By Marty Gordon
Appalachian League President Dan Moushon announced this week that the current lockout at the major league level will have little or no impact on his league’s season.
Appy League season openers are slated for June 2 with players and staff reporting on May 30.
“It was an incredible year one (2021),” said Moushon. “We held the first All-Star Game in league history. It was a dramatic game televised nationally on the MLB Network. The outcome of the all-star game was determined via the final swing in a homerun derby, and the championship game was a dramatic walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth.”
The Pulaski River Turtles have released their roster and schedule with at least one familiar name. Avery Mabe, a native of Wytheville and a current UVA pitcher, will return to Southwest Virginia this summer..
A projected starting pitcher, Mabe is a University of Virginia sophomore and a 2020 graduate of George Wythe High School.
Manager Clark Crist looks forward to working with all of these young players. “We have a great group coming to Pulaski from all over the country; it’s a great collection of talent. We’re ready to get to work,” Crist said.
Seventeen different NCAA Division 1 schools are represented on the roster, including recent NCAA champions Virginia (2015), Vanderbilt (2014 and 2019), and Mississippi State (2021).
Two Virginia natives appear on the 2022 roster: Infielder Owen DeShazo from Glen Allen (Boston College commit) and Mabe, who amassed a stellar resume at George Wythe High School, earning All-Mountain-Empire honors as a junior. He was a two-time member of the Region 1C team.
Four members of the 2021 Pulaski River Turtles team are returning: Catchers Ryan Johnson and Irvin Escobar and pitchers Lucas Reed and Crayton Burnett. Johnson and Reed were 2021 Appalachian League All-Star selections.
Pitcher Seth Tomczak (San Joaquin Delta) was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 26th round of the 2019 MLB Draft.
Outfielders Rodney Green, Jr. (Cal) and Michael Bolton, Jr. (Purdue) are among the Appalachian League’s top future draft prospects.
The reigning 2021 Appalachian League East Division champions, the River Turtles will begin the defense of their division crown against the Burlington Sock Puppets. Released today, the 2022 River Turtles’ schedule includes 29 home games with 12 home games in June, 13 home games in July, and four home games in August. The regular season finale is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 4.
In total, the 2022 schedule boasts 58 dates. All home games will begin at 7 p.m.
This year will mark Pulaski’s 56th season fielding teams in the Appalachian League. The River Turtles were nosed out by the Greeneville Flyboys 9-8 for the Appalachian League championship. They will host the Flyboys on June 21 in a rematch of the title tilt.