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October 4, 2021
RHP Lou Trivino (Slippery Rock, Quakertown Blazers,2011) and LHP Tim Mayza (Millersville, Quakertown Blazers,2011) combined for 132 relief appearances during the 2021 regular season.
Trivino topped the Oakland A’s with 22 saves out of 26 save opportunities and games finished with 44. The 6-5, 235 lb. former ACBL All-Star was named American League Relief Pitcher of the Month in June. He posted a 7-8 record with a 3.18 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 73.2 innings. Opponents hit .216 against him and he had eight holds.
Mayza was the hold leader for the Toronto Blue Jays with 19 and appeared in 61 games with a 5-2 record and 3.40 ERA. He walked 12 and struck out 57 in 53 innings with a WHIP of 0.98 and opponents average of .206.
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September 20, 2021
Levi Stoudt Photo Courtesy of MILB.com
RHP Levi Stoudt (Lehigh, Quakertown Blazers,2017) finally started his pro career after sitting out the 2019 season with Tommy John surgery and missing the 2020 minor league season which was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic. Stoudt, the Top ACBL Prospect in 2017, was drafted in the third round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners.
Stoudt posted a 6-1 record for the Everett AquaSox, the Mariners High-A affiliate and in August was promoted to the Arkansas Travelers, the Mariners AA affiliate. Overall he posted a 7-3 record in 15 starts with 86Ks in 81.2 innings with a 3.31 ERA.
RHP Matt Svanson (Lehigh, Quakertown Blazers,2018) and RHP Jimmy Kingsbury (Villanova, Quakertown Blazers,2018), ACBL All-Stars in 2018 and pitchers on the Blazers’ ACBL championship team, also had success in their first season of pro ball.
Svanson was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 13th round of the 2021 MLB Draft and assigned to their Low-A affiliate, Dunedin. The 6-5, 230 pound RHP posted five saves in 11 relief appearances over 15.2 innings and struck out 23 with a 2.30 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP.
Kingsbury was drafted in the 17th round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners and assigned to their Low-A affiliate, the Modesto Nuts. On Friday September 17 he participated in a combined no-hitter as Modesto defeated Stockton 7-0. Kingsbury allowed no runs or hits over seven innings with ten strikeouts and one walk. On the season he posted a 2-1 record and 2.20 ERA in 32.2 innings. He struck out 39 and walked eleven with a 0.83 WHIP and opponents hit .138 against him.
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August 15, 2021
2021 Hitter of the Year
Casey Caufield, Quakertown Blazers
The guy who got things started for manager Jeff Evans’ potent offense is the 2021 ACBL Hitter of the Year.
Monmouth University’s Caufield got better and better as the season went on and at .397 finished just one hit shy of .400 for the season. He was that good and that tough of an out.
Casey finished with 15 multi-hit games and five three-hit games – four of which came over the final two weeks of the regular season. He went 15-for-29 down the stretch, was a patient leadoff man at the plate (16 walks and a .493 OBP over the entire season), and stole 13 bases in 15 attempts. He finished with 46 hits and 28 runs and Caulfield’s 68 times on base led the entire ACBL.
Caufield’s at bats set the tone for the relentless offensive attack that Evans and GM Chris Ray worked hard to build. He finished the month of July with hits in 20 out of 21 games (including the ASG) and left no doubt as far as Hitter of the Year.
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August 4, 2021
Blazer fans held a ceremony on Sunday to honor Tom and George Bonekemper for their 38 years of support to the Quakertown Blazers organization.
The Blazers completed the regular season with a 21-17 record and narrowly lost the play-in playoff game with the Pilots 6-5 on a bloop single in the bottom of the ninth inning on Tuesday evening at Drew University.
Chris Ray did an excellent job as General Manager as did Jeff Evans as field manager and Mike Bowles as assistant coach.
Will Neusidl contributed to the success of the Blazers program with Live Scoring on Pointstreak and announcing the games.
Josh Walters, the trainer with St.Lukes Sports Medicine was also helpful as were members of the Blazers advisory board.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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June 11, 2021
The Quakertown Blazers defeated the Trenton Generals 7-6 on Thursday evening at Memorial Park.
Brian Nicolas (Bryant) topped the Blazers offense with four hits while Ben Watson (Elizabethtown), Brandon Ernst (Lackawanna), Sam Barletta (Chesnut Hill), Mitch Balint (Delaware) and Charlie Von Werne (Lehigh) each added two hits.
Kevin Cushing (Cornell) pitched 5.1 innings. Kevin Small (LIU), Brandon Walters (Bloomsburg), Ben Christian (Lehigh) and Scott Poulson (Mansfield) pitched in relief with Poulson getting the save after pitching a scoreless ninth inning.
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April 27, 2021
Sam Barletta (Chesnut Hill, Quakertown Blazers, 2021) was named Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Player of the Week on April 26 after going 10-for-11 (.909) at the plate. The junior catcher/outfielder scored seven runs, posted seven RBI and was 3-for-3 in stolen bases with a 1.273 slugging average. Barletta is currently hitting .417 with 20 RBI and 14 stolen bases.
Mitch Balint (Delaware, Quakertown Blazers,2021) was selected Colonial Athletic Conference Player of the Week for March 9 after batting .750 with a home run, three runs scored and three RBI as Delaware swept LaSalle in a doubleheader. The freshman catcher/DH is currently hitting .288 with four home runs and nine RBI for the Blue Hens.
Matt Stamford (Lehigh, Jersey Pilots, 2019,2021) was named Patriot League Pitcher of the Week on March 16 after posting a perfect 5.2 innings of relief in a Lehigh victory over Bucknell. The junior LHP has posted a 2-0 record with a 3.24 ERA in 25 innings.
Bryant Skurbe (Merrimack, Ocean Gulls, 2021) was named Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week on March 16 after hitting .286 with two home runs and seven RBI. Two weeks later he was again named Rookie of the Week after hitting .556 with a .889 slugging average including 10 hits and seven RBI. The freshman outfielder/DH is currently hitting .273 with four home runs and 24 RBI.
Freshman catcher Billy Minett (St. Thomas Aquinas, Ocean Ospreys, 2021) was named East Coast Conference Rookie of the Week on April 12 after posting a .571 batting average (4 for 7) with three doubles, two RBI and three runs scored in two wins over the College of Staten Island.
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April 14, 2021
Photos Courtesy of MLB.com
RHP Lou Trivino (Slippery Rock, Quakerown Blazers, 2011) and LHP Tim Mayza (Millersville, Quakertown Blazers,2011) have continued their spring training dominance of hitters as both closed out wins on Tuesday.
Trivino tossed a 12 pitch scoreless ninth inning to get the save as the Oakland A’s defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-5. In seven games over 8.2 innings Trivino has posted a 1.04 ERA and allowed only one hit with nine strikeouts. He has a WHIP of 0.69 and opponents are hitting .074.
Mayza tossed an eleven pitch scoreless ninth inning as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the New York Yankees 7-3. In five games over 3.1 innings Mayza has a 0.00 ERA with no walks and five strikeouts. Outfielder Josh Palacios (Auburn, Staten Island Tide) put the Blue Jays on the board with a two run single in the second inning and is currently hitting .385.
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March 29, 2021
Lou Trivino (Slippery Rock, Quakertown Blazers, 2011) and Tim Mayza (Millersville, Quakertown Blazers,2011) did not allow a run this spring and were nearly unhittable for the Oakland A’s and Toronto Blue Jays respectively.
Trivino only allowed one hit in seven relief appearances over 7 1/3 innings. The 6-5 RHP struck out eight with a save. His WHIP was 0.55 and opponents hit .043 against him. Trivino’s role may be as a potential multi-inning weapon out of the A’s bullpen.
Mayza is coming off Tommy John surgery in late 2019 and also allowed only one hit in seven appearances over 6 2/3 innings with a win. He struck out six while posting a 0.45 WHIP and opponent batting average of .048. Mayza may assume his prior role of the “go to lefty” out of the Blue Jays bullpen. In 2019 he topped the Blue Jays with 68 appearances.
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March 5, 2021
On Tuesday LHP Tim Mayza (Millersville, Quakertown Blazers) made his first appearance since undergoing Tommy-John surgery as he tossed a scoreless inning in the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday. Mayza’s fastball was in the 94-95 MPH range while his slider was clocked at 88-89 MPH.
On Friday centerfielder Josh Palacios (Auburn, Staten Island Tide) posted five RBIs as the Blue Jays defeated the Baltimore Orioles 13-4. Palacios, a 4th round selection of the Blue Jays in the 2016 draft, posted a double, triple and home run in three at bats.
Outfielder Narciso Crook (Gloucester CC, Trenton Generals) has played in five games for the Cincinnati Reds this spring. Crook was a 23rd round selection of the Reds in the 2013 draft and entered pro ball at age 18.
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February 14, 2021
Lou Trivino (Slippery Rock, Quakertown Blazers) has made 150 relief appearances for the Oakland A’s over the past three years and is now a top candidate for the closer role since All-Star reliever Liam Hendriks departed via free agency to the Chicago White Sox.
LHP Tim Mayza (Millersville, Quakertown Blazers) has been invited to the Toronto Blue Jays training camp after recovering from major arm surgery including Tommy-John surgery. In 2019 Mayza topped the Blue Jays in relief appearances with 68 while posting 18 holds prior to his injury in September 2019.
Kyle McGowin (Savannah St. Sag Harbor) Washington Nationals, Aaron Slegers (Indiana, Riverhead) Los Angeles Angels, and Justin Topa (Long Island, Southampton) Milwaukee Brewers also report to spring training to prepare for their relief roles in 2021.
Veteran shortstop Nick Ahmed (UConn, Westhampton) returns to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Outfielder Josh Palacios (Auburn, Staten Island Tide) and catcher Seby Zavala (San Diego St. Riverhead) are on the 40 man rosters of the Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago White Sox respectively.
Former ACBL players who are non-roster invitees to MLB spring training include catcher Nick Dini (Wagner, Center Moriches) with the Kansas City Royals, catcher P.J. Higgins (ODU, Lehigh Valley Catz) with the Chicago Cubs, RHP Kevin McCarthy (Marist, Sag Harbor) with the Boston Red Sox and 1B Frank Schwindel (St. John’s, Riverhead) with the Oakland A’s.
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