Trois-Rivières, QC—The Empire State Greys (4-9) defeatedTrois-Rivières (5-9) 16-6 in game two of the three game set and got contributions from the whole team.

Once again it appeared as if the Aigles and Greys would be in a back-and-forth battle. Both clubs drove in two runs in the second to open up the scoring. A Mike Gulino fielder’s choice and Steve Barkamkian single drove in the first two runs for Empire State, however, Trois-Rivières immediately responded with a Canice Ejoh 2-run homer off of Greys starter Zach Gettys in the bottom half of the inning.

After both clubs scored a run in the third, the Greys turned on the gas in the fourth and fifth. Zak Whalin led off the fourth inning with a solo shot off of Sam Pollquin (L, 0-2) to give the Greys the lead in which they wouldn’t let up. Two batters later, Mike Gulino followed up his homerun from last night with a 2-run blast. In the fifth, John Mead delivered a 3-run home run giving the Greys a 10-3 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth.

The middle innings were highlighted by Greys relief pitcherWilber Perez (W, 2-0). Coming off earning the save last night, Perez was excellent throwing the sixth and seventh innings. Over the course of the two innings, Wilber struck out three and allowed just one hit and one walk.

Empire State rallied once again, scoring six runs across the seventh and eighth innings. Trois-Rivières attempted a comeback in the eighth, scoring two on two-out Nate Scantlin triple that narrowed the deficit to 16-6. Following the triple, the Aigles offense could not get anything going. Tanner Propst shut the door in the ninth throwing a 1-2-3 inning.

An additional story for the Greys tonight comes from Zach Gettys. Gettys, who typically works in relief for the Greys, was not intended to start tonight’s game. Down two starters and two relievers, the Greys needed somebody to step up and Zach rose to the occasion. He kept the club in the game by throwing a strong four innings and allowed just three runs in the unfamiliar role. 

Ryan Sandberg will take the bump for the Greys at 1:05 tomorrow afternoon and will look to sweep the series in Trois-Rivières.

The Empire State Greys (3-9) traveled to Trois-Rivières (5-8) and opened the series with a dramatic 8-7 victory.

Empire State started the game off hot offensively taking a 3-0 lead in the first. The first three Greys singled to start the game including a Cristopher Cespedes RBI single to centerfield to drive in Eric Jenkins. Josh Sears and Zack Whalin added offense in the following at-bats with a sacrifice fly and RBI single respectively. 

The Aigles answered back in the second for three of their own and set the tone for a back-and-forth affair. Sadler Goodwin hit a sac fly to get their offense going and Nate Scantlin tied up the game with a 2 RBI single.

Over the course of the middle innings the two clubs scraped together different rallies resulting in a 5-5 tie heading into the bottom of the seventh after Mike Gulino took an inside pitch and sent it to the lounge area in left field for a solo shot for the Greys. But, With runners on first and second, Steve Brown delivered for the Aigles with a 2 RBI double giving them a 7-5 lead.

After scratching one back in the eighth, the Greys trailed 7-6 heading into the ninth. With runners on first and second, Josh Sears tied the game with a hard-hit double. The next two Greys struck out and it appeared as if the Greys would strand the two runners in scoring position with nobody out. JR DiSarcina would not let that happen as he roped a single off Jesen Therrien (L) to drive in the go-ahead run giving Empire State an 8-7 lead.

Wilber Perez entered the game for the Greys in the ninth to close it out. Working around a pair of walks, Perez was able to get the job done earning his first save of the season and got Tanner Propst his first win of the season in the process.

The Greys will square up against the Aigles tomorrow night at 6:05 EST in game two of the three game set.

Joliet, IL – The Empire State Greys (2-7) left Joliet with a great series performance by their staff. Andres Rodriguez went 6 innings striking out 8 and was followed by another 6 inning performance from Alejandro Arteaga who set a single game franchise record by striking out 10 batters in a game.

Arteaga, who is one of the teams veteran players, was dominant in his second start of the season. He allowed just 2 runs on 5 hits while walking 2. Although the team had a couple of defensive miscues, Arteaga’s performance goes down as one of the best in teams short history.

The offense struggled to put up runs for Arteaga and for the most part the entire series. Even with Arteaga’s quality start, he would be credited with his first loss of the season.

The Greys travel to Quebec City to take on the Capitales where the team looks to get out of its funk and back into the mix.

Watch all Greys games live on Flosports.tv and stay up to date with player stats, results, standings and more right here on empirestategreys.com

Article by Greys Media

Avon, OH— The Empire State Greys offense and dominant bullpen led the team to a come from behind 11-8 victory.

After scoring at least 7 runs in every game of their first series, Empire State’s offense has continued its hot start with an 11 spot today. Trailing 6-3 in the 6th, the Greys’ offense showed its prowess. Eric Callahan got the team going with an RBI single and was shortly followed by Quinton Holmes driving in a run with a hit-by-pitch. Cristopher Cespedes immediately followed Holmes delivering the biggest hit of the game. Cespedes cleared the bases with a hard hit double and gave the Greys a 8-6 lead which they wouldn’t relinquish.

The Greys bullpen had a dominant showing once again. Miguel Rondon entered the game to start the 5th and threw two shutout innings and struck out three. Rondon’s outing was rewarded by earning his first win of the season. Nick Trabacchi dominated out of the pen as well. Throwing the 7th and 8th, Trabacchi did not allow a hit and struck out two. Tanner Propst was given the ninth and was able to work out of trouble to secure the win for the Greys.

Empire State will look to take the series tomorrow at 11:05 am against the Lake Erie Crushers.

Article by Jacob Weber

Ottawa, On—The Empire State Greys have won their first game of the season due to the offensive prowess of Josh Sears and a dominant performance by the pitching staff.

Offensively, the top of the lineup for the Greys was explosive once again. Josh Sears got the offense going in the first by sending a fastball over the fence for a 3-run home run. In the fifth Sears delivered again. Hitting a ball deep down the right field line, Sears delivered a 2 RBI double and was immediately driven in by a Matt Turner single to center field. After a pair of 3 run innings the Greys held a 6-1 lead which they wouldn’t relinquish.

Empire State received a dominating performance from its pitching staff. Michael Barker set the tone for the Greys going 4 ⅓ allowing just one run on 2 hits and striking out 5. Wilber Perez entered in relief in the fifth, and earned the win, for the Greys. He went 1 ⅔ innings giving up just one hit and a walk striking out two. Carson Ferry and Nick Trabscchi dominated the seventh and eighth putting the team in good position to secure the win

After scoring an insurance run in the top of the ninth, Tanner Propst shut the door. The southpaw side-armer set down the Titans 1-2-3, striking out two, to end the game. Empire State won the game with a final score of 7-1 and secured their first win of the season.

The Greys will take on the Titans in the rubber match tomorrow afternoon at 1pm EST.

Ottawa, On –The Empire State Greys have kicked off 2023 against the Ottawa Titans and received an outstanding performance from Center Fielder Eric Jenkins and Cristopher Cespedes.

Empire State’s offense looked promising in the early innings. Eric Jenkins led off the game with a walk and was followed immediately by Quentin Holmes lacing a hard-hit single to right field for the club’s first hit of the season. The Greys had another chance with two runners on in the second after Steve Barmakian and JR DiSarcina were hit by pitches in back-to-back at-bats. With two outs, Mike Gulino capitalized on this by hitting the ball over the shortstop’s outstretched glove to drive in the team’s first run of the season. Eric Jenkins immediately followed by smoking a line drive to deep right field for a go-ahead 2 RBI double.

The Grey’s offense also showed what it’s capable of in the later innings. Eric Jenkins showed off his power in the seventh by hitting a deep home run to straightaway center field. In the ninth, first baseman Cristopher Cespedes smashed a 3-run shot to left field.

Jenkins ended the day going 3/4 with a HR, 2B, BB, and 3 RBI. He will look to continue to his hot start to the season in game two, tomorrow night at 6 pm EST versus Ottawa.

Article by Jacob Weber

​Ryan Sandberg will be taking the bump on May 12^th as the Greys take on the Ottawa Titans to begin the season.

Sandberg comes to the Greys after a successful 2022 season. Sandberg finished his collegiate career at Wilmington University where in his senior season pitched in and started 13 games and pitched to a 3.35 ERA, 1.154 WHIP, and struck out 110 batters.

Following his graduation, Sandberg pitched in the MLB Draft League for the Trenton Thunder and the Atlantic College Baseball League for the East Coast Sandhogs.

The Greys will look for Ryan to continue to build off his success from the previous season and be a big part of the club’s pitching core in 2023.

Article by Jacob Weber

​After a successful Spring Training, the Greys have made their final roster decisions. The team has brought in Catcher Zak Whalin and Right-Hand Pitcher Jose Suero to fill the 24-manroster. 

Zak Whalin was a two-year standout in college at Central Missouri. There he slashed .358/.429/.495 with six home runs and 63 RBI’s. After a successful college career, Whalin started his professional career playing in the Mets system. Most recently he played for the New Jersey Jackals in 2022 where he caught 35 games and hit .240.

In 2022 Jose Suero was a dominant relief pitcher his senior season at Wayland Baptist. In 22 appearances, Suero pitched to a 1.85 ERA and struck out 38 batters over the course of 24.1 innings. After graduating, Jose pitched for the Frederick Keys in the MLB Draft League. Most recently he pitched for the Frederick Baseball Club in the Atlantic League where he showcased an electric fastball that tops out at 96 mph. 

The Greys will play Opening Day Friday May 12^th, as they take on the Ottawa Titans at 6.30 pm EST.

TROY, NY – The Empire State Greys took on the Tri-City ValleyCats in their final spring training matchup. The two clubs faced each other Friday in a fourteen-inning exhibition and have agreed to play twelve and a half today. Throughout the extended game, many positive signs for the club were shown on all sides of the ball. Many arms out of the bullpen impressed, the defense made an accumulation of highlight reel plays, and the team’s gap to gap power was on display.

Michael Barker took the mound as the starting pitcher for the exhibition. He displayed the ability to bounce back and pitched the second and third without allowing a run. This was in part to a run saving sliding catch made by center fielder Eric Jenkins to end the third and bring Barker’s Day to an end. Another run saving diving catch was made in the fourth inning by right fielder Eric Jenkins to help out relief pitcher Jhoendri Herrera. Herrera had a solid inning of work and was able to work out of a jam. The fifth was designated to LHP Carson Ferry, who impressed by facing just four batters and striking out two of them. Ferry also got help from his defense as DiSarcina made a diving stop at third base and threw out the runner with a strong throw from the ground to end the inning. Zach Gettys was given the 6^th inning out of the pen. Gettys demonstrated a great move to first base and was able to pick a runner off. Wilbur Perez had a solid ninth inning striking out two with great off-speed pitches. In the additional three innings played, all three arms for the Greys were lights out. LHP Tanner Propst impressed in the 10^th with his side arm release and disappearing slider, Miguel Rondon mixed his fastball and slider well in the 11^th, and Nick Trabacchi blew hitters away with his overpowering fastball in the 12^th. 

Five different Greys impressed at the plate throughout the game. Following his home run on Friday, Josh Sears showed off his power once again. Leading off the second inning, Sears took a high fastball the other way and deposited it into the Greys bullpen, a 2 run shot. Three and a half hours and ten innings later, Josh did it again but this time cleared the bullpen out in right field. John Mead also had a great day at the plate. Mead doubled to right field in both the fourth and seventh innings. Steve Barmakian and JR DiSarcina provided offense in the eighth. Barmakian hit a double to right center field and was immediately followed by DiSarcina’s home run to the deepest part of the yard. Outfielder Matt Turner provided two singles, including a bases loaded two RBI knock in the top of the 12^th. 

​The Greys will start regular season action Friday May 12^thagainst the Ottawa Titans.

Article by Greys Media

TUPPER LAKE, NY – Weather doesn’t slow down the Empire State Greys spring training as the team has started in the Adirondacks under 30 degrees.

Practices have consisted of light conditioning and flat ground bullpens for the pitchers, tee work and throwing program for hitters. The weather was a factor in how much work could be done but manager Mark Mason felt good about the players getting out on the field and getting some work.

“I’m really excited to be here and get started, I’ve been waiting for a long time and I’m just ready to see our guys get on the field and play.” – Manager Mark Mason

The Greys will continue training Thursday and are set to play the Tri-City ValleyCats on their first exhibition spring training game Friday at 11:30am at Joseph L Bruno Stadium in Albany. The team will also play the ValleyCats on Monday the 8th and wrap up camp on the 10th. Final Roster will be announced on May 10th.

The team will get on the road to on May 11th for the first time in the season and head to Ottawa to take on the Ottawa Titans on game 1 of the season.

ABOUT THE EMPIRE STATE GREYS

The Empire State Greys are a professional baseball team that plays in the MLB Partnered Frontier League. The team comes into its second season as a franchise in the Frontier League. Fans and media can stay aware of all the happenings within the Greys organization, both on and off the field, by following the team’s social media platforms @empirestgreys and website: www.empirestategreys.com

For other inquiries, email us at baseball@empireproleague.com

Article by Greys Media