jjohnke@wyomingnews.comCHEYENNE -- Kevin Prue had pretty much decided that he was going to choose the Mountain Collegiate Baseball League from a list of summer circuits that one of his coaches at Monroe Community College had given him.
Prue, who just finished his freshman season at the school in Rochester, N.Y., liked the idea of coming out west to play summer ball, so the league looked like a good fit.
He started perusing the rosters of the league's four teams, not expecting to see anybody he knew. So he did a double-take when he peeked at the Cheyenne Grizzlies' roster.
That's where he saw the name of former Windham (Conn.) High teammate Joe Postemsky, who is a sophomore at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury.
Not far below Postemsky's name was Western Connecticut infielder Sam McNeil, who the Windham pair had played against in high school.
"My attraction to this league was getting out west and seeing different players," Prue said. "I already know so many of the guys who play out east.
"When I was looking at the rosters, I didn't expect to see any names I knew. But as soon as I saw those two names, I thought I'd better try to get out here"
Prue, Postemsky and McNeil aren't the only Connecticut products on the Grizzlies' roster. Right-hander Alex Zancan, also a Western Connecticut Colonial, is here as well.
McNeil is the only non-pitcher in the quartet.
Postemsky, McNeil and Zancan also had summer league options. After doing some research on each league, the Mountain Collegiate Baseball League won out because of location and finances.
"A lot of other leagues charge fees, and you have to find your own housing and pay for it," Postemsky said. "This is a lot better set-up.
"But more than anything, I was looking forward to coming out west and seeing what was out here."
And what has he found?
"It's been a really good experience so far," he said. "But it's not exactly what I expected. There's not much here, and Cheyenne is a lot smaller than I expected for it being the Capital City."
Each of the players came to the Cowboy State with a specific list of things he wanted to accomplish.
Prue -- who hasn't been in Cheyenne all that long because Monroe was playing in the National Junior College Athletic Association's Div. II national tournament -- wants to see more time in the infield than on the mound.
McNeil hopes to improve his defense as a second baseman because he expects to move there full-time next season.
And Postemsky wants to become a more consistent reliever. He has seen a handful of innings out of the bullpen
for the Grizzlies (2-5) heading into Wednesday's game at Laramie. But he is expected to start when Cheyenne hosts Greeley, Colo., at 7 tonight at Pioneer Park.
Zancan wasn't available for an interview.
With this many familiar faces on the same squad, especially some who squared off in high school, you might expect some friendly trash-talking between them. Unfortunately -- or fortunately, depending on your point of view -- there's really nothing to talk about.
McNeil never had to face Postemsky or Prue when their schools met. But McNeil owns bragging rights since his Ledyard High squad went 2-0 against Windham during his and Postemsky's senior seasons.
"I remember people always saying (Postemsky) was their ace, and (Prue) was their No. 2 or 3," said McNeil, who rooms with Postemsky in Danbury. "I was always worried about going into a game and facing a guy like (Postemsky), who is 6-foot-3, 220 pounds and throws a slider off the charts.
"I've hit against him during our scrimmages in fall ball, and it's not fun. He's got a fastball that he can get in on your hands and make you jam yourself."
All three said they probably would have enjoyed their time in Wyoming without the familiar faces, but they won't complain.
"I'm happy to be out here meeting a bunch of new guys," Postemsky said. "We've got a team full of good guys, and we developed a good chemistry almost immediately.
"But it's still nice to have some guys out here we already know who we can lean on if we need it."
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