Baseball
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2013 Schedule - current as of April 24, 2013
Brian Essery Brian Essery is in his first year as Head Coach of Eden High School Baseball Team. Brian is also the Pitching Coach and Director of Recruiting for the Great Britain National Baseball Team. A position he has held since 2011. His first coaching appearance with Great Britain was the 2011 European Championship qualifier in Israel where Great Britain was victorious. In 2012 Brian was on the staff of the Great Britain Under 23 National team which toured the North East United States. Also in 2012 Brian was pitching coach for the European Championships held in Holland and the World Baseball Classic Qualifier in Germany. Brian is also an Associate Scout with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Locally Brian is the Head Coach of the St. Catharines Minor Mosquito All-star team which won the 2012 ‘AA’ Ontario Championship. The 2012 Provincial Championship was the first Championship for The City of St. Catharines in over 20 years, the first ever ‘AA’ Championship and the first Rookie Ball Championship. |
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Brian attended Glen Oaks College in Centerville, Michigan prior to playing three years of Professional Baseball in the United States. Arm injuries forced Brian to retire from the Great Britain Senior National Team and the Niagara Metros Baseball Club, where he has pitched the past 12 seasons compiling a 61-23 win/loss record with 16 complete game shutouts and a 2.50 ERA. Brian joined Team Great Britain in 2007, pitched in the 2007 European Championships, 2009 World Cup and, most recently, the 2010 European Championships. In 2008, Brian and his family spent the summer in London, England where Brian served as player-coach for the London Mets, leading the team to a 21-1 regular season and the British National Championship.
Voted C.O.M.B.L. Most Valuable Player by league managers (2001)
Voted C.O.M.B.L. Top Pitcher by league managers - twice (1999 & 2007)
Voted Metros Most Valuable Player by his teammates twice (2001 & 2002)
Named British Baseball's Most Valuable Pitcher by the GBBSA (2008)
Rocco Spano Rocco started his baseball career with the Streetsville Tigers. In 1998 Rocco moved to the region and played with the St. Catharines Cobras where they won the 1998 Junior Title. In 1999 he started his career with The St. Catharines Metros (Now Niagara Metros) and over is 11 year career amassed several awards and became one of the good hitters in the province. In 2000 attended Erie Community College and was voted to the All American Team in for the Spring 2001 season hitting .485 with 5 HR’s and 68 RBI’s. The following season Rocco transferred to Graceland University in Iowa but due to a severe injury during the spring season in 2002 enabled him to gain much playing time. Rocco then returned home where he continued his playing career with the Metros. Rocco is excited to be a part of the Eden baseball program and will bring a lot of energy, knowledge and passion to the Flyers this year. |
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- Played 11 full seasons (1999-'09), amassing 441 games, and 1697 Plate Apps.
- Compiled a .343 career BA (486 for 1415), batting over .300 nine times
- Holds All-Time Metros record for walks in a career with 232
- Just missed League "Triple Crown" in 2003, with 6 HR, 39 RBI, and .398 BA
- Batted over .360, 5 times, and over .300, 9 times in his career
- Led Metros in HR's 3 times, Runs 4 times, and RBI's 6 times in his career
- Batted .375, with 6 HR's, 41 RBI's, 22 BB's and 9 SB's in 2000
- In All-Time offensive career lists, ranks in the top 5, in 12 different categories
- Voted Metros Most Valuable Player (2003) by teammates
- Named Metros Top Offensive Player four times (2002, 2003, 2004, 2008)
- Named to Johnson Division Year-end All-Star Team 6 times
- Named Most Valuable Player of Lakeside Invitational Tournament (2008)
- Won C.O.M.B.L. "Andy Pierce Trophy" for leading the League in HR's (2003)
- Voted C.O.M.B.L. "Iron Man Award" for durability, dedication, and performance (2006)
- Was a Metros team leader for 7 Division, 2 League, and 2 Playoff Championships