Shockley to Coach in NY This Summer

After Spalding University Baseball team’s season has ended in May, it is off to New York for Assistant Coach Ryan Shockley.  It is there, in upstate New York, that Shockley will be the head coach of the Allegany County Nitros, a team in the New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL).  The NYCBL is a summer wood bat development league for professional baseball.  The MLB funds a small portion of the NYCBL’s annual budget.  The league gives college players who have not yet signed a professional contract the opportunity to develop their skills at a higher level of play, gain experience with wood bats, and be evaluated by scouts. Teams play a 44 game regular season schedule with games beginning in June and ending in the last week in July. 

Coach Shockley is no stranger to the NYCBL.  He played in the league in 2006 for the same team that he is going to Coach.  The summer that Shockley played in the NYCBL, the Nitros were able to make it to the league championship but lost to the Saratoga Phillies.  It was also in 2006 where Coach Shockley met the head coach of the Spalding Baseball team, Mike Stawski.  Coach Stawski was Shockley’s assistant coach and a pitching coach for the team in 2006.

When asked about the idea of coaching in the league in which he once played, coach Shockley said, “I’m very excited.  It is a good experience for my coaching career, and a good opportunity.”  When Coach Stawski was asked if he had any tips for coach Shockley he said, “Just have fun, and enjoy the opportunity.  It’s a great league, and I know he’ll do well.”

While Shockley will be one of the youngest, if not the youngest coach there, he says, “I’m really not worried about that.  I know a lot about the game, and I’ve already started coaching, so I know how to handle myself and the team.”  Coach Shockley will make the trip to New York at the end of May.  He will stay in New York until the end of July or possibly the beginning of August when the playoffs start