science with a concentration in Sports Management at Wilmington University.
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September 10, 2015
Article Courtesy of the Saint Paul Saints
Photo Courtesy of John Autey | Pioneer Press
ST. PAUL, MN (September 10, 2015) – The St. Paul Saints' success this season has been driven by a perfect storm of a 23-man roster all posting career numbers to produce the greatest season in the franchise's history. With all of the individual record breaking performances throughout the club, none have been more impressive than that of catcher Vinny DiFazio who has been named the 2015 American Association Player of the Year as voted on by the league's coaches and media.
DiFazio has been one of the most feared hitters in the league all season. DiFazio finished the year hitting .361 with 17 homers and 82 RBI. In 321 at bats he scored 70 runs, slugged 19 doubles, two triples, and posted a .467 on base percentage and .592 slugging percentage. DiFazio led the league in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The Hampton, New Jersey native's 82 RBI on the season was tied for first, with his teammate Angelo Songco, and tied for the most all-time in a single season in Saints history (also with Songco). DiFazio's 17 home runs on the season were tied for third in the league.
DiFazio twice went on double digit hitting streaks over the course of the season, one for 12 games from June 10-23 that included 11 multi-hit games in a row, and another 12 game stretch from July 31-August 12. Perhaps the most impressive stretch for DiFazio came when he was named the Player of the Month for June after hitting .393 with seven home runs and 27 RBI in 22 games. In 89 at bats he scored 20 runs, roped four doubles, one triple, had an on base percentage of .449, a .697 slugging percentage and a 1.146 OPS over that span.
Behind the plate, DiFazio has helped work with a Saints pitching staff that is second in the league in ERA and brag four 10 game winners for just the second time in league history.
This is the second honor for DiFazio in the last week, as he was also named to the Post-Season All-Star Team at catcher.
After spending four seasons in the Texas Rangers farm system, DiFazio joined the Saints at the end of the 2014 season after being granted his release by the Grand Prairie AirHogs in the American Association.
DiFazio becomes the first St. Paul Saint to be named American Association Player of the Year and the second in team history to earn the top honors in any league. Third baseman Vince Castaldo was the last Saint to be awarded top individual honors when he was named the Northern League MVP in 1994.
In selecting the Player of the Year, each team received two votes, one by the manager and one from the General Manager/media member, for a total of 26 votes.
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August 21, 2015
 Matt Swarmer (Kutztown University, Allentown Railers, 2014-15) was the unanimous selection for both the Santy Gallone Most Valuable Player Award and the Darrin Winston Most Valuable Pitcher Award.
The 6-5 RHP went 8-0 in the regular season with a 0.55 ERA in nine starts. He put up an astonishing 89 strikeouts with only three walks in 65 innings in the regular season. The rising senior at Kutztown University then pitched the Allentown Railers to the 2015 ACBL Championship by going 2-0 in the playoffs with 19 strikeouts and just one walk in 17.1 innings while allowing only one earned run.
Swarmer was also recognized nationally as he was named as a first team starter on the Perfect Game Summer Collegiate All-American team.
Justin Cassinelli (Susquehanna, Staten Island Tide, 2015) won the ACBL Hitting and Slugging Award. The rising junior hit .386 with a .627 slugging average.
Kyle McKelvy (Widener, Quakertown Blazers, 2015) was named Relief Pitcher of the Year after posting five saves.
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August 15, 2015
By Tom Bonekemper | Quakertown Blazers
Photo Courtesy of John Autey | Pioneer Press
Catcher Vin DiFazio (Alabama, Quakertown Blazers 2005, 2008) is putting up big numbers with the first place St. Paul Saints in the American Association.
The former ACBL top prospect and MVP in 2005 tops the league in average at .378 and RBIs with 73. He is second in home runs with 15 and has a good shot at the triple crown.
The Saints are out in front of the North Division with a 59-19 record and average over 8,000 fans per game.
In 2008 DiFazio returned to the Blazers after rehabilitating from a rare illness. The next spring he was the starting catcher for the University of Alabama and played four seasons in the Texas Rangers' system after being drafted in the 12th round of the 2009 MLB June Amateur Draft by the Rangers.
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August 3, 2015
By Matt Nelson | Voice of the Generals
For the next two days, Matt Nelson, who has been known as the “Voice of the Generals” since 2014, will provide the Play-by-Play for the Quakertown Blazers as they will play the Staten Island Tide in the first round of the ACBL Playoffs.
The Blazers finished the season 22-18, good for second in the Wolff Division and third in the ACBL. The Blazers will enter the playoffs as the number three seed while the Tide won the Kaiser Division title with a 23-12-1 record and the second best record in the ACBL. The Tide will enter the playoffs as the two seed.
Games 1 and 2 will take place Tuesday at the College of Staten Island and Game 3 will take place at Quakertown Memorial Park, if necessary.
Nelson will begin tomorrow’s broadcast at 4:45 P.M. on www.ustream.tv/channel/trenton-generals/baseball.
Game 1 is scheduled for 5 P.M. and each game is set for nine innings.
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July 31, 2015
By Tom Bonekemper | Quakertown Blazers
Ryan Keegan hit a two run walk off double to give the Blazers a 6-5 win in the opener.
Keegan went two-for-two with two doubles and four RBIs.
Keegan and Cal Baker both had two hits in the nightcap as the Pilorts won 6-4.
The Blazers are now 22-17 and finish the regular season at South Jersey tomorrow.
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July 29, 2015
By Tom Bonekemper | Quakertown Blazers
The Quakertown Blazers defeated the Lehigh Valley Catz 16-4 on Wednesday evening at Memorial Park.
Ryan Keegan topped the Blazers with three hits including a double and triple. Mike Young and Ronnie Sessa each had a double and contributed two hits.
Andrew Schuler went six and a third innings for the win.
The Blazers travel to Easton for a DH tomorrow evening and return home on Friday at 5pm to host the Jersey Pilots in a 5pm doubleheader.
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July 28, 2015
By Tom Bonekemper | Quakertown Blazers
The Allentown Railers won their 16th game in a row and improved to 31-3 with a 6-1 victory over the Quakertown Blazers on Tuesday evening in ECTB Stadium.
Cal Baker went three-for-four for the Blazers as they dropped to 18-16.
Tomorrow night the Blazers host the Lehigh Valley Catz at 7pm and on Friday evening they host the Jersey Pilots at 5pm in a makeup doubleheader at Memorial Park.
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July 24, 2015
By Tom Bonekemper | Quakertown Blazers
The Quakertown Blazers defeated the Jersey Pilots 5-3 and 8-0 on Friday evening behind the complete game efforts of Pablo Matos and Trey Bickel.
Bickel tossed a six hit shutout in the second game.
Greg McDonough had three hits in the opener while Cal Baker, Mike Young and Jordan Draude each contributed two hits.
Mike Rothmund posted three hits and three RBI in the nightcap. Baker, Jim Bleming, and Ron Sessa each had two hits.
The Blazers improve to 18-15 while the Pilots drop to 9-21.
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July 22, 2015
 By Tom Bonekemper | Quakertown Blazers
Six Quakertown Blazers have been selected to play in the ACBL All-Star game on Thursday evening in Memorial Park.
Pitchers Kyle McKelvy, Dan Morrin and Andrew Schuler will join outfielder Mike Young, shortstop Jim Bleming and first baseman Mike Rothmund on the Wolff Division All-Star team.
McKelvy has a 3-0 record with five saves and a 1.18 ERA while Morrin has posted a 4-1 log with a 2.10 ERA. Andrew Schuler is 4-0 with a 3.02 ERA.
Mike Young tops the Blazers with a .347 average while Rothmund leads the team wth 17 RBI. Bleming has played outstanding defense at shortstop and is hitting .270.
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July 11, 2015
By Tom Bonekemper | Quakertown Blazers
The North Jersey Eagles defeated the Quakertown Blazers 3-2 and 7-3 this afternoon at Overpeck Park.
Jim Bleming and Mike Rothmund each had two hits in the opener while Rothmund doubled home two runs in the second game.
The Blazers are still in second place in the Wolff Division with a 15-10 record.
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July 7, 2015
By Tom Bonekemper | Quakertown Blazers
The South Jersey Giants won the first game 8-1 behind the solid pitching of Steve Priolo and hitting of Jon Theckston, Devin Ruiz and Vin Cosenzo with two hits apiece.
Dan Morrin pitched a complete game in the nightcap as the Blazers won 7-2 with a six run sixh inning which included a single, two hit batters and four walks by the Giants' pitchers.
Greg McDonough reached base four times with two walks, a single and hit by pitch.
The Blazers are now 13-8 while the Giants are 10-10 on the season.
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July 4, 2015
By Tom Bonekemper | Quakertown Blazers
The Allentown Railers defeated the Quakertown Blazers 6-0 as part of the July 4th Community Day program at Memorial Park.
Matt Swarmer tossed seven and two-thirds innings of shutout baseball for the Railers.
Former Blazers, Corey Capaldi and Patrick Donnelly, topped the Railers offense. Donnelly had three hits while Capaldi had two hits including a solo home run to lead off the fifth.
Jim Bleming and Ryan Keegan both had two hits for the Blazers.
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July 3, 2015
By Tom Bonekemper | Quakertown Blazers
The Quakertown Blazers defeated the Wolff Division leading Allentown Railers 6-3 on Friday evening at ECTB Stadium.
Andrew Schuler allowed one run in six and a third innings and Kyle McKelvy closed out the ninth inning for the save.
Greg McDonough, Jim Bleming, Mike Rothmund and Devin Beverly each contributed two hits for the Blazers with Bleming and Rothmund both notching two RBIs.
The Blazers return home on Saturday for the 6pm July 4th Community Day game at Memorial Park.
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July 2, 2015
By Tom Bonekemper | Quakertown Blazers
Dan Morrin (pictured) and Kyle McKelvy combined for a nine inning shutout as the Quakertown Blazers defeated the South Jersey Giants 4-0 on Thursday evening.
McKelvy relieved Morrin in the sixth inning with one out and ended the inning with a double play ball.
Jim Bleming and Mike Rothmund both went two-for-four for the Blazers. Conner Lafferty, Adam Tricarico and Rothmund had RBIs for the Blazers.
The Blazers are now 11-6 while the Giants slip to 7-9. The Blazers travel to Allentown tomorrow night and return to Memorial Park on Saturday for a 6pm game with the Railers as part of Community Day.
Dan Morrin photo courtesy of Moravian College Athletics
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June 30, 2015
By Tom Bonekemper | Quakertown Blazers
Adam Tricarico lead off the bottom of the eighth with a double off the leftfield wall and scored the winning run as the Quakertown Blazers defeated the Lehigh Valley Catz 3-2.
Kyle McKelvy pitched three scoreless innings to get the win for the Blazers.
Tricarico was three for four with two doubles.
Quakertown improves to 10-6 while the Catz fall to 6-15.
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June 25, 2015
By Tom Bonekemper | Quakertown Blazers
The Allentown Railers defeated the Quakertown Blazers 4-0 in a seven inning game shortened by rain after seven innings on Thursday evening.
Mike Kammerer pitched five and a third innings to get the win while Justin Aungst finished for the save.
Casey Clauss had three hits for the Railers while Mike Young posted three of the Blazers' four hits.
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June 24, 2015
By Tom Bonekemper | Quakertown Blazers
The Quakertown Blazers took a 11-1 lead and hung on for a 15-10 win over the Lehigh Valley Catz on Wednesday evening.
Jordan Draude posted a two RBI single in the first inning. Jim Bleming, Cal Baker, and Mike Rothmund each had two hits and two RBIs. Mike Young added a three run triple in the seventh inning.
Dan Morrin allowed two unearned runs over the first five innings for the win.
The Blazers are now 9-5 while the Catz dropped to a 6-12 record.
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June 21, 2015
By Tom Bonekemper | Quakertown Blazers
The Quakertown Blazers defeated the Lehigh Valley Catz 4-3 and 12-2 on Sunday afternoon at Memorial Park.
The Blazers rallied with a three run seventh inning to win the first game.
Dom Cuocio's two run single was the big hit as Jim Bleming scored the winning run on Ryan Keegan's groundball to first base.
David Brown pitched a scoreless seventh inning for the win in relief of Andrew Schuler.
In the second game Conner Lafferty's two run triple and Mike Rothmund's three run homer topped the offense.
Trey Bickel pitched three scoreless innings of relief and Dalton Mayberry closed out with a scoreless seventh inning.
The Blazers are now 8-5 on the season and the Catz fall to 6-10.
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June 16, 2015
By Tom Bonekemper | Quakertown Blazers
The Allentown Railers scored two runs in the top of the 14th inning to defeat the Blazers 3-1 on Tuesday evening.
Dan Morrin and Kyle McKelvey combined to allow only one run over thirteen innings for the Blazers.
Mike Young had three of the Blazers' six hits including a triple in the first inning and scored on a ground ball to third by Cal Baker for the Blazers only run.
Matt Swarmer was outstanding on the mound for the Railers with 15 strikeouts and no walks over nine innings.
Marty Martens received the win after tossing five innings of shutout relief.
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June 15, 2015
By Tom Bonekemper | Quakertown Blazers
The Lehigh Valley Catz defeated the Quakertown Blazers 2-0 in a six inning game which was shortened by a severe thunderstorm.
Mike Agosto provided the margin of victory with a solo home run to leftfield.
David Moyer and Derrick Jackson combined for the shutout.
Trey Bickel allowed two runs and three hits over six innings for the Blazers.
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June 14, 2015
By Tom Bonekemper | Quakertown Blazers
The Blazers lost the first game 1-0 and won the second game 8-4 at Memorial Park on Sunday afternoon.
Paul Sparano tossed six scoreless innings and Karl Blum closed for the save in the opener.
A six run fifth inning gave the Blazers an 8-4 victory as Andrew Schuler picked up the win in the second game. Ryan Keegan, Devin Beverly, and Cal Baker each collected two hits in the win.
The Blazers are now 6-3 on the season.
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June 13, 2015
The Quakertown Blazers hosted the Rahn Landscaping, Quakertown youth baseball team on June 9 as the Blazers defeated South Jersey 3-1
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June 12, 2015
 Senior shortstop Dylan Tice (West Chester, Quakertown Blazers, 2012) was drafted in the 36th round of the 2015 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals.
The former Pennridge high school star hit .433 for the Rams with a .827 slugging percentage and was an honorable mention All-America selection by the ABCA.
Dylan Tice photo courtesy of Fred Breidenbach Sr
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June 7, 2015
The Blazers defeated the Trenton Generals by scores of 9-1 and 3-1 at Mercer County College on Saturday.
Andrew Schuler allowed only one run over 5.2 innings to pick up the win in the first game.
In the second game the Generals could only muster one run off Dan Morrin over five innings while Kyle McKelvy pitched two scoreless innings for the win.
Connor Lafferty had four hits and Dom Cucio posted three hits in the doubleheader. Jim Bleming and Mike Young hit safely in both games.
The Blazers are now 4-1 and host the South Jersey Giants on Tuesday evening.
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June 4, 2015
The Allentown Railers defeated the Quakertown Blazers 7-2 behind the pitching of Matt Swarmer who allowed two runs over eight innings while striking out 13 with no walks.
The Blazers scored two runs in the third inning as Mike Young, Ryan Keegan and Mike Kacergis posted singles. Young was two-for-four on the night.
Rob Bennie had two hits for the Railers.
Trey Bickel took the loss but pitched well over five innings with seven strikeouts.
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May 31, 2015
The Quakertown Blazers defeated the North Jersey Eagles 6-3 and 5-3 in a season opening DH at Memorial Park.
The Blazers put up six runs in the first inning of the opener on three walks, two hit batters and a single by Devin Beverly.
Dan Morrin posted the win and Kyle McKelvy picked up the first of two saves.
Mike Young went four-for-four with a triple to top the Blazer offense in the second game.
Luis Amauro was the hitting star for the Eagles as he collected two doubles and a two run home run in the doubleheader.
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May 23, 2015
 Last night Ryan Vogelsong tossed six scoreless innings as the San Francisco Giants defeated the Colorado Rockies 11-8 at Coors Field. He is 3-0 in his last four starts with a 1.05 ERA for the Giants.
Lou Trivino pitched seven shutout innings as the Stockton Ports defeated Lake Elsinore 8-0. Trivino is 3-2 in eight starts for the high A Oakland franchise in the California League.
On Wednesday Tim Mayza earned his first save when he pitched three innings as the Lansing Lugnuts (Blue Jays) defeated South Bend 7-3 in the Midwest League.
Darin Gorski has posted a 3-3 record in eight starts for the Mets AAA Las Vegas team.
Ryan Vogelsong Photo courtesy of baseball-reference.com
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