NEWS

New league, same wood bats for 2007 Herndon Braves

By Jon Shecket
The Herndon Connection
www.connectionnewspapers.com

June 13, 2007

With the College World Series getting underway this Friday in Omaha, the college baseball season is over for all but the top eight teams in the NCAA. Thanks to NCAA-sanctioned summer baseball leagues, players do not have to put all of their equipment into storage, except, of course, for their aluminum bats. Come summertime, it’s all about the wood.

After playing four years in the Clark Griffith league, the Herndon Braves are back for 2007 as the newest members of the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League.
The Braves will play a 44-game schedule with home contests staged at Herndon High School. As the lone Virginia entrant, their road schedule will be played entirely in Maryland, with teams located beside both the Baltimore and Washington beltways.
An all-star game is scheduled for July 23 at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, Md. It will be televised live throughout the region on MASN.

Herndon High School assistant baseball coach Chris Smith is serving as the Braves’ coach and general manager this year.

''We’re here to develop the players but we’re also here to win,'' he said.

In addition to the team’s day-to-day matters, Smith was responsible for filling their 25-man roster by way of recruiting. The process begins more than six months before the start of the season.

''I basically have five schools that I go to first,'' he said. ''I just ask those coaches who they have for me and I trust that they’re going to have good kids. You build relationships and they trust that you’re going to treat the kids well, you’re going to instruct them.''

University of Maryland rising senior Joe Palumbo is one of 22 current college players on the squad along with three others who are graduating high school seniors.
''It’s a nice place to play,'' Palumbo said. ''It’s a good league to get some more at-bats after the college season and use the wooden bat.''

The difference between wood and aluminum, Palumbo explained, is in the size of the sweet spot, about three times larger with aluminum.

''Using the wood bat helps you get a good feel for where you need to be,'' he said. ''When you get back to that aluminum bat it’s a lot easier.'' Palumbo said that the team treats its players well. ''On away trips they charter buses; they usually give us meals before games and they give us nice gear to practice in.''

The Braves’ roster includes nine Virginians. The four who hail from the Northern Region are outfielder T.J. Prioletti (So. VMI/Fairfax), infielder Andrew Thal (So. Amherst/McLean), pitcher John Walker (Jr. Longwood/Alexandria) and catcher Seth Williams (Fr. Michigan State / Alexandria).

To make extra money during the summer, the players will help conduct a baseball camp. The camp runs four days a week for four weeks and is open to boys and girls age 7-14. The cost is $130 per child.

According to club sponsor John Lombardozzi, the camps are part of the community service mission of the team set forth by himself and his wife Lisa.

''The camps provide a nice connection between the players and the local youth,'' he said. ''They get to know the players on a personal level then they come out to watch the games.''

The Braves have also served the community by making annual donations to the field at Herndon High.

''Two years ago we installed a Bermuda grass infield to improve the playing surface,'' Lombardozzi said. ''Our effort is to draw a strong connection between the high school and the team and do things that benefit the school as a whole and the baseball program as well.''

Lombardozzi also said that the concession stand will be operated this year by the Herndon cheerleaders. The money they raise will help them purchase new uniforms.

As most of the players hail from outside the state, housing, food and other living arrangements are provided by host families. Lombardozzi said that about 18 families will house at least one player this year. Some of them will welcome two players.
''We have a phenomenal group of host families that have been working with us,'' Lombardozzi said. ''They enjoy having these kids stay with them during the summer.''

Herndon will host the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts tonight at 7 p.m.
The Braves do not charge for admission or parking. A golf tournament fundraiser to benefit the team is scheduled for July 3 at the Virginia Oaks Golf Course in Gainesville. Braves players will serve as celebrity hosts for each foursome. Those who are interested in entering or sponsoring the tournament may contact John and Lisa Lombardozzi at 703-481-3767.

Copyright 2007. Connection Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.