The following is a press release from the State College Spikes. It is always great to see success celebrated. Congratulations to the players, manager Oliver Marmol, pitching coach Dernier Orozco, hitting coach Ramon Ortiz, trainer Dan Martin and everyone else associated with the 2014 club. – Brian Walton
The 2014 State College Spikes were presented with their New York-Penn League championship rings on Monday at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, FL prior to the St. Louis Cardinals’ Spring Training game against the Detroit Tigers.
Spikes Chairman and Managing Partner Chuck Greenberg, President Jason Dambach and Assistant General Manager of Operations Dan Petrazzolo were on hand to represent the franchise’s front office at the ceremony, delivering the rings to 42 players, coaches and staff from last year’s championship team.
Cardinals Senior Vice President and General Manager John Mozeliak, Director of Player Development Gary LaRocque and Baseball Operations Coordinator for Player Development Tony Ferreira also helped present the championship rings, which commemorated the first NYPL title in Spikes history. The championship was also one of two for a Cardinals minor league affiliate in 2014, along with the Rookie-level Johnson City Cardinals’ Appalachian League title.
The roll call of honorees on Monday included 10-year-old bench coach Josiah Viera, who provided the Spikes with inspiration throughout the season. Viera continues to battle progeria, an extremely rare, fatal genetic disorder which causes children to age rapidly.
(Photos courtesy of the State College Spikes)