By Andy Vogt/Daily News staff

The MetroWest Daily News

Posted Jun 21, 2010 @ 12:00 AM

Since being released by the Chicago White Sox three years ago, Dave Wasylak's journey has been a labor of love.

The Framingham native - who played for the White Sox' Rookie League team in Great Falls, Montana, in 2006 - has suited up for baseball teams in four states and one Canadian province, and endured long bus rides, empty stadiums and early wake-up calls for 11 a.m. games.

And it's not just because he enjoys the feeling of a motel room. Even at 27 years old, Wasylak still dreams of being back with a major league organization.

"That's the only reason I'm still playing," Wasylak said. "I love the sport, but I'm trying to get back into affiliate ball. I'm getting a little bit older now, and this year I have to stay more focused and really get it done."

His new home is the cozy Western Massaschusetts town of Pittsfield, where he is a right-handed reliever for the Colonials of the Can-Am League. His first two starts of the season were hardly major-league caliber - Wasylak allowed three earned runs in two brief appearances (in his season debut, Wasylak walked two and hit a batter in one-third of an inning, then watched as the next reliever served up a grand slam).

But things have improved since then. Wasylak has only given up two hits and no earned runs in his last 6 1/3 innings.

It's those kind of numbers that will keep him around long enough to perhaps catch the eye of some scouts.

"If you put up the numbers, they'll keep you around," Wasylak said.

Wasylak has become well-versed in independent ball since leaving the White Sox in 2007. He's played for independent teams in Sauget, Ill., Grand Prairie, Texas, and Laredo, Texas, and has also suited up for Worcester and Quebec of the Can-Am League. After battling elbow problems last year, he signed on late with the New Hampshire American Defenders, the franchise that moved to Pittsfield this past off-season.

"We've got throwback uniforms from like the early 1900s, and I love the team I play for," he said. "It's a great group of guys. We just have to put everything together."

His manager is Brian Daubach, the former major leaguer who had two stints with the Red Sox.

"He's awesome to play for, and he's been at the level that we all want to get to," Wasylak said. "The best thing I like about him is that he's very hands-on with his players, and always out in cages working with guys on hitting mechanics."

It's not the first time Wasylak has played for a former major leaguer - his manager at Worcester was Framingham resident and former Red Sox catcher Rich Gedman, and he also played for journeyman outfielder Pete Incaviglia while down in Texas.

While still with the White Sox - he was a 26th-round selection in 2006 - Wasylak had his arm slot changed to throw more of a submarine style. Now, he's developed a sidearm motion, and even mixes in some pitches from over the top when he gets ahead in the count. Last week, his fastball was topping out at 93 miles per hour.

Part of that can be attributed to his relentless dedication during this past offseason, when he worked at renowned trainer Eric Cressey's facility in Hudson and the Doug Carroll Baseball Academy in Framingham, where he also is a coach. Down the line, Wasylak hopes to run his own indoor facility, and perhaps stay in the game as a coach. But his more immediate focus is in the next few months. Wasylak hopes to turn enough heads to get picked up by an organization by August and get a few innings in affiliated ball, or barring that, get noticed at a closed workout in the offseason.

"Hopefully," he said, "I'll get that spring training invite, and just go and bust my butt."

By Lenny Megliola/Daily News columnist MetroWest Daily News Posted Apr 11, 2010 @ 12:00 AM WESTON - Back in August 2008, Kristine Corey had just learned that she'd made the girls volleyball team at Framingham High.

Then she was gone. It was a bit sad saying goodbye to her teammates, but in the big picture it was a good thing. She had applied to the Rivers School and was wait-listed. How long? ''A long time,'' she says. Two days before classes were to begin at Framingham, Rivers called. Corey had gotten in.

Rivers had been the only private school she applied to. Her brother Tim, two years older, was a junior there. ''Tim liked it so much,'' she says. ''And my parents liked the school too.''

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Two goals down, one to go for San Jacinto College.

The San Jac baseball team breezed through the regular season to capture the Region XIV South title and followed that up by winning four games in four days at the regional tournament to earn the program's 21st appearance in the Junior College World Series.

The Gators' third Region XIV championship in the past four years has them headed back to Grand Junction, Colo., where they'll try to capture the national title that has eluded the program since 1990.

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Winter Park, FL- Lexington Blue Sox catcher Ben Hewett, who just completed his career at Rollins College, captured Gold Glove South Region accolades as selected by the region's head baseball coaches.

Hewett becomes the second Rollins player in as many years to be named to the South Region Gold Glove team. The Framingham, MA., native threw out 20 batters and finished with a .978 fielding percentage to garner the award. He also allowed just two passed balls and recorded 400 putouts with 42 assists. Hewett, who started 59 games this spring for the 41-19 Tars, hit a lofty .362 with three homers and 41 RBI's.

He was named the Intercity League's Rookie of the Year in 2008.

Two goals down, one to go for San Jacinto College.

The San Jac baseball team breezed through the regular season to capture the Region XIV South title and followed that up by winning four games in four days at the regional tournament to earn the program's 21st appearance in the Junior College World Series.

The Gators' third Region XIV championship in the past four years has them headed back to Grand Junction, Colo., where they'll try to capture the national title that has eluded the program since 1990.

Read more...

With a star-studded roster that includes catcher Bryce Harper, the projected No. 1 selection in this year's draft, and a pitching staff that could produce 5-6 picks in the top 10 rounds, the College of Southern Nevada has understandably been in the national spotlight all spring.

The Coyotes began the 2010 season ranked No. 1 in the National Junior College Athletic Association rankings (which are compiled by PG Crosschecker), but with four consecutive losses a week ago to state rival Western Nevada, which contributed to their 38-10 season record, they have been ranked No. 4 in the latest Top 25.

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