LOCAL NATIVE TO LEAD DAWGS IN 2018

Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs turn to local native to lead Dawgs in 2018

Little Falls, NY – Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs owner Travis Heiser has announced that former Ilion high school standout and Chicago White Sox draftee Cory Haggerty has been named as the next head coach of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) Champion Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs.

Haggerty, a 2011 inductee of the Mohawk Valley Baseball Hall of Fame graduated from Ilion high school in 1999 and was drafted in the 18th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft by the Chicago White Sox.  

Haggerty excelled for the State University of New York Cortland Red Dragons where he finished with a .335 career batting average and ranked third at Cortland in career games played (163) and triples (9), fifth in runs scored (147) and total bases (266), seventh in hits (176) and tied for eighth in home runs (15). In 2002 he set a school single-season record with 144 assists and finished the season with a 22-game hitting streak, third-best in school history. Haggerty helped Cortland win four straight State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) titles and qualified for the NCAA Division III playoffs four times advancing to the Division III World Series in both 2000 and 2001.

Haggerty brings more than 10 years of baseball experience to Veteran’s Memorial Park having taken part in several baseball camps, clinics, and lessons including working with the Central New York Thunder as well as serving as an instructor at the Fabius Baseball Academy and at the Accelerate Sports Complex.

Most recently Haggerty has joined the baseball staff of the Hamilton College Continentals as an assistant under head coach Tim Byrnes serving as an infield instructor.  He has also served as an assistant coach at his alma mater SUNY Cortland along with Eckerd College where he worked as a hitting and outfield instructor.

“As an organization, we are very pleased that we can bring Coach Haggerty on board as our next head coach.  Coach brings not only experience providing instruction and lessons to young athletes but brings both coaching and playing experience.  He has experienced the dream that each of our DiamondDawg players are after – getting drafted by Major League Baseball and will relate and interact well with our players and our loyal and knowledgeable baseball fans here in Little Falls.  Coach Haggerty’s resume speaks for itself – we are bringing a Hall of Famer back home”, said DiamondDawgs owner Travis Heiser.  

“We have been very lucky to have a championship caliber coaching staff here in the Mohawk Valley with Coach Nation and Luby.  We are grateful for what they both have accomplished here in Little Falls by raising two PGCBL championship banners.   As both coaches move up the ranks we wish them well as they will forever be a part of the DiamondDawg family. That being said we are confident as an organization that we are in good hands with Coach Haggerty and expect to continue that winning tradition and not skip a beat as we continue to pursue excellence in this league.”

Coach Haggerty expressed his enthusiasm and excitement to join the Dawgs family, “I am very much looking forward to being a part of this team and getting the season started. It is an honor to be a part of this community as it has and always will be home. What better way to give back to this community than by coaching and giving them an experience they can bring the family out to and enjoy.”

“I would also like to express my thanks to my family for supporting my decision to be a part of the DiamondDawg family and to Travis Heiser for granting me this opportunity to stay local and give baseball back to the community.”

The 2017 PGCBL Champions DiamondDawgs begin the 2018 season at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Little Falls, New York in June.  See you at the ballpark!

Cory Haggerty — Career Honors

Listed in pre-season by  Baseball America  as one of the Top 5 Division III pro prospects

2002: Second Team All-New York Region

First Team All-ECAC Division III Upstate New York

First Team All-SUNYAC

NCAA Div. III New York Region All-Tournament Team

2001: Second Team All-New York Region

Second Team All-SUNYAC

2003: NCAA Div. III New York Region All-Tournament Team