Little Falls, NY – The Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) have announced that two-time PGCBL Championship Coach Steve Luby is returning for his third season as head coach.
Luby who has been with the DiamondDawgs organization for eight seasons led the DiamondDawgs to a 28-18 second-place finish in 2022. Prior to being promoted to head coach in 2021, Coach Luby served as both an Associate and Assistant Head Coach for the DiamondDawgs. Overall he has compiled a record of 168-110 in his time with the DiamondDawgs.
“I’m really excited to be back “Home” In Little Falls”, said Luby. “We have such a great organization in the DiamondDawgs, our fantastic fans and supporters, and the kids that we bring in are hard-working, blue-collar kids.”
“I’m really excited for our season, as Travis does such an outstanding job in recruiting, and I’m truly blessed to work for such an amazing man.”
“Our goal every year, is to take our players and elevate them to the next level. To make them better going back to their school, through hard work, some adjustments, and increasing their knowledge of the game. And with the great staff of John Fureno and Tyler Roper, I think we do a pretty good job of achieving that.”
“I think if we can continue to build on those expectations, and make that constant growth, by the end of the year, we’ll be in a position to make a run at the title!”
Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs owner Travis Heiser said, “I am thrilled to announce that Coach Luby will be back as our head coach in 2023. Coach defies everything we look for in a leader of men on and off the field. He has become a fixture here in Little Falls and part of the fabric that makes up the DiamondDawgs.”
“Coach Luby’s goals are aligned with what we want to accomplish here in the Mohawk Valley in preparing our players for the next level and raising more banners in the outfield”, said Heiser.
“Coach and I have put together a roster for 2023 that fans will be proud of. These guys are a talented and hardworking group that will be ready to battle during the summer months with the goal of playing into early August. Coach Luby and the rest of our coaching staff are primed to contend for another title! Having Coach Luby in our dugout is a must! We are glad to have him back!”
Coach Luby is entering his 35th season in baseball, 33rd year of teaching high school and is in his fourth year at the College of Idaho in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) coaching infielders and hitters. Coach Luby has also spent a summer in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) with the Vermont Mountaineers and seven seasons, two as the head coach, at Treasure Valley Community College (TVCC). Prior to TVCC, Coach Luby was a high school head coach in Oregon for 20 years and served three years as the infield and hitting coach at Western Baptist College. Luby was named Oregon State Baseball Coach of the year in 1991, named Conference Coach of the Year five times and won a State Championship.
As a player, Coach Luby was an All-State athlete in football and baseball at Marist High School in Eugene, Oregon and played infield for Oregon State University and later transferred to Western Oregon State College where he was an All-Conference infielder.
Coach Luby is retiring after 33 years of teaching in Oregon at the conclusion of this school year.
The DiamondDawgs will kick-off their quest for another PGCBL title in June 2023 . The Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs are excited to welcome back fans for another exciting season of baseball in the Mohawk Valley.
