UTICA, NY — The Utica Blue Sox have announced that they will award a roster spot and scholarship to one player from American Legion baseball’s District V. The player will be selected from District V based on his play this season and will be granted a spot on the Blue Sox Roster the following year in 2020. This is the first year that the Blue Sox will award a scholarship, and the first time in the history of the PGCBL that a team has offered anything like this.
“The purpose of the Blue Sox is to create a platform for local players, companies and interns to make it to the next level,” Blue Sox owner George Deak said. “We felt as a staff that there is a lot of talent in this area and by putting the players in the Utica area on a platform such as this, national scouts and major league scouts will soon realize that.”
Led by Mike Macchione, a committee of leaders in the baseball community will select this player at the culmination of the 2019 season. The selection committee is composed of the following:
- Butch Custodero
- Kevin Green
- Joe DeSarro
- Donald Guido
- Arthur “Butch” Williams
The Blue Sox kick of their 2019 season on Friday night on the road against the Oneonta Outlaws and return for the home opener on Saturday, June 1 against the Adirondack Trail Blazers, which is slated for a 6:45 P.M. start.