ESSEX CLIPPERS MERGE WITH THE MORRISTOWN PATRIOTS FOR THE 2009 SEASON



The Essex Clippers and the Morristown Patriots have come to terms that will enable them to merge for the upcoming 2009 season.

The team name will be the Morristown Patriots, with the Essex Clippers shutting down for the 2009 season. The move was approved by all members of the front office of both organizations, including the Patriots Dave Larsen and the Clippers Chad Matejicka, George Tomasello and Dan Portnov.

The Patriots will consist of players such as Jim Sheninger, Chris Harlow, James Russo and Greg MacDonald, who all are former Clippers. Along with those players, the Patriots will also bring along veterans Jay LeBouef, Jeff Kallio, Brian Kenney, Al Koller and the incomperable Dave Larsen, who played and managed the Clippers previously, leading them to their 2006 RCAAA Fall undefeated season and the championship. Larsen will be the manager of the "new" Patriots in 2009.

The current Clippers will be well represented, bringing along 12 players from last years roster, including Clipper legends Chad Matejicka, George Tomasello and Dan Portnov, along with all stars Matt Fitzpatrick, Art Grutt and Chris O'Connor. In addition to the 6 perennial all stars listed previously, members of the 2007 RCAAA Spring championship team, Chris Maillet, John Montone, Dennis Montone and  Anthony Tortorello will be on the roster. This newly formed squad also expects Justin Mohren, Doug Garstin and Glenn Hartrick to arrive in camp next week to round out this deep and talented team.

As always, thank you for your support and in the coming weeks we will be launching the new website www.morristownpatriots.com so you can follow all of your old and new favorites from both the original Clippers and the new and improved Morristown Patriots.