GLENS FALLS -- For all the fun it is combing the Internet and mining sources for players to make up his Glens Falls summer-league baseball team, John Mayotte barely had to drive 15 minutes to see the four guys that would make up one-sixth of its roster.

Mayotte, the Hudson Falls native and St. Mary's graduate, makes his offseason home in Madeira Beach, Fla., in the middle of a baseball hotbed: the state's Gulf Coast. He estimates he sees more than 30 live games each spring, and, this year, 10 of those involved St. Petersburg College, the junior-college power coached by one of his former players. From that team, he's plucked four players -- three pitchers and an outfielder -- to help make up the 24-man roster of the Glens Falls Golden Eagles, the wood-bat summer-league team that begins its season today at Watertown.

The team's home opener is Sunday (7 p.m.) at East Field. Glens Falls, entering its fourth year and first under new owner Darin Williams, was 19-22 a year ago, losing its last 10 games when a spate of injuries crippled its postseason hopes. That seemed like the furthest thing from Mayotte's mind one day this week, as he stood behind the cage and watched his new team stroke batting practice. Then, he escorted them out to right field for a series of sprints.

"You have to work your tail off to play for John," St. Petersburg College coach Dave Pano said.

Pano would know. He played for Mayotte at Eckerd College, also in St. Petersburg, from 1978-81 and left many practices, which were a carousel of drills, sucking wind. He is one of many coaches who are entrusting their players -- in Pano's case, pitchers Adam Veres, Tommy Meagher and Mike Wanamaker and outfielder Ken Gregory -- to sharpen their skills for at least 42 games under Mayotte.

"That's what we're here for -- player development," Mayotte said.

St. Petersburg College plays its home games at the Philadelphia Phillies' spring-training complex in nearby Clearwater, just 12 miles north of Mayotte's home. His proximity to the school allowed him to become more familiar with its talent, to learn, among other things, that Veres was a promising starter with good command, Wanamaker was the team's top pitcher, Meagher was a lights-out closer and Gregory an all-league left fielder.

"But that's just part of it," he said. "I have a lot of respect for that coach's program, and I hope to influence them as he does, the right way."

Williams, the team's new owner and perhaps its most ardent supporter, said this was the first time four teammates had played together for the Eagles. League rules do not allow more than four players from one team to play together. Veres and Meagher are living with a host family in Moreau, while Gregory is bunking with a friend who is also on the team, Princeton's Dan DeGeorge. Wanamaker will join the team only on weekends until late in the season. Wanamaker, who will pitch next season at Penn State, is taking community college classes downstate.

The familiar faces have been welcome, Gregory said.

"I went to college and didn't know anyone," he said. "It's good to come here and know people."

NOTES: Glens Falls pitching coach Brett Merritt, out of Ohio's Urbana University, is 24 years old, and "he will be coaching Division I someday," said Mayotte. Assistant Bob Bogdan (former South Glens Falls coach) and first-year bullpen coach Dan Kelly round out Mayotte's staff. ... The Golden Eagles do not return anyone from last year's team. ... Opening night on Sunday will be preceded by a parade that begins at 1:30 p.m. and ends with a celebration at East Field.

Glens Falls Golden Eagles

... are a New York Collegiate Baseball League team that plays an 42-game season against teams from across the state (and one from Vermont). The team is made up of college prospects that will hit with a wooden bat for the summer. College teams play with metal bats. Home games are at East Field, where general admission seating is $4, with $1 off for military, seniors and children under 12.

2007 Golden Eagles

ROSTER

No. Player College Position

13 Arthur Clyde High Point P

20 Daniel Cooke Gardner-Webb OF

9 Dan DeGeorge Princeton IF

26 Scott Denault San Diego P

14 Zac Farry Francis Marion P

18 Luis Feliz Rutgers OF

12 Ken Gregory St. Petersburg OF/1B

11 Barry Keiffer Midland P

24 Mark Kelly Southern Illinois C

10 Casey Larson Kansas OF

22 Justin Latta Midland P

6 Kevin Mahoney Canisius IF

28 Thomas Meagher St. Petersburg P

3 Joe Mercurio Illinois C

17 Brian Moran North Carolina P

5 Ryan Nemcek Sacred Heart IF

15 Jake Owens Northwestern IF

29 Alex Pepe Florida Atlantic P

4 Rick Deltzer Siena IF

16 Jake Shaffer Northern Kentucky OF

25 JB Skees Okaloosa-Walton P

19 Tucker Stobbe High Point OF/C

30 Adam Veres St. Petersburg P

31 Mike Wanamaker St. Petersburg P

Manager: John Mayotte

SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Time

Today @ Watertown 7 p.m.

Saturday @ Amsterdam 7 p.m.

Sunday BENNINGTON 7 p.m.

June 12 SARATOGA 7 p.m.

June 13 @ Saratoga 7 p.m.

June 14 @ Bennington 5 p.m.

June 15 WATERTOWN 7 p.m.

June 16 LITTLE FALLS 7 p.m.

June 17 @ Saratoga 7 p.m.

June 19 BENNINGTON 7 p.m.

June 20 AMSTERDAM 7 p.m.

June 21 @ Bennington 5 p.m.

June 22 @ Watertown 7 p.m.

June 23 SARATOGA 7 p.m.

June 24 LITTLE FALLS 7 p.m.

June 26 @ Little Falls 7 p.m.

June 27 AMSTERDAM 7 p.m.

June 28 @ Amsterdam 7 p.m.

June 29 LITTLE FALLS 7 p.m.

June 30 BENNINGTON 7 p.m.

July 1 @ Watertown 7 p.m.

July 2 @ Saratoga 7 p.m.

July 3 @ Little Falls 7 p.m.

July 5 AMSTERDAM 7 p.m.

July 6 @ Shuttleworth Park (All-star game) 7 p.m.

July 7 @ Amsterdam 7 p.m.

July 8 @ Saratoga 7 p.m.

July 10 BENNINGTON 7 p.m

July 11 WATERTOWN 7 p.m.

July 12 @ Bennington 5 p.m.

July 13 SARATOGA 7 p.m.

July 14 @ Little Falls 7 p.m.

July 15 LITTLE FALLS 7 p.m.

July 17 @ Bennington 5 p.m.

July 18 AMSTERDAM 7 p.m.

July 19 SARATOGA 7 p.m.

July 20 @ Amsterdam 7 p.m.

July 21 WATERTOWN 7 p.m.

July 22 @ Amsterdam 7 p.m.

July 24 @ Little Falls 7 p.m.

July 25 @ Saratoga 7 p.m.

July 26 WATERTOWN 7 p.m.

July 27 BENNINGTON 7 p.m.

HOME GAMES IN CAPS