Jaime Ricigliano, former Fredonia State player, signs with Albany of the Northern League.

By Jim Mandelaro
Democrat and Chronicle

(Thursday, January 31, 2002) -- Jaime Ricigliano's first shot at pro baseball lasted two weeks. He hopes the second stint is much longer.

The Greece Olympia graduate has signed a contract to play with the Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs of the independent Northern League. He reports May 15, and the 84-game season begins one week later.

"It's wonderful," said Ricigliano, 22. "It's great to be a pro again."

The middle infielder set three school records during an All-Star career at Fredonia State: career home runs (38), career RBI (128) and total bases in one game (14). He hit .456 with eight homers and 47 RBI in 31 games last year.

The 6-foot, 200-pound Ricigliano signed with the Cook County Cheetahs, a Chicago-based team in the independent Frontier League, after graduating from Fredonia last May. However, he injured his right shoulder in a game two weeks later and has been rehabilitating the shoulder ever since.

Ricigliano was referred to Albany-Colonie by Atlanta Braves scout Jon Stewart. His manager will be Mike Marshall, the former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder.

The Northern League received national publicity in recent years after high-profile outfielders Darryl Strawberry and Jose Canseco used the league in an effort to jump-start their careers.

Ricigliano, an elementary school teacher at Rochester's School No. 58, says he is doing the same thing.

"I wasn't ready to give it up before," he said. "Now I'm gonna go live out my dream."