dutchmenbaseball.com

Despite all the high profile schools that dominate the PGCBL rosters, recent years have proven that talented baseball players come from all different types of programs. Over the past few seasons, the Dutchmen have particularly found success with pitchers from the division three level. The Dutchmen have continuously been able to find talented players from school like Trinity University, Millsaps College, and Wheaton College. Most recently, Ben Klimesh of Trinity University, who led the 2010 Dutchmen staff, was drafted in the 15th round of the Major League Baseball Draft. Now, as they fill out their 2013 roster, the Dutchmen hope to achieve similar success with two talented, young division three arms.

Andrew Bannon comes to the Dutchmen after a highly successful freshman year at Skidmore College. The 6’0” right-hander from Sandwich, MA led the Thoroughbreds in saves last year with five, striking out 27 batters in 30.1 innings. Now a sophomore, Bannon has been splitting time between the bullpen and the rotation, compiling a 2.76 ERA over 16.1 innings. He’s limited opposing batters to a .255 batting average and has allowed only three extra base hits.

Joining him on Dutchmen staff will be local Guilderland High School product, Dylan Collett. The former member of the South Troy Dodgers was a first team All-Section and All-Suburban Council honoree during his final two high school years. Since showing up at Keene State, the left-hander has become a vital part of the bullpen, registering a 2.08 ERA over eight appearances, averaging over seven strikeouts per nine innings.

With both players proving to be solid and composed out of the bullpen, they have the mental fortitude that the Dutchmen look for in players jumping up in competition. It’s a good indication that these young hurlers will be more than ready for the challenges that await this summer.