NEWS

The Front Royal Cardinals start their season on May 30, opening day, on the road versus the Aldie Senators. First-year head coach Brad Neffendorf says he’s glad to be back with the Valley League, having previously served as pitching coach for the Winchester Royals in 2011.

A number of great hitters are on the Cardinals’ roster this season. Zarley Zalewski (New Kensington, Pa.) joins the Cardinals after a stellar year batting cleanup at Kent State. He is batting .354 and was second on the team with 206 at bats for the Golden Flashes. Zalewski leads Kent State in total hits with 73 and had 15 doubles on the season. Kent State is currently playing in the semifinals of the MAC Tournament.

Rising senior Nick Perez (Saint Leo University/Tampa, Fl.) brings another strong bat to the lineup. In 40 games for the Lions he hit .407, amassing 66 hits. During the season, Perez earned Sunshine State Conference Player of the Week, NCBWA Regional Hitter of the Week, and NCBWA National Hitter of the Week honors. 

In the bullpen for the Cardinals are rising senior relief pitchers Kevin Becker-Menditto (Alvernia University/Frederick, Md.) and Evan Bickett (Indiana University Southeast/Bullitt County, Ky.). Becker-Menditto was named a d3baseball.com Preseason All-American First Team Relief Pitcher for 2014 and earned 10 saves on the season. Bickett earned 12 saves for the Grenadiers.

Other notable players include Shell McCain (Tennessee Wesleyan College/Fort Mill, Sc.) and Justin Anderson (University of Texas at San Antonio/Houston, Texas). McCain earned NAIA National Player of the Week honors and Anderson returns to Front Royal from the 2013 team.

Neffendorf returns to the Valley League with a new franchise. In 2011, he helped the Winchester Royals to a Northern Division title. When asked how it felt to be back, he said the Valley League has a “good atmosphere” and is “an enjoyable place to be a part of for the summer.” He also said that the Front Royal staff are “extremely energetic and bring a lot to the table.” Neffendorf recently wrapped up his fourth season as pitching coach and recruiting director at Campbellsville University.

Assistant coaches for the Cardinals are Jonathan Riddle (Union College ’12), Jordan McCavitt (Oklahoma Baptist University ’08), and Keaton Neeb (Campbellsville University ’13). Riddle is an assistant coach at Union College and formerly played catcher for the Bulldogs for five years. McCavitt is an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at St. Catharine College. Neeb is returning to coach and was a former catcher at Campbellsville University, where he was coached by Neffendorf.

—Michael Lynch

Photo by David Dermer/Kent State