Meet the 2012 Vipers
#1 Josh Jackson
Bio: Josh Jackson is primed and ready for the 2012 season. Possessing quick feet, a rocket arm, and great power at the plate, Jackson will help to bolster a returning outfield that tracked them down in 2011. He will focus on bringing senior leadership, an improved attitude, and an increased dedication along with his playing responsibilites. Jackson's athletic abilities are endless.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Positions: OF/C/P
School: Oak Prarie Jr. High
Previous Years on Vipers: 2
Acquired from: Lockport Cobras
#2 Matt Harder
Bio: Matt Harder continues to be one of the league's most prolific two out hitters. Harder "gets it done" time and time again. Possessing a calm demeanor and easy-going ethic, he is a veteran at 1B with a gold glove to prove it. Named 2011's Viper "Come Back Player of the Year" Harder hopes to improve on the successes of last season. Much improved power at the plate will make him a long ball threat to go along with great contact skills.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Position: 1B/P
School: Homer Jr. High
Previous Years on Vipers: 2
Acquired from: Farmed LB Baseball
#3 Sam Call
Bio: After coming to the Vipers last year "Slammin' Sammy" hopes to continue being 'hell on wheels' on the base paths for opposing teams. Leading the team in in stolen bases for 2011 after being named the Viper's leadoff man, (a position that he never relinquished from opening day on) Call will move full-time to the outfield where his lightning quick feet, and incredible hustle has made him one of the league's top glove men. Selected as a utility player, Call will also fit nicely around the horn both at second base, and shorts-stop.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Position: OF/2B
School: Century Junior High
Years on Vipers: 1
Acquired from: Orland Magic
#7 Ryne Travis
Bio: Ryne Travis AKA "Ryno" returns to Lockport Boy's Baseball, spending a year with Victory-Black after departing from the Lockport Cobras. Travis is a hustling, hard-nosed catcher who is as tough as nails. A switch-hitter who also will play middle infield, "Ryno" looks to bring some veteran leadership in handling a young, succesful pitching staff. His speed, and the added pop in his bat behind a speedy Sam Call should put runners at the corners for Coach Phelan's strike quick offense, and give opposing pitchers fits.
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
Position: C/IF/OF
School: Kelvin Grove
Previous Years on Vipers: Innaugural Season
Acquired from: Victory Baseball
#8 Zach Bilotta
Bio: Zach Bilotta AKA "Cheeze-It" once again returns to the Viper's rotation in 2012. Bilotta's 2011 campaign was cut short by a wrist injury which limited his time on the hill, but the left-hander has made a full recovery. Prior to being sidelined, Bilotta boasted the staff's best era (2.23) and racked up inning after inning of shut-out baseball. Bilotta's skills at the plate continue to improve, making him a very tough out to get. Bilotta knows how to pitch smart, and will be more than capable to handle the pace.
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
Position: P/OF
School: Oak Prarie Jr. High
Previous Years on Vipers: 2
Acquired from: Lockport Cobras
#9 Kevin Phelan
Bio: Kevin Phelan, AKA "Big Daddy" returns to a pitching staff that was very difficult to score off of. The pitching staff's leading innings man in 2011, Phelan mastered setting up some of the league's best hitters and turned them into easy outs. He was the stabilizing factor in the Viper's pitching staff who at times saw mid-season injuries, and was hard pressed to service. The keys to his success- incredibly good command of the strike zone, and an uncanny ability to locate pitches. Phelan's dedication to off -season conditioning should see him slimmer, trimmer, and ready to take the hill again in 2012. Phelan will also play 2B and begin transitioning to the other side of the diamond at the hot-corner.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Position: 2B/P
School: Old Quarry Middle School
Previous Years on Vipers: 2
Acquired from: Farmed LB Baseball
#14 Tommy Ruane
Bio: With feet that can fly, Tommy Ruane will be back chasing them down in the outfield for the Viper's 2012 campaign. The athletic Ruane has proven that he can handle right-field and take base hits away from the opponent by being heads up. The often quiet Ruane always has handled the bat in critical moments, and has been the spark-plug to ignite a late inning rally or the nail in the opponent's coffin during late innings. Ruane is also a rangey second-baseman who can be very sharp defensively.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Position: OF/2B
School: Homer Jr. High
Previous Years on Vipers: 2
Acquired from: Lockport Cobras
#21 Bobby Gikas
Bio: Bobby Gikas proved in 2011 that he could fill the role of lefty"ace" that he was always hoped to be. After overcoming concentration and control issues on the mound in 2010, Gikas was "money in the bank" and "cool as a cucumber" for the Vipers. With an ERA under 3.00 and an impressive 2.5:1 strikeout to walk ratio, Phelan sent Gikas to the hill in many pressure games. As an added plus, Gikas's renewed dedication to developing offensively watched him grow by leaps and bounds as a hitter hitting over .400 in the second half of the season with extra base-hits and a few porch shots to boot. Gikas will give the team renewed power from the left side, and senior stability on the mound in 2012.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Position: P/OF/1B
School: Oak Prarie
Previous Years on Vipers: 4
Acquired from: Lemont Indians
#25 Joey Witek
Bio: At the core of any team, there is always a heart. For the Vipers in 2011 that heart was Joey Witek. The team's "old man" took the hit crown for the Vipers in 2011 hitting .489 and an incredible .727 during Cooperstown Week. Joey proves to be a preverbial "brick house" behind the plate as a solid catcher who logged over 230 quality innings without complaint! With the addition of Travis as another experienced catcher to add to the Viper's depth, Witek will be able to come out and shine when called upon on the pitcher's mound with fresh arm and legs. Perhaps one of Coach Phelan's most coachable high school prospects, Witek will also return to play 3B after the departure of Brian Moore. Witek handled the task in the Mustang League and is well-suited to do the same for 2012.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Position: C/P/3B
School: Homer Jr. High
Previous Years on Vipers: 5
Acquired: Farmed LB Baseball
#46 Matt Hellem
Bio: When Hellem was aqcuired from the Magic in 2011, there was no doubt that the Magic's loss was the Viper's gain. The powerful Hellem paced Brian Moore and Joey Witek for top hitting honors all the way into the last week of the season, and in slugging percentage. Hellem has power at the plate as a clean-up man where he flourished. But what is more incredible than those things is that he is the team's youngest player! Matt possesses incredible range at shortstop and a cannon for an arm. 2012 will likely see him develop senior maturity and discipline that will make a good player great. Having a bit of a John Wayne swagger, Hellem fears little, and takes no prisoners.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Position: SS/3B/P
School: Century Jr. High
Previous Years on Vipers: 1
Acquired: Orland Magic
#72 Jaime Fuentes
Bio: The Vipers were delighted to have "Senor Smoke" back in the line-up in 2012. Fuentes gained journeyman experience the last two years playing away from the Vipers with the Joliet Victory and Upper Deck Cougars. He is thrilled to return to the "Black and Maroon" to lead a very effective pitching staff. Fuentes is a big time player who helped the Cougars win the I80 Gold Crown in 2011, and should increase the Viper's chances to battle for the crown in 2012. "Senor Smoke" has an excellent fastball and a breaking ball that seems to fall off the table's edge. He will also handle some of the infield chores, and should swing a live bat this season.
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
Position: P/SS/2B
School: Gompers Jr. High
Previous Years on Vipers: 2
Acquired: Upper Deck Cougars