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Pitcher Josh Forsmark voted “Best” in the AAAOutfielder Cory Tuley and pitcher Tom Farmer have the stats, not the awards
September 16, 2011

BEREA—Josh Forsmark became the third different—and fourth overall^—Blue Sox pitcher to earn the Cuyahoga County AAA’s Best Pitcher award. Josh, who was also named to the 2010 All-AAA team as a pitcher, was 7-1 with one save and a 1.51 (16 ER in 74 IP) in 2011.

Joining Josh on the All-AAA team are catcher Cory Martin, second baseman Jeff Salay, and outfielder Ethan West.

Salay’s All-AAA selection is his fourth overall, and it ties him with former outfielder Jamie Pochatek for most all-time as a member of the Blue Sox. Jeff was named all-league in 2007 (2B), 2008 (P – “Best Pitcher”), and 2009 (P). Pochatek was an all-league outfielder in 2003 and 2004 and again in 2007 and 2008. He was named the AAA’s “Leading Hitter” in 2004.

With their fifth consecutive championship behind them, Berea now stands alone as the only team in the history of the AAA (1975-2011) to have won five titles. Those championship teams have had new players each season—including 14 new players in 2011—but the Sox continue to bring in talented players year after year. With the exception of the team’s first championship season in 2007, Berea has had at least four players named All-AAA from 2008-2011, including 2009, a season in which five Sox were tabbed all-league. Equally impressive, Berea has now had the AAA’s all-league catcher in three of the past four seasons—and each time it was a different player (Kevin Drozin, 2008; Ryan Mocarski, 2009).

^All four have been consecutive selections (Jeff Salay, 2008; Jeff Welsh, 2009 & 2010)

Below is a brief summary of each Berea selection.
(Note: Position players must have at least 50 at-bats and pitchers must have 30 innings pitched)

Josh Forsmark (Pitcher)
Josh Forsmark picked up right where he left off a season ago. A year after being named an All-AAA pitcher, Josh followed up his 2010 campaign with an even better 2011. His reward: Cuyahoga County AAA’s Best Pitcher award. Forsmark was 7-1 with one save and a 1.51 ERA in 74 innings pitched. He led Berea’s pitchers in games started (12), innings pitched, wins, and complete games (5). His 70 strikeouts placed him one behind the team leader. Josh’s grit was put on display in his 15-inning performance against the Strongsville Americans. In that game he allowed one earned run while striking out 11. The previous record for innings pitched by a Sox starter was 11. It should be noted that Josh’s only loss in 2011—his only loss in the last two years—came after his 15-inning outing. All total, Josh is 14-1 with two saves and a 1.27 ERA in 121 innings pitched over the last two seasons for Berea. And not only did Josh shine on the mound, he was also impressive at the dish as well. He batted .343 (24-for-70) with three doubles, 19 RBI, and one stolen base. He struck out just seven times while drawing six walks and two hit by pitch. Unfortunately, due to a league rule that stipulates that a player cannot be named to the All-AAA team as both a pitcher and position player, Josh was not allowed to be considered as an all-league third baseman.

Cory Martin (Catcher)
For the third time in the past four seasons Berea has been fortunate enough to have an All-AAA performer at one of the most important positions on the diamond. In 2011 Cory Martin joined the Blue Sox and paid huge dividends immediately upon taking the field. In his first at-bat Cory sent a rope back up the box for a single. In his second game his solo home run off All-AAA, standout pitcher Josh Scott was the catalyst behind a three-run, come-from-behind win. He collected 22 RBI in 25 games and notched 10 multi-hit games, including a four-hit, six-RBI game. Cory led the team with a .363 average, tied for the team lead with 33 hits, finished second in RBI, and third with six doubles. He also had Berea’s only triple.

Jeff Salay (Second Base)
What Jeff Salay can do injured is more impressive than what a lot of players can do healthy. Jeff earned his fourth All-AAA selection in 2011. It was the second time he was voted as the league’s premier second baseman. He hit .333 (21-for-63) with two doubles and 12 RBI. Jeff struck out eight times while drawing 10 free passes and five hit by pitch on his way to a team-best .462 OBP. He reached safely (hit or walk) in 18 of 20 games. In addition to hitting his way onto the all-league squad, Salay was also once again one of the league’s top arms. Jeff led the Sox with 71 strikeouts (in 37.2 innings pitched) and had four games of at least 11 strikeouts, including a 15-strikeout, complete game victory during the Sox’ playoff push. Jeff finished the season 4-2 with a 1.67 ERA.

Ethan West (Outfield)
One of the league’s all-time great outfielders returned to his stomping grounds—the AAA—in 2011. Ethan West suited up for the Berea Blue Sox this past season, and in doing so he took home some hardware with him. Ethan was named an All-AAA outfielder after hitting .295 (28-for-95). West used his speed to rack up eight doubles, 12 stolen bases, and 23 runs scored, all of which were tops on the Blue Sox. West provided the spark Berea needed by sliding in as a permanent fixture in the team’s leadoff spot. Despite starting all but three games at the top of the order, he still managed to drive in 13 runs. West flashed the glove in center field and made one of the year’s saving plays for the Sox. Having just surrendered the go-ahead run to Strongsville in the top of the 15th inning, Berea was down 1-0 when West dashed from center to left center, dove in the gap, and came up with a run-saving, inning-ending catch. The play not only prevented Strongsville from adding on insurance runs, it also gave Berea the momentum lift it needed; the Sox scored the tying run in the bottom of the 15th and added the winning run in the 16th.

*Cory Tuley
Without a doubt, Cory Tuley was the most feared hitter in the AAA this past season. His power numbers alone (8 doubles/4 home runs/26 RBI) would rank him at the top of any team. But along with his team-leading .996 slugging percentage came his .355 average (33-for-93) and .436 OBP. Cory had at least one hit in 24 of the 27 games he played in. He turned in nine multi-RBI games as well. Despite his power, Tuley was patient, walking 14 times. He also stole four bases and scored 18 runs. It is unexplainable how a season such as Tuley’s goes unrewarded—unless you choose to leave integrity out of your explanation.

*Tom Farmer
In much the same way that Cory Tuley was omitted from All-AAA consideration, Tom Farmer also suffered the same fate. Farmer, who was second to Josh Forsmark for the AAA's Best Pitcher award, was oddly left off the All-AAA team. Tom was a perfect 4-0 with one save in 2011. He allowed just three earned runs in 39.2 innings pitched—a 0.53 ERA. He struck out at least eight batters in five of his eight appearances. Of those five outings in which he set down eight, only two were starts; in the other three appearances he punched out 24 in 10.2 innings of relief. His most dominant outing was a nine-inning, complete game victory over the Blue Claws. In that contest he limited a potent lineup to two runs (none earned) on five hits.

2011 All-Cuyahoga County AAA
C: Cory Martin (Berea Blue Sox) .363
1B: Jeff McClellan (Blue Claws) .519 – LEADING HITTER
2B: Jeff Salay (Berea Blue Sox) .333
SS: Brendan Palm (Sheffield Mariners) .325
3B: Gio Susini (Blue Claws) .329
OF: Matt Kurz (Fairview Cardinals) .413
OF: Danny Dowdell (Sheffield Mariners) .382
OF: Ethan West (Berea Blue Sox) .295
DH: Dan Hudeck (Blue Claws) .377
P: Josh Forsmark (Berea Blue Sox) 7-1, 1 SV, 1.51 ERA – BEST PITCHER
P: Josh Scott (Sheffield Mariners) 4-4, 2 SV, 1.31 ERA

**Check out the “History & Awards” section for the Berea’s all-time, All-AAA selections**

Berea wins record 5th Cuyahoga County AAA championshipBlue Sox stay strong after adding 14 new playersJuly 23, 2011

STRONGSVILLE—The Berea Blue Sox (26-11 overall, 24-7 AAA) defeated the Fairview Cardinals (22-9 AAA), 4-3, on Saturday at Foltz Field in Strongsville, sweeping the AAA Championship Series two games to none. Berea now stands alone as the only team in the 37-year history of the Cuyahoga County AAA to have won five league championships. The five titles are one more than the Lake County Knights’ four (2002-2004, 2006). Berea also has the unique distinction of having won all five in consecutive seasons (2007-2011).

Berea won the opening game of the Championship Series, 4-2, but trailed by two runs heading into the top of the seventh inning of game two. With two outs and two men on, first baseman Cory Tuley crushed a 1-0 pitch over the right-center field fence to put the Sox in front. Starter Josh Forsmark then closed out the game in the bottom of the inning, making Berea the first team to hoist the league trophy five times.

Berea and Fairview each won a half of the AAA regular season with the Cardinals claiming the first-half championship and the Sox the second-half crown. Fairview won 11 of 14 first-half games while Berea won 10. In the second half the teams tied with identical 11-3 records. The Blue Sox beat the Cardinals, 5-1, in a second-half tiebreaker to force the best-of-three Championship Series.

The two teams met nine times (including one non-league game) in 2011. Berea posted a 5-4 mark in those nine games.

2011 Cuyahoga County AAA

Season Format: One division of seven teams plays 14 first-half games and 14 second-half games (two games apiece against the league’s six other teams and two additional games^ per half). The winner of the first half plays the winner of the second half in a best-of-three Championship Series with the loser falling back to play a best-of-three Playoff Series against the winner of the Elimination Tournament (single elimination tournament made up of the league’s remaining five teams). If one team wins both halves, they are crowned Champions and the remaining six teams play a double elimination tournament.

^Additional games are randomly drawn and cannot be played against the same team in either the first or second half

League Champions: Berea Blue Sox

First-Half Champions: Fairview Cardinals
Second-Half Champions: Berea Blue Sox

Playoff Series Champions: Fairview Cardinals
Elimination Tournament Champions: Strongsville Americans

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