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Former Spartans Have Game to Remember
COURTESY OF FLORENCE FREEDOM WEBSITE
Florence beats Evansville for the fourth time in 2008
Saul pitchers a gem as the Freedom move one game above .500
Everett Saul (2-0) shut down the Western Division leading Evansville Otters. Saul scattered seven hits and gave up only one unearned run through six and two thirds innings. Everett Saul has pitched well against Evansville in the 2008 season. He pitched one game in Evansville and gave up only three hits and no runs through four innings.
Evansville scored first in the top of the third inning. Ryan Bethel led off the inning with a single and Evansville leadoff hitter Michael Sullivan reached on an error. The Evansville Otters scored their only run on a bizarre play. Justin Randall singled and Bethel held up at third base. Sullivan came around to third base and got caught in a run-down between second and third. This allowed Bethel to score but the Freedom got Sullivan out on an 8-6-5-6-5 scoring. Saul got out of the inning by striking out the Otters right fielder Jose Pineda.
Florence would not trail long. The Freedom scored two runs in the bottom of the 4th inning to take a 2-1 lead. Nick Salotti hit a RBI single and Eddie Gonzalez walked with the bases loaded to give starting pitcher Everett Saul a two run lead, which would prove to be all he needed.
The Freedom bats stayed strong, as Florence scored again in the bottom of the 5th inning on a solo homer by Billy Mottram. The Freedom scored twice more in the bottom of the 6th from a two-out two run homer from catcher Eddie Gonzalez. Gonzalez had three runs batted in on the night.
NOTE: Gonzalez was a two year member (2004-2005) of the Spartans and Saul was a four year member (2004-2007).
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Saul Picks Up Win in Pro Debut
COURTSEY OF FLORENCE FREEDOM WEBSITE
Freedom Complete Road Sweep of Otters
Saul Earns Win in Professional Debut
John Welch blasted a three-run homer and four Florence pitchers combined on a five-hitter Thursday night to lead the Freedom to a 6-1 Frontier League win at Evansville and a three-game sweep of the host Otters at Bosse Field.
Third baseman Tim Grogan, hitting in the leadoff spot for the first time with the Freedom, added a solo homer that wiped out an early Otters 1-0 lead and tied the game in the third. Welch’s fourth home run of the season put Florence in front for good.
Florence left-hander Demetrius Banks started and was lifted after allowing the only Evansville run in the first inning. Rookie right-hander Everett Saul came on in the second to make his professional debut. The former Missouri Western State star earned the win with four innings of three-hit shutout relief. Left-hander Alain Quijano worked the next three innings and allowed just one hit. Rookie southpaw Stephen Shao worked a 1-2-3 ninth to complete the win and the sweep for Florence (8-6), which ended a six-game road trip with a .500 record (3-3) and improved its overall mark to 8-6. Evansville (9-6) has now dropped six straight games since opening the season with nine consecutive victories.
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Former Spartan Signs with Frontier League
June 4, 2008 --
Everett Saul, a four year Sullivan Spartan, signed with the Florence Freedom of the independent Frontier League on Tuesday. Saul, of Cochecton, graduated in 2003 from Sullivan West HS and this past May from Missouri Western State University. Saul joins former Sullivan Spartan and teammate Eddie Gonzalez on the Florence roster. Gonzalez, a catcher, is in his third Frontier League season.
This past season Saul went 8-4 with a save. He lead his team in appearances (17), tied for the lead with starts (10), complete games (5), innings pitched (76), strikeouts (79) and was second in opponents batting average (.250). Last summer for the Spartans, Saul was 3-0 with an ERA of .24 (1 earned run). He had 46 strikeouts in 29 innings.
Frontier League Transactions
Florence Freedom
Sullivan Spartans that have played professionally:
Eli Diaz: Chicago Cubs system, Chillicothe Paints (Frontier League)
Josue Gonzalez: Grays (Can-Am League)
Eddie Gonzalez: River City Rascals, Chillicothe Paints & Florence Freedom (all Frontier League)
John Tine: Utica (NY State League)
Everett Saul: Florence Freedom (Frontier League).
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Two Former Spartans Selected by Can-Am League
April 7, 2007 --
Josue Gonzalez (photo above) and Eli Diaz, both members of the 2005 Sullivan Spartans, were two of sixteen players selected in the 2007 Can-Am League Tryout Camp Draft on April 4th & 5th in Fort Myers, FL.
Gonzalez, a catcher, was selected 10th by the Grays. The Grays are professional baseball's only all road team. In 2006 Gonzalez attended the Washington Nationals spring training and was member of the Winnipeg Goldeyes organization. Gonzalez played his college ball with former Spartan and member of the Chillicothe Paints (Frontier League), Eddie Gonzalez.
Diaz, a right handed pitcher, was selected 13th by the Nashua Pride. Diaz was drafted in 2005 by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and then again in 2006 by the Chicago Cubs from Texarkana College.
Diaz along with Eddie & Josue Gonzalez both lived in worked at the Swan Lake Resort in Swan Lake, NY while playing for the Spartans.
Can-Am League Release
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Former Spartan in Frontier League Finals
September 12, 2006 --
Former Sullivan Spartan Eddie Gonzalez and the Chillicothe Paints have advanced to the Frontier League Championship Series versus the Evansville Otters. The Series opens up Wednesday September 13th in Evansville, Indiana.
Gonzalez, who was released by the last place River City Rascals in July, joined the first place Paints on August 2nd. Since joining the Paints he has played all five infield positions along with handling some designated hitter duties.
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Eli Diaz Drafted in 40th Round by Cubs
June 7, 2006 --
Eli Diaz, a 2005 member of the Sullivan Spartans, was selected in the 40th round by the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. Diaz attended Texarkana JC in Texarkana, TX this past season.
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Eddie Gonzalez Signs with River City
Former Sullivan Spartan Eddie Gonzalez has signed with the River City Rascals of the Frontier League as a catcher. The Rascals, who play in O'Fallon, MO, open their 96 game season May 24th.
Gonzalez (photo right)was a member of the 2004 & 2005 Sullivan Spartans where he played every infield position except for second base and was a anchor in the middle of the lineup. Gonzalez attended Florida College and Webber International University, where he led his team in batting average (.380), home runs (5) and RBI's (35) during his senior season. He is the second Sullivan Spartan with professional connections. Eli Diaz, a 2005 member of the squad was a 47th round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He is currently attending Texarkana College in Texarkana, TX.
While spending his summers playing for the Spartans, Gonzalez lived & worked at the Swan Lake Resort & Hotel in Swan Lake and was also employed as a summer camp instructor at Pro Prospects Training Center in Monticello.
During Gonzalez's two years with the Spartans he helped lead them to two Collegiate Baseball League playoff appearances.. His two year combined totals are as follows:
BA: .270 (49-for-183), 21 runs, 12 doubles, 4 triples, 2 Homeruns, 43 RBI’s and 7 Stolen Bases.
Gonzalez Hits First Pro Homerun
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