RIVERDALE, N.Y. ? With the majority of the summer in the books, GoJaspers.com unveils its annual summer baseball update which highlights the achievements of both current and former Manhattan standouts who are playing in professional and NCAA sanctioned amateur leagues. In total, six Jaspers reside in minor league baseball, while nine current student-athletes are active in wooden bat leagues.
In the Pros:
Mike Parisi: After being called up to the major league by the St. Louis Cardinals in early May, Mike Parisi was reassigned to the club's Triple A Pacific Coast League affiliate Memphis Redbirds following 12 innings of action in the MLB. Parisi, a Huntington, N.Y., native, holds a 7-2 overall record this season with the Redbirds, and carries a 3.82 ERA along with 52 strikeouts over 73 innings pitched. He has won five of his last six starts since being recalled to Memphis.
Parisi was drafted by the Cardinals in the ninth round of the 2004 Major League Baseball draft. After an illustrious playing career with at Manhattan, he ranks second all-time in strikeouts, third in saves and fifth in innings pitched.
Chris Cody: Chris Cody began the 2008 campaign with the West Virginia Power, a Class A South Atlantic League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, before being promoted to the Brevard County Manatees of the Class A Advanced Florida State League. During his stint in West Virginia, Cody posted a 1.74 ERA, struck out 31 batters over 31 innings, and boasted a 2-1 record. He was named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week in early June. After seven games with the Manatees, Cody harbors a 2.52 ERA and has limited opponents to a .206 batting average.
Cody was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the eighth round of the 2006 MLB Draft. He played the 2006 season for the Oneonta Tigers of the New York-Penn League. In 2007, Cody was traded to Milwaukee for a Major League reliever.
Jesse Darcy: Jesse Darcy has played the 2008 season with the Columbus Catfish, a Class A South Atlantic League affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. Darcy was named Rays Minor League Pitcher of the Month for June after posting a 1.53 ERA, retiring 20 batters over 29 and a third innings. He compiled a 4-0 record during the month, and became the first pitcher from the Rays Class-A affiliate to earn this accolade. Overall, Darcy carries a 2.90 ERA on the season over 12 starts.
Darcy was drafted in the 38th round of the 2007 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He played the 2007 campaign for Short Season A Hudson Valley Renegades.
Nick Derba: Nick Derba is playing the 2008 season with the Palm Beach Cardinals of the Class A Advanced Florida State League. Derba, a College Point, N.Y. native, has appeared in 44 games behind the plate and generated 17 hits, including six doubles, and eight RBIs.
Derba was a 30th round selection and first catcher taken by the St. Louis Cardinals organization in the 2007 Amateur Draft. Derba was promoted to the Wing of the Quad Cities (Full A) after beginning the 2007 season with the Short Season A Batavia Muckdogs.
Matt Rizzotti: Matt Rizzotti played 63 games for the Lakewood Blueclaws a Class A South Atlantic League affiliate of the Phillies before suffering a broken hand. Prior to the setback, Rizzotti averaged .266 from the plate, drove in 31 RBIs, blasted six home runs and connected on 12 doubles for the Blueclaws.
Rizzotti was selected in the sixth round of the 2007 Amateur Draft, second highest all-time for a Jasper. The Floral Park native boasted a .367 career batting average at Manhattan. He was named the 2005 MAAC Rookie and MAAC Player of the Year, while earning First Team All-MAAC honors in each of his three seasons. Rizzotti played his inaugural professional season with the Williamsport Crosscutters of the New York-Penn League.
Dom Lombardi: Dom Lombardi signed with the Midwest Sliders of the Frontier League on June 13, 2008. Lombardi is batting .268 over 25 games with the squad. He has already accumulated 20 RBIs, four homeruns, 26 hits, including two triples and three doubles.
College Players:
Kevin Nieto: Kevin Nieto has started 23 of 24 appearances for the Vermont Mountaineers of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. Nieto currently leads the league with 19 stole bases, and has yet to be caught stealing. Additionally, he is tied for eighth in the league with four home runs. Nieto is batting .314 from the plate, leads the Mountaineers with 21 runs and has connected on 27 hits. For his efforts in the first half of the season, Nieto was selected as a reserve for the 15th annual NECBL All-Star Game.
Tom Moran: Tom Moran also earned All-Star status in the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League (ACBL) playing for the Peekskill Robins. Moran ranks second in the league with 47 strikeouts in 41.0 innings of relief and holds a perfect 4-0 record. Moran is tied for third in the league in saves and stands sixth overall with a 1.98 ERA over 15 appearances.
Mike Gazzola: Mike Gazzola made four appearances, including two starts for the Peekskill Robins of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League before being placed on the DL. Gazzola held a 2-2 overall record and struck out 10 batters over 10 and two third innings.
Mark Onorati: Mark Onorati is having a stellar summer campaign playing for the Amsterdam Mohawks of the New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL). Onorati currently leads the league with 33 runs, tied for first with 26 RBIs, second with 10 doubles, second with 19 stolen bases, fourth with 66 total bases and tied for fifth with five home runs. Onorati has started 28 of 29 games for the Mohawks and holds a .339 batting average. Onorati was named to the 2008 Eastern Division All-Star team and received the Bellizzi Big Stick Award (All-Star Game Offensive MVP).
Dan Forman: Dan Forman, also a member of the Amsterdam Mohawks of the NYCBL, boasts 4-1 overall record and 3.12 ERA over six starts. Forman ranks second on the Mohawks staff with 31 strikeouts in 34 and two third innings of action. Forman was also selected to the 2008 NYCBL All-Star Game Eastern Division roster.
Mike McCann: Mike McCann is playing 2008 summer ball with the Frozen Ropes of the Tri-State Collegiate Baseball League (TSCBL). McCann currently leads the squad in batting average (.380), stolen bases (13), homeruns (3), triples (4), hits (30), runs (24), while also posting 15 RBIs. For his efforts McCann was selected to the TSCBL Connecticut Division All-Star Team.
Chad Salem: Chad Salem also received TSCBL All-Star honors after putting up solid numbers with the Frozen Ropes this summer. Salem is second to McCann with a .514 on base percentage, holds a .346 batting average, drove in 11 runs and scored 18. Salem delivered four doubles and two triples on the season.
Mike Tibbetts: Mike Tibbetts boasts a 3.13 ERA over six appearances with the Frozen Ropes of the Tri-State Collegiate Baseball League (TSCBL). Tibbetts holds a 3-2 record on the season, and has struck out 19 batters over 23 innings. Tibbetts has limited opponents to a .180 on base percentage.
Rob Ardino: Rob Ardino has appeared in eight contests for the Frozen Ropes of the TSCBL. In 13 and two third innings of action, Ardino has posted 17 strikeouts. He is 1-1 overall on the season coming out of the bullpen in all appearances.
