3 Surge players get called up

OLD ORCHARD BEACH — From the moment Alex Markakis was hired as the Old Orchard Beach Surge General Manager, he talked about two goals: Bringing pro baseball back to OOB and creating an opportunity for young baseball players to achieve their dreams.

Thanks to plenty of hard work and some big-time connections, Markakis is in the process of accomplishing both goals.

Markakis and the rest of the officials in the North Country Baseball League have worked out an agreement with the Atlantic League, which is the most successful independent pro baseball league in the country.

“We hope to be kind of the farm system for the Atlantic League,” said Markakis. “Just to have somebody like the Atlantic League, the most prestigious independent professional league in the country, it will be a great partnership in the future.”

The deal has already paid off for players in the NCBL, which is in its first season, as several players have been picked up by the Atlantic League in just the last few weeks.

Three of those players came from the Surge with pitchers Eddie Medina and Ron Schreurs and outfielder Yeicok Calderon all currently playing for the York Revolution in York, Pennsylvania.

“We’ve developed a good relationship with the York Revolution,” said Markakis, who played college baseball at St. Joseph’s in Standish.

Calderon, who spent four seasons in the Yankees organization, is currently hitting .250 with three home runs and 14 RBIs with the Revolution.

Medina and Schreurs were just picked up last week after putting together stellar runs with the Surge. Medina has yet to make his debut with York, but Schreurs made a splash on Wednesday as he struck out the side in the ninth inning to secure a win for the Revolution.

“(Schreurs) definitely has a plus-advantage arm for the next level and he has showed that in the past. He’s only 23 years old, he’s got a lot of potential and same with Medina too,” said Markakis. “Medina is a young stud starter and Ron is more in the relief role. (Schreurs) can just go out there and get it up to 94. He has real good command of his pitches.”

Markakis has high expectations for Schreurs.

“I think to keep moving up the totem pole of Double-A, Triple-A and hopefully the majors, he definitely has the potential. He has the size, he’s 6-foot-7, lanky body, seven-foot wingspan, he has all the tools that somebody needs to get to the next level,” said Markakis.

Markakis has told every player who has put on a Surge uniform this season that the opportunity to get to the next level is there.

“Someone’s always watching. I tell them that every day and (they need) to always play like that, always play like that because you never know who is watching,” said Markakis.

The Surge GM has also used his connections with some big names in Major League Baseball to help get better players in Old Orchard Beach and also to get members of the Surge noticed.

“I’ve been in touch with guys like (Baltimore Orioles GM) Dan Duquette. I was on the phone with him the other day, and Kent Qualls, who is the director of baseball for the minor leagues for the Orioles,” said Markakis.

Markakis got to know Duquette through playing in a summer league with his son and also through his cousin, MLB veteran Nick Markakis, who played eight years with the Orioles.

“I hope to maintain that relationship, even though Nick’s not on the Orioles anymore, Dan knows what I’m doing up here and he’s trying to send guys my way,” said Markakis.

Building relationships with not only the Orioles, but other pro organizations, is key for the future success of the Surge and the entire NCBL.

“It’s great that we are developing that relationship with (the Atlantic League) and the Orioles. I’m trying to get affiliated ball clubs in here,” said Markakis.

Markakis is hoping those relationships will help young baseball players who end up in OOB ”“ including former University of Southern Maine standout Tucker White, who leads the NCBL in batting average.

“He’s getting watched as we speak right now,” said Markakis of White.

Markakis believes players like White could help dispel a misconception that the state of Maine lacks baseball talent.

“I said this the other day, playing in Maine myself in my college career, Maine is always underrated talent wise. I think it gets overlooked, so guys like Tucker White really bring a good presence to Maine and the sports talent here,” said Markakis.

The Surge season continues this weekend with the Road City Explorers visiting The Ballpark. First pitch is 7 p.m. tonight and 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. For more information, check out www.oobsurgebaseball.com.

— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at pmcdonald@journaltribune.com or at 282-1535 ext. 322. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.