Carter fine on the pine for one year
Toolbox
By Tom Haley STAFF WRITER - Published: November 29, 2009
Proctor's Ryan Carter will leave the lyrics "Put Me in, Coach" to John Fogerty this spring.
Carter, who batted .472 over the summer for the Rutland Post 31 American Legion baseball team and picked up the Vermont Gatorade Player of the Year honor for his 2009 baseball season at Proctor High School, will redshirt the 2010 season at Palm Beach (Fla.) Community College.
Palm Beach Community College is a two-year school with a high-powered junior college baseball program that includes players who are looking for a ticket to professional baseball or a scholarship at a four-year school. Some of its players have already been drafted by Major League Baseball teams but did not come to terms with the team. The school recently held a "scout day" and every major league team was represented.
"I won't play in the games, but I will do everything else with the team, including the practices," Carter said.
He said it was explained to him by the coach that since the team was top heavy with second-year players, the redshirt option might be beneficial to him.
Carter will be concentrating solely on pitching.
"This could be the greatest thing for me, to sit out a year," Carter said. "I will get to see the kids who have played the game year-'round.
"And I will get to work on my mechanics and develop a third pitch. My fastball and slider are good, but my change-up needs work."
There is also the additional rest it will allow him to get over an injury to the shoulder and neck area that plagued him last season, although he said it is much better.
"I think the pros far outweigh the cons as far as redshirting is concerned," Carter said.
Carter was home over the Thanksgiving break and attended Post 31's annual banquet, picking up the club batting title award as well as the Paul Terenzini Dedication Award.
Robbie Dorion, who plays for the University of Mary Washington in Fredricksburg, Va., was presented the Post 31 team MVP accolade. Dorion and UMW open the campaign Feb. 13 with a doubleheader against Messiah College.
Other awards: catcher Nate Swahn (Rookie of the Year), Justin Godzik (Hustle Award), Mike Triller (Most Improved), Jeff Perry (Bill Flory Coaches Award), T.J. Oliver (Ray Murphy Defense Award) and Mitch Blair and Ed Lewicki (Ray Regimbald Sportsmanship Award). Joe Rodolfy and Chris Mack, who combined for a 9-0 record) shared the Most Valuable Pitcher Award.
Coach Kevin Bellomo recognized the players who will not be returning next season: Perry, Carter, Dorion, Rodolfy, Matt Merritt, Mack and Blair.
Molly Candon, a 2006 Rutland High graduate, and Al Majewski, who played his Legion baseball in 1942 and 1943, are generations apart, but they share a passion for baseball.
They also shared the role of guest speaker for this, the 56th annual Rutland Post 31 American Legion baseball banquet.
Majewski played on a Legion team that actually played their games in the Polo Grounds when the New York Giants were on the road.
"We were known as the Little Giants of New York City and we had the run of the Giants' clubhouse when they were on the road," Majewski said.
Majewski also played in the New York Giants organization for seven years.
He moved to Vermont in 1962 and now lives in Rutland and attends Post 31's games.
"He is probably Post 31's No. 1 fan. He is always there," emcee Jack Healey said of Majewski.
Majewski urged the players to respect the game and have the right attitude.
"If you don't have the right attitude, you won't go far," Majewski said.
Coincidentally, Bellomo also played in the Giants organization.
Candon will graduate with both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Northeastern University in May.
She works for the Boston Red Sox in their Premium Sales department through the Northeastern co-op program. She facilitates group tours at every home game at Fenway Park, and made a prediction.
Candon was working at Fenway one day when a Rutland youngster Jared Miglorie was fortunate enough to get not one, but two, foul balls.
"I don't think I ever saw anyone get two foul balls in a game," Candon said.
Jared, Ben Davine, Caleb Elliott and Ryan Bellomo were recognized for their time this summer as serving as bat boys for Post 31.
Candon said she never played softball — she was a shot putter on the RHS track team — but that growing up on the sidelines, she really became a fan and gained a great appreciation of baseball.
"It is a real thinking man's game, dripping with strategy," she said.
She also drinks in the atmosphere of the people around Fenway, and the 81-game season never gets old.
"I am star-struck every day I am there," she said.
tom.haley@rutlandherald.com
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