West Islip Grad Pitching For The Pros in Western Canada

Generally when West Islip athletics are discussed, it's lacrosse that first comes to mind.  It's nearly a right of passage to cradle a netted stick at an early age, like it is fondling a Nerf football in a small Texas town.  However, West Islip High School graduate Sean Gregory is one of the few exceptions.

Only a year out of SUNY Albany, where he compiled a 6-2 record and a team-high six saves out of the bullpen his senior season, Gregory, 23, has already found a home in professional baseball.  He wasn't drafted to the majors but he did solidify himself in the Northern United League, as part of the Winnipeg Goldeyes' pitching staff. 

The former Great Dane standout actually began his pro career last year in the CanAm league playing for the Quebec Les Capitals.  His numbers -- 4-2 with four saves in 29 games out of the bullpen-- were good enough to earn him a look from the Goldeyes, one of nine teams in the independant professional baseball league which operates in Northern United States and Canada.

West Islip Patch caught up with the 5'11, 211-pound hard throwing righty while he was in Kansas City for a road series.

WIP: So Sean, what's it like playing in Canada?

SG: It's different.  Quebec was a lot different, with the French speaking and hockey style mentality of the fans.   They don't have a hockey team anymore so they all come out to the games.  They get real loud.  Winnipeg is more of an American style city.  They all speak English.  It doesn't feel much different (than America). 

WIP:  How would you compare the talent level of Division I to the Northern League?

SG:  The Northern League is obviously a lot better.  I know guys that play compare this league to AA quality.  It's definitely a lot better, more experienced players.  College hitters can get themselves out just by lack of experience, whereas these players, you have to throw the right pitch at the right time, and they still might hit it.  There are guys in this league that got close to AAA and the majors and they can really hit.  You have really pitch with your head and not just throw the ball. 

WIP: Before you enrolled at Albany, were you recruited by other schools?

SG:  Yeah, I had a bunch of schools.  I actually lost my father two years before I left, so money was a big issue and if I stayed inside New York, I got all the NYS financial aid.  Albany basically had the best offer, and I really liked their campus and coaching staff.  It just fit perfectly at the time.  Hofstra was a school I was interested in, along with Manhattan College and St Johns. 

WIP:  Is this a full-time job?  If so, is it enough to support you through the offseason?

SG:  Independent baseball is a low level so when you're a rookie, you don't get paid very well.  Even in the minors, until you get up high up, it's really struggle for a while.  Right now, you gotta have a separate job, they only pay you for five months (duration of the season).  I'd say 95 percent of the guys, in order to support their families, have a full-time job in the offseason. 

WIP:  Did you play any other sports beside baseball in WI?

SG:  I played basketball and football.  Basketball I stopped playing in tenth grade and football I played through my varsity season.  I kinda gave the other ones up when I knew I was going to persue baseball.  In order to get recruited you gotta play fall travel ball and it interrupts every other schedule.  It was tough to do.  Football always had things going on in late summer, and I would be playing baseball, so they didn't like that too much.  You have to be out there getting scouts and colleges looking at you, and that happens during these fall tournaments. 

WIP: Do minor and major league scouts come to your games?  Or is it more of the coaches responsibility to contact them?

SG:  I know certain coaches have good contacts and good reputations, so they could help, but a lot of it is, you just have to be seen by some (scouts) and you never really know when they're there.  For certain organizations, they send scouts to a lot of games, but for others, they simply look at numbers.  Everything's online so they look at numbers then make phone calls to the coaches.  It's definitely not scouted as much as high school or college because they figure the guys are a lot older.  But guys are floating around, so if you do well, you got a shot. 

WIP:  Do you guys get a big turnout for home games in Winnipeg?  What are the crowds like?

SG:  I wanna say they're averaging about 5,500 people right now.  For independent ball, that's really well.  Quebec always sold out, but they could only hold about 4,500 people.  On good nights, we can get up to 6,000 (in Winnipeg).  We had a fan appreciation day and all the fans came out in our orange jerseys, Winnipeg Goldeye stuff, so they spend their money up there and support the team very well.  They're a really nice fan base too, all very friendly.  They follow the team very well. 

WIP:  I hear you majored in journalism at Albany.  If baseball doesn't work out, do you want to fall back on your journalism degree?

SG:  It's defintely a possibility.  Right now, I'm coaching at a D3 college in Massachusetts during the offseason.  Coaching is what I really want to do when baseball finishes.  I do pitching lessons in the offseason.  I'm really tyring to stay inside of baseball as much as I can.  I'd say if coaching doesn't work out, I'll probably fall back on journalism, or the public relations side of it.   I liked it.  Sports reporting was fun and I even did some political reporting, which was fun too.  I was a business minor, so that's really helpful.  But I really do like writing, I've always been good at it. 

Follow Sean's progress as his team nears the playoffs by checking out their site here.