Westerners Baseball Signs 3 Power Hitters

The Danbury Westerners baseball team announced signing three hitters to their 2014 team: Zach Lavy, Jake Ring, and Joey Swinarski (pictured, left). 

Meet Zach Lavy of Missouri

Zach Lavy from Auxvasse, MO, is a sophomore third baseman for the University of Missouri Tigers.

A transfer from Jefferson College, Lavy handled junior college pitching at a .296 clip with three home runs and 31 RBI before coming to Mizzou. As of April 5th, Lavy has appeared in 17 games and amassed eight RBI on only nine hits.

Meet Jake Ring of Illinois

Hailing from Ingleside, IL, Jake Ring is an outfielder also from the University of Missouri Tigers.

A highly touted high school prospect from Grant Community High School in Ingleside, Ring turned many heads in his senior year when he stole 40 bases in 16 games, earning himself a Rawlings Central Region First Team honoree selection.

Ring was ranked in the top-20 in the state of Illinois by Prep Baseball Report. He currently plays centerfield for the Tigers, and as of April 5th, is third on the team with 12 runs scored.

Meet Joey Swinarski of Florida

Joey Swinarski of Winter Park, FL is an outfielder for the 2013 College World Series runners-up Mississippi State University Bulldogs.

A Perfect Game Second Team Underclass All-American and potential 2014 top ten round MLB Draft pick from The First Academy in Orlando, FL, Swinarski surprised many by graduating a year early to attend Mississippi State.

In 2013 Swinarski hit .405 with seven home runs. Swinarski is red-shirting this season. He is the son of Julie and Ted Swinarski and is majoring in aerospace engineering.

Exceptional new talent could help create exceptional season

Paul Schaffer, President of the Danbury Westerns, commented, "In the past, the Westerners have obtained exceptional talent from the SEC like Devin Jones (currently pitching for the San Antonio Missions, San Diego's AA affiliate), and Dane Opel (a member of the Chicago White Sox' Single A Great Falls Voyagers), and this year's ballplayers certainly have the potential to succeed. I'm glad Zach, Jake and Joey will be displaying their skills in Danbury this summer."

Wanted: Host families

In addition the Danbury Westerners are currently recruiting host families for the 2014 summer.  They are looking for area families to welcome a young athlete into your home and provide a private bedroom for the summer (first week of June through early August).

Food arrangements are up to you, and most players have their own cars for transportation. Those who don't are paired up with those who do. The benefits of being a Host Family are simple- the players quickly become a part of your family. You'll build relationships that last a lifetime. You will also receive season tickets so you'll be able to watch collegiate level baseball all summer long, and if you have young athletes of your own, the players serve as excellent mentors.

More questions about becoming a host family?  Contact Shelley Pitser at jspitser@msn.com.

About the Danbury Westerners

The Danbury Westerners are the longest tenured team in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL).  The NECBL is a summer league for college athletes throughout the country to play competitive, wooden-bat baseball in the New England region.

The mission of the Danbury Westerners is to provide Major League Baseball-supported summer professional development baseball entertainment in the Greater Danbury CT and NY area to enhance social and economic development and add value to the quality of summer living and vacationing throughout the region.

Funded in part by Major League Baseball, in 2014 the Danbury Westerners will be celebrating 20 years in the NECBL. To date 19 former Danbury Westerners have made the Major Leagues, and over 50 former Westerners were playing professional baseball in 2013. All Westerners home games are played at Rogers Park, Danbury CT.

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Submitted by New Fairfield, CT

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