Coach LaPoint set to toe rubber again

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He made it to the big leagues and won a World Series ring pitching with the 1982 St. Louis Cardinals, before leaving in 1987.

After a year managing the Adirondack Lumberjacks to a Red Sox-kind of desperate comeback to win the Northeast League’s first championship, Dave LaPoint has picked up the resin bag again for his hometown club.

He will make his first pitching appearance Saturday at Adirondack’s East Field Stadium against the Bangor Blue Ox after a parade through the city and the hanging of the championship banner.

The 6-foot, 3-inch, 37-year-old lefty arrived in the big leagues with Milwaukee in 1980, before moving to St. Louis for four years with the Cardinals. LaPoint spent 1985 with San Francisco and wore four different uniforms over the next two years in Detroit, San Diego, St. Louis for six games in 1987, and Chicago.

The league has cornered the market on 1982 Cardinals, with LaPoint and third baseman Ken Oberkfell, who will manage the Elmira Pioneers this season.

In other Northeast League news, Allentown, Pa., was accepted as a league member for the 1997 season.

The Allentown Ambassadors will be owned and operated by Allentown businessmen Peter J. Karoly and Christopher Lencheski, who operate a sports marketing firm.

“Geograpically, it kind of stretches us,” league President Jeffrey Kunion said. “Truthfully, we’ve tried to go in the New England direction, but you’re limited to the number of stadiums that are available and we’ve had trouble getting into those stadiums.”

The Allentown city government has pledged $500,000 to renovate the 5,500-seat Bicentennial Park.

ADIRONDACK LUMBERJACKS

Last season: 42-27 (3rd, league champions)

Manager: Dave LaPoint

Leading hitters: Tom Coates, OF, .342 batting average, 50 RBIs, 26 stolen bases; Darren Doucette, 1b, .282, 44 RBIs, .458 slugging avg.; Jon Mueller, DH, .314, 28 RBIs in 29 games.

Leading pitchers: Terry Farrar, LH, 8-5, 4.05 ERA, 79 Ks in 86.2 innings; Bert Bellcase, 2-5, 2.73 ERA, 76 strikeouts in 102.1 innings

Outlook: Thirteen players return to the Glens Falls-based team, which finished third through the regular season but won the postseason crown.

ALBANY DIAMOND DOGS

Last season: 52-18 (1st, league runner-up)

Manager: John Wockenfuss

Leading hitters: Paul Reinisch, IF, .305 batting ave., 41 RBIs; Rafael Mercado, RF, .316, 39 RBIs; Felix De Leon, SS, .312; Ron Lockett, .282, 27 RBIs, 21 stolen bases

Leading pitchers: Kenyatta Fleet, 11-1, 3.68 ERA, 34 walks in 85 2/3 innings; Don Leshnock, 10-6, 3.08

Outlook: Albany’s pitching staff was the terrorized opposing batters last season with a league-low 2.83 ERA, but Fleet is the only one left from the 1995 staff. Infield will be strong, led by De Leon, who made only five errors in 62 games.

BANGOR BLUE OX

Last season: 1st season in league

Manager: Dick Phillips

Leading hitters: Lonnie Goldberg, IF, .219, 36 RBIs; Gerald Davis, OF, .249, 29 RBIs; Corey Parker, IF, .217, 39 RBIs; Chad White, OF, .243, 21 RBIs, 14 stolen bases

Leading pitchers: Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd, 6-6, 5.03 ERA; Jamie Davis, 5-6, 3.65 ERA

Outlook: Pitching and defense will be the Blue Ox’s strength. The Bangor team must take advantage by manufacturing enough runs to win.

ELMIRA PIONEERS

Last season: 28-41 (4th)

Manager: Ken Oberkfell

Leading hitters: Pete Bifone, 1b, .329, 28 RBIs, led league in doubles (21) last season; Fernando Castillo, c, .348; Joe Wooten, 3b-OF, .427

Leading pitchers: Matt Machmer, 4.02 ERA in 12 innings; Hiram Torres, reliever, 20 earned runs in 43 innings, 18 of where were scoreless.

Outlook: Strong pitching staff

NEWBURGH NIGHT HAWKS

Last season: 47-23 (2nd)

Manager: Dan Schwam

Leading hitters: Hugh Walker, OF, batted .362, 55 RBIs, 25 stolen bases; Mike Pineiro, C, .342, 55 RBIs; Rich Lemons, OF, .282

Leading pitchers: Gene Caruso, 2-1, 2 saves, 6.08 ERA; Kenyon West, 2-1, 3 saves, 2.45 ERA

Outlook: Management aimed to put together a stronger hitting team, and additional depth in pitching staff and lineup should boost Night Hawks hopes. Walker was league MVP last season.

RHODE ISLAND TIGER SHARKS

Last season: 1st season in league

Manager: Mike Palermo

Leading hitters: Brian Menino, c-1b, 48 RBIs, 15 HRs; Brian Church, 1b; Chris Fabiano, 3b; John Lombardi, lf-p

Leading pitchers: Doug Robbins, Scott Brouillard

Outlook: Well-rounded club, expected to hit well, lots of athleticism.