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Somerset Patriots
	Somerset Patriots; Founded in 1997; Bridgewater Township, New Jersey;
; Team Logo	; Cap Insignia
	League affiliations
	Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Freedom Division ; ;
	Name
	Somerset Patriots (1998-present);
	Other nicknames
	The Pats;
	Team Colors
	Navy blue, maroon, silver, white;
	Ballpark
	TD Bank Ballpark;
	Championships
	League titles: 5 (2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009); Division titles: 7 (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009) ;
	Owner(s)/Operated By: Steve Kalafer
	General Manager: Patrick McVerry
	Manager: Sparky Lyle
	Media: Bridgewater Courier-News
	Website: www.somersetpatriots.com

The Somerset Patriots are an American professional baseball team based in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey. They are a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. From the 1999 season to the present, the Patriots have played their home games at TD Bank Ballpark.

The Patriots are the winningest franchise of the Atlantic League, capturing five Championship Series titles in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, and most recently, 2009

The "Patriots" name refers to the Middlebrook encampment where the first official flag of the United States was unfurled, after a law to adopt a national flag had been passed by Congress on June 14, 1777. By special order of Congress, a thirteen star flag is flown 24 hours a day at the Washington Camp Ground, part of the former Middlebrook encampment, in Bridgewater Township.

[edit] History

The Somerset Patriots were one of the founding members of the Atlantic League in 1998. However, the team spent its inaugural season as a road team while TD Bank Park was being constructed. In the 1999 season, the Patriots opened their ballpark, where they quickly became one of the most successful franchises of the league in both of the win and attendance columns.

In the 2008 preseason, the Somerset Patriots became the first Atlantic League team to hold its spring training in its own locale, at the Jack Cust Baseball Academy in nearby Flemington, instead of the traditional site in Lakeland, Florida. The Lancaster Barnstormers and the York Revolution followed suit in 2009, primarily because of the 2008 economic recession.^[1]

[edit] Logos and uniforms

The Somerset Patriots official colors are navy blue, maroon, and silver. The primary logo depicts a Continental soldier in navy blue with white stars on his shoulder and maroon stripes flowing to his left, a reference to the U.S. flag. Centered below the soldier is the wordmark in navy blue underlined by a silver baseball bat outlined in navy blue. The word "Somerset" is centered above the wordmark in maroon.

The Patriots wear caps produced by The Game Headwear and uniforms by Majestic Athletic. The caps are navy blue throughout with the cap logo centered on the front. The cap logo consists of the Continental soldier's head outlined in white and maroon. The Patriots also have an alternate cap that has a navy blue crown with a maroon brim and button. The cap logo on the alternate cap consists of a scripted "S" in maroon with white outline and the Patriot-head cap logo superimposed. The home jersey is sleeveless with maroon piping and the "Patriots" wordmark centered across the front in navy blue and maroon. The away jersey features full sleeves with maroon piping and the "Somerset" wordmark. The belt, socks, and undershirt are navy blue.

The Patriots alternate jersey is navy blue with silver piping. The "Patriots" wordmark is centered on the chest in maroon with white outline, and a white star in the underscore.

[edit] Radio

All of the Patriots' games are broadcast on WCTC 1450 AM, with Brian Bender as the "Voice of the Patriots."

[edit] Mascots

One of the Somerset Patriots' official mascots is an anthropomorphic dog named Sparkee. He wears the team's home uniform with white sneakers. The mascot debuted on July 11, 1998 at the Atlantic League's first All-Star Game at Bernie Robbins Stadium in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Sparkee's name refers to the Patriots manager, Sparky Lyle.^[2] The team also employs another character of the feline type named Slider. After training with Sparkee for several months, he debuted in the 2007 season. Slider wears the Patriots' navy blue alternate jersey with grey pants.^[3]

[edit] Current roster

Somerset Patriots roster

Active (25-man) roster

Coaches

Pitchers

27 Brian Adams
13 Ryan Basner
10 Kip Bouknight
15 Paul Bush
1 Casey Cahill
22 Tip Fairchild
34 Jared Gothreaux
25 Brian Henderson
26 Jim Magrane
36 Bret Prinz
37 Scott Van Es

Catchers

7 Travis Anderson
16 Jason Belcer

Infielders

4 Anthony Granato
39 Matt Hagen
9 Jeff Nettles
3 Teuris Olivares
31 Josh Pressley

Outfielders

5 Joe Burke
40 Jon Nelson
6 Mike Rodriguez
12 Sean Smith

Coaching Staff

28 Sparky Lyle (Manager)
29 Brett Jodie (Pitching Coach)
23 Kevin Dattola (Third Base Coach)

[edit] Retired numbers


Jackie Robinson
2B Retired throughout professional baseball on April 15, 1997

[edit] References

^ http://www.somersetpatriots.com/news/index.html?article_id=1211 Spring training to take place in New Jersey]
^ Sparkee the mascot
^ [1]

[edit] External links

[edit] Official websites

[edit] Blogs

[edit] Media

Patriots page at OurSports Central

Achievements
Preceded by Somerset Patriots 2008	Atlantic League Champions Somerset Patriots 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009	Succeeded by

Achievements
Preceded by Camden Riversharks 2004	South Division Champions Somerset Patriots 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007	Succeeded by

Achievements
Preceded by '	Freedom Division Champions Somerset Patriots 2008, 2009	Succeeded by

[0] ttp://www.somersetpatriots.com/news/index.html?article_id=1211 Spring training to take place in New Jersey]

[1] Sparkee the mascot

[2] [1]

[1]

[2]

[3]

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