The Tarboro River Bandits are excited to introduce your 2022 Head Coach, Grant Crosby. Coach Crosby is looking forward to bringing a championship to Tarboro in 2022. Let’s give Coach Crosby a big Tarboro welcome!!
Grant was born and raised in Knoxville, TN and is currently an Assistant Baseball Coach at Barton College. He spent the summer of 2020 as part of the staff with the Wilson Tobs, where he helped manage day to day team operations and was the team’s bench coach. Grant has also given private lessons to athletes over the past 5 years.
As a player, Grant spent one year (2016-17) at Cleveland State Community College where he posted a 5-3 W/L record in 43 2/3 innings with a 2.27 ERA and 47K.
He then attended Morehead State University for two years (2017-2019) where he had thirteen appearances as a member of the 2018 OVC Championship team that went to the Clemson regional (2017-2018 season). In the 2018-2019 season, he managed two appearances before his season was ended by a partial UCL tear injury.
He finished his final two years (2019-21) of college at Tusculum University where he started four games before season ending shoulder surgery (2019-20). In the 2020-21 season, he appeared four times after returning from surgery in early April, in a limited capacity.
Grant graduated from Tusculum University with a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management with a minor in Business in 2020 and in 2021, he graduated with a master’s degree in Sport Administration.
Edenton, NC- There’s a new leader for the Steamers.
Justin Hill, the current head coach at Currituck County High School, has been hired as the Steamers’ head coach for the 2022 season.
Hill brings over 20 years of managerial experience at the high school level, including the last 14 years as the manager of Currituck County High School’s varsity team. Working with collegiate players is a new chapter of coaching that he’s looking forward to.
“I’m excited to work with talented guys that are serious about the game,” Hill said. “That’s what I’m passionate about and I’m looking forward to this opportunity.”
Hill has lifelong experience with the area, growing up playing and eventually coaching in and around Edenton. He grew up in Elizabeth City and attended Currituck schools. The Steamers new manager even has ties to Historic Hicks Field from his playing days.
“When I was in high school I played at Historic Hicks Field, and I was on Edenton’s Post 40 Legion team in high school,” Hill said. “I’ve been in a lot of ball games at that park and have a lot of fond memories of summer ball in Edenton in that atmosphere.”
Hill’s history in Edenton, as well as his ability to help young players grow, made him an easy choice for Steamers’ general manager Tyler Russell.
“The Steamers are very excited about the hiring of Justin Hill. He brings a strong passion for the game of baseball and a willingness to help our players grow. During his many years at Currituck, he has molded numerous guys into great players, and has seen many of his men go on to the next level,” Russell said. “We are excited to see where he will lead our storied franchise on the field. We project nothing but great success for him and our players as we move through the upcoming season.”
Hill’s familiarity of the area brings an understanding of what fans of Edenton want to see from their team. He’s conscious of the team’s importance to the area and the support the team has behind them.
“Edenton still has that small town feel to it. When there’s a game going on, everyone knows about it…. That’s something that’s special to me, that small town feel and local people getting behind their guys,” Hill said. “My goal is to make the community of Edenton proud of the product that’s on the field. The wins and losses will take care of themselves.”
Hill’s been around the game long enough to know what qualities a team needs to win. His teams and his coaching style follow a similar theme.
Playing the game the right way.
“Respecting the game and playing it hard, that’s the only way I know how to practice and play,” Hill said. “That’s what I preach all the time, being accountable.”
Hill follows up Marshall McDonald, who spent the last two seasons guiding the teal and black. McDonald compiled a 37-16 record in league play as manager of the Steamers.
McDonald led the team in 2020 to its highest winning percentage in a single season in team history (21-5; .807 win percentage). He also coached elite talent like Houston Wright (2020 PCL MVP), Jake Rice (9th round pick in 2021 by Arizona Diamondbacks) and Joe Kemlage (2021 free agent signing by San Francisco Giants).
“The Steamers organization greatly appreciates all of the hard work over the last two years by Marshall McDonald. His stellar enthusiasm for the game was incomparable,” said Russell. “He made a huge impact on and off the field for our players and our fans. We wish him nothing but the best with his new position as the Head Coach at Catawba Valley Community College.”
McDonald posted a message to social media in which he thanked the Steamers and fans for rejuvenating his love for summer baseball. He ended his message with one last thank you to Edenton.
“To the fans and town of Edenton you will have a special place in mine and my wife’s heart forever,” McDonald wrote. “I can never express how much these last two summers have changed my life. But, for now I must move on and answer to life’s ever-changing call. Much love! Roll Clams! FOTC!”
Hill’s first game as manager will be on June 3rd when the Steamers take on the Clayton Clovers.
The Tidewater Summer League has released the 2022 schedule. A downloadable copy is available on the schedule page, and individual team schedules have been posted on the team pages.
2022 Tidewater Summer League Schedule, including Premier Collegiate League games, also includes exhibition games with the Peninsula Pilots (CPL), Tri-City Chili Peppers (CPL), Clayton Clovers (CVCL), Wake Forest Fungo (CVCL), Carolina Pirates (CVCL), Boone Bigfoots (Indy), Catawba Valley Stars (Indy), Native American National Team (Indy), and the Piedmont Collegiate Baseball League teams, who the TSL will also face off against in the 2022 All Star Game.
The Tidewater Summer League has opened player registration for the upcoming season.
The countdown until the TSL’s 2022 Opening Day has already begun, and preparations are underway to ensure another great summer of collegiate baseball for our Tidewater area players and fans.
College coaches widely agree that summer baseball has become the third leg of the collegiate season, and it’s value can not be overstated. James Madison University Head Coach Marlin Ikenberry sums it up best when speaking about his players participation in summer league baseball the previous summer,
“I am proud of our guys with the work they put in over the summer,” said head coach Marlin Ikenberry. “It’s part of the process. We break our seasons up into three’s: fall, spring, and the summers. The summer is a crucial part in the process in becoming a complete baseball player.”
The Tidewater Summer League is looking forward to another great season of collegiate, wood bat, summer league baseball and providing our players with the opportunity to gain valuable playing experience after their collegiate season has ended.
The 2022 season will run from June 2, 2022 through August 6, 2022, and will include our regular season games, exhibition games, our annual All Star game and our annual post season Postove Cup Championship Tournament.
We have combined the schedules of our local Tidewater Summer League teams with teams from the Premier Collegiate League, giving us six clubs competing for the 2022 Championship, the Virginia Beach Sea Dogs, Norfolk Redbirds, Suffolk Voyagers. Greenbrier Knights, Edenton Steamers and Tarboro River Bandits.
In addition to our championship season, and in partnership with the Piedmont Collegiate Baseball League (Richmond, VA), Tidewater Summer League teams will be playing eight (8) inter-league games with PCBL teams, the Sluggers, Barnstormers, Tigers and Patriots.
As part of this partnership, the 2nd Annual All Star Game between the Tidewater Summer League and the Piedmont Collegiate Baseball League will be held July 23rd. Location is to be announced. We will also be scheduling a game between the Tidewater Summer League Champion and the Piedmont Collegiate Baseball League Champion at the end of our respective seasons.
Our Premier Collegiate League teams will also be playing exhibition games with teams from the Carolina Virginia Collegiate League, Clayton Clovers, Wake Forest Fungo and Carolina Pirates and also independent teams from the western part of North Carolina, the Catawba Valley Stars and the Boone Bigfoots.
Players interested in joining one of our teams for the 2022 season should visit our Player Info page for details about the upcoming season, the league, player eligibility, teams, cost and the registration process.
On behalf of the Tidewater Summer League, we would like to say thank you to all of the players, coaches, interns and volunteers who helped make our 2021 season another summer to remember. Thank you to our fans who came out to support the players this summer, we know you were treated to some exciting collegiate summer league baseball.
We would like to recognize and say thank you to Gary Wright, Kevin Long and Bill Wall for their tireless efforts in getting and keeping Lakewood Park in great playing shape throughout the season. We would also like to thank Ron DelDuca for his assistance with our field maintenance work, and all of the others who contributed.
We would like to thank Coach Roberto Vaz and Coach Tyler McFadden, along with Coach Wright, Coach Wall and Coach Long for doing a great job coaching up the players this summer, keeping them organized through several unexpected schedule adjustments and creating the type of positive environment that allowed your players to develop and gain valuable playing experience this summer.
We would like to thank Eastern Officials Association, Mr. Chad Foltz and all of the great umpires at EOA. Their professionalism and dedication to baseball continue to help make our collegiate summer league a great place for players to develop and gain valuable playing experience.
We would like to thank our broadcast intern and sports information director Clint Huffman, who had to battle adversity with internet connectivity issues throughout the season, yet continued to do a great job for us in all areas. We would also like to thank our operations intern, Hunter Gregory, who did a great job for the league serving as our game day operations director.
We would like to thank the City of Norfolk Parks and Leisure Department, Mr. Ray Allen, Norfolk Christian School, Mr. Tim Bender, Atlantic Shores Christian, Coach Phil Kojack, First Colonial HS, Coach Scott Stubbe, War Memorial Stadium, the Peninsula Pilots, Henry Morgan, the staff at Grand Slam 2 and Coach Bobby Heoft, for graciously allowing us to use their facilities again this summer, thank you.
We would like to say thank you to the Piedmont Collegiate Baseball League and Isaac Lippert for being a part of our annual All Star Celebration and really making that night special for all the players and fans.
We would like to say thank you to all of the college coaches who allowed their players to join us this summer and be a part of the 2021 Tidewater Summer League. We trust that your players will return to campus this fall ready to compete and contribute to the program.
Finally, we would like to say thank you to Shannon Dooley, our league’s Director of Operations, who keeps the league running on schedule and together, and whose help each summer in invaluable. Thank you for all you do for the league, coaches, umpires, players, interns and fans.
Congratulations to Ryan Peterson, Tidewater Drillers Blue, on being named the 2021 TSL Postove Cup Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player. Ryan is a 2021 graduate of First Colonial HS in Virginia Beach, VA and will be begin his collegiate baseball career at Virginia Military Institute as an incoming freshman this fall.
Tidewater Drillers Blue Claims TSL Championship With Victory Over Tidewater Drillers White, 10-1
Saturday, July 31, 2021 – Virginia Beach, VA
In the championship game of the 2021 TSL Postove Cup Championship Tournament, Tidewater Drillers Blue earns the title behind strong offensive performance.
Gardner Meeks toed the rubber for Tidewater Drillers Blue. The pitcher went five innings, allowing one run on two hits, striking out eight and walking one.
Nick Mattfield was on the pitcher’s mound for Tidewater Drillers White. The righty went three innings, allowing three runs on three hits, striking out four and walking zero. Kade Abrisz, Tim Blackman, Gavin Spencer, and Ryan Long each entered the game as relief, throwing two innings, one and one-third innings, one inning, and two-thirds of an inning respectively.
Pitching HBP: Kade Abrisz, Nick Mattfield BK: Ryan Long Pitches-Strikes: Kade Abrisz 24-14, Tim Blackman 45-28, Ryan Long 14-10, Nick Mattfield 39-29, Gavin Spencer 31-20 Groundouts-Flyouts: Kade Abrisz 1-4, Tim Blackman 0-3, Ryan Long 2-0, Nick Mattfield 1-3, Gavin Spencer 1-1 First pitch strikes-Batters faced: Kade Abrisz 4-7, Tim Blackman 3-10, Ryan Long 3-4, Nick Mattfield 8-12, Gavin Spencer 2-7
Pitching HBP: Gardner Meeks Pitches-Strikes: Ian Barrett 16-8, Justin Brown 22-14, John Horton 18-12, Gardner Meeks 73-49 Groundouts-Flyouts: Ian Barrett 1-0, Justin Brown 2-3, John Horton 1-0, Gardner Meeks 3-4 First pitch strikes-Batters faced: Ian Barrett 2-5, Justin Brown 3-7, John Horton 2-4, Gardner Meeks 10-21
Key
AB: At bats
R: Runs scored
H: Hits
RBI: Runs batted in
BB: Base on balls (walks)
SO: Strikeouts
2B: Doubles
3B: Triples
HR: Home runs
Grand slam: Grand slam home runs
TB: Total bases
RBI: Runs batted in
SAC: Sacrifice hits & bunts
SF: Sacrifice flies
ROE: Reached on error
FC: Hit into fielder’s choice
HBP: Hit by pitch
CI: Batter advances on catcher’s interference
GIDP: Hit into double play
GITP: Hit into triple play
SB: Stolen bases
CS: Caught stealing
PIK: Picked off
QAB: Quality at bats (any one of: 3 pitches after 2 strikes, 6+ pitch ABs, XBH, HHB, BB, SAC Bunt, SAC Fly)
In the bottom of the third inning, Chesapeake Reapers tied things up at three when Braxton Gallet‘s sac fly scored one run for Chesapeake Reapers.
Tidewater Drillers White pulled away for good with two runs in the fourth inning. In the fourth Alex Fenney was hit by a pitch, driving in a run and Jackson Hughes‘s sac fly scored one run for Tidewater Drillers White.
Caleb Bellisle was on the hill for Tidewater Drillers White. The pitcher went three and a third innings, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out one and walking zero.
Alvin Carela was on the mound for Chesapeake Reapers. The pitcher allowed four hits and five runs over three and a third innings, striking out one. Elijah Wilson threw three and two-thirds innings in relief.
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The Chesapeake Reapers would not go gently into that good night, but competed until the last out was recorded. With today’s loss, their season comes to an end. We would like to say thank you to Coach Roberto Vaz for his work with the team this summer and we would also like to recognize and say thank you to team captains Charles Gordon, Jacob Sherman and Eddie Blake, along with all the members of the Reapers for a great summer. We wish you guys the best as you return to campus this fall.
With today’s win, the Drillers White advance to the Postove Cup Championship Game vs Drillers Blue, Saturday, 4:00pm at Lakewood Park. Come out tomorrow and support the boys of summer as the compete for the TSL’s Postove Cup Championship.
Batting 3B: Charles Gordon TB: Derrick Booker, Charles Gordon 4, Jalen March 2, Jake Messina RBI: Braxton Gallet, Charles Gordon, Jake Messina SF: Braxton Gallet ROE: Noah Hall FC: Noah Hall, Jake Messina SB: Derrick Booker Totals Team QAB: 16 (48.48%) Derrick Booker, Jack Flanagan 3, Braxton Gallet, Charles Gordon 3, Noah Hall, Jalen March 2, Jake Messina 2, Dylan Weatherly, Jay Woodson 2
Team LOB: 8 Fielding E: Jalen March, Jake Messina DP: Jack Flanagan, Noah Hall
Nick Mattfield got the start for Tidewater Drillers White. The righty lasted four and two-thirds innings, allowing one hit and zero runs while striking out four and walking one.
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With their win tonight, the Drillers White advances to Friday’s elimination game against the Reapers, scheduled for 5:30pm at Lakewood Park.
With their lost tonight, the Greenbrier Knights 2021 TSL season has come to an end. We would like to thank Coach McFadden for his hard work this summer and also say thank you and congratulations on a great season to the Knights players. We wish all of you the best as you return to campus this fall.
Batting 2B: Nick Arnold TB: Nick Arnold 2, Ben Brombacher, Gordon Richardson, Tahlib Whitfield, Phillip Woodard RBI: Nick Arnold ROE: Wes Bonney, Jeremy Harmon FC: Gordon Richardson CS: Gordon Richardson PIK: Ben Brombacher Totals Team QAB: 13 (46.43%) Nick Arnold 2, John Bastiaans 2, Wes Bonney, Ben Brombacher 2, Jeremy Harmon 2, Jacob Lopez, Lincoln Lubsen, Brandon Parks 2
Batting 2B: Aidan Pinto TB: Kade Abrisz, Alex Fenney, Jackson Hughes, Justin Liakos, Ryan Long 2, Gabriel Lopez, Aidan Pinto 3 RBI: Kade Abrisz 2, Dawson Guzik, Jackson Hughes, Ryan Long, Terrence McGowan, Aidan Pinto 2, Noah Roots HBP: Noah Roots SB: Alex Fenney, Jackson Hughes PIK: Ryan Long Totals Team QAB: 13 (41.94%) Kade Abrisz, Alex Fenney 2, Dawson Guzik 3, Jackson Hughes, Ryan Long, Aidan Pinto 2, Noah Roots 2, Gavin Spencer
Team LOB: 4 Fielding E: Dawson Guzik, Justin Liakos
