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CHIARAPPA MAKES PRO BASEBALL DEBUT WITH JACKALS
6-1-09
CALDWELL,
N.J. - Former Caldwell College standout Chris Chiarappa is continuing
his baseball career at the professional level and has signed with the New
Jersey Jackals for the 2009 season. Chiarappa, who graduated from Caldwell
College in 2008 after a stellar career as the Cougars' catcher, made his
debut with the Jackals on Saturday, May 30 against the American Defenders of
New Hampshire. He collected his first professional hit in the game as the
Jackals defeated the Americans, 10-6 in Nashua, N.H.
The debut ended a "crazy month" for Chiarappa, who spent two weeks in
Florida at the Pensacola Pelicans' spring training camp in early May. With
the tryout going well, it appeared he was going to make the roster of the
unaffiliated Pelicans, who play in the American Association. But the team
decided to sign a veteran catcher at the end of camp and Chiarappa was left
looking for another opportunity.
Fortunately, he learned through a scout that the Jackals were interested in
signing a rookie catcher to fill out their roster. After traveling to
Florida and also Texas before that in pursuit of his dream to play
professional baseball, Chiarappa ended up finding his chance with a team
that is based just seven miles from where he played his college ball.
"Signing with the Jackals worked out for me," said Chiarappa, who is from
Elmont, N.Y. "This is a pretty good league, and I'm happy to be close to
home. I was looking for a place to prove myself and maybe it'll lead
somewhere."
The
Jackals, a member of the unaffiliated Can-Am League, play in Yogi Berra
Stadium on the campus of Montclair State University in Little Falls, N.J.
The Can-Am League consists of teams in Little Falls and Sussex, N.J.,
Worcester and Brockton, Mass., Nashua, N.H., and Quebec City, Quebec.
Chiarappa spent three of his four seasons at Caldwell as the starting
catcher, collecting 141 hits in 163 career games to rank seventh all-time at
Caldwell. A career .291 hitter, Chiarappa had a breakout year in 2007,
batting .368 with 13 doubles, four home runs and 29 runs batted in to earn
first team all-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference honors. As a senior,
he recorded 50 hits and 33 RBI and was named to the all-CACC second team. A
defensive stalwart behind the plate, Chiarappa gunned down 36.1 percent of
would-be base stealers in 2008.
In his final two seasons, Chiarappa helped lead the Cougars to a CACC
Tournament title in 2008 and a pair of appearances in the NCAA Division II
Region Tournament, held in Rindge, N.H. "Every time I go to New Hampshire it
rains," Chiarappa said, referring to the soggy regional tournaments as well
as the wet weather that postponed his first game with the Jackals.
Thursday's rainout forced the Jackals and Defenders to play a doubleheader
on Saturday, and Chiarappa started behind the plate for the day's second
game. He is one of two catchers on the Jackals' roster, joining veteran Matt
Lauderdale, who begins his third year with the team.
"Everybody on the team is nice and personable, and they're willing to help
you out any way they can," he said about his new teammates and coaches. "I'm
just trying to take everything in and learn as much as possible."
Chiarappa, who is set to begin his first home series tonight against Quebec
City, is looking to taking advantage of his current opportunity with the
Jackals. "Teams and scouts look for experienced players, so I'm hoping this
will give me the experience I need to move on from here. Hopefully this is
the start of something."