Head Coach Steve Heiser enters his fifth year coaching the Haymakers. Heiser has led Troy to a Twilight Championship i n1998 and has reached the Championship Series in three of the last four years. Heiser, an RPI graduate and former player at the college, has been with the team for the last 19 years as a catcher and first baseman.

The Troy Haymakers compete in their 12th year in the Twilight League, although the team's name dates back to the 1800's when it was a professional franchise, and back to the mid-1900's when it competed in the Troy City League and the Mohawk-Hudson League. During the 1950's, the franchise entered the Twilight League and won the Twilight title in 1961 under the leadership of Curt Hayner. After returning to the Twilight League in 1991 after a hiatus since the 1960's, the Haymakers won the League Championship in 1998.

The Troy Haymakers return 17 players from its 6-18 team a year ago including three players with at least 12 years experience. Leading the veterans is third baseman Bill Bowles who has been with the team for the last 16 years followed by pitcher Kevin Cole (12 years) and manager/player Steve Heiser (19 years). Cole is a four-time Twilight Pitcher of the Year and has won over 50 games in the league while Bowles has been on numerous Twilight All-Star teams. Other top returning pitchers are right-handers Matt Breen and Jim Johnson who each have five years of Twilight experience.

Offensively, All-Star catcher Dave Tallman returns along with infielder and former RPI player Mike La Rose, and outfielder Mark Sylvia. RPI's Kevin King, an outfielder, and Ryan McGough, a pitcher are the club's top newcomers.

The two clubs have the most history of any two Twilight teams...Both have been in existence since the early 1980's...Both clubs have rosters primarily comprised of seasoned Twilight veterans including many with double-digit years of service in the league...Both have combined to reach the Twilight Championship Series five out of the last six years.

Player Pos School

BASILA, Brian DH Hartwick

BOWLES, Bill INF Schenectady CC

BREEN, Matt P Massachusetts

CAGLIONE, Vince INF

COLE, Dan P R.P.I.

COLE, Kevin P Hudson Valley

CONROY, Steven OF Utica

FADDEN, Tim OF Hartwick

GASPARRO, Kurt OF

GOGUEN, Jason P Castleton State

HEISER, Steve INF R.P.I.
JANETSKY, Jamie OF Cortland State

JOHNSON, Jim P

KING, Kevin OF R.P.I.

LaROSE, Mike INF R.P.I.

McGOUGH, Ryan P R.P.I.

MILLER, Julian INF Hartwick

NOONAN, Brendan P Plattsburgh State

OSTRUM, Brian INF R.P.I.

OWENS, Jason OF Hudson Valley

PRESTON, Dave P Univ. of Buffalo

SYLVIA, Mark OF Quinnipiac

TALLMAN, Dave C Cobleskill CC