With a fresh crop of college baseball's top players, Holyoke hopes to build on its impressive run in 2011.
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Holyoke general manager Kirk Fredriksson has high hopes for the new Blue Sox.By TERRENCE PAYNE
The Holyoke Blue Sox of the New England Collegiate Baseball League are wrapping up their final preparations as the team heads into its fifth season.
In 2011, the Blue Sox finished 28-14, good for a tie atop the Western Division with the Keene (N.H.) Swamp Bats. Much of last year’s turnaround was credited to new general manager Kirk Fredriksson.
“Ever since we brought Kirk on, we’ve gone from an average team to a contender,” said chief operations officer Barry Wadsworth. “I have full confidence in him on building another good team.”
Fredriksson, who has been in the NECBL for 14 seasons, describes putting the team together as “a never-ending process,” but he is excited with the talent coming to Holyoke this summer.
He singled out Stanford’s Eric Smith and Danny Diekroeger, along with Kennesaw State catcher Max Pentecost, as players who could lead the offense in the unfriendly hitting confines of Mackenzie Stadium.
“Were expecting a lot out of them offensively,” Fredriksson said. “Our park is not a hitter’s park. Last year, we were fortunate to have some good hitters to where that didn’t matter.”
The Blue Sox are also excited about Notre Dame junior pitcher Adam Norton, who threw 98 innings and walked just seven batters for the Fighting Irish this season.
Over the years, Holyoke has played exhibition games against Team USA, the Chinese national team and a select team from the Dominican Republic. This season, Holyoke hosts Team Great Britain on July 5. According to Fredriksson, that team is made up of players under 23.
“We’re doing something here that no one else is doing,” Wadsworth said. “That’s what we’re trying to do in Holyoke – bring in special games that fans would never see.”
The 2012 Blue Sox are all scheduled to arrive June 3, except for those still involved in NCAA play. Holyoke opens its season at home June 7 versus the Vermont Mountaineers.
