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Hornell, N.Y. —
Ben Gielow may be the first Webster resident to play for the Hornell Dodgers in the New York Collegiate Baseball League.
But he’s not the first Webster person to be associated with the Dodgers.
Hornell General Manager Paul Welker grew up in Webster. His younger brother, Andrew, is the Webster Schroeder girls varsity basketball coach.
“I believe Ben is the first Webster player to be a Hornell Dodger,” said the GM.
A Webster Schroeder and Monroe Community College graduate, Gielow was asked to play this summer by new Hornell head coach, Tony Fuller, who also is an assistant baseball coach at MCC.
Q: What it’s been like for you?
A: It’s been a lot of fun. There’s not too much to do down here, so it’s just basically baseball and working out sometimes. This is a really competitive league. It’s a lot of fun to play in, and I love the guys that I’m playing with.
Gielow is living with a host family in Hornell.
“I love my host family. The kids are great and the parents are awesome too, that’s what makes it so easy to come down here.
Q: Do all the host families come out to the games?
A: Most of the time because they get in for free. Just what they do for you off the field is so amazing.
Q: What positions has Tony been using you?
A: I’ve been starting at first base, and I’ve been coming out of the pen, most of the time; a couple of spot starts, but I like coming out of the pen because I usually come in in tight situations. That’s a lot of fun, a lot of pressure.
Gielow was hit in the left leg while pitching a couple of weeks ago. After his initial at bat in the first game of the double header against visiting Oneonta on July 16, he left the game and later ended up getting a walking cast.
Gielow completed his second year at MCC and will be heading to Arkansas in late August.
“I will be playing at Ouachita Baptist University (in Arkadelphia, AR), a Division II team,” Gielow said. “I’m looking forward to that. That’s going to be good competition.”
Q: How do you playing for Braman and MCC has prepared you for this level?
A: It prepared me a lot. Playing under Tony has taught me a lot about the game, small things and big things. Playing for MCC was probably the best choice I could have ever made. Coming out of high school I thought I was ready to play at a higher level. Using the two years at MCC made me such a better player, prepared me for the next two years coming up.
Ben Gielow may be the first Webster resident to play for the Hornell Dodgers in the New York Collegiate Baseball League.
But he’s not the first Webster person to be associated with the Dodgers.
Hornell General Manager Paul Welker grew up in Webster. His younger brother, Andrew, is the Webster Schroeder girls varsity basketball coach.
“I believe Ben is the first Webster player to be a Hornell Dodger,” said the GM.
A Webster Schroeder and Monroe Community College graduate, Gielow was asked to play this summer by new Hornell head coach, Tony Fuller, who also is an assistant baseball coach at MCC.
Q: What it’s been like for you?
A: It’s been a lot of fun. There’s not too much to do down here, so it’s just basically baseball and working out sometimes. This is a really competitive league. It’s a lot of fun to play in, and I love the guys that I’m playing with.
Gielow is living with a host family in Hornell.
“I love my host family. The kids are great and the parents are awesome too, that’s what makes it so easy to come down here.
Q: Do all the host families come out to the games?
A: Most of the time because they get in for free. Just what they do for you off the field is so amazing.
Q: What positions has Tony been using you?
A: I’ve been starting at first base, and I’ve been coming out of the pen, most of the time; a couple of spot starts, but I like coming out of the pen because I usually come in in tight situations. That’s a lot of fun, a lot of pressure.
Gielow was hit in the left leg while pitching a couple of weeks ago. After his initial at bat in the first game of the double header against visiting Oneonta on July 16, he left the game and later ended up getting a walking cast.
Gielow completed his second year at MCC and will be heading to Arkansas in late August.
“I will be playing at Ouachita Baptist University (in Arkadelphia, AR), a Division II team,” Gielow said. “I’m looking forward to that. That’s going to be good competition.”
Q: How do you playing for Braman and MCC has prepared you for this level?
A: It prepared me a lot. Playing under Tony has taught me a lot about the game, small things and big things. Playing for MCC was probably the best choice I could have ever made. Coming out of high school I thought I was ready to play at a higher level. Using the two years at MCC made me such a better player, prepared me for the next two years coming up.
Q: How have things been going for you in Hornell?
A: I struggled a little bit but now I’m starting to pick it up towards the end, which is what you want, playing your best ball at the end of the season. Every game from now on is a must win. The playoffs pretty much start now.
Q: What was it like when you played Webster earlier this season?
A: When we went to Webster, home for me, it was cool because it just shows where you come from and where you end up. It’s fun to play those guys. I played all those guys, even the Bosticks (Ben and Chris) in legion. It’s like playing a team I played on my whole life, so it’s fun and exciting to play against those guys. Chris is a great player. He does all of the little things, which is why he got drafted (by Oakland). I have a lot of respect for him. Ben is a great player, too.
Presently, Webster is in first place with Hornell tied for fourth with the Allegany County Nitros in the NYCBL West Division. The top three teams make the playoffs.
