Umpires Announced for the 2018 NECBL All-Star Game

Umpires Announced for the 2018 NECBL All-Star Game

Mahwah, NJ – July 23, 2018 – Joe Gravina (Johnston, RI) will serve as crew chief for the 2018 New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) All-Star Game, to be played Sunday, July 29 at Mackenzie Field, home of the Valley Blue Sox.

Gravina, in his second NECBL All-Star Game (2017), will be joined by three umpires making their debut. Ryan Benson (Gaylordsville, CT) will call balls and strikes, Johnathan Conrad (Wallingford, CT), and Steve Williams (Quincy, MA), who worked the 2018 NCAA Division III College World Series.

With a crew comprised of umpires who have taken different paths – NCAA and professional baseball – to this assignment, UCU Executive VP, Alex Skandalis believes this is representative of an organizational philosophy to embrace umpires cycling out of professional baseball, all highly trained, while prioritizing training and development of staff members who do not have a professional background.

Skandalis said,“We have a crew of Division I conference level umpires representing our vision in the NECBL’s signature event with three of them new to the league this year. We take immense pride in seeing Joe and Steve succeed and advance, having embraced our program, and have immense respect for the talented umpires like Johnathan and Ryan who exit minor league baseball and immediately make our staff better. I look forward to this crew complimenting the talented student-athletes on the NECBL All-Star Game stage.”

About United Collegiate Umpires

Founded in 2014, UCU supervises baseball conferences in Division I (America East, Ivy League, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Northeast Conference), Division III (Atlantic East, Empire 8, Liberty, NEAC, and SUNYAC), NJCAA Region III and XIX, Interstate Collegiate Baseball League, Metropolitan Collegiate Baseball League, New England Collegiate Baseball League, and the New York Collegiate Baseball League. Offering superior continuing umpire education, UCU has participated in the implementation of training programs throughout the country, including several presentations made as part of the NCAA Umpire Improvement Program.

About New England Collegiate Baseball League

The New England Collegiate Baseball League is a wooden bat college summer league fielding teams in all six New England states, with 13 organizations overall. Partially funded by Major League Baseball, the NECBL started to play in 1994 and has sent over 100 alumni to the Major Leagues. Visit http://www.necbl.com

For More Information, contact:
Dan Miller, VP, Digital Media/Public Relations
201-906-2246
[email protected]

Umpires Announced for the 2018 NYCBL/ACBL All-Star Game Showcase

Umpires Announced for the 2018 NYCBL/ACBL All-Star Game Showcase

Mahwah, NJ – June 14, 2018 – NCAA Division III Regional Umpire, Mike Lum (2017,2018) (Edmeston, NY) will serve as crew chief for the inaugural 2018 New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL) and Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League (ACBL) All-Star Game Showcase, to be played Monday, July 9 in Syracuse, NY at the Onondaga Community College Baseball Complex.

Lum will be working his first NYCBL All-Star Game. This will also mark the first NYCBL All-Star Game assignment for crew members Lou Bonacci (Endicott, NY), and Donnie Smith (Rochester, NY). Sean Martin (Rochester, NY), marking his second consecutive assignment, completes the crew.

UCU Executive VP, Alex Skandalis believes the crew composition represents not only the geographical NYCBL footprint, but a collective group who have embraced hard work, availed themselves to the UCU training program, and trusted the process.

“Being selected to work the NYCBL All-Star Game represents a tangible career success milestone for each of these umpires who have a bright future in NCAA baseball. They have demonstrated a commitment to learning and improving over a number of years and I could not be happier it is reflected in this honor,” said Alex Skandalis, Executive VP, and Chief Financial Officer.

NYCBL Commissioner, Joe Brown added, “The NYCBL would like to thank UCU for the beginning of a very professional relationship and, in doing so, congratulate the umpires selected to officiate the 2018 NYCBL All-Star Game. The NYCBL is celebrating its 40th year in existence and there is no better way than to host the ACBL in Syracuse, New York. We look forward to an exciting night.”

About United Collegiate Umpires

Founded in 2014, UCU supervises baseball conferences in Division I (America East, Ivy League, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Northeast Conference), Division III (Empire 8, Liberty, NEAC, and SUNYAC), NJCAA Region III and XIX, Interstate Collegiate Baseball League, Metropolitan Collegiate Baseball League, New England Collegiate Baseball League, and the New York Collegiate Baseball League. Offering superior continuing umpire education, UCU has participated in the implementation of training programs throughout the country, including several presentations made as part of the NCAA Umpire Improvement Program.

About New York Collegiate Baseball League

Located in scenic Upstate New York, the NYCBL, founded in 1978, is a summer wood bat development league for professional baseball, comprised of 10 teams playing a 46-game regular season schedule from May 30 through late July. The league provides college players who have not signed a professional contract the opportunity to develop their skills at a higher level of play, gain experience with wood bats, and be evaluated by scouts. Visit http://www.nycbl.com/view/nycbl/-6822/news/news_489123

For More Information, contact:
Dan Miller, VP, Digital Media/Public Relations
201-906-2246
[email protected]