Any New Yorker who grew up rooting for the Yankees always has high expectations when it comes to baseball. So it’s no surprise when Okotoks Dawgs third baseman John Apostolo, from the borough of Queens, got a look at Seaman Stadium, he knew that’s where he wanted to play for the 2012 season.
Apostolo was with the Edmonton Prospects last season and their final game of the year was against the Okotoks Dawgs at Seaman Stadium.
“It was the last game and I came over and talked to Brandon (Dawgs coach Brandon Newell) and told him ‘good luck in the playoffs and is there any chance I could be a Dawg next year?’” Apostolo said. “I wanted to go some place where I could get exposure, where there is a big fan-base and this facility is awesome.
“Just being here is going to make me a better player.”
He’s already pretty good.
Apostolo hit .327 with five home runs and 25 RBI in 43 games with the last-place Prospects during the 2011 Western Major League Baseball (WMBL) season.
Apostolo came to the Prospects from Mitchell College in Connecticut where he was named the New England Collegiate Conference Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year for the 2011 spring season. However, he transferred to Brewton-Parker College in Georgia last fall. He was red-shirted, which means his last live ballgame prior to the 2012 WMBL season was that Prospects loss to the Dawgs prior to him talking to Newell.
“I am rusty,” he said after the Dawgs’ 17-5 victory over the Junior Dawgs in an exhibition game on May 30. “I am still getting my timing down. I got one hard hit but I had two strikeouts tonight too. But I feel healthy and I think it is going to be a good season.”
Apostolo had a double in seven at bats in the first three games. However, he had a keen eye. He drew four base on balls.
Apostolo said despite a losing season with the Prospects last year he learned a lot from the experience.
“It’s hard to put a smile on when you don’t win,” Apostolo said. “But I did stick it out, sometimes losing can bring out the best in you.
“I have high expectations for this year, I want a ring and I am going to work hard for it.”
He’s used to winning. You don’t grow up a Yankee fan without enjoying a pennant or two.
“I go to some Mets games, but I am a Yankees fan at heart,” he said.
He’s been telling his pals back in Queens about Okotoks.
“No, they had never heard of Okotoks,” he said with a laugh.
“But I showed them pictures of the stadium (Seaman Stadium), I told him how professional the organization was and they were excited for me.”
Newell said he was surprised as anybody when Apostolo approached him last year to play for the Dawgs.
He said he expects Apostolo to hit in the middle of the Dawgs’ batting order and add some power to the line-up.
