Lakewood Legends announce 2019 coaching staff

The Lakewood Legends Baseball Club is excited to announce the hiring of Head Coach Roberto Vaz, and Assistant Coach Freddie Bynum, Jr. Both Coach Vaz and Coach Bynum bring extensive collegiate and professional experience and the Legends and league are excited to have them joining us this summer.

Head Coach: Roberto Vaz

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Roberto Vaz is in his fifth full season as assistant baseball coach at LSU Eunice. Vaz is in charge of hitting, outfielders, base running and also assists with recruiting. Coach Vaz was previously with the program from 2011-2014 and rejoined the Bengals prior to the 2017-2018 campaign.

In his first year with the Bengals, LSU Eunice earned its fourth NJCAA National Championship. The 2012 offense was highlighted by six NCAA Division I signees, led by All-American Dalton Herrington and Golden Glove recipient Stuart Turner. The Bengals also set a then-school record for wins with 57 victories.

In Coach Vaz’s second year, the Bengals were national runner-up with a 52-10 record. The offense compiled a .311 batting average while stealing 253 bases, a school record. The offense was highlighted by five position players moving on to play at D-1 schools.

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The Brooklyn native returned to Eunice for the 2018 NJCAA National Championship season.  Vaz guided a Bengals attack that led NJCAA Division II in doubles (159), walks (350) and stolen bases (241).  LSUE was also top Top Five nationally in eight other hitting categories.

In the four seasons Vaz was been with the Bengals, LSU Eunice has reached the National Championship three times, winning twice.  LSUE is 168-21 during that span.

As a player, Vaz began his collegiate career as a member of Northeast Texas CC, helping the Eagles capture the 1996 NJCAA National Championship.  The two-way star was the JUCO World Series Most Valuable Player and recipient of the tournament’s “Big Stick” (top hitter) and Sportsmanship Awards after hitting a blistering .579 during the Eagles stay in Grand Junction.  He was later named to the JUCO World Series Golden Anniversary Team, celebrating the World Series’ 50th year in 2007.  Vaz was on the 21-member team alongside baseball greats such as Kirby Puckett and Wayne Graham.
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After NTCC, Vaz joined the Alabama Crimson Tide, making an immediate impact.  In 1997, Vaz was named First-Team All-American, First-Team All-SEC and still holds several Crimson Tide offensive records.  The outfielder and pitcher was nominated as a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, the “Heisman Trophy” of amateur baseball.  Alabama finished as NCAA Runner-Up at the College World Series in his lone year in Tuscaloosa.

A seventh round selection by the Oakland Athletics in 1997, Vaz played seven years of minor league baseball with both the A’s and Texas Rangers.  In 1999, Vaz helped the Vancouver Canadians capture the Triple-A World Series.  Vaz compiled a career .286 batting average with 35 home runs, 77 stolen bases and 249 RBIs in 494 minor league games.

The Lakewood Legends Baseball Club and the Tidewater Collegiate Summer Baseball League are excited to have Coach Vaz joining us this summer.

Assistant Coach: Freddie Bynum Jr.

Coach Bynum will be joining the Lakewood Legends coaching staff for the upcoming 2019 summer season. Coach Bynum played in the big leagues in the Oakland Athletics organization, the Chicago Cubs organization and the Baltimore Orioles organization and brings a wealth of baseball knowledge and experience to the league. We are excited to have Coach Bynum joining us this summer.