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Owls help stock Keene Blue Jays
KEENE, N.H. 7/20/09 - Come fall they will return to being Owls, but at least for one more week they remain Blue Jays.
Six members of the Keene State baseball team - pitchers Jeff Pelkey and Ryan Boden, catchers Tyler DiPrato and Steve Case, and infielders Keith Patnode and Larry Longo - switched feathers this summer, playing for the Keene Blue Jays of the Central New England Baseball Association (CNEBA). KSC alums Rick Stromgren and Ben Fournier, and current Owl Bobby Doyon, who came up from a wooden bat league in New Jersey to play a couple of weekend games, also saw action with the team.
"We try to instill in the guys the importance of playing during the summer," said Keene State coach Ken Howe. "We're very fortunate to have a team like the Blue Jays in town to give some of our players that opportunity."
Someone who knows a thing or two about the importance of summer ball, KSC associate coach and Swamp Bat head coach Marty Testo says it's all about getting repetitions. "Baseball is a game of repetition. Our guys were all given things they need to work on to improve to be a part of the team next season," he said. "It's hard to find leagues for kids to play in, so having a team right in town is a big bonus."
On the other side of the ledger, the availability of Keene State players to help stock their roster proved beneficial to the Blue Jays, who were returning to the CNEBA after a five-year absence.
"We're very fortunate to have a lot of the Keene State players," said Blue Jay General Manager Mark Gavin. "Ken Howe and his staff have done a terrific job developing a top-quality program."
The other team in town besides the Swamp Bats in the summer, the Blue Jays have had several reincarnations since starting up in the late 1940s. Originally a member of the Northern League that produced its share of professionals, the Blue Jays disbanded for several years before setting up shop in Walpole in the early 1980s. The team, coached by Howe, moved back to Keene in 1988 and won a pair of league championships in 1988 and 1990. Former Owl greats John Luopa and Rick Pierce were members of the 1988 team. Later joining the CNEBL in the mid-90s, the Blue Jays featured players like John Grainger and Rick Stromgren, who also made names for themselves at Keene State.
Looking to start up this season, the Blue Jays decided to stay with their home talent pool. "We had an opportunity to get some kids from Massachusetts and Connecticut, but I wanted to stay local and get as many area kids playing as possible," said Greg Parrot, who began the season as the Blue Jays coach. "What better place to go than Keene State?"
Seeing plenty of action, the Owls have enjoyed their time in the Blue Jay uniform. "It's great because you never have to pick up where you left off," said Patnode, who leads the regulars with a .416 batting average, a home run, and 13 RBIs. "I'm always moving forward and working on new things."
DiPrato decided to stay around Keene this summer instead of playing on his hometown Windsor Lock, Conn., legion team. "I was looking forward to meeting some new guys and playing against come good competition," he said.
In addition to playing ball with the Blue Jays, Case has spent his summer painting the dorms at Keene State. The Goffstown native says both his painting and batting skills need a little work. "I was a third-string catcher last season, so it's nice to see my name in the line-up card every day," he said. "It's been a great learning experience."
As far as playing with so many of his Keene State teammates, Pelkey said it's nice knowing everyone from the get-go. "You're not afraid to talk to them or ask them questions," said Pelkey, who has spent time in the weight room building up his strength for next season.
Currently being led by player-coach Aric LeClair, who played in the Diamondbacks farm system, the Blue Jays concluded their regular season by splitting a pair of games at Keene State's Owl Athletic Complex this past weekend.
The Blue Jays, who finished with an 11-16 record, begin the playoffs on Saturday.
Although the line up has fluctuated throughout the season, LeClair gives his Owl players high marks. "They've been a joy to coach," he said. "No one has put up any resistance; they go out there and get the job done."
"I hope we can continue our relationship with the College in the years ahead," said Gavin. "We want to put the best team we can on the field, and Keene State players certainly give us the opportunity to do that."
