Milestones for the Comet Cornerstones

Now that GPMABL commissioner Brett Mandel is playing in the "GPMABL Classic League" and the longtime Comet has records left to be broken. Several of them could fall during the 2016 season. As several of the longtime Comets are coming up on special milestone numbers.

While the humble Gavin White thinks nothing of his excellent 7 seasons, stating "it's just longevity", he is about to hit historic league standards because he has put up MVP numbers for almost a decade. These Comets certainly have earned all the stats they have accrued and they should all be very proud of their accomplishments.

White, the 28 year-old first basemen, sits at 161 hits entering his 8th season. His 10th hit will make him the Comets All-Time Hits Leader surpassing Mandel (170) and his 27th hit will make him the GPMABL All-Time Hit King surpassing the A's Billy Mason (187).

Former GPMABL MVP Jason Rompola enters his sixth season with 106 hits. A 24-hit season would make "Romp" the 10th player in GPMABL history to record 130 hits. Considering the infielder/pitcher had 42 hits in 2014, he should be able to reach that mark in 2016.

The current manager Andrew Marcus enters his 9th season with a chance to be the GPMABL's version of Rickey Henderson. Sitting at 81 steals the infielder will tie former Montco Phillie Ryan Golderer (82) with his first bag of the season and be alone at the top of the list with his second steal of the season.

Middle-of-the-order bats Matt Allen and Kyle Riley should both record their 50th career RBIs this season. Riley has 48 steaks and Allen has 42 runs knocked in. Riley also has 87 hits and could have his 100th hit this season.

Phil Motley already the Comets all-time win leader (45) hopefully will record five more this season become the 3rd pitcher in GPMABL to have 50 career wins with Colt .45's Ian Downes and Red Sox Brett Binder.

Motley's personal catcher and longtime Comet manager Matt Gionta has built this winning culture since 2006. Already the team's winningest manager, the backstop has been a part of 133 wins and with a successful 2016 could hit an impressive 150 win.

2016 Philadelphia Comets Schedule Released

*all games start at 10 a.m.
4/10            @ Red Sox         @ Latshaw-McCarthy (Norristown)

4/17            vs. Irish               @ Germantown Academy (Fort Washington)

4/24            @ Generals         @ Boyce Field (Roxborough)

5/1              vs. Muckdogs      @ G.A. (Fort Washington)

5/8              OFF                     MOTHER'S DAY

5/15           @ Royals              @ Hunting Park (Philadelphia)

5/22           @ Irish                  @ G.A. (Fort Washington)

5/29            OFF                      MEMORIAL DAY

6/5              vs. Red Sox           @ G.A. (Fort Washington)

6/12            vs. Royals             @ G.A. (Fort Washintgon)

6/19            vs. Generals          @ G.A. (Fort Washington)      *one nine inning game

6/26            vs. Muckdogs       @ G.A (Fort Washington)

7/3              OFF                      INDEPENDENCE DAY

7/10            @ Irish                  @ Latshaw-McCarthy (Norristown)

7/17            @ Generals           @ G.A. (Fort Washintgon)

7/24            @ Irish                  @ Villanova Ballpark (Plymouth Meeting)

7/31            vs. Generals           @ G.A. (Fort Washington)

8/7             PLAYOFFS BEGIN

Let's Look Back before we Move Forward

It was new era of Philadelphia Comets baseball in 2015. After winning the Greater Philadelphia Mens Adult Baseball League title in 2012 and 2013, and finishing second in 2014, there was a new manager and several new players in the fold.

After seven years on the Comets, Andrew Marcus stepped up to the plate and took over a team that saw its roster total dip to a mere seven player only weeks prior to the season started in April. A relentless pursuit of players gave them enough to start the year with 19, but no one was quite sure what to expect.

Slowly former Comets got the itch to return and the likes of Matt Gionta, Adam Goldstein, and Jason Rompola gave the perennial winners a fighting chance again midseason. After an 8-16 regular season, which included eight one-run losses, the team started to gel just in time for the playoffs.

The Comets clicked in the playoffs, knocking off the defending champion Philadelphia Muckdogs and the Kensington Royals behind the pitching of Jason Rompola. With team MVP Phil Motley absent for the week due to the birth of his first son, “Romp” threw 14 innings in one day and secured a 1-0 lead in the semifinal three game series.

Motley, who pitched 76 innings and finished with a 2.86 ERA in the regular season, came back to clinch a fourth straight trip the championship. The Comets were the sixth seed out of eight teams in the GPMABL, but no team was hotter.

The Comets eventually ran into some bad luck in the finals against the Philadelphia Colt 45s, who did all the right things when it mattered the most. Motley was one the mound with a 2-0 in Game Three before the Colts pitching cooled off the Comets. The 5-2 loss ended the Comets season one win shy of the ultimate goal.

The loss could not take away from a strong season. Comets first basemen Gavin White and manager/infielder Andrew Marcus finished second and third respectively in the league with 30 and 29 hits in the 24 game regular season. Comets outfielder Kyle Riley also earned an all-star nod for his 26 hits, 17 RBIs, and 1.006 OPS, and his gold glove play in the field.

Newcomers catcher Andrew Dean and outfielder Andrew Napoli also their mark and gave the Comets hope for another strong year next summer. Dean earned team Rookie of the Year for his .391 batting average and play behind the plate.

Comets 2016 Club Continues to Round Out

The 2016 GPMABL Draft was held on February 28th and the Philadephia Comets added two more players to an already strong roster.

PLEASE WELCOME DRAFTEES...

Peter Harper (RHP/1b) - This 40 year old showed he had a lot left in the tank on the mound and at the plate. We know he will gel with the rest of our pitching staff due to his background as an artist. Harper lengthens and already potent lineup and gives brings some much needed depth to the mound.

Brian Sogness (OF) - Sogness has all the potential roam the outfield for the Comets and use he speed on the base paths to help the team push runs across the plate. He too could take some innings on the mound, as he brings a pitching background.

ALSO WELCOME FREE AGENTS...

Dennis Rudzinski (OF)
John Estok (1B/3B)
Ali Khan (OF)

ALSO WELCOME...

New Helmets! Purchase today. I know every in Comets Land is excited about that.

Let's try not throw these too often. (Not mentioning any names)

The Comets could use two or three more players before Opening Day on April 10th, but they will continue to search for prospects an continue to practice hard for the upcoming season.

2016 season gets under way April 10th 2016

WEEK NINE: Comets drop two tough ones to Irish

GAME ONE:  The Comets spent the entire day chasing the Irish and were unable to get the clutch hits in the double header to come out victorious. Andrew Dean and Matt Allen each had a pair of hits and a RBI in the loss. Dean was on deck when the game ended in a 5-4 loss.

GAME TWO:  Andrew Dean made it a four hit day with two more in the second contest. Andrew Napoli drove in two with a RBI double in sixth inning to erase a 5-0 hole and they Comets eventually tied the game on a Matt Allen flight out that scored Adam Goldstein.
However the Irish got one run in the bottom of the seventh inning for the 6-5 win, handing Clancy Philbrick the hard luck loss. Philbrick settled in a had pitched three consecutive scoreless innings prior to the sac fly in the seventh inning.

The Comets (4-10) are at Latshaw/McCarthy in Norristown next week to face the Red Sox (6-8).

WEEK EIGHT: Comets struggle to close out Colt .45s

GAME ONE:  Veteran GPMABL pitcher has had the Comets number this season. He had held the top offense down in both games he has pitched this season. On Sunday it was to the tune of a 5-3 loss.
Jason Rompola, the defending league MVP and Single Season Hit King had one hit and two runs scored in the loss. Phil Motley again went the distance in a losing effort.

GAME TWO: The offense showed a little life as Matt Allen had two hits and Andrew Marcus had three hits in the 11-8 loss to the Colts.
The Comets had a 5-4 lead after Allen's RBI single in the fifth inning, only to see the Colts come to life once starter Clancy Philbrick exited the game.

The Comets (4-8) play the Irish (9-3) next week at Germantown Academy.