McNamara signs pro contract as AMC boys of summer shine

PAXTON, Mass. (07.05.11) – Anna Maria College is proud to announce that 2011 graduate  Jim McNamara (Worcester, Mass.) has signed a professional baseball contract with the New York Federals of the Independent CanAm League.  The left-handed pitcher is AMC's all-time leader in wins with 20 career victories, and played a large role in AMC's 47 wins over the past two seasons (school record-26 wins in 2011), including the programs first-ever ECAC Championship Tournament Title in 2011. 

During 2009 and 2010, the three-year AMC Team Captain excelled in several MLB sanctioned collegiate summer leagues, compiling a 2.77 ERA over 65 innings pitched in the ACBL (Sag Harbor) and NYCBL (Glens Falls), finishing second in the ACBL with a 1.98 ERA in 2009. In addition to his pitching prowess, McNamara is also second on AMC's all-time hits and RBI's list.

Several other AMCATS have also enjoyed success this summer, including backstop Jeff Kodys (Holden, Mass.) who signed a temporary Professional Baseball contract with the Worcester Tornadoes of the CanAm League earlier this season. Kodys filled in as a backup catcher for the Tornadoes after finishing his AMC career with over 100 career hits and placing second on the program's all-time home run list. Kodys was a team captain, an All-Conference catcher, and a member of The Commonwealth Coast Conference All-Academic Team.

In other AMC Baseball news, Zach Rafferty (Worcester, Mass.) is off to a great start in the FCBL (Futures Collegiate Baseball League).  Rafferty is 3-0 with a 2.74 ERA through 23 innings for the Martha's Vineyard Sharks.  Rafferty finished third in the nation among Division III players in strikeouts per nine innings (12.43 K's/9 inn.) during the 2011 season at AMC, while setting the program's all-time and single season records for strikeouts. 

In the Central New England Baseball Association, AMC's first ever Pre-Season All-American Jeff Scafidi (Worcester, Mass.) is hitting .357 while Tim Henderson (Wayland, Mass.) is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA, throwing 15 consecutive scoreless innings, while striking out 14 batters to start the summer season.