The Albany Dutchmen have added to their 2016 roster with four veteran position players, each with a year of experience at their particular school. The four sophomores add a level of experience to the Albany lineup. The Dutchmen are pleased to welcome Malcolm Nachmanoff (Stony Brook), Justin Childers (Ohio Dominican), J.J. Shimko (USC-Upstate), and Cole Malloy (Butler).
Nachmanoff, an infielder from Boston, Massachusetts, started 27 games for the Seawolves in 2015, primarily as the designated hitter. He drove in 20 runs on 25 hits, including a two-hit, two RBI performance in the America East Championship. The infielder also recorded a multi-hit game against TCU in the NCAA Tournament He has made three starts and five total appearances in 2016. In high school, Nachmanoff was the top outfield prospect in Massachusetts and was named to ESPN Boston's All-State Team as a four-year player at Boston Latin School. The Dutchmen will look for Nachmanoff to continue his production in the middle of the Albany order this season.
Childers comes to the Dutchmen from the Division II Panthers of Ohio Dominican. A native of Pickerington, Ohio, Childers had a standout freshman season in 2015, making 45 starts with a .307 batting average for the Panthers, who amassed 30 wins on the campaign. The sophomore drove in 24 runs and scored 30, and was also a stalwart in the field, making just one error in 431 chances. He has also started every game thus far as a sophomore, serving as ODU's first baseman. In the 9-2-1 Ohio Dominican start, Childers has hit .275 with 11 runs scored and eight RBIs. He has continued his defensive excellence, as he is perfect in 111 fielding chances. Childers, who the Dutchmen will look to as someone who can play multiple positions effectively, was an all-state selection in both baseball and football at Pickerington North High School.
JJ Shimko joins the Dutchmen as the first Upstate player to suit up in Albany. Shimko played in 35 games as a freshman in the ultra-competitive Atlantic Sun Conference, appearing mostly in the outfield. In his time on the field, the Jacksonville, Florida native recorded 20 hits with 12 runs scored and five runs batted in in 105 at bats, starting 29 games for the Spartans. The outfielder has become one of Upstate's best in 2016, currently boasting .311 batting average on a team-high 19 hits. He has driven in six runs and has posted a .408 on base percentage. Last summer, Shimko played for former Albany assistant Kevin Salmon with the Montak Mustangs of the Hamptons League, where he was a League All-Star and hit .358. At Mandarin High School, Shimko was an All-District and State All-Star Game selection, as well as a Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American selection for the Florida Region. Shimko will help patrol the spacious outfield of Bellizzi Field in 2016.
Joining Shimko in the outfield is Pasadena, California native Cole Malloy. Malloy played in 30 games for the Bulldogs last season, and hit safely eight times in 22 at-bats. In his freshman campaign, Malloy started for Butler on three occasions. Malloy proved to be effective in his plate appearances, scoring seven runs and driving in five. The outfielder also stole two bases. He has played in nine Butler games so far in 2016, recording three hits and four runs scored. Malloy has walked five times to post a .333 on base percentage, and has converted on every one of his fielding chances. A product of Loyola High School in Pasadena, Malloy led his team to 44 wins in his final two seasons, including a league championship as a senior. The outfielder hit .320 during his senior year with 12 stolen bases and a .473 on base percentage. Malloy will add needed speed to the Dutchmen roster, which be used both on the basepaths and to cover ground in the outfields of the PGCBL.
The Dutchmen are happy to have these four excellent players in Albany to provide a veteran presence in the lineup during the upcoming season.
