By ERIC AHLQVIST
Cooperstown Crier
Scott Dubben is on a mission.
The Cherry Valley-Springfield
graduate and Oneonta State senior
is doing all he can to keep
his baseball career alive after his
college eligibility ends next year.
This summer, Dubben is playing
for the Utica Brewers of the
Eastern College Baseball League.
As of Tuesday, Dubben was hitting
.351 in the first 13 games,
good for sixth in the four-team
league.
``I’m doing everything I can to
make it (play professionally),’’
Dubben said Monday evening. ``If
I don’t get picked up after my senior
season, then I might try and
play in the Independent League,
which is semi-professional.’’
Dubben plays shortstop for
the Brewers, and said in addition
to preparing him for his senior
year, the league is good way to
get noticed by scouts and make
professional contacts.
Oneonta High School graduates
Kyle Donnelly and Lane and
Dan Potter also play in the
league.
``I’ve had coaches and scouts
tell me they think I can play at
the next level, and that gives me
a lot of confidence,’’ Dubben said.
``There are a lot of Division II and
Division I players in the league,
so playing well in this league
gives me confidence as well.’’
In addition to doing well at
the plate, Dubben has also made
a name for himself as an above
average shortstop.
Dubben’s Utica coach, Tim
Byrnes, said he has been impressive
both in the field and at the
plate for the Brewers so far this
season.
``Scott has been tremendous at
short and made some highlight
reel-type plays,’’ Byrnes said.
``And he’s been a clutch hitter
too. He’s had several hits in key
situations for us.’’
Dubben was a pitcher in high
school, but hurt his right shoulder
before his sophomore season
in college and missed the entire
year. Last year, he said he injured
his hamstring on a play at
second base in Florida in March,
and was never 100 percent during
the season.
Even so, he hit .306 and helped
lead the Red Dragons to a 27-12
overall record.
``I’m hoping that after playing
in this league and staying healthy
I can tear it up next year,’’ Dubben
said. ``We’ll have a really
good team back and our goal is to
get to the College World Series.’’
Dubben is a Criminal Justice
major with a minor in Sports
Management, and said when his
playing days do end, he’d like to
be a head coach at the college
level.
In the meantime, though, he’s
not ready to give up on his dream
of playing professionally.
Dubben’s father, Ed, the baseball
coach at CV-S, said Scott has
had tryouts with the Houston Astros
organization and a scout
from the Cincinnati Reds has
also been in contact.
He’s also had regular contact
with an Independent League
team in New Jersey.
``He just needs that stroke of
luck to be seen by the right people
at the right time,’’ said Ed
Dubben.
Added Byrnes: ``Most players
at this level dream of getting
paid to play, and Scott seems to
have as good a shot as anyone.’’
