Somerset Patriots

Independent baseball team
name = Somerset Patriots
founded = 1998
city = Bridgewater Township, New Jersey

cap
current league = Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
current division = Freedom Division
past league =
currentname = Somerset Patriots (1998-present)
nicknames = The Pats
past league =
colors = Navy Blue, Maroon, Silver, White
ballpark = Commerce Bank Ballpark
pastparks =
leaguechamps = 4 (2001, 2003, 2005, 2008)
divisionchamps = 6 (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008)
owner = Steve Kalafer
manager = Sparky Lyle
gm = Patrick McVerry
media = Bridgewater Courier-News
website = http://www.somersetpatriots.com www.somersetpatriots.com

The Somerset Patriots are a professional baseball team based in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey, in the United States. They are a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. From the 1999 season to the present, the Patriots have played their home games at Commerce Bank Ballpark.

The Patriots are the winningest franchise of the Atlantic League, capturing four Championship Series titles in 2001, 2003, 2005, and most recently in 2008.

The "Patriots" name refers to the Middlebrook encampment where the first official flag of the United States was unfurled, after a law to adopt a national flag had been passed by Congress on June 14, 1777. By special order of Congress, a thirteen star flag is flown 24 hours a day at the Washington Camp Ground, part of the former Middlebrook encampment, in Bridgewater Township.

History

The Somerset Patriots were one of the founding members of the Atlantic League in 1998. However, the team spent its inaugural season as a road team while Commerce Bank Ballpark was being constructed. In the 1999 season, the Patriots opened their stadium, where they quickly became one of the most successful franchises of the league in both of the win and attendance columns.

Logos and uniforms

The Somerset Patriots official colors are navy blue, maroon, and silver. The primary logo depicts a Continental soldier in navy blue with white stars on his shoulder and maroon stripes flowing to his left, a reference to the U.S. flag. Centered below the soldier is the wordmark in navy blue underlined by a silver baseball bat outlined in navy blue. The word "Somerset" is centered above the wordmark in maroon.

The Patriots wear caps produced by The Game Headwear and uniforms by Majestic Athletic. The caps are navy blue throughout with the cap logo centered on the front. The cap logo consists of the Continental soldier's head outlined in white and maroon. The Patriots also have an alternate cap that has a navy blue crown with a maroon brim and button. The cap logo on the alternate cap consists of a scripted "S" in maroon with white outline and the Patriot-head cap logo superimposed. The home uniforms are composed of a sleeveless, white jersey with maroon piping and the "Patriots" wordmark centered across the front in navy blue and maroon. The belt, socks, and undershirt are navy blue. The away uniforms are similar, but are grey in color.

The Patriots alternate jersey is navy blue with silver piping. The "Patriots" wordmark is centered on the chest in maroon with white outline, and a white star in the underscore.

eason-by-season records

External links

Official websites

* [http://www.somersetpatriots.com Somerset Patriots]
* [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=271527622 Somerset Patriots page on MySpace]
* [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=271656773 Sparkee's page on MySpace]
* [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=299552405 Slider's page on MySpace]
* [http://www.atlanticleague.com Atlantic League of Professional Baseball]

Blogs

* [http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=PluckPersona&U=faa43383ba40407ab6da0c3369715d9b&plckPersonaPage=PersonaBlog&plckUserId=faa43383ba40407ab6da0c3369715d9b Ryan Dunleavy's Patriots blog]
* [http://www.atlanticleaguebaseball.com Atlantic League Baseball]
* [http://www.alindependent.com Atlantic League Independent]

Media

* [http://www.oursportscentral.com/sports/?t_id=534 Patriots page at OurSports Central]

succession box
title = Atlantic League Champions
Somerset Patriots
years = 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008
before = Newark Bears
2007
after= succession box
title = South Division Champions
Somerset Patriots
years = 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007
before = Camden Riversharks
2004
after=