Farmingdale, NY - May 23, 2008 ***LONG ISLAND DRIVE - FREE AGENT SIGNINGS*** THE DRIVE SIGNS THREE MORE TOP AREA PLAYERS Drive GM Frank Giglio and the Long Island Drive organization extends a warm welcome by proudly announcing the signing of its three newest players, FRANK SCARLATO - catcher, BRYAN BURKE - outfielder, and MIKE ZIEGLER - pitcher, to the 2008 team. The DRIVE (37-14 overall record in 2007 / LISMBL Champions), its management and players, each welcome these three outstanding players to the franchise for the 2008 season!
Farmingdale, NY - March 9, 2008 ***LONG ISLAND DRIVE 2008 SEASON PREVIEW*** DRIVE BASEBALL PRIMED AND READY FOR TITLE DEFENSE At this time last season, the Long Island Drive baseball franchise had a pretty large chip on its collective shoulder. Still feeling the effects of a bitter playoff defeat the season prior, and after a long offseason, the team was anxious to get back to baseball...except, with something to prove. The Drive felt, as in seasons past, it had, yet again, underachieved in the postseason, and as the 2007 season loomed, the Drive was set to regroup with the hope that the team could finally finish what they set out to do - win a title. On August 23rd, 2007, Long Island Drive baseball not only completed its most successful season to date, but also, its most successful postseason, and it was time to stop chasing the dream, and enjoy the accolades - as champions of Long Island baseball - with a 1-0 championship series victory in the deciding game over the Long Island Cobras - to give the franchise its long sought-after and coveted league title. This season, things are different. This season, we start our title defense. Now, with the Long Island Champs set to start over, Spring Training is about to begin. Now, we're on the road back to the title in 2008........ It will take a lot more than just one title to cement their status among the elite of Long Island amateur baseball, and this season, a whole new challenge awaits. The Drive is now "the hunted", and the champs will have their hands full during their first title defense season this summer. Unlike prior offseasons, where Drive management only concerned itself with the team's improvement, now, its opponents have also made some noise on the free agent market, as they look to unseat the Drive come August. Yet again, Drive management had a tremendous offseason for the third year in a row, as the franchise again added quality free agents to its solid core of talent, to make this year's roster even more formidable than during its championship season of 2007. Marvelous additions such as Joseph Kitt and Michael Kitt have more than adequately solidified any remaining questionable areas on the team this season. In addition, 2008 will mark the return of Drive star pitcher and 3-time team Cy Young Award winner Chad Harris, who returns for a full season on the hill, to anchor what arguably may become recognized as the best "front four" starting rotation in the league. Harris will again challenge opposing lineups and deal alongside '07 Cy Young Award winner Adam Docar, '03 Cy Young Award winner Vinnie Mannese, and new addition, junior college All-American Michael Kitt. Not to be outdone or underestimated, the LI Drive also boasts one of the most efficient and overpowering bullpens in all of Long Island baseball, with the return of elite league closer, hard-thrower Nick Timpone, complimented by new lefty sensation, Joseph Kitt. Rounding out the staff in dual roles will be returning veteran righthander Mike Carbone. With the staff in good hands, the Drive has also upgraded a lineup that had its best season in 2007, having hit .293 overall as a team and driving in 177 runs in the regular season, while adding 33 more in the postseason - all franchise highs. Entering 2008, an already deep veteran lineup has deepened, with the additions of the Kitt brothers, Joseph and Michael, along with the return of top offensive veteran players Kelvin Ortiz (.362), Jason Merz (.328), Frank Giglio (.345), Adam Myers (.330), Brian Resnick (.333), Ian Roche (.308), Frank Dolan (.307), and team MVP and Batting Champ, as well as 2007 League Batting Champion, Billy Graiser (.465). With a core of veteran players all hitting over .300 in 2007, and the solid additions made to the team this past offseason, the Drive lineup looks as formidable as ever, to compliment an equally imposing staff and firm defensive alignment. Looking ahead, the Drive will begin their title defense this coming May against a well improved league. The Storm and the Black Sox, both semi-pro, national tournament championship teams, and among New York's elite teams, will again be strong opponents. The '06 champs, the Cobras, will be back to avenge their title defeat at the hands of the Drive last year, and the Diamond Cutters, a playoff opponent last season, will be back and improved, after joining with the remaining players of the former powerhouse LI Cardinals team, to re-ignite that franchise and become, again, the new LI Cardinals organization. These teams will be the primary contenders looking to unseat the Long Island Champs, the Drive, this coming year. Opening Day cannot come soon enough..... |
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