STANDISH, ME – Saint Joseph's right-handed pitcher Joe Gruntkosky '14 (Peabody, Mass.) has signed a contract with the North Shore Navigators of the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL).

Gruntkosky, a talented hurler who worked as both a starter and reliever for the Monks' last spring, is likely to pitch out of the bullpen this summer for Navigators Head Coach Jeff Waldron.

In his first college season, the 6'3 pitcher posted a 4-3 record with a 3.35 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 37.2 innings. He allowed just 11 walks and led the SJC staff in saves (3) while ranking second among Monks pitchers in appearances (15) in 2011.

With the signing, Gruntkosky becomes the fifth St. Joe's player to secure a contract with an NECBL team and the first since Andrew Keirstead '10, who pitched for the Sanford Mainers in 2008. Pat Lessard '00, Greg Kimball '05, and Pat Moran '10 have also played in the NECBL, which is widely considered to be one of the very best collegiate summer baseball leagues in the country.

According to the NECBL website, 71 of the league's former players have moved on to play Major League Baseball. The impressive list includes the likes of Andrew Bailey, Rajai Davis, Andre Ethier, Chris Ianetta, Matt Joyce, Joe Nathan, Kevin Slowey, Andy Sonnanstine and Stephen Strasburg. Ninety-four current or former NECBL players were selected in the 2011 MLB First-year Player Draft, including former Navigators pitcher Sean Gilmartin (Florida), who was selected 28th overall by the Atlanta Braves.

The Navigators (13-12, .520) are currently in third place in the NECBL Eastern Division, just one game behind the Newport Gulls.

ABOUT THE NECBL:

The New England Collegiate Baseball League is summer baseball at its best! The NECBL was founded in 1993 under the leadership of Emmy Award-winning television producer/director Joseph Consentino, former St. John's University and Boston Red Sox minor league outfielder. George Foster, former Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets All-Star HR and RBI leader, was the NECBL's first Commissioner.

Play started in 1994 and today the NECBL has become a strong twelve team league that plays in all six New England states and recruits players attending U.S colleges from New England, the other forty-four States and foreign countries. The League starts its summer season in early June and plays an eight week 42 game per team schedule. The League Championship is determined by a playoff in early August. Each year our top players are scouted and selected in the MLB Draft.

Any student who wishes to play in our League must be currently enrolled in a NCAA sanctioned College or University, be in good academic standing, have completed one year of athletic eligibility and have at least one year of eligibility remaining. The league strongly suggests that student athletes have their College coach and/or a MLB scout recommend them to any or all of our General Managers. Their phone numbers and email addresses can be found at their team¹s pages.