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RIGGS HELPS AVIATORS WIN ACBL TITLE
8-31-09
CALDWELL,
N.J. - Caldwell College baseball player Buddy Riggs (Coral Springs,
FL/Taravella) had a successful summer pitching for the Westhampton Aviators
of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League, a wood-bat league for college
players. Riggs, who is a senior at Caldwell, contributed to the Aviators'
run to the ACBL championship earlier this month, as Westhampton topped the
Jersey Pilots for the league title.
"It was great winning the championship and celebrating with the team on the
field," Riggs said. "The competition in the league was really tough, with a
lot of Division I players. I learned some stuff on my pitching mechanics
from our coaches, and I even had an opportunity to play a little second
base. Overall it was the best summer baseball experience I've ever had."
Riggs, an all-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference and all-East Region
selection for Caldwell as a junior, was 3-2 with an earned run average of
3.62 in 10 appearances and one start for the Aviators. He also struck out 31
while walking just nine in 32 1/3 innings of work. In the Kaiser Division
semifinals against Southampton, Riggs pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings with
two strikeouts in the Aviators' 16-0 win. He then tossed 3 2/3 innings
against North Fork in Game 1 of the division finals, a 7-6 loss. Westhampton
came back to defeat North Fork twice, then beat the Jersey Pilots 7-5 in the
ACBL title game.
The 2009 season was a breakout year for Riggs, who was 6-2 with an ERA of
3.58 en route to being named to the all-CACC first team and the Daktronics
and NCBWA all-Region second teams. The Cougars' all-time leader in saves
with 10, Riggs became a starter last season and dominated opposing batters,
ranking 11th in the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (10.75). He fanned
a total of 72 batters in 60 1/3 innings while walking just 14.
The ACBL is a NCAA-sanctioned summer league partially funded by Major League
Baseball for college players with remaining eligibility. Players must be
recommended by scouts or their college coach to participate in the league,
which includes players from Division I, II and III colleges and universities
as well as junior colleges. Several former Cougars have played in the ACBL
in recent years, including current New Jersey Jackals catcher Chris
Chiarappa, Tommy Murphy and Michael Kolesar, who helped
the Jersey Pilots capture the ACBL championship in 2004.