MALONE, NY – Tommy Kretzler has added his name into the Empire League records book as he wins the 2023 Empire Baseball League Home Run Derby contest.

Kreztler had an impressive round hitting 17 home runs to surpass teammate Aidan Safar who hit 14 in the first round.

He then would advance to the second round and hit 9 home runs to clinch his spot in the finals versus Malone Border Hounds Wataru Kumagai who got on a hot streak to enter the finals.

Kretzler then defeated Wataru Kumagai in the finals by hitting 6 home runs in 5 outs while Kumagai finished with only 2 homers in 5 outs, to become this years home run derby champion.

It was an exciting even all around for players of all teams who participated in it. We got a little rain but fans stuck around and witnessed the most homers in any Empire League Home Run Derby history!

Tommy won an Empire League bat and also a $100 Gift Card to Donovans Steak & Ale in Malone, NY.

Article By Empire Media

PLATTSBURGH, NY – Japan goes into Plattsburgh and puts a stop to the Thunderbirds hot streak with a 11-9 victory.

Japan started things off in the 3rd inning scoring 4 runs on a big fly grand slam by Tommy Dunleavy to score Ryosuke Sato, Luke Chung who doubled earlier and Tommy Kretzler.

Thunderbirds would have an answer in the 4th inning when Max Guadalupe and Juan Lugo scored on bases loaded walks.

Tommy Dunleavy takes an Empire League lead in homers in the 5th inning when he sent a second homer over the center field wall. This time a solo shot for Dunleavy to give the Islanders their 5th run of the game.

In the bottom half of the 5th, Plattsburgh scored 3 runs when Max Guadalupe doubled in both Justin Ayala and Zach Miner. Max would end up scoring on a sac fly by George Southerland.

In the 8th inning, the Islanders took the lead by score 5 runs in the top half. Darious Barton doubled to get things going and scored on a bases loaded walk. Tommy Kretzler joined the party with a grand slam to dead center to give the Islanders an 11-9 lead.

Plattsburgh scored two in the 8th when Ayala scored his second run of the game on a wild pitch. Zach Miner followed him after he singled and advanced to second. Miner then scored on a single by George Southerland who ended the day with 3 hits, 3 RBI’s and 2 stolen bases.

Eri Yoshida took over the mound in the 7th and would be credited with the victory as she tossed one inning allowing just 1 run and keeping the Islanders in the game.

Darious Barton went 3 for 5 in the game. Tommy Dunleavy finished 4 for 5 with 2 homers and 4 RBI’s. Tommy Kretzler went 2 for 4 with a homer and 4 RBI’s and Luke Chung continues to produce with another 2 hit game.

Andrew Bielicki would be credited with the loss. Eri Yoshida was credited with the win and Norman Coleman Goodwin was credited with the save.

Saranac Lake – NY – The Japan Islanders defeated the 2nd place Saranac Lake Surge by a score of 16-5 to give Japan their 2nd win of the season.

Japan got off to a huge lead in the first inning scoring 6 runs on 2 hits. Newcomer Luke Chung came out swinging as he singled in his first two at bats of the game and drove in 3 runs.

Japan would tack on 7 more in the second inning off Surge starter Zach Marlow who struggled with command in this one and gave up another two hits to give Japan a total of 13 runs in 2 innings.

Saranac Lake would begin their scoring in the 3rd inning when the team scored 3 runs on a error by the Islanders 3rd baseman.

The Surge added another 2 runs in the 4th when Marco Melgoza and Darrius Bomer both scored. That would be the last time in the game the Surge would plate a run.

Ken Watanabe started for Japan and went 3 innings while striking out 4. Terry Beeker and Norman Coleman- Goodwin would throw 2 each to seal the victory.

Zach Goree came up big for the Surge as he tossed 5.2 innings allowing just 1 run on 5 hits and striking out 6 total batters.

The win was Japans 2nd and with the Malone Border Hounds losing the Surge remain in 2nd place

Article by Empire Media

Malone, NY – The Malone Border Hounds came back to defeat the Japan Islanders in the bottom of the 8th for a 14-12 victory.

The Islanders took the lead in the 2nd inning 6-1 as the first 6 batters of the inning all scored. Darius Barton drove in a run on a single while Tommy Dunleavy drove in two with a laser to left field.

Malone, However, answered with a 4 run inning when catcher Nate Darwin doubled in both Matt Golda and Darlin De La Rosa. Devon Hawks singled and drove in both Nate Darwin and Tristan Bourne.

Hawks was not done as the following inning he belted a 2-run shot over the right center wall. a 380ft shot.

It was a back and forth game, the Islanders scored 3 in the top of the third on a double by Tommy Dunleavy that drove in two more. The Islanders added 3 more in the 4th inning and would be silent the rest of the game.

The Border Hounds were not done as they would score two in the 5th, 2 in the 6th and 2 in the 8th.

Amaury Telamaco Jr was stellar as he tossed 6 shutout inning allowing just 3 hits and striking out 6 batters with no runs or walks.

Jacob McCarthy had a big day with 4 hits, 4 stolen bases and 4 runs scored. Jerry Torres joined him with another 4 hits and driving in 3 runs. Hawks finished the day going 3 for 5 with 3 runs, a homer, 4 RBI’s and 2 stolen bases.

Telemaco Jr was credited with the win and Nakasato was credited with the loss.

The final score was 14-12 in favor of the Malone Border Hounds.

Article by Empire Media

Morrisonville, NY – The Plattsburgh Thunderbirds have defeated the Japan Islanders to earn their first victory of the season winning 14-3.

The Islanders looked to be taking control early on when they took a 4-1 lead in the 3rd inning. Hiroki Itakura scored the first run as he got on base with a single and scored together with Ryosuke Sato, who walked, on a 2-run single by Taiga Sato. Aj Pollack, who reached base with a bunt single, scored on a sac fly by Tommy Dunleavy. Calvin Rucker continued the scoring when Tredell Blow doubled to left center to give Japan a 4-0 lead.

Thunderbirds would fight back with 7 runs in the 4th. Anthony Socci belted a deep grand slam homer to left center field trees to cap off the 7 run 4th.

Thunderbirds would tak on 6 more in the 8th inning as Japans Bullpen struggled to get guys out.

This was the Thunderbirds first win of the season.

Article by Empire Media

Plattsburgh, NY – The Japan Islanders defeated the Plattsburgh Thunderbirds in a big way on Monday behind the big power bat of Tommy Dunleavy.

Tommy Dunleavy led the Islanders offensively with 3 home runs in the game. This was the first time in Empire League history, any player has hit 3 home runs in a game.

Hiroki Itakura, Darius Barton and Aj Pollack join the hit parade as they also homered once each to give the Islanders a commanding lead in the game.

Lorenzo Hardit started for the Islanders and took the win while Anthony Socci would end up taking the loss for the Thunderbirds.

Thunderbirds actually led in the game going into the 4th inning with great hitting from Kezlin Douglas and Jake Ford who each had two 3 hits in the game. Ford hit a home run to the opposite field in the 9th. He would end with 3 RBI’s in the game.

George Sutherland had a pair of hits himself with 2 RBI’s and 2 Stolen Bases.

Japan Islanders took the win over the Thunderbirds by a score of 27-10. That was Japans first win of the season.

Article By Empire Media

The Japan Islanders announced the signing of Ryosuke Sato as the new leader for the 2023 season.

Sato will be traveling from Japan to lead the new look Japan Islanders who look to bounce back from a last place finish in 2022.

Article by Empire Media

YORK, PA – The Empire League will be hosting its annual All Independent Professional Baseball League Showcase Tryout in April.

Every year, players attend the All Indy Showcase tryout looking for an opportunity to sign last minute to MLB Partnered League teams as well as Empire Baseball League teams for the Regular Season.

As usual, April 5-6, 2023 will bring players from all over the country to showcase in front of confirmed coached from the Frontier League, Atlantic League and Empire League .

The Empire League will begin to fill its 125+ roster spots at this event for players who do not have the experience or are not properly developed to compete at the higher levels just yet. Every year, the Empire League allows for new players to enter the system, therefore all rosters start fresh every season. In order to play in the Empire League, however, you must attend a tryout, showcase camp or spring training.

This showcase tryout will take place at PeoplesBank park in York, Pennsylvania which is home to the York Revolution of the Atlantic League.

Over the years, players have signed directly to MLB partnered leagues and to Empire League. That number is higher than 80% of players in attendance are provided an opportunity.

If you’re looking to begin your career out of college or released from minor league ball and looking for opportunities, be sure to register for this event. NO Experience is necessary as the Empire Leagues platform is used to create experience to eventually move up to the higher levels.

Visit the Tryouts Link located in our navigation menu to register today.

For stats, news, updates and more, visit our website periodically at www.japanislanders.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @eblislanders. If you have any questions about upcoming events, tryouts, or more, contact the Empire League via email at baseball@empireproleague.com

TUPPER LAKE, NY –  The Japan Islanders have officially been eliminated from playoff contention as the top 3 seeds have clinched playoff spots.

Islanders did not compete to their potential this season but there is a lot to look forward to as the team begins preparations for next year. Players like Hiroto Yasuda who dominated on the mound,  Katsuya Arai who was an All Star and reinforcement selection by the Plattsburgh Thunderbirds, Takuto Hasegawa who showed a   tremendous amount of adjustments are some of the many Islanders who will make this team better next year.

The team is eliminated from playoff contention so they will be the team that will serve as reinforcements by the other contending teams at the end of the regular season.

Article by Empire Media

TUPPER LAKE, NY  –  The Empire Baseball League All-Star Game featured the top players so far during the 2022 season. Players from all four teams were selected to participate in the game and the teams were split into East and West squads. The East squad included players from the Saranac Lake Surge and Plattsburgh Thunderbirds, while the West squad included players from the Tupper Lake Riverpigs and the Japan Islanders. 

In the end, the West All-Stars took home the 6-1 victory over the East. The pitching on the West team was too much for the East to overcome, scoring their only run late in the contest. 

The player named MVP of the All-Star game was Tupper Lake’s own Khalyd Cox. Cox went 1-2 in the game with a lead off home run to start the game, two walks and three runs scored. He also had a stolen base. 

The pitcher of the game also came from the West All-Stars, starting pitcher Mizuki Akatsuka. Akatsuka started the game going two perfect innings, not allowing a single baserunner to reach from the East All-Stars. He struck out one batter in his two innings of work.

Fans from around the Tupper Lake area as well as fans of the EBL came out to make the 2022 All-Star festivities special for every player. Now, all eyes look towards the upcoming EBL playoffs that are looming right around the corner. 

Article by Ben Diamond