Haggerty Returns for Third Season to Lead the Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs
Little Falls, New York. The Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) have announced that former Ilion High School standout Cory Haggerty will be returning for a third year in the dugout to lead the Dawgs in the summer of 2020. In his two seasons at the helm, Haggerty has led Mohawk Valley to two consecutive playoff appearances including a Central Division title in 2018 and a 55-36 overall regular season record over two years.
“The DiamondDawgs organization is very fortunate to be able to bring Coach Haggerty back for another year. In his two years here in Little Falls he has proven to be a winner and has demonstrated he is committed to our players and ensuring our team is competing at the highest level in this league” said DiamondDawgs owner and president Travis Heiser.
“I am most excited for our fans because I know that a DiamondDawgs team led by Coach Haggerty will have all the characteristics of what we expect expect here in Little Falls – hard working, blue-collar guys who will work day in and day out to represent the Mohawk Valley well. In addition, a Cory Haggerty led team can only mean one thing – a team that can hit the ball!”
In his first two seasons in Little Falls, Haggerty’s teams have consistently been poised at the top of the league’s statistical categories in batting. The 2019 version of the DiamondDawgs saw a team that ranked second in batting average (.288), runs (326), RBI (267) and home runs (34). The team ranked third in hits (450) and had an on-base percentage of .395. Similarly, in his first season, his team was first in the league in batting average (.298), hits (478) and on-base percentage (.416) and second in runs (348) and RBI (302).
“I’m excited and looking forward to returning for another season of DiamondDawgs baseball,” said Haggerty. “Travis and I are looking forward to the 2020 season – we have assembled a great group of guys and we have discussed extensively what we can do to improve and bring home another PGCBL title to the Mohawk Valley.”
Haggerty not only brings experience at the PGCBL managerial level but his resume extends deeper. Haggerty is currently serving as an assistant with the Division III Utica College Pioneers where he has been since 2018. Prior to Utica College, Haggerty has had coaching stops at Hamilton College, Eckerd College and at his alma mater Cortland State. While at Hamilton, Haggerty worked as an infield and hitting instructor and also assisted with hitters along with outfielders during his time at Eckerd College. Haggerty eventually returned to his alma mater, Cortland State, from 2010-2013 where he served as an assistant during a time when the Red Dragons reached four NCAA regionals and two World series.
Haggerty has seen several of his former players go on to sign professional baseball contracts, most notably outfielder/infielder Nick Hill who was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 26th round of the Major League Baseball (MLB) draft.
Haggerty himself was a standout both in high school (Ilion) and in college at Cortland State which resulted in him being drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 18th round of the Major League Baseball (MLB) draft.
Haggerty was optimistic of returning for season number three, “I hope our fans are ready for another great year or high caliber baseball here in Little Falls – I am hoping the third season is the charm when we can raise another banner here in Little Falls.”
Heiser echoed the Coach’s optimism, “Coach Haggerty and I have been working since the lights went out at Veteran’s Memorial Park to close the 2019 season to reload – we have scoured the Country to assemble a great group of talented baseball players who also embody the DiamondDawg way – hard-working and good kids. I’m confident, like so many other players who have donned the DiamondDawg logo, these guys will represent the Mohawk Valley well and will win the hearts of our fans this summer.”
The 2015 and 2017 PGCBL Champions Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs play at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Little Falls, New York and have had several players reach the MLB level including MLB World Series Champion (Houston Astros) James Hoyt and 2019 Baltimore Orioles All-star pitcher and American League Rookie of the Year finalist John Means.
The DiamondDawgs will kick-off their quest for another PGCBL title in June 2020. We look forward to seeing the Dawgs faithful at the Dawg pound this summer.