Will Baseball Card Seal Their Love?

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — His opponents have been striking out left and right, but former North Adams SteepleCat Roberto Martinez is looking good to play into the final innings of "The Bachelorette."

Williamstown's Ali Fedotwosky has benched 13 candidates so far on the ABC show, leaving Martinez and three others who'll be bringing her home to meet their families next week. Martinez will be presenting Fedotowsky with his SteepleCats baseball card from 2002, which was taken by Gillian Jones of the North Adams Transcript, on the Monday, July 12, episode.

Martinez pitched for the SteepleCats during their inaugural season in 2002. He made eight starts for the SteepleCats that season and went 2-5 with a 5.86 ERA. He pitched 35 1/3 innings, struck out 27 batters, walked 27 batters and held opponents to a .244 batting average. His eight starts were tied for the most on the team and his first start was on June 9, 2002, in the SteepleCats' second game as a franchise. 

Martinez was drafted out of high school by the Colorado Rockies in the 21st round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft. He did not sign and opted to attend St. Petersburg Junior College. He was then drafted again by the Minnesota Twins in the 30th round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, but chose to pitch for the SteepleCats and attend the University of Tampa.

Fedotowsky was in Martinez's place earlier this year as she vied for the affections of the "The Bachelor." After leaving the show to keep her job, the popular contestant was offered the chance to select from her own team of eligible bachelors.