Know Your Navs: Frank Pesanello

Frank Pesanello, of Northeastern University and Plainville, MA, added some pop to the Navigators lineup with his arrival on July 14.

You joined the team late in the season - how did you get in touch with coach Falcon, and how did you decide that you wanted to play in this league?

I played in Danbury, two years ago, so I was already familiar with the league. One of my friends coaches at Clark with Coach Falcon, and that's how we got in touch and everything came into place.

What were some of your expectations of this league coming in, and how has it met (or been different from) what you expected?

I knew from my time in Danbury that this was a good league. But it's a lot better playing on a good team. When I was at Danbury, we weren't very good - it's a lot better experience on this team, a lot better atmosphere.

This team seems to be pretty tight, with some great chemistry. What was the adjustment period for you, and how long did it take for you to feel like you were really a part of the team?

No time at all. I know Folino because we played together in Danbury, and we've got some BC and UMass guys, so I play against them in school - so it wasn't hard at all.

What aspect of your game needs the most improvement?

Just putting the ball in play right now, I think, is the one thing I have to work on. I'd like to mix in a few more home runs I guess... it can't hurt.

What's the competition been like in the Colonial Athletic Association with Northeastern?

It's been great - we've had a number of first round draft picks out of the conference, and every hitter mashes pretty well. It's been tough. We've got a few kids from the CAA in the NECBL as well.

What are some of the things that brought you to Northeastern, and what are some things that are unique about the school that have added to your experience there so far?

I transferred there [from Maine] because of Northeastern's coach [Neil McPhee] - he's a little nuts, but he's very honest, and he's a great coach. They've also got a tremendous Criminal Justice program, which is what I want to do - so it was an easy decision. Overall it's been a great experience.

Definitely being in the city is a lot of fun. Going out at night, socializing, seeing famous people walk around, sometimes. It's great.

Do you have some baseball idols or role models?

I have some favorite players, I like Manny and stuff... but nobody who I really model myself after. Actually, a lot of my favorite athletes are football players...

What music do you use to get yourself pumped up before a big game?

I listen to a lot of country, really. Nothing to get too pumped up, just something to hang out and relax.

You guys have played a lot of doubleheaders lately. What's that like for a catcher?

It's nice having another catcher here to split time. But it's not bad. It's not terrible. We've had some long days, and it can be tiring - but it's a lot of fun.

Favorite all-time walk up at-bat songs?

I don't know, this is a tough one. There's so many. I have a terrible one now, I didn't pick it out myself... I can't think of any specifically, though.

If you were to pick your own right now, what would it be?

Honestly... there's so many choices, so many good ones, that I just can't pick one.

Continuing with really hard questions - you can only keep one film, one album, and memories of one baseball game - what would they be?

Favorite movie... hmm... definitely Gladiator. That's one of my favorites. As far as baseball experiences, probably this year, hitting two home runs against Wilmington, who were ranked at the time... as far as a favorite album, I don't know. Any good country album.

Favorite female celebrity?

Definitely Jessica Biel.

And two quick ones: funniest teammate?

Kowalski.

And most easy-going member of the team?

Hmm.. there's a bunch of them. I'll say Folino.

Droppin' bombs with Chris Kowalski

Before yesterday's (7/25) game against Sanford, the Sports Information Department caught up with Chris Kowalski, the Navigators' 6'6 beast-of-a reliever. Though we often fear for our lives when passing the intimidating "Killer" Kowalski, we found that, after chatting with him for a little while, the rumors were true...he really is the funniest player on the team. Here's what Killer had to say...


What makes the Massachusetts such a desirable summer baseball destination?

"People are really nice around here. Obviously, when there is baseball in the area, people are committed to coming to games. I go to Boston College, so I see the people there and I see that people are really involved in this league. It is good to come to Lynn, too, and see the same type of commitment from the residents here. It is just good to see that all over the place because you think that some of the small towns would not have that, but it is good to see that commitment from these guys, too."

You are a communications major. If baseball does not work out, could you see yourself becoming the next Don Orsillo or Jerry Remy?

"My main goal is to do it as a player. That has been my dream. Maybe like a coach or something or something like that, but definitely something baseball related because I love the game, and I am still a student of the game every day."

What has been your favorite Red Sox season in the past?

"It has got to be '04. Seeing that we were down 3-0 and to come back was just incredible. Just the fact that they all stuck together and no one really faltered; it was just great to see that type of camaraderie. It is something you strive for, being on a Major League team. It is not individuals, it is all 'team guys,' which is good."

Describe a scene where you finally could say, "Wow, I've made it" in baseball.

"Absolutely. When I was a senior in high school, I participated in a pre-draft workout at Yankee Stadium. I was on the mound there and I was just like, 'Wow, this is where, you know, all the greats stood.' It was just great to just stand there and throw. I hit a couple balls out in batting practice. It was a great experience. I played with a couple first-round [draft picks] and it was a great experience to see how good they are and to see how good I need to be and what I have to work on. Realizing you had made it, it is a great experience and you want to keep getting better every day."

It seems that the bullpen is pretty tight. Obviously, after the season is over, you won’t be seeing them every day. Have you guys arranged any sort of communication, maybe bedtime phone calls?

"We always have fun together, you know, Krully [Ryan Krull]. [Jason Markowitz], [Chris] Prescott and I, it is just great. We text message each other every single day, sending each other funny stuff. It is always good to just keep the humor alive. We are all here to win, we are here to get better, we are here to get innings, and that is the big thing, we are all in it together. We all root for each other when we are out there. It is great and it is what you have got to love."

Let’s talk about Boston College basketball. It could be a shaky year, but you’ve got Tyrese Rice coming back.

"Yea, it is actually good. I run with the [basketball] guys at school. My baseball coach is not too happy about it, but yea, I play with them at school. I was pretty good coming out of high school. But they are good, man. Playing in [the ACC], it is just like in baseball, that conference is tough. The Carolina's and teams like that, every year each team is good, but we are hoping for a good year. We have got some good freshmen coming in and a good sophomore class."

Related to that…You are playing in Chapel Hill. You are Al Skinner. You go in the locker room before the game. Give me your pre-game speech.

"Everyone is always looking at the number one team in the country, but no one ever looks at who is going to beat them. You go in there, we don’t care who it is, who the opponent is. The same thing for baseball. You have got guys coming in saying 'Oh, this guy is going to be the number one overall [draft] pick.' You know what, we do not care. We are going to go in there and play. That is the biggest thing with [the ACC]. Everyone is like 'Oh, you are so honored to be in this conference.' But we are not just in it to play. We are in it to win. So get in there and win. That is the biggest thing."

Sean McNaughton actually picked you to win a Navigators team battle royal, if there ever was one. What would be your technique in the ring?

"Probably just intimidate them; scream at them or something. Then I would just pick 'em up and throw 'em. But these are all funny kids, just a great group of guys here. I love 'em. They are all awesome and we are all like brothers and we all mess around with each other. It is great."

It seems that The Mighty Ducks as become the consensus for this team.

"Oh, absolutely. Quack out all the way. Absolutely."

Which character do you most relate to?

"I am probably Dean Portman. Or Fulton Reed. Absolutely, 150 percent. Wayde [Kitchens] and I are probably the bash brothers, that is what we have dubbed ourselves as. That is definitely the best comparison."

On a more serious note…would you consider yourself to be the greatest batting practice home run hitter in Navigators’ history?

"I absolutely would. I was a little angry with Coach Falcon for not putting me in the Home Run Derby. I just come here every day and try and drop absolute bombs. And that is just the biggest thing that guys always give me crap for. I can hit balls out in batting practice and then I get in the game…it is a little different story. But definitely, I would say I am at least top two…I don’t know who the other guy is, but."

Q+A with Peabody's Mike Gallo

After a few battles with the Blue Screen of Death, my computer is back in commission, just in time to post this Q+A session with local favorite Mike Gallo. Gallo chatted about his Fraser memories, becoming a true southern boy after a year in Florida, and hometown baseball heroes.

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Did you play at Fraser at all as a kid, or in high school?

I played here in the 2005 Agganis All-Star game nd won the MVP award. It was a real thrill.

What’s it like for a guy from the North Shore to play here, in front of all these local fans?

It’s unbelievable. I’m so glad to have this opportunity. To play here as a local guy just makes it that much better.

You played for Lake City (FL) Community College and are now on your way to Milligan in Tennessee. What brought you to those schools?

Scouts in the area told me to go down to Lake City. I went down there for a year and it was a lot of fun.

What was that experience like?

Florida is different. The Southern hospitality is unbelievable. I just had to get used to the lingo – the y’alls and everything. But it got me ready to talk to the southern boys here, Belch and Zurch.

What is your best pitch?

Probably my curveball, this year.

Is there one aspect of your game that you think needs the most improvement?

There’s always room for improvement in everything. I just want to get better everyday. The one thing I really want to improve is my walk-to-strikeout ratio.

Who are some of your funniest teammates?

I’m just going to have to go with Kowalski on this one. The guy is a nut. A real nut.

What’s in your CD or MP3 player right now?

Nothin’ but Kenny Chesney.

Favorite female celebrity?

She’s not a celebrity yet, but my girlfriend.

Aw, isn’t that nice. Coke or Pepsi?

I don’t drink soda, but I love that southern sweet tea.

Sweet tea? Kenny Chesney? You really liked your experience down south, huh?

Oh absolutely – gotta love it.

Favorite sport other than baseball?

Gotta be golf. I played in high school.

[As it turns out, Mike and I played against each other in high school, as I was on Revere’s team at the same time. Small world!]

Do you model your pitching style after anyone?

My pitching role model would have to be hometown hero Josh Beckett.

If you could have dinner with any three people in the world, who would they be?

Probably my girlfriend, my mother, and Ted Williams.

Do you have a car, and if so, what kind of car?

I used to have a ’99 Ford Ranger, but I totaled it. Right now I’m driving my mom’s minivan.

If you had unlimited funds and could buy any car, what would you buy?

A really sweet matchbox car.

Nice.

Meet Justin Little & Mike Provencher: Bull Durham, Guns N' Roses and Cuttin' a Rug

In the latest installment of "Know Your Navs", we sat down with outfielders Justin Little and Mike Provencher, both in their second NECBL season and both hailing from Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Colorado. As you know, these two make a lethal combination on the field. What you'll learn is that they are quite the tandem off it...


Which character in Bull Durham can you most easily relate to?

Provencher: "I’d have to go with Nuke…Nuke definitely. There are so many times, especially out here today, I did it tonight, Sean McNaughton got a base hit with two outs, I’m on second base, and I watched the ball go into center field. I definitely have my moments. I may have some talent, but every once in a while I’ll have some brain farts and just kind of space out."

What video games can you admit an addiction to?

Both: "Tiger Woods [PGA Tour]. And Guitar Hero."

Who shoots the better score on Tiger Woods?

Provencher: "I can get him on Tiger Woods."

Little: "He’s got me on Tiger Woods, I am definitely better on Guitar Hero."

Any song in particular you simply enjoy rocking out to?

Provencher: "My favorite is AFI – Ms. Murder."

Little: "I think [Guns N' Roses'] Sweet Child Of Mine is pretty fun."

Who is faster on the basepaths?

Provencher: "He’s definitely got me. I’m nipping at the heels."

Little: "But I’ve still got him."

Provencher: "Yea…he’s still got me."

Mike, you grew up in Grand Junction. What has attracted you to stay there for college?

Provencher: "The baseball program is great. Our coach, Coach [Chris] Hanks is awesome. He has had a winning program for a long time. The team is awesome, the area is nice, the climate is perfect. I mean, you can’t beat that. I’m two hours from the closest ski resort so I’m snowboarding all the time in the off-season. I can’t complain, it is just a nice place to play baseball."

Justin, why should people come to Westminster (Little's hometown)?

Little: "It used to be, about ten years ago, 'Come live in Westminster!' But now, now it’s full. It’s nice. We’ve got Water World! It’s the nation’s biggest water park. Westminster is just a good neighborhood to live in. The people, your neighbors, they are always nice."

I talked to McNaughton about a week ago about his steak infatuation. Mike, you’re a big steak guy. He’s a big steak guy. You are both putting up monster numbers this season. Is that where the power is coming from, the steak and potatoes?

Provencher: "It has got to be. There has got to be some sort of correlation with that. I would definitely stick with steak and potatoes every day of my life if I could. So, yea, there has got to be something. Or maybe it’s something out here in the water. Maybe the beach days or something like that. But steak has always held true, so I’ve stuck with it."

Do you two have any unique handshakes?

Both: "Oh, we have got a dirty handshake." (Advice: Tilt your head at a 90 degree angle to the right for best viewing. My apologies.)



Any hidden talents?

Provencher: "I try and show off as much as I can on the slopes. But I try and keep it down for baseball purposes. I don’t want to go crazy. Other that than, I am…I am one heck of a dancer. I can cut a rug."

Little: "That is true. He can dance."

What are we talking here? Salsa?

Both: "Oh, we’re talking anything."

Provencher: "We’re talking salsa. We’re talking hip-hop. We’re talking line dancing. I got it. I got it."

What about you, Justin?

Little: (laughing) "Ah, I don’t know."

Are you guys crashing weddings together?

Provencher: "Oh yea, Bobby O’Shea over here (patting Little on the back)."

Little: "I don’t know; I don’t really show off that much."

As a kid, Halloween is a huge holiday. It then gets "revived" in college. What has been your best Halloween costume ever?

Little: "Last year, us two and our roommate were all gangsters."

Provencher: "Yea! We all grew out the mustache. We all had-"

Little: "Dickies. Dickies with flannel shirts buttoned just at the top. And then a [white, sleeveless shirt] underneath. Bandannas down over the eyes."

Provencher: "And then I took a black permanent marker and drew tattoos on everyone's neck. I then I drew our gang name on everyone's fingers. So every picture we took, we [flashed our gang name]. I had the big ol' sunglasses on, too."

Meet Kyle Geason

Kyle Geason, the Navs' slick fielding third baseman, is the latest member of the team to chat with us as part of the "Know Your Navs" series.
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This team has an interesting mixture of personalities, with New Englanders, West Coast guys, Southerners. What’s that clubhouse atmosphere been like for a guy from Minnesota?

It’s been a lot of fun. I haven’t played with guys from New England, Tennessee, California – so it’s good to get a good mix of people, and learn about their culture. It’s been great.

Does the New England summer seem really hot to you?

It’s not really tropical or anything. We get warm summers back home in Minnesota. It’s just the winters that are crazy. I like the weather so far.

What’s something about the University of Minnesota that most people from out of state wouldn’t know?

Hmm… this is a tough one. Our mascot is “Goldy,” the Gopher. I don’t know …

Come on… Graham had three for Trinity College right off the bat.

Really?

Alright, we’ll pass on that one. You redshirted this year, and it seemed to impact you at the start of the year. But you’ve really come on strong as of late. In what ways do you feel that redshirting impacted you, and do you feel like you’re starting to get back into the swing of things?

I’m glad I redshirted. We had a lot of seniors that were in the positions I was looking to play at. Redshirting gave me a year to develop, work in the weight room, and learn more about the school and the program. It was a good experience.

It’s 2 AM in Minneapolis and you’re starving. Where do you go to get your fill?

Taco Bell. I’m a big Taco Bell guy, especially at late night. I love fourthmeal.

Favorite road trip so far this year?

Hmm… I’d say probably either Keene or Vermont. I’ll say Keene because of the huge crowd. But Vermont has a good atmosphere and great fan support.

What’s it been like to travel around New England and see the character of some of the towns in the NECBL?

I’ve really liked it. I didn’t know what It was going to be like out here, so it’s been nice to travel to a bunch of different places, and see more of the area.

Is there a baseball player who you try to model your own style of play after?

I’d say Cal Ripken, Jr. I’m reading a book about him now. He’s just a really calm, respectable guy. He plays hard, comes out every day, and gives 100%. I’ve always liked him.

What’s currently in your CD or MP3 player?

Red Hot Chili Peppers. I always go back to them if I can’t think of anything else. They’re great.

Favorite female celebrity?

I’d say… let’s see. There’s a lot of them. Probably Jessica Alba.

Sounds good to me.

It’s game 3 of the NECBL championship series, and you’re trailing by one run in the ninth inning. The bases are loaded with two outs. Excluding yourself, who do you most trust to be up at the plate in that situation?

I trust everyone on the team. Everyone’s been hitting well, so I trust all these guys. They’re fun guys to be around and they have great character. I think anyone would come through.

What’s been the best thing about playing in Lynn so far?

I’d say probably just the atmosphere around the team. Everyone’s meshed together really well so far. All of these guys are really cool and fun to play with.

If you could go study abroad for one semester anywhere in the world and study anything you want, where would you go and why?

Oh man. Probably the Alps, so I could go snowboarding and see the mountains. Anywhere in Europe really, France and Italy. I’d just want to study the history.

In ten years, if baseball doesn’t work out for you, what do you see yourself doing?

I’d like to stay in touch with baseball, so if I couldn’t play any more, I’d like to coach.

Life with Sean McNaughton: Medium-Rare Steak, Mormonism, and a Battle Royale

The latest one-on-one Navigators interview the Sports Information Department conducted was with the scorching Sean McNaughton, who leads the NECBL in both doubles and triples, and is second on the team in batting average (.355 BA). Here is what the BYU-product had to say...

Any unique or unusual eating habits?

"I just really like meat. If I go a few days without meat, I’ll go crazy. So, I have to have meat every day…I don’t know if that’s good or bad."

As a steak connoisseur, where is the best place to order a good steak?

"I really like Outback [Steakhouse], Texas Roadhouse; I would say those are my top two."

Any sauce on top?

"I like it medium rare, so I like it really red. If you get it like that, you shouldn’t have any sauce."

What was your Mormon mission call to Washington D.C. like?

"Basically, I went out there for two years, I didn’t play baseball for the entire two years. I didn’t hit, I didn’t throw…I really didn’t do anything. I didn’t go to school, so it was missionary work every single day. Basically, we would just go out and teach people about our religion and help them understand it more and if they want to join the church, then we help them through that process."

What was your daily schedule like during those two years?

"We’d wake up at 6:30 every single morning for two straight years. We wouldn’t have one day off, so we’d work on Christmas, Thanksgiving, all holidays. We’d go door to door, if people in the congregation had friends, we’d go and teach their friends. Any way that we could get our church name out there, that’s what we did."

What did those two years do for you?

"It helped me grow up a lot. It helped me realize that this life is important. It made me realize that my family is very important to me, especially friendships and the relationships we have with other people. You know, every single day, I went out and helped others. That was my main goal, to uplift people and to make them happy, and give them a better life."

What has a drug-free, alcohol-free lifestyle been like for you?

"I think it is a huge part of my baseball success that I don’t drink alcohol, I don’t smoke, I don’t do tobacco. I’ve never done it in my life, so I think that has helped me have a healthy body, a clean mind. Every single day that I come to the park, I’m focused, and I’m ready to go. You know, I don’t have a hangover or anything. So yea, I think it is a huge part of my success."

What hobbies do you hold outside of baseball?

"We live on a lake up in Washington, so we do a lot of boating and wakeboarding, and really anything out on the water. Also, there are a lot of mountains in Washington so we do a lot of snowboarding. I’m kind of just an outdoors guy."

What’s the best vacation you have every taken in your life?

"I’d have to say, probably to go visit my brother when he was playing minor league ball. I think that was a cool experience to go see him play in the minors. I visited him once in Florida for spring training and then once in Peoria, Illinois, when he was playing for the St. Louis Cardinals. When I saw that, it made me want to work hard and be successful in the game of baseball."

If all members of the Navigators roster were summoned to a WWE-style Battle Royal match...who comes out on top?

"I think it’s Chris Kowalski. He has size, he’s always excited, he’s always giving people high-fives. He just has adrenaline. There is never a moment when he is not happy and excited. I just think he’d tear everyone apart."

Know Your Navs: Chad Zurcher

Steve Delvecchio of the Sports Information staff sat down with Knoxville, TN's Chad Zurcher to add some southern flair to our "Know Your Navs" series.
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If you could meet any person in history who would it be and why?

“Derek Jeter. I’m a Red Sox fan but I’ve always looked up to Derek Jeter because of the way he plays.”

What’s the best place to eat in Memphis? What do they have?

“They’re famous for barbeques so probably The Rendezvous or Corky’s.

What has been your favorite road trip this season?

“I liked North Adams. It was kind of like home with all the trees and mountains in the background.”

Do you have any superstitions?

“Ummm…whatever’s working for me at the time. I keep the same routine going until something goes wrong.”

Favorite female celebrity?

“Carrie Underwood” (side note: of all of his answers, Chad seemed most certain of this one, taking a grand total of four seconds to answer it.)

What has been the biggest difference between life in the North vs. the South?

“The food’s different. There’s not as much ‘sweet tea’ around here. The people act different around here than they do down there, too.”

Do people get on you about your accent? Who does it the most?

“All the time, especially when I say ‘sweet tea’. Kyle Geason and Pete [Fatse] probably [make fun of my accent] the most.”

What do you miss most from down south when you’re here?

“My friends and my family.”

With the season almost halfway over, what’s been the best part for you?

“Just playing, really. We have great teammates. I love every single one of these guys and I’ve only got two months so I'm enjoying playing with these guys.”

Favorite fast food chain?

“Favorite fast food?….It’s hard to beat McDonalds because they actually do have ‘sweet tea’."

Know your Navs: Kent Graham

Joe Gravellese, Navigators Sports Information Department

An interview with North Shore Navigators & Trinity College first baseman Kent Graham:



You played some hockey in high school. What position did you play, and how much success did you have?

"I played defense at Choate and I was all-state senior year, and third team All-New England."

Any teammates playing college hockey?

"Yeah, I've got a bunch. Guys on Harvard, Dartmouth, a lot of NESCAC schools, Tufts... pretty much every kid on the team now plays college hockey. I played at Trinity my freshman year."

Who are some of your favorite hockey players?

"Who's #17 on the Bruins? (Milan Lucic). Yeah, Lucic. And obviously Crosby and Ovechkin are unbelievable to watch."

What are some things about Trinity College that we might not know about?

"Our squash team hasn't lost a match in ten years. Let's see... we're in the top 20 colleges according to US News & World Report. And we have the oldest college dorm in the country."

Word association! I'm going to say a name, and I want you to say the first thing that comes to your mind.

Jason Falcon-

"Great guy, great coach."

Jason Markovitz-

"Heh. California boy."

Chris Kowalski-

"Killer."

Jimmy Lisowski-

"Lights out."

Fraser Field-

"Awesome place to play."

You've had a little bit of a rough start to the season. Are things starting to come around a little bit?

"Yeah, I hurt my back when I came here. I tried to push it when I shouldn't have, and my performance slipped a little bit. I took some time off. Tonight was my first game back. Hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things soon."

What's in your CD or MP3 player right now?

"I've got some Bay Area rap on CD right now... my girlfriend is from San Fran, so she gave me some of those CDs."

Your favorite road trip this season?

"Wow... I'd probably have to say Newport, just because of the atmosphere. It's always fun to play down there."

Coke or Pepsi and why?

"I don't drink soda. I'm a big health guy, so nothing but water for me."

Celebrity dream girl?

"Probably Angelina Jolie."

If you could study abroad, where would you want to go?

"Well, Trinity has a campus in Rome, which is definitely a place where I'd want to go. I'd also like to go to Australia, or any of the Scandinavian countries."

If baseball doesn't work out, what do you see yourself doing?

Oh, I'm definitely going into real estate. My brother and I actually already own a couple of houses in the Springfield area that we rent out to college kids. I'm definitely thinking real estate after college.

Kent and the rest of the Navs are in action tonight against the Lowell All-Americans at 7 PM. Come down to Fraser Field, listen to the game online, or check the blog for live updates.

Life with Jimmy Lisowski: Honey mustard wings, Angelina Jolie, and Democrats

Joe Jasinski, Navigators Sports Information Department

Over the remaining weeks of the season, the Sports Information Department is going to run a series of Q&A's with members of the Navigators (players, coaches, staff, fans, etc.) to allow our fans to become more familiar with the people they cheer on each night at Fraser Field.

Hailing from Springfield College, southpaw Jimmy Lisowski (0-0, 0.77 ERA, 10 K, 2 GS) was kind enough to sit down to chat with us about politics, women, food, and of course, the Navs. Here's what he had to say...

If you could meet any person in history, who would it be?

"I’d probably go with Sandy Koufax. He’s just someone I kind of looked up to, being a lefty. I’ve got a couple of his books, and I definitely liked how he threw, and you know, lefties have got to stick together."

If you were stranded on an island, and could only hold onto four movies from your collection, which would you choose? (Lisowski has a collection of about 180 movies)

"I know my first one, The Sandlot. For my number two, probably The Departed. Let’s see, what else…We’ll stick with those two right now. I’ll just watch those over and over."

It’s 2 a.m. at Springfield College and you’re practically starving. Where do you go to fix the craving?

"Oh, you have got to get Wings…Wings Over Springfield. It’s a wing chain that has the best wings, like…ever. Honey Mustard is where I’m at. I’m usually good for about 10 to 15 if they’re boneless wings. They’re nice big boneless wings, and free delivery, too, so it’s a no-brainer."

How would you describe this team’s identity?

"I’d say we’re a bunch of hard-nosed players. That’s kind of the best phrase to describe it. A lot of these guys aren’t from huge Division I schools. I know that’s kind of been the mentality to get guys who have been at smaller schools but have played frequently and have played on college-level teams. I know a lot of teams in this league pick the Division I players who are kind of on the lower end, but these are all hard-working guys, they all know what we’re here to do, and we’ve all got the same mindset: we’re here to win a championship, we’re here to all get better, and we’re all here to be seen."

What’s been your favorite road stop so far?

"I’m going to go with either Keene or Newport. I like [Cardines Field in] Newport because of the atmosphere, and just kind of the location of Newport, the old-fashion field with dugouts on the same side, and with the dimensions."

One of the best parts about a summer league like the NECBL is you’ve got players coming from all across the country. Who gets picked on the most?

"I would have to say, the group of lefties are getting hassled the most, for uh…just being lefties. I know [Ryan] Krull has been hearing it a lot, and I know [Jason] Markowitz is. I’m hearing it a little bit, too. The Southern boys, with their accents, are getting mocked here and there, and then they’re giving it back with the Boston accent. It’s going back and forth so it’s really fun to watch."

Any superstitions?

"I actually don’t do anything out of the norm; no food superstitions, nothing to wear. When I come into the dugout in between innings I like to talk to my teammates, I don’t really like to sit there in silence. Some people say 'Oh, leave him alone, he’s all on his own,' I’m just like everyone else, no real superstitions, I just go out there.”

Who would you say is your "dream girl"?

"I would have to say Angelina Jolie. I think she is, uh…a very nice lady."

What is your favorite sports moment (excluding baseball)?

"When I was younger, I was in the [NFL’s] Punt, Pass & Kick competition. I made it to the state finals and finish in third place in the state of Massachusetts. I went to Foxboro Stadium, got to go out on the field at halftime, did a little mock presentation because the actual competition was already over…I didn’t throw it too far, I was kind of small back then, but I kicked it pretty far."

Who are you voting for in the ’08 Presidential Election?

"Barrack Obama. I’ve been leaning toward the Democrats every since [President George W.] Bush took office. His philosophies have kind of swayed me against Republicans and what they’re all about. So as of right now, Obama, but you know, things can change."

You’re in charge of writing the script for the end of this Navigator season…what happens?

"Probably what everyone else would say, hopefully: we finish it out, continue on a run here, win the league title in the regular season and go on through the playoffs and win the whole thing…I don’t know who we’re going to face. Maybe we’ll face Newport, they seem like the team to beat in the other division…Hopefully sweep them in two games, both pitchers will put up nine inning shutouts."