UPB Pitcher to Play in France
By Greg Clark
Pitt-Bradford Sports Information
Ricky Riesenberger has bid adieu to the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and will be playing baseball in France this summer.
Riesenberger, who hails from Atlanta (NY) and Wayland-Cohocton High School, graduated from Pitt-Bradford in December with a degree in business management.
In his senior season (2008) for the Panthers, Riesenberger pitched in 14 games and started nine of those. He compiled a 4-5 record with a 6.06 ERA, and hurled 52 innings with 51 strikeouts.
"Ricky (Riesenberger) was an outstanding pitcher for us the last two years," said Bret Butler, Pitt-Bradford head baseball coach. "Ricky was not only a very talented left-handed pitcher, he was also very intelligent on the mound. He is a very driven young man and will do very well professionally in Europe. I would not be surprised at all if he attracted the attention of a major league scout at some point. I believe if he were given a chance at the minor leagues, that he would certainly succeed. I hope that he gets that shot."
Last summer Riesenberger pitched in the Czech Republic with the American International Sports Tour. Riesenberger had an excellent outing versus the Czech National Team giving up just two earned runs and striking out five in eight innings.
After watching him pitch, the Clermont Arvernes asked Riesenberger if he would like to play a full season in France. So on Feb. 26 he flew from Rochester (NY) to Chicago to Paris. He then traveled to Clermont-Ferrand, which is a city of 140,000 in the Auvergne region of central France and home headquarters for the Michelin tire company.
"The team (Arvernes) paid for the airfare, housing and meals, and I will get paid monthly for playing baseball," Riesenberger said. "We will practice during the week and then play for five months on Saturdays and Sundays. This should be a good stepping stone to the pros. I imagine there are pro scouts in France. This is the highest league in Europe and equivalent to Class A clubs over in the U.S."
When asked if he would have any trouble communicating with his coaches and teammates, Riesenberger replied, "I took four years of French in high school. We'll see."
Riesenberger said his baseball experience at Pitt-Bradford was invaluable.
"Coach is always putting out a good word for you," Riesenberger said of Bret Butler, Pitt-Bradford head baseball coach. "I got stronger and became a better pitcher here."
Pitt-Bradford Sports Information
Ricky Riesenberger has bid adieu to the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and will be playing baseball in France this summer.
Riesenberger, who hails from Atlanta (NY) and Wayland-Cohocton High School, graduated from Pitt-Bradford in December with a degree in business management.
In his senior season (2008) for the Panthers, Riesenberger pitched in 14 games and started nine of those. He compiled a 4-5 record with a 6.06 ERA, and hurled 52 innings with 51 strikeouts.
"Ricky (Riesenberger) was an outstanding pitcher for us the last two years," said Bret Butler, Pitt-Bradford head baseball coach. "Ricky was not only a very talented left-handed pitcher, he was also very intelligent on the mound. He is a very driven young man and will do very well professionally in Europe. I would not be surprised at all if he attracted the attention of a major league scout at some point. I believe if he were given a chance at the minor leagues, that he would certainly succeed. I hope that he gets that shot."
Last summer Riesenberger pitched in the Czech Republic with the American International Sports Tour. Riesenberger had an excellent outing versus the Czech National Team giving up just two earned runs and striking out five in eight innings.
After watching him pitch, the Clermont Arvernes asked Riesenberger if he would like to play a full season in France. So on Feb. 26 he flew from Rochester (NY) to Chicago to Paris. He then traveled to Clermont-Ferrand, which is a city of 140,000 in the Auvergne region of central France and home headquarters for the Michelin tire company.
"The team (Arvernes) paid for the airfare, housing and meals, and I will get paid monthly for playing baseball," Riesenberger said. "We will practice during the week and then play for five months on Saturdays and Sundays. This should be a good stepping stone to the pros. I imagine there are pro scouts in France. This is the highest league in Europe and equivalent to Class A clubs over in the U.S."
When asked if he would have any trouble communicating with his coaches and teammates, Riesenberger replied, "I took four years of French in high school. We'll see."
Riesenberger said his baseball experience at Pitt-Bradford was invaluable.
"Coach is always putting out a good word for you," Riesenberger said of Bret Butler, Pitt-Bradford head baseball coach. "I got stronger and became a better pitcher here."
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