[Sly Fox]

He gets a mention in the Worcester (MA) fishwrap:

The Tornadoes released Marcos Rodrigues yesterday. The 23-year-old backup outfielder appeared in 10 games with Worcester, batting .200 with seven RBIs. To take his place, the Tornadoes signed former Liberty University outfielder/first baseman Phillip Laurent.

Laurent led the Flames with 10 home runs and 73 RBIs in 60 games last season. The left-hander was second on the team with a .377 average and led the team in doubles (27) and triples (five). As a sophomore, Laurent hit .369 with six home runs and 62 RBIs for Liberty. As a junior, he batted .333 with seven homers and 30 RBIs.

With Worcester hitting .242 as a team, the Tornadoes are looking to jump-start a sagging offense. Frawley and Laurent started yesterday’s 5-4 loss to Brockton. Frawley led off and went 1 for 6 with two strikeouts, while Laurent batted fifth and went 0 for 7 with two strikeouts.

Fans will remember Colabello and Keith Beauregard were two late-season signings that ended up keying Worcester’s charge to the Can-Am League championship last year. With the pitching staff posting a league-best 3.38 ERA, the Tornadoes are hoping Frawley and Laurent can do the same this year. If not, now that the MLB Draft is all over, there are plenty of other college players looking for a shot to prove themselves.

http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a ... 009/SPORTS

If you are unfamiliar with the Tornadoes, they are uin the Independent Can-Am League where Josh Brey is also pitching. Here is their URL:

http://www.worcestertornadoes.com/

[Sly Fox]

The official site now has something up on Laurent:

Laurent Lands With Can-Am League's Worcester

June 20, 2006
Lynchburg, Va.

Former Liberty Flames outfielder Phillip Laurent has signed a contract with the Worcester Tornadoes of the Canada-American Independent Baseball League.

Laurent, a native of Cantrall, Ill. , signed with the Tornadoes this past Wednesday and has appeared in several games as a designated hitter and outfielder with the team.

Currently, the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, or Can-Am League for short, is made up of eight teams throughout the New England region of the and . The Tornadoes are based in Worcester, Mass. an hour west of Boston .

Laurent finished his Liberty career this past season as the Flames’ career hit leader with 280 hits, and as their doubles leader with 68 two-base hits. In addition, he ended his four seasons with Liberty with 181 RBI, ranking him third all-time in school history in that category. During his career, the outfielder was named to the 2005 Big South first team and 2006 second team squads, while ending this season by being named to the conference’s all-tournament squad for the second time in his career (2003 and 2006).

This season, Laurent hit .377 with 73 RBI, 27 doubles and 10 home runs. His 27 doubles set a new school record for doubles in a season. The senior, who had the best season of his four year career this spring, helped lead the Flames to a 39-21 overall record as they reached the final game of the Big South Baseball Championship. Liberty ’s 39 wins are the second most in school history and the most Division I wins by a Flames squad. In addition, Liberty won 30-games for the second straight year, only the fourth time in the program’s 32-year history that the Flames have had back-to-back 30-win seasons.

http://libertyflames.com/index.cfm?PID= ... 37&TeamID=

[Sly Fox]

It sounds like Phillip has a fellow Christian in his clubhouse:

Thursday, June 22, 2006
Tornadoes’ Taylor has a higher mission

Jim Wilson Can-Am League
jimwilson@telegram.com

Most baseball players hope to one day get “the call.”

Worcester’s Lucas Taylor already has.

Taylor has long had plans to pursue a career in the ministry once his playing days are over. The native of Keyser, W. Va., spent the offseason in Winchester, Va., where he was a high school assistant coach, a substitute teacher, and spent time with his pastor discussing where he will be led.


“We’d just talk and he’d just lead me and talk about what his job entails and just gave me a lot of insights and advice. It was a very special time,” Taylor said. “It’s something that God lays on your heart and He’ll direct the path. Right now, He’s blessed me with an opportunity to play baseball and I’ll continue to pursue that for as long as He allows it. When that door closes, another one will open and I really feel like it will lead toward the ministry. I’m not sure what part, but He’ll take care of that. He knows what He has planned for me, and I will follow.”

Taylor grew up in a Brethren Church, but has been going to a non-denominational church for the past few years.

“I don’t want to get tied down to one denomination,” Taylor said. “I don’t think God’s going to ask me when I get there. He’s going to ask me what I did with His son. As long as the Bible is preached and it’s the word of God, it’s OK.”

One might think the easygoing Taylor would stick out like a sore thumb with the at-times frat-house-like atmosphere of a baseball team, drawing comparisons to the bible-toting character Jimmy from the movie “Bull Durham.” Taylor is the consummate teammate and hopes his easy-going demeanor is a calming influence on the team.

“All those guys have good hearts and we don’t always live perfect, none of us do,” Taylor said. “Sometimes it’s good to have somebody that can keep things a little stable if we need it to be.

“Hopefully, I can be a calming influence on them because they’re a good influence on me. I take a lot from them, but in that area, I want them to know they can come to me. They’re all away from home and if they need some time to talk or have some prayer requests, we can really fellowship. Our new guy (Phillip Laurent) came from Liberty University, which is a really well-known Christian college, so it’s good to have that fellowship going.”

http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a ... 009/SPORTS

Buried in the team notes was this little gem about Phillip that exemplifies life in the independent leagues:

The Sprit brass didn’t win any fans during their series with the Tornadoes. North Shore wasn’t sure of the name of Worcester’s designated hitter in Saturday’s game, so they made one up, and the legend of Michael Lorentson was born. Actually, it was Philip Laurent, the Tornadoes’ recent signee. That mistake, as well as numerous statistical irregularities, led to a number of phone calls from Worcester’s front office to make the necessary changes.

Apparently Braves closer Ken Ray played in this league just a year ago. So it proves if you excel you can get a big league oportunity.

[SuperJon]

Ken Ray sucks. Please don't compare one of our guys to that piece of crap.

[Baseballalum]

Bad news for Laurent fellas. He had about 2 or 3 hits in his first 25 at bats, and has now been released from the team......Bad break for him, he's a great hitter, just had a very slow start. Hopefully he'll get another shot soon.....

[Sly Fox]

With his collegiate credentials, he'll get another Indie opportunity. I'd look toward the Frontier League next.