PEEKSKILL, N.Y. The Tides are rolling into the playoffs this season with a number two seed and four newly-named league All-Stars.
"Our coaching staff is very proud of how hard our players competed all season and we look forward to a deep playoff run," said team manager Chris Jones. "This group of players is a hard working, committed and respectful team that I feel fortunate and privileged to manage."
The Peekskill Tides completed one of their most successful regular seasons in the team's 18-year history finishing with a 23-8 record and earning the number two seed in the WRWBL playoffs, which will begin this week. The 23-win season is the second-highest victory total in franchise history and is the second straight year of 20 wins or more. In the past two years, the Tides are 43-15 overall.
Four members of the Peekskill Tides collegiate summer ball club will be heading to the brand-new Rockland Boulders minor league stadium later this month for the 2011 Westchester/Rockland Wood Bat League All-Star Game. Catcher Kevin Madison, first-baseman Brendan Slattery, outfielder Matt Maher and pitcher Corey Borowitz were named All-Stars this week.
"All four of these men are terrific teammates and people and each had strong seasons on the field," said Jones. "We're proud they represent our club and I feel privileged to serve as their manager. Each one is very deserving on heading to the All-Star Game."
Madison posted a career year batting .438 and pounding out 42 hits, including 16 doubles, which broke the WRWBL single season record for most two-baggers in a season. He also led the WRWBL with 32 RBI and is a league MVP candidate as well. In his first WRWBL season, Slattery batted .358 with 29 hits, including 13 doubles, two triples and a homerun. He was second on the team with 27 RBI, which placed him in the top-four league-wide. He will be a strong candidate to win the league's Rookie of the Year honors.
Maher posted his third straight All-Star season batting .352 with 31 hits, including five doubles and two triples batting out of the leadoff spot. Maher also posted 30 runs scored and 20 stolen bases, which led the WRWBL in 2011. Borowitz makes his sixth All-Star Game appearance. In 2011 he led the Tides with a 6-3 record and 3.10 ERA in 61 innings pitched. Borowitz also notched a save in relief and served as the club's number one starter all season.
The Tides will await the league's wild card play-in game winners to learn who they will play in the first round of the win-or-go-home playoffs. The first round format is best of three. The Tides begin the playoff tournament on Saturday, Aug. 6 at Manhattanville College at noon against the second-lowest remaining seed. The team will them play game two at SUNY Purchase on Sunday, Aug. 7 at noon against the second-lowest remaining seed and again, if necessary, on Tuesday, Aug. 9 at home at Peekskill Stadium at 8 p.m. against the second-lowest seed.
"While it's difficult to prepare when you don't know who you're playing, our team is enjoying the few days off to recharge and get ready for the most demanding part of the season," Jones said.
Click here to follow Daily Voice and receive free news updates.
