Today, we were very fortunate to receive an autograph back from Christian Bergman. Christian is one of the nations best pitchers. The UCI star hails from Altadena, CA. He's been named to several prestigious preseason award lists, and should be drafted high this year. He played for the Anchorage Bucs last summer. He went 4-2 and had a 1.34 era. He was also named to the All-Star Team. Currently, Christian is 1-0, with a 1.12 era in 8 innings of work. Christian also agreed to answer 4 questions for us.
Summer Ball--Who was your favorite baseball player when you were younger?
Christian Bergman--Tim Hudson
SB--What is the best thing about playing baseball at UCI?
CB--Getting to play against some of the best competition in Division 1 College Baseball.
SB--Who has been the biggest influence on you in terms of playing baseball?
CB--Dad--he always pushed me to work hard because it pays off in the end.
SB--What is your favorite baseball movie?
CB--Bull Durham
We thank Christian for not only signing an autograph for us, but also answering a few questions for us as well.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Four Questions With Christian Bergman
Pirates Sign Catcher From CS-Monterey Bay
The Moses Lake Pirates of the WCL have signed Peter Estes from Cal State-Monterey Bay. Estes is a 5-10 junior catcher from Salinas, CA. He is currently batting .240 in 25 at-bats this season. He has scored 5 runs, driven in 4 and has smacked 3 doubles.
Summer Ball Stat Lines
Kenny Elkind (Angelo State-pictured left and courtesy of ASU Athletics) helped to lead the Rams to a DH sweep of Tarleton State. Elkind (08-Edenton) picked up the win in the first game of the twin bill by allowing 2 unearned runs on 4 hits in 7 innings of work. He walked 5 and struck out 6 batters as well. Chris Casazza (09-Moses Lake Pirates) went 2 for 4, with a triple and 2 rbi's for Tarleton State University.
Eddie Murray (08-Alexandria Beetles) and Steve Rodriguez (09 St. Cloud) were key players in the Bruins win over Rice yesterday. Murray went 3 for 4 with a double and 2 rbi's. He hit .225 in 80 at-bats for the Beetles last summer. Rodriguez went 3 for 5 yesterday. Anthony Rendon (Rice) went 2 for 5, with a double and 1 rbi. He will be playing for Bourne this summer.
Dominic D'Anna (CS Northridge) went 2 for 4,with a homer and 3 rbi's in a big win over Texas Tech yesterday. Dominic will be one of the top prospects playing for the Bourne Braves this summer. Chad Bettis (Texas Tech-08 Falmouth) allowed 3 runs on 6 hits in 4.2 innings of work yesterday.
Casey Frawley (Stetson-08 Hyannis) went 2 for 3 with a run and rbi in a 11-0 win over Iowa yesterday. Jeremy Cruz (Stetson-08 Luray) went 2 for 4 with a stolen base and 2 runs scored yesterday. He hit .308 with 6 homers in 117 at-bats last summer for the Wranglers.
Kevin Mailoux (Canisius-08 Forest City) was one of the best hitters in the Coastal Plain League last summer. He is hoping to have a big year this season to capitalize on last summer's performance. He went 3 for 5 with a double and 2 runs scored yesterday in a 9-6 victory over Oakland. Steve McQuail (Canisius-08 Hampton) went 3 for 3 with a double, 2 runs and 2 rbi's yesterday. Scott Sexton (Oakland) went 1 for 3 in a losing effort. He spent time with the DuPage Dragons last summer.
Western Carolina traveled to the left coast and defeated the USC Trojans 3 to 2 yesterday. Daniel Ottone (WCU-O8 Fauquier) picked up his 2nd save of the season bay striking out the side in his 1 scoreless inning of relief. He will be returning to the Valley League this summer for his 2nd stint with the Fauquier Gators. Nick Liles (WCU-08 Yarmouth-Denis) went 2 for 5 with a run scored. Keith Castillo (USC-09 Alexandria Beetles) went 2 for 4 with a stolen base and run scored yesterday. Brad Boxberger (USC-08 Chatham) picked up the no-decision despite pitching well. He allowed 1 run on 2 hits in 6 innings of work.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Cowboys Open Tourney With 7-6 Win
From Summer Ball News Source
(photo is courtesy of OK State)
GREENVILLE, N.C. — Oklahoma State got back in the win column Friday, opening play at the Keith LeClair Classic with a 7-6 triumph over the College of Charleston. Read the rest of this entry here.
**Doug Kroll (OK State) went 1 for 4, with a run and rbi. He played for the Edenton Steamers last summer. He hit .342/473/.440 in 146 at-bats for the Steamers.
Highly-touted California prospect J.R. Graham will set foot in Madison
From Summer Ball News Source
Madison, WI – February 26, 2009. After leading Livermore (CA) High School to its first East Bay Athletic League Championship in 29 years, Santa Clara freshman infielder J.R. Graham has signed to become a Madison Mallard in 2009. Graham (pronounced GRAM) set three single-season school records at Livermore, including hitting streak (16 games), runs scored (31), and saves (15). Last year as a senior he hit .418 with 20 RBIs and an on-base percentage of .465. On the mound Graham went 4-1 with a 1.10 ERA in 31 innings. After the season he was ranked as the 123rd Best 2008 Prospect in the nation by Perfect Game Cross Checker and 200th by Baseball America. This past summer he was also selected to play in the Area Code Games, Perfect Game Nationals, and the Bay Area World Series.
Santa Clara Head Coach Mark O’Brien describes Graham as being “a tremendous middle infielder with a very live arm…he is a hard-nosed player who loves the game and is a great competitor.”
Mallards Manager C.J. Thieleke sees J.R. as being an integral part of the team’s bullpen this summer.
“There’s no doubt J.R. has been blessed with a strong right arm and when we combine him with Denny Clement (Texas A&M) and Tony Zych (Louisville) in the back of the ‘pen this summer we expect a lot of zero’s to be shown on the scoreboard,” said Thieleke.
“Graham’s been known to hit 94 mph on the radar gun with a three-quarter arm angle that becomes un-hittable when he’s consistently throwing strikes. He alone is a great reason why Mallards fans should stick around to the very end of ballgames this season."
WATERLOO LANDS ANOTHER PATRIOT
From Summer Ball News Source
The Waterloo Bucks, a member of the Northwoods League, announced today the signing of Dallas Baptists University’s Jason Krizan. The 6’1”, 180-pound sophomore joins fellow Dallas Baptist Patriot Ryan Goins on the Bucks’ 2009 roster.
As a freshman in 2008 for the Patriots, the lefty batted .288 with three homeruns, 19 RBI, and 13 walks in 39 games, earning Krizan a .350 on-base-percentage. The outfielder also brought his solid play to the defensive side of the ball with a .978 fielding percentage.
Bucks’ field manager Pete Lauritson is glad Krizan chose Waterloo for his summer ball.
“Krizan is another talented DBU player that we are extremely lucky to have sign with us this summer,” said Lauritson. “He was one of the best pure hitters in the state of Texas coming out of high school and with a couple seasons of teaching from the DBU staff is going to have a productive summer for the Bucks.”
Krizan, a native of Pflugerville, Texas, played his high school ball at Pflugerville High School where he earned 1st Team All-District honors as a junior and a senior after batting .478 and .415 respectively.
The Bucks will begin their 15th season of action on May 28 as they open the 2009 season on the road versus the Green Bay Bullfrogs. The home opener at historic Riverfront Stadium will take place on May 30 when they play host to the Duluth Huskies. Stay in touch with the Bucks in the off-season by utilizing their website at www.waterloobucks.com.
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SwampDogs Sign Golden Flash Outfielder
From Summer Ball News Source
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The Fayetteville SwampDogs have announced today the signing of Jared Humphreys, a redshirt junior outfielder out of Kent State University.
The 6-0, 180-pound outfielder started 38 games for the 2008 Golden Flashes and hit .301 with 49 hits, 14 of them for extra bases. Humphreys also had 13 multi-hit outings and became one of the more consistent run producers for Kent State, driving in 21 RBIs.
In the 2009 campaign, Humphreys has picked up where he left off, driving in seven runs in the first weekend for the, currently ranked, #18 Golden Flashes according to Baseball America.
The right-handed hitting and fielding Humphreys is no stranger to Summer League Baseball action. In 2008, the Jackson, Ohio, native played his second season with the Southern Ohio Copperheads of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League and hit .284 while driving in 16 RBIs. Humphreys also tagged on 38 total hits in his 2008 season, second best on the team.
"Jared is an athletic player who can play in the middle of the infield or go in the outfield if he needs to," said head coach Darrell Handelsman. "He will provide us with versatility and be a catalyst at the top of the lineup, where he can use his speed and aggressive baserunning style."
The Fayetteville SwampDogs are a member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 13th season, the Coastal Plain League features 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league Web site at www.coastalplain.com.
GVSU Baseball Picked Second In GLIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll
From Summer Ball News Source
Bay City, Mich. - Grand Valley State was picked second in 2009 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) preseason coaches' that was released by the league office Thursday (Feb. 26). Ashland University received five first-place votes and tallied 45 points to just edge out the Lakers who received two first-place votes and tallied 44 points. Wayne State received one first-place vote and notched 36 points to land third, followed by Saginaw Valley State in fourth. Each of the GLIAC's eight head coaches ranked the teams in the conference, but were not allowed to rank their own team. The first-place team on each ballot received seven points, while the second-place team received six points, etc. Grand Valley State will open the 2009 season Sunday, March 1 in Winter Haven, Florida versus West Virginia Wesleyan at 9 a.m. Read the rest of this entry here.
**Joe Jablonski pitched for Lake Erie last summer. He went 2-3 and had a 3.57 era in 35.1 inp.
Bombers Sign Standout Shortstop Mills Rogers
From Summer Ball News Source
The Dubois County Bombers of the Prospect League (formerly the CICL) have signed shortstop Mills Rogers from Carson-Newman College. Rogers, currently a junior, is enjoying an outstanding season for the Eagles. Through 15 games, the 6-foot infielder is batting .344 with six doubles, a home run, 11 RBIs, and a team-leading 14 runs scored.
As a sophomore, Rogers started all 61 games for Carson-Newman and batted .286
with nine doubles and three home runs.
The Simpsonville, S.C. native will be one of the Bombers’ primary options in
the middle infield during the 2009 summer.
“Mills Rogers continues the history of great Carson-Newman players in Dubois
County following Steve Cishek, Langdon Potts, and Justin Higdon,” said General
Manager John Bigness in a statement. “He’s really starting to come into his
own during his junior season and we can’t wait to have him here.”
Grizzlies Sign Two Pitchers
From Summer Ball News Source
GASTONIA, N.C. - The Gastonia Grizzlies Baseball Club announced today the signing of pitchers Jimmy Cox from the University of Maine and Benson Merritt from Canisius College.
Cox, a 6-3, 185-pound sophomore from Bangor, Maine led the team in saves his freshman season going 1-1 with a 4.37 ERA. At Bangor High School, Cox led his team to the state championship in 2006. As a senior, he went 9-0 and led the KVAC conference in strikeouts.
Meanwhile, Merritt, a 6-1, 180-pound freshmen from Smithville, Ontario, Canada, was selected in the 42nd round of the 2008 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds.
In high school, Merritt played for the Guelph's Intercounty Terriers, in the Premier Baseball League of Ontario. He led the team to the league championship in 2006 and the Sandlot 18-and-under World Series Championship, where his team won the title. He was also a member of Team Canada and the Junior National team.
"Both Jimmy and Benson will be looked upon to log significant innings for us this summer," said General Manager Jesse Cole. "Both bring a tremendous amount of experience to the mound and we expect big things out of them this season."
Family plans are still available for $125 and include four tickets to seven of the biggest home games and dinner for the family. You can secure your tickets right now by calling the Gastonia Grizzlies front office at (704) 866-8622 or by visiting the Grizzlies online at www.gastoniagrizzlies.com.
The Gastonia Grizzlies are a member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 13th season, the Coastal Plain League features 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
MacDonald Pitches Baseball To 3-1 Win Against USF
From Summer Ball News Source
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Senior JB MacDonald retired the first 10 batters and 15 of the first 17 to lead the Boston College baseball team to a 3-1 win against USF on Thursday at the FGCU Classic at Swanson Stadium.
MacDonald threw 7.1 innings, allowed just one unearned run and fanned eight while walking just one. He only gave up one hit through the first five innings. He improved his earned run average to 0.69 on the season. Read the rest of this entry here.
**J.B pitched for the Thomasville HiToms last summer. He went 3-0 and had a 2.92 era in 52.1 innings pitched.
Summer League Related Stat Lines
Ryan Zamorsky (Kean--pictured left) helped to lead Kean University to a victory over FDU-Florham. Ryan gave up 1 run on 9 hits in 8 innings of work. He walked 1 batter and struck out 5 on the night. He will be playing for the Jersey Pilots this summer.
Mike Celenza (Salisbury) went 2 for 3 with a homer, 3 runs and 2 rbi's in a win over Wesley. Mike will be playing for Bethesda this summer. Grant Morlock (Wesley) went 1 for 4 with a rbi last night. He played for the College Park Bombers last summer.
Tyler Easterly gave up 1 run on 1 hit in 1 inning of work for Ferrum yesterday. Tyler will be a teammate of Mike Celenza's in Bethesda this summer.
Wes Hobson (Appalachian State) went 2 for 5 with a homer and 3 runs scored in a big win over Gardner-Webb. He batted .303 in 231 at-bats for the Thomasville HiToms last year. Wes will return to Thomasville this summer. Ryan Arrowood (AS) went 1 for 1 with a homer yesterday. He will be playing for the Forest City Owls this summer. Taylor Miller (AS) struck out 1 batter in his 1 inning of work. He went 2-5 last year for the Wilson Tobs. Ty Boyles (GW) went 1 for 4 with a homer and 2 rbi's. He played for the Edenton Steamers last summer.
Once again, Brice Cutspec had a big game for Azusa Pacific as they defeated Fresno Pacific. He went 3 for 5, with a double and 2 rbi's. He will be playing for the Santa Maria Valley Packers this summer. Stephen Gillette (AP) went 3 for 5 with a homer (9th), double and 2 rbi's. He played for Mckinney last summer.
The University of Arkansas ball club came from behind to defeat the Kansas Jayhawks last night. Collin Kuhn (Ark) went 2 for 4 with 2 rbi's and a walk last night. He played for the Duluth Huskies last summer. Andy Wilkins (Ark) went 2 for 4 with a homer and 2 rbi's yesterday. He played for the Y-D Red Sox last summer. Dallas Keuchal (Ark) picked up a no-decision yesterday. He allowed 4 runs on 7 hits in 6 innings of work. He didn't walk a batter and he also struck out 6 on the night. He went 1-3, with a 2.63 era for Wareham last summer. Casey Lytle (KU) went 2 for 2 last night. He played for the San Louis Obispo Rattlers last summer.
Matt Apfel (Arkansas Little Rock) went 1 for 4 last night in a come from behind victory over McNeese State. He hit a 2 run homer, scored 3 runs and stole a base yesterday. He played for the Anchorage Bucs last summer.
Mallards sign Virginia freshman catcher John Hicks
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From Summer Ball News Source
Madison, WI – February 25, 2009. The Mallards are excited to announce the team has signed Virginia freshman catcher John Hicks for the 2009 season. Hicks was named to the preseason 2008 Rawlings-Perfect Game Team and the Atlantic Region All-High School Senior Team but ended up playing in only three games that year due to an ACL injury suffered during the football season. As a junior he hit .527 with six home runs and 33 RBIs while rushing for 985 yards on 85 carries (11.27 yards/carry) in the fall. Last June he was selected in the 31st round of the MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels.
Mallards Manager C.J. Thieleke likes Hicks’ ability to call games behind the plate and understanding of how to get the most out of that day’s starting pitcher.
Said Thieleke, “Virginia coaches Brian O’Connor and Kevin McMullan keep telling me that John is one of the smartest catching prospects they’ve ever had and has that special sense of when and where to locate certain pitches to a particular batter.”
“The better teams in the Northwoods League understand that a catcher is really an extension of the coaching staff, and are always well-prepared in understanding how to attack the better hitters in the league. We feel very strongly that John, along with the other catchers we signed, will be an important piece in making our pitching staff the best that they can possibly be.”
The 6’2” youngster was also a two-time All-Region honoree (2005-06), a three-time All-District player (2004-06), and made the All-Metro and All-State team in 2006 while playing at Goochland High School in Virginia.
A common theme thus far for all of the Mallards 2009 players is versatility, and Thieleke likes Hicks’ ability to play multiple positions as well.
“Every coaching staff makes hard decisions on who to start and who to play in certain situations, but the fact that we have so many players who can have a major impact at more than one position certainly makes my job in the summer a little bit easier.”
Bywater Dazzles In 09 Debut
Matt Bywater (photo courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics) had a heck of a game yesterday. In his first 09 start, the sophomore from Pepperdine completely shut down the USC hitters. He wound up allowing just 1 hit in 6 innings of work. He walked just 2 batters and ko'd 10 batters. Head coach Steve Rodriguez said of Matt's outing, "That was probably one the most impressive starts I’ve seen Matt have here in his short career.”
Matt played for the Danville Dans of the Prospect League last summer. He went 4-4, and sported a 2.52 era in 53.2 innings of work. He surrendered 35 hits and had a bb/k ratio of 30/53.
Local School Brings Early College Flavor to Finch Field
From Summer Ball News Source
THOMASVILLE, N.C. - The Thomasville HiToms announced that Finch Field will see its fair share of college baseball before the HiToms summer season gets under way.
Finch Field will welcome the local baseball program Guilford Technical Community College. The second-year Division I Junior College will be playing a total of eight doubleheaders at Finch Field in March and April.
All fans longing for some quality college baseball in March, can now take the short trek to Finch Field. GTCC will be taking on USC-Sumter on March 7-8. GTCC will then return to Finch Field on March 21-22 to battle the Louisburg Hurricanes. Their third trip to Finch Field in spring will be on April 10-11 with games against USC-Lancaster. Finally, GTCC will round out their Finch Field schedule with games against Surry Community College on April 18-19.
All games will begin approximately at 1:00 p.m., except for a 12:00 p.m. start time on April 11. Also, all games are scheduled on the weekend with the exception of April 10, a Friday contest.
With over 40 high school and college games scheduled for this spring, Finch Field is the place to go to get your baseball fix. For more spring scheduling information, please call our office.
The HiToms are a member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 13th season, the Coastal Plain League features 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league Web site at www.coastalplain.com.
Summer Ball Visit--Texas State at TCU
Last night I trekked over to Fort Worth to catch the game between the Texas State Bobcats and the TCU Horned Frogs. The Horned Frogs smacked 12 hits, and received quality pitching to down the Bobcats 8-2. Read the recap here. Paul Goldschmidt (Texas State) once again proved why he is perhaps the top-prospect in the Southland Conference this season. He belted a towering homer in the top of the first inning. Paul finished the game by going 2 for 4. He played in the Alaska Baseball League last summer.
Greg Holle (TCU) picked up the win, by allowing 2 er on 3 hits in 4.2 innings of work. His fastball was working as he fanned 5 batters. Greg pitched for the Newport Gulls last summer. I was very impressed by TCU reliever Paul Gerrish. He pitched a perfect inning for the Frogs last night.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Pfeiffer Falcon Star Outfielder Signs With the Aggies
The Morganton Aggies will have one heck of a player patrolling their outfield this summer. Highly regarded Zack Pou will bring a quick bat and outstanding defense to the Aggies. Zack is a 6-2/195 pound junior from Stanley, NC. So far this season he is hitting .413/4476/500 in 63 at-bats. He's scored 11 runs, driven in 10 and smacked 4 doubles for the Falcons this year. He has also yet to commit an error this season.
Bucs Sign Washington Outfielder
Sean Meehan (Washington) will be making the trek from Seattle to Anchorage this summer. Sean is a 6-2/200 pound sophomore from Centralia, WA. He played for the Bellingham Bells of the West Coast League last summer. He hit .189 with 4 homers and 21 rbi's last summer. As a freshman for the Huskies, he hit .323 in 65 at-bats.
Shaeffer Hall Earns Another National Honor
From Summer Ball News Source
Kansas junior pitcher Shaeffer Hall has been named the National Player of the Week by collegebaseballinsider.com for the week of Feb. 24. This marks the fourth national player of the week honor that Hall has recorded.
Hall, a junior from Lee’s Summit, Mo., tossed the fifth complete game no hitter in Kansas baseball history on Feb. 20, blanking Air Force, 5-0. The 6-foot lefty went nine innings and allowed no runs and no hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. After walking the first batter of the game, Hall retired the next 17 Falcons he faced. His performance was also the first complete game shutout by a Jayhawk since Kodiak Quick blanked Hawaii-Hilo in 2005.
He has also been named the National Pitcher of the Week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writer’s Association and thecollegebaseballblog.com as well as a national player of the week by Louisville Slugger. He was also named the Big 12’s Pitcher of the Week on Monday.
Hall and the Jayhawks (2-2) will face 21st-ranked Arkansas this afternoon at Baum Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. The game can be heard via audio webcast on kuathletics.com.
Mike Adams Spotlighted By PING!Baseball
Franklin Pierce star pitcher, Mike Adams has been spotlighted by the wonderful site PING!Baseball.com. Mike pitched for the North Shore Navigators of the NECBL last summer. Read the article here.
After tough break McClain is more determined than ever
From Summer Ball News Source
Madison, WI – February 24, 2009. A year removed from breaking his jaw after taking a fastball to the face last spring, the Mallards newest signed player, Memphis redshirt freshman infielder Adam McClain, is determined more than ever to prove that he’s the five-tool player everyone expects him to be. Before his true freshman season was abruptly ended by the injury, McClain was hitting .311 (14-for-45) with eight RBIs that included one home run. His best performance came in a 3-hit game against the NCAA runner-up Georgia Bulldogs on March 9. Last summer he played for the Luray Wranglers in the Valley League and hit .258 with 27 runs, 32 RBIs, and 9 home runs in 52 games. After the season Baseball America ranked him the No. 4 prospect in the Valley League.
McClain doesn’t want anyone to feel sorry for him missing a bulk of last season due to that unfortunate injury.
“It is what it is,” said McClain.
“I look at the injury as being a mini blessing in that I’m still technically a freshman this year but I was still able to receive a good amount of playing time before I went down. Therefore I have much more experience than the typical first-year collegiate baseball player does.”
Once he was healthy and able to get back on the playing field, what exactly did Adam learn after playing a full season in the wooden bat Valley League?
“I learned that if you don’t hit the ball squarely it’s really easy to make an out,” joked McClain.
“Yeah, it is hard getting used to the way the bat feels in your hands, but just like any sport there’s an adjustment period and it takes a lot of repetition to become a consistent and effective player.”
Mallards Manager C.J. Thieleke likes the fact that McClain was able to experience a minor league-type schedule last summer without using a year of his college eligibility.
“I like to think that everything happens for a reason and while the injury was a tough break for Adam, he’ll be the first to tell you that it’s made him a better player and a hungrier one too,” said Thieleke.
Thieleke also states that McClain’s ability to play multiple positions will give the Mallards flexibility in adjusting the lineup each and every night.
“Adam is a plus-player at both middle infield positions as well as all three spots in the outfield,” said Thieleke.
“We get the impression that he thrives in big game situations so we’re very excited to see what he can do in front of 6,000-plus screaming fans at the Duck Pond this summer.”
Swamp Bats Sign a Bulldog
The Keene Swamp Bats have a history of signing top prospects from the SEC. This year will be no different as they have signed Colby May from the University of Georgia. Colby is a freshman infielder from Guyton, GA. He is currently hitting .267 in 15 at-bats for the Bulldogs. He has roped 2 homers, driven in 6 and has walked 3 times this season.
Diamond Named to Team Canada
From Summer Ball News Source
MARTINSVILLE, VA - Scott Diamond, a member of the Martinsville Mustangs during the 2006 and 2007 seasons has been selected to participate in the World Baseball Classic for Team Canada beginning on March 5. Team Canada will open up play in Toronto against Team USA in the Rogers Center in Pool C play. Diamond is one of 13 pitchers and 28 players named to the squad that includes Major Leaguers such as Jason Bay, Justin Morneau, Russell Martin, and Joey Votto.
Diamond pitched two seasons for the Mustangs going 11-2 overall with 127 strikeouts in 125 innings of work over the course of two summers. Diamond posted an ERA of just 0.50 in 2006 allowing just three earned runs in 54 1/3 innings and allowed just 34 hits. Diamond was a free agent signee of the Atlanta Braves following the 2007 Coastal Plain League season.
Diamond, entering his second season of Professional Baseball in 2009 enjoyed a very successful rookie season in 2008. Diamond began the season with Rome of the South Atlantic League where he went 3-1 with a 3.08 ERA in nine starts and earned a promotion to Myrtle Beach of the Carolina League. Diamond would pick up right where he left off for the Pelicans going 12-2 with a 2.79 ERA and was named the Myrtle Beach Pitcher of the Year for his efforts. Overall in 2008 Diamond was 15-3 with a 2.89 ERA with 123 strikeouts in 152 2/3 innings of work.
"It is very exciting to see one of our former players earn such an honor to be named to play in the World Baseball Classic," said Mustangs General Manager Doug Gibson. "Scott will be on the national stage and it can only help him further his career and gain some experience to make his path to the big leagues a little easier."
The Coastal Plain League is the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league, now in its 13th season. Featuring 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, the CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with wooden bats during the summer months. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com.
More Coverage of the Great Game
Eric Sorenson was the man behind CSTV's coverage of the game. When he was let go last year, coverage of college baseball took a real hit. Well, he is back and running his own blog now. Check it out here.
2009 NAIA Baseball Coaches' Top 25 Poll Announced - #1
From Summer Ball News Source
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Oklahoma City University boasts the No. 1 ranking in the first regular season 2009 NAIA Baseball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, announced today (Feb. 24). The Stars earned 527 total points and 16 of the possible 19 first-place votes. With a perfect 13-0 record thus far, OCU is seeking its 11th World Series appearance after making it to the 2008 semifinal round. This No. 1 mark is the first for OCU since a top billing in the 2006 Preseason Top 25 Poll (Nov. 16).
No. 2 Lee (Tenn.) notched two first-place votes and 513 total points. The Flames are the national runners-up and stand 12-1 this year under 2008 Rawlings-NAIA National Coach of the Year Mark Brew. Thanks to an 11-2 start, Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) vaults to No. 3 after receiving votes in the Preseason Top 25. Spring Arbor (Mich.) received the No. 4 slot while Union (Ky.) stands at No. 5. Read the rest of this entry here.
Cudney Signs With The Tobs
Belmont Abbey pitcher Jordan Cudney has signed on to play for the Wilson Tobs this summer. Jordan is a 6-1/185 pound right-hander from Charlotte, NC. Currently, Jordan is 1-1, with a 5.71 era in 17.1 innings of work. He has walked 8 batters and has struck out 10 this year. Jordan played for the Silver Spring-Takoma T-Bolts last summer.
#11 Fleet Win Thriller Over Augusta State
From Summer Ball News Source
Due West, SC---The 11th ranked Erskine baseball team defeated Augusta State University 12-10 Tuesday afternoon at Grier Field in non conference action. Read the rest of this entry here.
**Keith Hill (ER) went 2 for 5 with a double, stb and run scored. He hit .239 in 180 at-bats for the Petersburg Generals last summer. John Bolding (ER) went 1 for 3 with a run scored yesterday. He will be playing for the Spartanburg Blue Eagles this summer.
Baseball Suffers First Loss To Marlins
From Summer Ball News Source
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Christopher Newport’s baseball team took on the Marlins of Virginia Wesleyan College Tuesday afternoon at Captains Park. The Marlins defeated CNU by a final score of 13-2 in 8 innings. Read the rest of this entry here.
**Shannon Mark (CN) will be playing for the Herndon Braves this summer. Parker Neal (CN) played for Front Royal of the Valley League last summer.
Rebels Can't Tame Wildcats
From Summer Ball News Source
LAS VEGAS - Arizona scored in seven of nine innings, including seven in the second and UNLV could not rally in losing 14-7 to the Wildcats in the first of a two-game set at Earl E. Wilson Stadium on Tuesday night. Read the rest of this entry here.
**Steve Selsky (Arizona) went 3 for 5 with a double and rbi yesterday. He hit .357 in 42 at-bats for the Conejo Oaks last summer. Steve's Conejo teammate, Jarred Frierson (UNLV) went 1 for 4 last night.
Butler Reliever Signs With Waterloo
From Summer Ball News Source
The Waterloo Bucks, a member of the Northwoods League, announced today the signing of Butler University pitcher Jared Wagoner. The 6’2”, 185-pound sophomore becomes the fifth hurler added to the 2009 staff.
As a freshman for the Bulldogs, Wagoner led the team with 17 relief appearances in 2008, where he recorded a 0-1 record with a 7.03 ERA, 18 strikeouts, and gave up 10 walks in 24.1 innings pitched.
Bucks’ skipper Pete Lauritson sees the potential Wagoner brings.
"Wagoner has a talented arm and his coaches really liked his development from his freshman to sophomore season,” Lauritson said. “The velocity is all ready there and we are going to give him the innings he needs to develop into a complete pitcher, I think it will be fun to watch just how good he can get."
A native of Vincennes, Indiana, Wagoner played his high school ball at South Knox High School where he was a four-year letter winner, two-time all-conference selection, and three-time all-area selection.
The Bucks will begin their 15th season of action on May 28 as they open the 2009 season on the road versus the Green Bay Bullfrogs. The home opener at historic Riverfront Stadium will take place on May 30 when they play host to the Duluth Huskies. Stay in touch with the Bucks in the off-season by utilizing their website at www.waterloobucks.com.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Wikoff, Cappetta Named All-Tournament
From Summer Ball News Source
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Illinois junior shortstop Brandon Wikoff (Peoria, Ill.) was named to the Big East/Big Ten Challenge All-Tournament team and sophomore designated hitter Pete Cappetta (Lisle, Ill.) was named honorable mention All-Tournament by CollegeBaseball360.com. It is Wikoff's third career all-tournament honor, also receiving laurels at the 2008 QTI Baylor Classic and the 2007 Al Ogletree Classic, and it is Cappetta's first career honor. Read the rest of this entry here.
**Brandon will be playing for the Madison Mallards this summer, and Pete played for the DuPage Dragons last summer.
Fighting Illini Hurler Returns to Honkers
From Summer Ball News Source
(Rochester, MN)-The Rochester Honkers Baseball Club announced today that Phil Haig, a 6’3”, 205-pound sophomore left-handed pitcher from the University of Illinois, will return for his second season on the mound for the Honkers. The Inver Grove Heights, MN native was a mid-season All-Star for the Honkers last summer.
Haig was Illinois’ season opening starter earning the 8-3 victory over Iowa Friday night at the Big East/Big Ten Challenge in Clearwater, FL. Haig pitched 5 strong innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and struck out 4 to earn the win.
“It's nice to start off the season with a win," Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb said. "Phil Haig had a very good outing. He was consistently down in the zone, got ahead in the count a lot and worked out of jams well."
Last summer, Haig was 5-3 with a 2.49 ERA for the Honkers. He pitched 68.2 innings allowing only 19 earned runs on 57 hits, struck out 41 and walked only 8.
Haig finished his freshman season at Illinois 2-2 with a 5.01 ERA. He had his best outing of the year May 17th against Purdue, earning a complete game win in a 2-0 shutout. He allowed just two hits, walked just two, and threw only 76 pitches in the win. His performance netted him Co-Pitcher of the Week honors from the Big Ten Conference.
Haig was a prolific athlete at Henry Sibley High School in his hometown of Inver Grove Heights, MN. He won All-Suburban Conference awards in five different sports: baseball, football, basketball, wrestling, and tennis. He earned a total of 16 different varsity letters.
The Rochester Honkers 16th season begins on May 28th, 2009 when the Mankato MoonDogs come to Mayo Field for a 7:05pm first pitch. Season Tickets, Bonus Books, Suites and Patios are now on sale. Call the Honkers office at 507-289-1170 for more information.
The Rochester Honkers Baseball Club announced today the finalization of their coaching staff for the 2009 season. Field Manager Rusty McNamara has hired Joe Cotton as his pitching coach and former Rochester Honker and assistant coach at the University of North Dakota, Eric Hoffmann, who will be in charge of hitters and outfielders.
DANS SHINE ON OPENING WEEKEND
From Summer Ball News Source
College baseball has begun, so rumors are true, there will be a spring! #1 ranked LSU swept Villanova this weekend. Dans alum, Ryan Schimpf (Dans 2007) finished the series 7-for-10 with six RBI and four stolen bases. In the final game, he homered to lift top-ranked LSU to a 6-3 victory. Head coach Paul Mainieri said of Schimpf, ”No one on our team works harder than he does and no one is more of a team player the him. I normally don’t call him spectacular, but that home run he hit was pretty spectacular.” LSU starter Austin Ross (Dans 2008) worked out of a bases loaded jam in the 6th inning to finish the game, allowing only one run on four hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
In Pepperdine’s win over Cal State Northridge on Sunday, 2 Dans played a major defensive role. With a go-ahead runner on third, the Waves 1st baseman collected a routine grounder, tagged the bag, and whipped a throw to catcher Trent Diedrich (Dans 2007) who tagged out the runner attempting to score from third for a double play. Diedrich also drove in the game’s first run with a 2-out double. Tyler Hess came in, in the 6th inning. With the score tied 1-1, a runner at 3rd, and 1 out, the runner was left stranded by Hess following back-to-back strikeouts.
From Mississippi State, who finished the weekend 3-0, Jet Butler (Dans 2007), hit a walk-off, three-run home run, lifting the Bulldog to a 9-7 win over North Florida.
Free live game stats are available over the internet on each team’s college baseball site.
Two Battery Mates from 2008 Squad Frontline Current Steamer Roster
From Summer Ball News Source
EDENTON, N.C. - Two key returning players from last season's North Division first half champion headline the roster for this summer's edition of the Edenton Steamers baseball team. It is announced today that catcher Ty Boyles and right-handed pitcher Murphy Smith are resigned on the 2009 team. Both players enjoyed big roles on last year's Steamers team that posted a 35-20 (.636) record, the second best overall league mark and advanced to the Coastal Plain League's Petitt Cup championship tournament final four.
Boyles, a 5-9, redshirt-junior at Gardner-Webb University (N.C.), earned CPL all-star status last summer en route to leading the Steamers with 29 RBIs and 23 walks. The Ararat, N.C., native also had a .251 batting average, .355 on-base average, three home runs, and nine doubles.
He plays bigger than his size and tools and is a leader on the field who was one of the backbone position players. The right-handed hitter is blessed with surprising pop and quality plate discipline, offensively, and excellent hustle and quickness behind the dish. A quick, accurate throwing arm resulted in Boyles erasing 21.3% of opposing base stealers in the CPL. Look for him to make a bigger impact defensively following another year from which to build on the improvements he showed in the second half in Edenton with his footwork and receiving.
For Gardner-Webb, which competes in the NCAA Division I Big South Conference, Boyles hit .327 during the 2008 season. He ranked third on the squad with six home runs and 13 doubles.
Smith, a 6-3, junior right-handed starting pitcher from Binghamton University (N.Y.), could be one of the Steamers' leading pitchers after posting a 4-3 record with a 4.34 ERA in eight starts last summer. He averaged more than a strikeout per inning, posted a 1.56 groundout-to-flyout ratio, while opponents slugged only .388 off him.
He settled in last summer as a reliable mid-rotation starter for Edenton. Smith achieved consistent success versus Coastal Plain League competition with a good mix of pitches, keyed by his sinker. With an additional year of experience, the Steamers look for him to tighten his command and control, allowing him to pitch more effectively deeper into games.
The Clifton Park, N.Y., native is the nominal number two starting pitcher for Binghamton this season after having a 6-4 record and 4.06 ERA in 16 games last spring. He had 61 strikeouts one year ago and tossed a two-hit shutout over Vermont in the America East Conference tournament for the Bearcats.
Both players kicked off their 2009 spring campaigns this past weekend on the now-universal Division I start date. Boyles contributed largely to Gardner-Webb's 3-of-4 series win over Canisius College, starting in each game with three behind the plate. Defensively, he gunned down two of six base runners and did not commit an error or passed ball. Offensively, he shone even brighter with three two-hit games to open the year, including solo homers in each of the first two contests; and he scored or drove in a run in all four.
Smith also impressed with his 2009 debut, blanking Dallas Baptist University on the road for five innings to notch the win. He was in mid-season form allowing just four singles and one walk, recording nine outs on the ground, and setting down the final six in order to finish his outing.
The Edenton Steamers are a member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its twelfth season, the Coastal Plain League features 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com.
Cornelius Tabbed SSC Pitcher of the Week
From Summer Ball News Source
(photo is courtesy of Richard Flutie)
ORLANDO, Fla. (Baseball) – For the second time in his young career, Florida Tech sophomore Jonathan Cornelius (Land O' Lakes, Fla.) has been named the Sunshine State Conference’s Pitcher of the Week. Read the rest of this entry here.
**Jonathan will be playing for the Martinsville Mustangs this summer.
Catawba's Lyerly, Mullins Named Baseball Players Of The Week
From Summer Ball News Source
ROCK HILL, S.C. -- Catawba’s Craige Lyerly and Trevor Mullins have been named the South Atlantic Conference Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week announced conference officials Tuesday.
Catawba went 3-1 during the week, including a SAC doubleheader sweep of No. 12 Carson-Newman College last Saturday. Read the rest of this entry here.
**Craige Lyerly played for the Morganton Aggies this past summer.
Del Mastro Named Big 5 Baseball Player Of The Week
From Summer Ball News Source
PHILADELPHIA - Senior Carmen Del Mastro, who batted .545 with four RBI in three games this weekend, has been named the Philadelphia Big 5 Baseball Player of the Week. Del Mastro batted 6-for-11 and drove in the game-tying and game-winning runs in a 5-3, 11 inning victory over Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday.
The Philadelphia native had a hit in each of the first two games at the FGCU Invitational against Wichita State and Central Michigan before exploding for four hits and three RBI against Florida Gulf Coast. He also stole two bases.
La Salle's Christian Schultz was named the Big 5 Pitcher of the Week.
Formed with the mission of increasing the exposure of college baseball in the area, Philadelphia Big 5 Baseball is comprised of the five Division I universities in Philadelphia that sponsor baseball. The Big 5 will announce a Player and Pitcher of the Week every Monday during the season. The fourth annual All-Big 5 baseball team will be announced at the conclusion of the season.
Temple (2-1) visits High Point (2-1) for a three-game series beginning on Friday at 4 PM. Live stats and video will be available for each game.
Checking in on 3 Quincy Hawks
The Quincy Hawks are now 2-3 on this young season. After a 7-4 victory over Truman State, the Hawks dropped 3 out of 4 to West Florida. Three Hawks with ties to summer league play have seen considerable action this year.
Royce Duncan (pictured left) is a sophomore pitcher from Beason, IL. He has made 2 appearances this season and has not allowed an earned run in 7 innings of work. He has also struck out 8 batters this year. He will be playing for the Petersburg Generals of the CPL this summer.
Brett Zurliene is a junior infielder from Aviston, IL. He is hitting .316 in 19 at-bats this year. He's hit 2 doubles and has driven in 4 runners this year. Brett will be a member of the Butler BlueSox ball club.
Justin Dunning is a sophomore catcher from Trenton, IL. In 13 at-bats this year, Justin is hitting .231. He will be playing in the Prospect League for the Quincy Gems.
Nathan Mutsch Named A-10 Co-Rookie of the Week
From Summer Ball News Source
CINCINNATI - Redshirt freshman Nathan Mutsch has been named the Atlantic 10 Co-Rookie of the Week as announced Monday afternoon by the conference office. The Alexandria, Ky., native made his first collegiate start Saturday at NC State.
Mutsch allowed one run over five innings to earn the win as visiting Xavier turned back NC State, 8-3. He fanned three and walked only one on the way to his first career win.
The Musketeers return to action this weekend with a four-game series at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C. Feb. 27-Mar. 1.
Hokies' Sosnoskie, Yellow Jackets' McGuire Receive ACC Baseball Honors
From Summer Ball News Source
(photo of Deck McGuire is courtesy of Sam Morgan)
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Virginia Tech catcher Anthony Sosnoskie and Georgia Tech pitcher Deck McGuire have been tabbed for the Atlantic Coast Conference’s first weekly baseball honors of the 2009 season. Read the rest of this entry here.
**Deck played for the Peninsula Pilots last summer. He went 7-0, and had a 1.28 era in 56.1 innings of work. He will be playing for the Orleans Firebirds this summer.
Braves Sign Tennessee Catcher
The Bourne Braves have signed University of Tennessee star catcher Blake Forsythe for the upcoming summer season. Blake is a 6-2/220 pound catcher from Memphis, TN. He is the younger brother of Padres prospect Logan Forsythe. In just 2 games this season, Blake has 1 homer and 2 rbi's. He played for the Thomasville HiToms this past summer. He hit .238 in 147 at-bats. He was 2nd in the league with 10 homers and he also drove in 27 runners.
Bullfrogs return pair of workhorse pitchers for 2009 season
From Summer Ball News Source
GREEN BAY, WI – Green Bay’s new skipper Ron Nedset announced today that pitchers Chad Blauer and Tim Jolly will return to the Bullfrogs roster for the 2009 season.
The workhorse pitching tandem returns after combining for 10 wins and 95 strikeouts in126.2 inning of work last season in Green Bay’s second season in the Northwoods League.
“We are excited to have both Chad and Tim back this year,” Green Bay field manager Ron Nedset said. “These young men are talented but more importantly they are quality individuals.”
Blauer, originally from Huntington Beach, Ca., pitches for Point Loma Nazarene College. The 6-foot-3 215-pound right-hander has a 1-0 record along with 10 strikeouts in two mound appearances this spring for the Sea Lions. Prior to Point Loma Nazarene Blauer pitched at San Diego Community College where he helped the Olympians win a conference championship.
During last summers Bullfrogs campaign he finished with a 4-2 record in 15 appearances, including seven starts on the mound. Blauer pitched 56.2 innings and struck out a team-high 50 batters with a 2.70 ERA. He is pursuing a degree in psychology at PLNC with the intention of working as a sports psychologist.
“You can never, with an emphasis on never, have too much pitching,” Nedset said. “The old saying that “good pitching beats good hitting” is true in every sense and we look for big things from Chad (Blauer) and Tim (Jolly) as well as from our entire pitching staff.”
Jolly is a 5-foot-11 200-pound sophomore at the University of La Verne. During his freshman campaign the native of Claremont, Ca., flourished striking out a team-high 69 batters for the SCIAC Champions. He also earned first-team all-conference honors as a pitcher. This season he has struck out 11 batters in three appearances for the Leopards.
Last summer Jolly had one of the most successful seasons by a pitcher for the Bullfrogs throwing a record 70 innings, as well as tying the record for most wins in a season with six. He finished the season with 45 strikeouts and a 3.90 ERA.
The Green Bay Bullfrogs third season begins at home on May 28 against the Waterloo Bucks with the first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Joannes Stadium.
Season tickets are available at the Bullfrogs office located at 1306 Main Street. For sponsorship, season and group ticket information, call the Bullfrogs office at (920) 497-7225 or visit their website at www.greenbaybullfrogs.com.
Kingsmen Remain Unbeaten with Series Sweep of La Verne
From Summer Ball News Source
LA VERNE, Calif. - The Cal Lutheran baseball team continued its winning ways on the road Saturday defeating La Verne by 9-5 and 6-4 scores, respectively. The Kingsmen took advantage of erratic Leopards pitching with 10 of 13 walked batters scoring on Saturday. Read the rest of this entry here.
**David Iden (CL) went a combined 2 for 6, with a triple and 4 rbi's.
**Paul Hartman (CL) went a combined 3 for 7, with 2 rbi's.
**Nick Pinneri (CL) went 2 for 2 with 2 rbi's in the first game.
**Robbie Sheldon (CL) picked up the save in the first game.
All four of these players played for the Conejo Oaks of the California Collegiate League last year.
PIONEERS ADD TWO PLAYERS FROM NIAGARA U.
From Summer Ball News Source
Elmira, N.Y. – The Elmira Pioneers of the New York Collegiate Baseball League announced on Friday the signing of two players from Niagara University (Lewiston, N.Y.), junior righthanded pitcher Geoff Strong and freshman outfielder Stephen Smith.
Strong appeared in eight games out of the bullpen for the Purple Eagles in 2008, and was named to the Metro Atlantic Conference’s All-Academic baseball team. As a freshman in 2007, he led the squad with six saves and finished second with 21 appearances, fanning 13 hitters in 18 and one-third innings of work. The native of Welland, Ontario, is one of three Canadians on this season’s roster, joining righthanded pitcher Corey Pappel (Mississauga, Ontario) and infielder Sean Jamieson (Simcoe, Ontario).
Smith earned all-league and all-county honors during his sophomore and junior seasons at West Islip (N.Y.) High, and was a member of the Long Island Select baseball team that won the gold medal at the 2007 Empire State Games, hitting .687 during the tournament.
The Pioneers now have 20 players on their roster, from a total of 11 different schools.
New York State Class AA career hitting champion signs with Mallards
From Summer Ball News Source
Madison, WI - February 23, 2009. The Mallards are excited to announce the team has signed St. John's freshman infielder Joe Panik, the New York State Class AA career hits champion (149) who played at John Jay High School in South Salem. The left-handed hitting youngster is the starting shortstop for the Red Storm this spring, and began his collegiate career in impressive fashion this past weekend, hitting a triple in his first at-bat. Through the first three games he went 4-for-11 with five runs, four RBIs, three walks, and one stolen base.
St. John's Head Coach Ed Blankmeyer says that while Panik will go through the ups-and-downs any freshman collegiate baseball player would normally experience, he believes Joe has the natural tools to get through any slump.
"We think Joe is a very advanced baseball player and brings a refreshing amount of maturity for a freshman heading into his first season," said Blankmeyer.
Mallards Manager C.J. Thieleke compares Panik to former St. John's alum Mike Rozema who also played in Madison during the 2003 season, hitting .300 with 32 stolen bases that summer. Rozema has since been named to the Mallards All-Time Team comprised of the best players from the team's first eight years.
"Rozema was the type of player who enjoyed doing the little things to win ballgames, and from all accounts, I've heard that Joe is that same type of player," said Thieleke.
"Mike's speed and overall baseball knowledge won us a number of games in 2003 and we expect Joe to do the same for us this summer."
Interestingly enough, a local deli server on St. John's campus made the same comparison this past fall--but in a different way.
Said Panik, "Our team was visiting a local deli after practice one day and one of the workers came up to me and said that I looked like Mike Rozema--which is fine by me since Mike had one of the better careers at St. John's and had an impact season with the Malllards as well."
"I have big shoes to fill but my main goal this summer is to improve upon every facet of my game while trying to win a Northwoods League Championship for the city of Madison. I just can't wait to get started."
Current, Former Jacks In Action As College Season Gets Under Way
From Summer Ball News Source
Major league baseball might be shaking off the cobwebs in Florida and Arizona, but college players are in full swing around the country. This past weekend, most NCAA Division I teams opened their seasons, allowing them to join the other college and junior college programs that have been in full swing for several weeks.
New Pump Jacks head coach Ben Taylor and his squad at Scottsdale Community College have jumped out of the starting gates. The Artichokes, who entered the season ranked 13th in the country in the NJCAA D-II national poll, split a weekend series with Chandler-Gilbert Community College, which had been ranked #8. Scottsdale’s record for the season now stands at 9-5.
Taylor’s predecessor, 2008 TCL Coach of the Year Stan Phelps, has his UT-Tyler staff on the right track as well. Phelps and the Patriots swept a three-game weekend series against Mary Hardin-Baylor, upping their mark on the season to 8-1. UT-Tyler is once again nationally ranked, listed #12 in the country by D3Baseball.com and #13 by Collegiate Baseball.
Phelps is getting some help this year from some familiar faces, too. 2008 TCL All-League third baseman Paige Hodges is batting .346 after transferring to Tyler from Mississippi College, and Keenan Duke is hitting .313 after joining the Patriots from Eastfield College. James Alvarado has a 1.59 ERA thus far, and Matt Sparks has also seen some early action. They’re joined on the team by another former Pump Jack, Clint Helms, who transferred from Louisiana Tech.
Elsewhere, inaugural season Pump Jacks are already having an impact on the spring season…
Matt Curry: 2008 TCL All-League first baseman Matt Curry has moved on to TCU, but his bat hasn’t cooled off any. Starting at first base for the Horned Frogs, Curry cracked two homers over the weekend as TCU took a series from #5 Cal State-Fullerton. He batted .417 over the weekend and added four RBI, including three in a Sunday win that clinched the series.
Pat McCrory: The Kilgore native is in new surroundings this spring after transferring to Embry-Riddle, which opened the season ranked #3 in the NAIA national polls. McCrory is acclimating well to play in Daytona Beach, leading the team with 12 RBI, 11 walks, and six stolen bases while batting .265. He’s also 1-0 in two scoreless appearances on the mound. McCrory picked up the win in relief Sunday, pitching the final two innings of the Eagles’ 5-4 comeback victory.
Matt Shelton: The rubber-armed reliever is off to a solid start at Sam Houston. He posted a 2.45 ERA and a save in two appearances during the Bearkats’ four-game sweep over Creighton. Shelton is joined by Daniel Nottebart and 2008 TCL All-League outfielder Adam De La Garza, who transferred to Sam Houston after his stellar career at New Mexico Junior College.
Scott Copeland: The White Oak native and Panola grad is fitting in nicely in his new home at Southern Miss. Penciled in as the Sunday starter for the Golden Eagles, Copeland picked up the win yesterday to cap a sweep of visiting Lehigh. He allowed just two runs over six innings, striking out four without a walk.
J.D. Dunn: Saint Louis split four games against Cal State-Bakersfield and UC-Santa Barbara, but Dunn is already in mid-season form. The speedy outfielder is hitting .333 with three doubles, five walks, and five runs scored.
Dexter Moreno: St. Edward’s University is already 14 games into its 2009 schedule, and Moreno is rolling right along. He’s batting a team-leading .413 with six doubles, a home run, and ten RBI.
Ed Hurta: Hurta, the all-around star at LeTourneau, is picking up where he left off in 2008. Through five games this season, Hurta is batting .350 with three homers and six RBI, as well as a 1-1 record on the mound.
Pump Jacks fans will begin to learn more about this year’s squad in the coming weeks as the team prepares to introduce players for the 2009 season. The team boasts players from familiar schools like the top-ranked team in the country, LSU, #3 Rice, #5 Texas A&M, and other Big 12 programs, plus new additions from Taylor’s West Coast roots, like Pacific, Cal Poly, and New Mexico.
Free Season Tickets: That’s right, free! With players this season coming to East Texas from across the country, the team is actively searching for host families. Host families enjoy the opportunity to have a potential future major leaguer live with them, forging a bond that lasts a lifetime. As an added bonus, host families receive FREE season tickets for everyone in their household. Click here or contact the Pump Jacks for more information.
The 2009 season is scheduled to begin on Friday, June 5, when the Pump Jacks host the league’s newest team, the Victoria Generals. The 48-game regular season will run through August 8, to be followed by the playoffs and TCL Championship Series. Fans can download a copy of the team’s schedule by clicking here.
Season tickets are currently on sale, with ticket packages starting as low as $105 – and $85 for children and seniors – for all 24 regular season home games. Box seat season tickets are also available, including Lower Box seats, which feature in-your-seat wait service all game long, every game. For more information on Pump Jacks season tickets, click here or contact the Jacks office at (903) 218-GO ET.
Rohan on Fire for Golden Flashes
.588/1.059/.611 through the first three games of the season is a great way to start your season. 5th-year Senior Greg Rohan from Kent State is the proud owner of those stats. Now, I realize that those numbersare only through 3 games and that he has only had 17 at-bats, but those are gaudy numbers none the less.
Rohan, a North Lima, OH native is certainly one of the better, underrated hitters in college baseball today. So far this season, he has scored 6 runs, driven in 9 and has smacked 2 homers this year. This past Sunday was perhaps his best game of his career. He went 5 for 6, with 7 rbi's, a 2 run homer and a grand slam against UNC-Greensboro. I also love the fact that he has only struck out 3 times this season as well.
Greg played for the Peninsula Pilots last summer. He hit .288 in 170 at-bats. He scored 25 runs, drove in 29, and hit 4 homers for the Pilots. His bb/k ratio was 13/36 as well.
BURKE NAMED MAAC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
From Summer Ball News Source
(photo is courtesy of Iona Sports Information)
EDISON, NJ - Iona College baseball freshman INF/RHP Chris Burke earned MAAC Rookie of the Week honors for his his performance at the William and Mary Round Robin this past weekend.
Burke started all four games, the first three at second base and the fourth on the mound. He batted .583 with seven hits in 12 at bats while driving in two runs and scoring three. Burke also walked twice and struck out just once in posting a team best .643 on base percentage. He had three hits in back-to-back games against host William and Mary and Buffalo on Saturday and Sunday. Burk also reached base three times in his first collegiate game against the Bulls, going 1-of-2 with two base on balls.
The rookie was also the Gaels top pitcher, posting a 3.60 ERA in five innings of work. He allowed just two earned runs in a no-decision in his only start.
He was the first Iona player to win a weekly award under head coach Pat Carey. The Gaels are back in action this weekend when they take on Richmond in a three-game series on the road.
UNI Announces Elimination of Baseball
From Summer Ball News Source
Cedar Falls, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa will eliminate its baseball program following the 2009 season, UNI director of athletics Troy Dannen announced today.
"This is a sad day for Northern Iowa athletics," Dannen said. "Current budget estimates project the University will see at least a nine percent reduction in state funding. That reduction directly impacts intercollegiate athletics. The projected gap between revenues and expenses for the upcoming year is $500,000 - $600,000 as a result of the reduction in state funding.
"The magnitude of the reduction has forced us to review every program in our department. That review has concluded we cannot maintain the overall quality of our athletic program without reducing the number of sports."
With the elimination of baseball, UNI will offer 17 intercollegiate varsity sports, seven men's sports and 10 women's sports. The Panthers will continue to field men's teams in basketball, cross country, football, indoor track and field, golf, outdoor track and field and wrestling, and women's teams in basketball, cross country, golf, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis and volleyball.
The Panther baseball team includes 35 student-athletes. According to NCAA rules, all student-athletes who have eligibility remaining after the 2009 season will be allowed to transfer to other schools and compete in the 2010 season. Current and incoming baseball student-athletes wishing to remain at UNI and who are receiving scholarship aid will have their scholarships honored. The timing of today's announcement is in part to accommodate the interests of the student-athletes, and to assist them in finding participation opportunities at other institutions, if they so wish. Three full-time coaches are also having their positions eliminated.
"We explored every alternative before reaching this decision," Dannen said. "Coach Rick Heller and the UNI baseball program have always represented UNI in exemplary fashion and have been positive contributors to the quality of life on our campus."
According to Ben Allen, president of UNI, "During these challenging budget times, every area of campus will be affected. This decision with respect to baseball is a reflection of the difficult decisions that we will be facing across the entire University."
This is not the first time that UNI has dropped sports. Men's and women's gymnastics were dropped in 1981, and women's field hockey was dropped in 1983. In May of 2002, the men's and women's swimming and men's and women's tennis programs were dropped, but women's swimming and women's tennis were reinstated several months later. UNI also added women's soccer in 2000.
Monday, February 23, 2009
SwampDogs Continue to Build 2009 Roster
From Summer Ball News Source
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The Fayetteville SwampDogs continue to build on their 2009 roster by announcing the addition of Brock Whiteman. Whiteman, a junior catcher from Muskingum College (New Concord, Ohio), will join the SwampDogs during the 2009 summer campaign.
Whiteman, a 6-0, 208-pound catcher, who also plays first base, is a native of New Concord, Ohio. Last season, Whiteman received First Team All-OAC honors and was named the Ohio Athletic Conference's most outstanding baseball player. He was also honored by D3Baseball.com joining the Honorable Mention All-American Team. Whiteman had a breakout sophomore season in 2008, recording a team high .450 batting average and 9 home runs with 51 RBIs. He also led the Muskies in hits (67), doubles (19), triples (2), and total bases (117).
The right-handed hitting Whiteman remained hot into the 2008 summer while playing for the Peekskill Robins of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League (ACBL). While appearing in 37 games, Whiteman ranked second in the league, with a .369 batting average. He added two home runs and 25 RBIs and managed to steal four bases in six attempts.
"Brock has hit everywhere he has played, regardless of the competition," said head coach Darrell Handelsman. "I expect him to continue that trend as a member of the SwampDogs. In addition to providing an offensive threat, he has very good catch and throw skills and the ability to be a team leader."
The Fayetteville SwampDogs are a member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 13th season, the Coastal Plain League features 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league Web site at www.coastalplain.com.
