Homegrown Products Help Bees Achieve 1st Half Success

NEW BRITAIN, CT — The second half of the 2018 Atlantic League of Professional Baseball season has commenced, and the New Britain Bees received contributions from four Connecticut natives in achieving success during the first half of the year.

Pitchers Evan Scribner (Washington Depot), Mike Hepple (Newington) and Devin Burke (Darien) and infielder Vinny Siena (Woodbridge) played significant roles in helping the Bees place second in the Liberty Division in the opening half. New Britain posted a 33-30 record, two games behind the front-running Somerset Patriots.

Through Monday, the Bees are 3-3 in the second half, three games behind the 6-0 Patriots.

Scribner has received the most accolades among the Nutmeg State quartet. The former member of the San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners was one of seven Bees named to the All-Star Game, which was played July 11 in Bethpage, N.Y. He was the winning pitcher, striking out the side in an inning of work as the Liberty Division defeated the Freedom Division, 4-3.

"It's great to have local talent on this team that have ties to the surrounding community," said Bees General Manager Brad Smith. "These players have performed admirably for us during the first half of the season and helped us make a good run at the first half title. We look forward to their continued success during the second half of the season as we push for a playoff berth."

Here is a brief look at the Connecticut players; click a name to read the full biography from the team web site, www.newbritainbees.com.

Evan Scribner
21 games pitched, 22.1 innings, 0 walks, 20 strikeouts, 13 saves, 1.61 ERA

Mike Hepple
20 games, 20.2 innings, 17 strikeouts. 4.35 ERA

Devin Burke
12 games, 14.2 innings, 10 strikeouts, 2-0 record

Vinny Siena
39 games, .252 batting average, 2 home runs, 12 RBI

Photos courtesy of New Britain Bees

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