News and Announcements
The Washington Township Senators announced today that former two-time team MVP Joe Santone will be pulling the spikes on once again to attempt a comeback with the club in 2008.
"I love coaching my son's team," Santone said, "But I just missed the game and the guys. I'm not sure if I can physically do it next year, but I am going to give it a whirl. We'll see what happens."
A former stalwart shortstop, Santone would bring some serious pop to an already potent Senator lineup.
"I know Joey worries about conditioning and whether or not he'll be able to make it back," GM Nick Frese stated, "But let's face facts: the guy was always in terrific shape when he played. I have no doubt that number six will be able to make the leap. If anyone can do it, it's Joe Santone."
Santone had some big, big years with the Nats, including his consecutive MVP seasons in 2003-4 during which he hit a lusty .365 and .381, leading the club in several offensive categories. His career average stands at .368 for the regular season.
Having Santone on the club will give manager Frese many defensive options, all of them good.
"Joey is one hell of a shortstop, and we all know Jim McAllister misses lots of games to coach his boy, too." Frese reported. "I can envision Santone and Mac spelling each other at short when they have to miss games. Plus, Joey is a solid secondbaseman, too, and I wouldn't be afraid of putting either of them at thirdbase, either when Chris Lawrence isn't around. And Chris can also play either second or short. It's simply a win-win situation for the club."
Many current Senators might not realize it, but Santone started out as a rightfielder back in the West Deptford Athletics days, and really didn't evey try the shortstop position until the mid-1990s.
"And the guy could play some RF, too," Frese said. "Joey had a cannon out there, and used to lead the USOTB in assists regularly. He is a versatile player, that's for sure."
Santone is expected to begin off-season workouts with Mark Alessandrini sometime just after the holidays as he attempts to get his body ready for the 2008 campaign, one in which the Senators will seek to reclaim their championship trophy.
"I don't think anyone on the club is going to have a pleasant winter after the way we went out last year," Frese said. "But we'll be back to 0-0 come April, and I expect to see a very, very hungry Senator team on the field in the opener. Losing will do that to you every time...and maybe that's a lesson we needed to learn again."
Senator Family Mourns Passing of Sal Intelisano
The entire Senator family was deeply shocked and distressed to learn of the passing of Sal Intelisano of the 28+ Voorhees Phillies at the way too young age of 44. Sal was a great competitor and long-time thorn in the side of the Senator teams, and he will be greatly missed. We are all deeply saddened by his untimely death, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and teammates during this most difficult time.
To An Athlete Dying Young
THE time you won your town the race
We chaired you through the market-place;
Man and boy stood cheering by,
And home we brought you shoulder-high.
To-day, the road all runners come,
Shoulder-high we bring you home,
And set you at your threshold down,
Townsman of a stiller town.
Smart lad, to slip betimes away
From fields where glory does not stay,
And early though the laurel grows
It withers quicker than the rose.
Eyes the shady night has shut
Cannot see the record cut,
And silence sounds no worse than cheers
After earth has stopped the ears:
Now you will not swell the rout
Of lads that wore their honours out,
Runners whom renown outran
And the name died before the man.
So set, before its echoes fade,
The fleet foot on the sill of shade,
And hold to the low lintel up
The still-defended challenge-cup.
And round that early-laurelled head
Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead,
And find unwithered on its curls
The garland briefer than a girl's.
It's only November but the wheels are turning in Senatorville.
The Senator brain trust is about to embark upon their first-ever "Winter Meetings" on December 1, as GM Nick Frese and the 28+ triumvirate of Mike Pavlik, Gary Barbara and Gary Shears gather together to plan for the future.
"With championships in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006, this organization has always been about winning," Frese stated. "We have the unique opportunity to put together winners in ALL divisions in 2008, and that's exactly what we are going to discuss and plan for."
The 28 Senators are expected to make some off-season moves to get better, and they need to do just that to gain ground on a Swedesboro Devil Ray club that seems to get better and better every year.
"The D-Rays are coming off consecutive championships, the first team to accomplish that feat since, well, us," Frese said. "They were clearly the best team the past few seasons, and we need to play catch-up for sure."
The Senators appear certain to seek additional pitching help, albeit that is a commodity in short supply in the SJMSBL. With Ed Horner coming off back surgery and Bruce Shaw another year closer to the 38+ division, it would seem a prudent move.
"I know Horner, and I know he is chomping at the bit already," Frese reported. "I know he'll be ready to go and in top form when the bell rings. And Shaw will still be a top-shelf pitcher at the 28+ level in 2008. But you have to keep looking to the future, and it wouldn't hurt for us to start developing a young arm or two moving forward."
The disposition of the 28+ club's roster is certain to have implications for the 38s, who are coming off a disappointing season in which they lost in the semi-finals to the Delco Astros. And the 28s have many irons in the fire right now.
"We already know Joe Collins, a big hitter, is on board with us for '08," Frese said. "The only question is whether he'll play 28 or 38. Dave DeRuchie is in pretty much the same boat."
If the 28s are able to sign a bucket full of talent for '08, Collins and DeRuchie are likely to move up. If not, both could wind up with the 28s for another season.
"There are certainly going to be some changes on our club," Frese said, "But nothing is set in stone as yet. There are some big questions such as how much Dale Amos will be available, whether or not Rich Kulikowski will be able to return, etc. But as always, it'll work itself out come April."
The 38s are most certainly expecting a big return from Ken Bevenour, the power hitting outfielder who went down late last year with a knee injury. They also hope to get a pitching boost from Doug Crowe, who will enjoy his first full season as a Senator in 2008.
"Dougie threw the ball VERY well for guy who was hurt for almost a full year," Frese said. "He could make a huge difference on the club if his progress continues. And Beave is working very hard to get himself ready for '08. I am expecting big things from him in the coming season."
The 38s are pretty well stacked with pitching, with ace John DiPietro returning, plus Chris Lawrence, Amos, a hopefully healthy Pat Dewechter, Frank Rose, and hopefully Kulikowski.
"That's a deep staff on paper," Frese said. "I can only hope they all make it onto the field.
The 47 Senators will be facing some changes, most notably the loss of Jim Toth, who handled many of the pitching chores. But they've already added Fall hero Larry Brunett, plus several other players, to a decent nucleus. And more help may be on the way.
"I would expect to see some key players make the move up to the 47s no later than 2009," Frese said. "There are a LOT of players in this 38+ division getting up in years, and the 45s are only going to get better."
The biggest question mark appears to be the 18+ Senators, who remain in limbo pending manager John Trotter's decision process.
"We just don't know what is going on there as yet," Frese stated. "He may want to continue in this league, if we want him, and he may want to leave and go back to NABA. Whatever the case may be, we'd sure like to know by January 1 so we can move forward."
If Trotter is out, Shears may help in the manager's chair, but there are other possibilities as well.
"I've had a few conversations about the manager's job," Frese said, "And I am confident we'll get this ship steaming in the right direction sooner rather than later. This much is certain: there WILL be an 18+ Senator team in SJMSBL in 2008."
