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Enter the Cutters. Mired in a 7-17 funk to start the season, Manager Mike Church needed a fill-in infielder for a series against the New Jersey Jackals. Noted more for his abilities with the glove (he was named Division II defensive player of the year in 2003), LaRosa was signed by the Cutters, but with no certainty of how long he was going to be with them.
The rest, as they say, is history.
"Originally, I was guaranteed to be with the team for four days," LaRosa said. "I knew that there wasn't going to be a lot expected of me, but I wanted to prove myself and stay on with the team."
LaRosa has proven himself, and then some. He quickly wrestled down the everyday second base job with solid play in the field.
"I knew that we were getting an outstanding defensive player," Church said. "His hitting we weren't so sure about. But defense is what we needed most."
The Cutters have gone 23-20 since LaRosa's arrival, including a 12-9 start to the second half of the season and a two-game lead in the division following a weekend series split with Brockton. While his defense has remained a constant throughout his time with the club, LaRosa's production at the plate has skyrocketed.
Not many people in the league have been hotter than the Cutters' second baseman since the All-Star break, as he is batting a robust .357. His past 10 games have been exceptionally scorching. Hitting out of the nine spot in the lineup, LaRosa is batting .412 with eight runs batted in. His batting average has jumped 54 points to a .297 in his last 17 games (July 21 to August 6).
LaRosa's success at the plate is doubly remarkable considering that just three months ago he was swinging a completely different bat in college, an aluminum model. Neither he nor his manager is surprised about the transition to the wood bats, though.
"I used wooden bats in summer leagues before," LaRosa said. "Plus the coaches (Church and hitting coach Andy Walker) have been helping me during and after batting practice with my swing."
This learning process has been expedited by LaRosa's ability to grasp what is being taught to him, Church is quick to point out.
"He is like a sponge," Church said. "He is very receptive and has an outstanding work ethic. We have been working on little mechanical things, like knowing where the barrel of the bat is and trying not to work so hard to get a better swing, and it is making him a more productive hitter. I think he is turning into one of the better second basemen in the league."
LaRosa will take a brief hiatus from playing baseball and head back into the classroom in the fall so he can finish his final semester at West Chester.
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It certainly didn't take third baseman Junior Zamora long to get acclimated to his new surroundings.
The newest New Haven County player has been with the team for just three series yet has entrenched himself in the heart of the Cutters' lineup and is producing the type of numbers that would warrant such a place, batting .387 with six runs scored, five RBIs, three doubles, a triple and a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning at Brockton Sunday. The three-bagger, which came in his second at bat with the team, was a deep fly ball to straightaway centerfield that hit halfway up on Yale Field's 25-foot high hitter's background 405 feet from home plate.
Zamora joined the Cutters after playing the first half of the year for the Corpus Christi Hooks, the Houston Astros' Double A affiliate. He also has been in the New York Mets, Boston and Los Angeles Angels organizations, reaching Triple A in 2001. This is his second tour of duty in independent baseball. He played briefly for the Yuma (AZ) Bullfrogs in the now defunct Western League.
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The six-game homestand beginning on Friday (August 12) at 7:05, features a pair of three-game sets against Elmira and North Shore. After the game on Friday, the Cutters will put on a huge fireworks display.
There will only be seven more home games in the regular season after the team wraps up this current stretch of home games. The remaining home schedule: Friday, Aug. 12, 7:05 p.m., Elmira, Post-game Fireworks show/Boy Scout sleepover; Sat. Aug. 13, 7:05 p.m., Elmira, Tribute to Halloween (costumes encouraged)/cash chaos; Sunday, Aug, 14, 2:05 p.m., Elmira, Kid's ID Kit Giveaway/Kids Eat Free/Family Fun Day; Tuesday, Aug. 16, 7:05 p.m., North Shore; Wed., Aug. 17, 7:05 p.m., North Shore, Irish Night; Thursday, Aug. 18, 7:05 p.m., North Shore, Singles Night/Thirsty Thursday; Tuesday, Aug., 23, 7:05 p.m., Brockton; Wednesday, Aug. 24, 7:05 p.m., Brockton; Thursday, Aug. 25, 7:05 p.m., Brockton, Yankees vs. Red Sox Rivalry Night/Thirsty Thursday; Friday, Sept. 2, 7:05 p.m. Worcester, Post-game fireworks show; Saturday, Sept. 3, 7:05 p.m., Worcester, Cash chaos; Sunday, Sept. 4, 2:05 p.m. Worcester, Kids Eat Free/Family Fun Day; and Monday, Sept. 5, 2:05 p.m. Worcester, Fam Appreciation Day.
Tickets to Cutters games can be purchased online at CuttersBaseball.com, over the phone at 203-777-5636 or by visiting the Yale Field box office.
Sam Fletcher is employed by Wirz and Co., which does publicity for the Cutters.
