Record Number of Wizards and NYCBL Alums In Professional Baseball

From John McGraw and the Watertown Wizards
Over 170 former New York Collegiate Baseball League players competed in professional baseball leagues across the United States, Asia and Europe during the 2009 professional baseball season. The record-setting number of NYCBL alums playing professionally comes on the heels of a June 2009 Major League Baseball entry draft that saw an NYCBL record 42 current and/or former players selected.

Eleven former NYCBL players competed at the Major League level in 2009 with a twelfth currently listed on a 40-man roster. Those players include: Jeremy Accardo (Wellsville ‘02/Toronto), Dallas Braden (Hornell ’03/Oakland), Brett Carroll (Hornell ‘02/Florida), Rajai Davis (Hornell ‘00/Oakland), Brendan Harris (Schenectady ‘99/Minnesota), Tim Hudson (Hornell ‘94/Atlanta), Josh Kinney (Hornell ‘98/St. Louis), Brad Lidge (Ithaca ‘96/Philadelphia), John McDonald (Geneva ‘93/Cohocton), Jason Motte (Rome ‘01/St. Louis) and Hunter Pence (Schenectady ’02/Houston). Casper Wells (Saratoga ‘04/Detroit) spent the summer with Double-A Erie however he is currently assigned to the Detroit Tigers 40-man roster.

Brad Lidge, seeking his second straight world championship, is currently playing in the World Series for the Philadelphia Phillies. Lidge, Harris and Motte all made appearances in the 2009 MLB postseason while Hunter Pence played in the 2009 MLB All-Star Game.

The Watertown Wizards also set a franchise record with 15 former players on professional rosters. The Purple and Gold had a record-number of five former players taken in the 2009 draft as well. Eight Wizards played in the minor leagues including George Brown (’05), Jordan Kreke (’08), Michael Lyon (’05), Levi Maxwell (’05), Ryan Quigley (’07), Chris Rosenbaum (’04, ’06), Matt Vieira (’06) and Jacob Wiley (’06, ’08). Seven other Wizards played in independent leagues including Matt Davis (’06), Justin Mallett (’02), Vinny Pennell (’05), Michael Schellinger (’05), Jeff Vincent (’04), Nathan Kafka (’09 Asst. Coach) and Stephen Spragg (’02, ’03).

Chris Rosenbaum became the third Wizard to reach the Triple-A level when he was promoted from the High Class-A California League’s Rancho Cucamonga Quakes to the Triple-A Pacific Coast League’s Salt Lake Bees in early July; Rosenbaum would finish the season in Rancho Cucamonga however. Justin Mallett (’02) and Daylan Childress (’00) are the only other two former Wizards that have reached AAA.

Here is a breakdown of the final overall NYCBL numbers at the end of the regular season by level (does not include players who were released during the season who were counted in overall total):
Major League Baseball: 11
Overseas: Three
AAA: Five
AA: Nine
Hi-A: 22
Lo-A: 23
SS-A: 13
SS-R: 22
Independents: 53

PEELER: Ciencin Has Been a Big Hit

From NC. State University
RALEIGH, N.C. – There were times last season, Andrew Ciencin admits, that he was completely miserable. And it had nothing to do with NC State's losing baseball season.

The competitive infielder just wanted to find a way to get on the field as a freshman, and sitting on the bench was driving him a little crazy.

"Being on the bench was not fun," Ciencin said. "I had to figure out a way to get into the lineup. Eventually, you just keep working through practice and showing the coaches what you can do. I had to hit or go back to Jersey. I made some changes to my swing and got better." (photo is courtesy of NC State)

Read the rest of this entry here.

Biesecker Named Associate Head Baseball Coach

From Summer Ball News Source
NEW ORLEANS - Scott Biesecker has been named associate head baseball coach at the University of New Orleans, it was announced on Friday.

It was a familiar hire for UNO head coach Bruce Peddie, who worked with Biesecker for nine years while Peddie was the head coach at Division II Shippensburg. Biesecker was the hitting coach and recruiting coordinator for Peddie from 1998 through 2006, and Biesecker will have the same responsibilities on the Lakefront. (photo is courtesy of UNOPrivateers.com)

Read the rest of this entry here.

Third Left Handed Pitcher Signed

From the Fulton Railroaders
The Railroaders now have 11 players total for the 2010 roster after signing Gage Franklin from Freed-Hardeman University. Gage is a 6'0" left handed pitcher taking Fulton to 4 total pitchers thus far. Franklin's hometown is Morris Chapel, TN.

Player To Watch For In 2010--Thomas Rooke

Throughout the fall and winter, I will be highlighting, spotlighting or mentioning players that I believe are poised to have either big seasons in 2010 or are poised to have a breakout season. Again, I'm not a scout in any way or shape. The one constant factor in my picking of the players is that they all had productive summer seasons.

Thomas Rooke is a junior LHP from Kansas State University. He is 5-11/182 pounds and hails from Spring, TX. Over the last couple of years, he has pretty much been the top reliever for K-State. After an outstanding freshman year, he was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American. Last year he went 5-2, with a 4.33 era in 54 innings pitched. He surrendered 47 hits, walked 14 and fanned 58 batters. 32 of his 35 appearances were out of the bullpen, and he saved 4 games for the Wildcats last year.

This past summer Thomas pitched for the McKinney Marshalls of the Texas Collegiate League. He went 3-0, with a 2.31 era in 46.2 innings of work. The Marshalls used Thomas primarily as a starter this past summer. He gave up 39 hits, walked 22 and fanned 44 batters for the Marshalls. He also held opponents to a .220 batting average. Perfect Game recently ranked Thomas as the 20th best prospect in the league.

Smitties pick up pair from SUNY New Paltz

From Summer Ball News Source
The Silversmiths are pleased to announce the additions of two pitchers from SUNY New Paltz.

John Molloy is a freshman left hander that according to New Paltz head coach Matt Giffiths has 4 quality pitches and figures to be a big part of New Paltz's pitching staff in 2010.

Chris Chismar is a hard throwing freshman right hander that Coach Griffiths has said will also be looked too to be a big part of the New Paltz staff this spring.

The Silversmiths are excited about these fine additions and are continuing to build for 2010.

Baseball to Square Off in Green versus Gold Series this Weekend

From Summer Ball News Source
DAYTON, Ohio – The Wright State baseball team will look to close the fall out with another classic series, as the Green squad will challenge the Gold team at the annual Green versus Gold series. The series will kick off on Friday evening at 6:00 and continue with games on Saturday and Sunday at Nischwitz Stadium with the first preview of the 2010 squad that will look to defend its 2009 Horizon League Championship.

Read the rest of this entry here.

Louisville Baseball Releases 2010 Schedule

From Summer Ball News Source
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville baseball head coach Dan McDonnell released the Cardinals' 2010 schedule on Thursday and it includes 31 games at Jim Patterson Stadium, 41 games against BCS Conference schools and 12 games against NCAA Regional teams from last year.

The Cards, which won swept the BIG EAST Conference and regular season titles and advanced to the NCAA Super Regional in 2009, will play seven games against Big Ten competition and six games against Southeastern Conference teams, including a three-game series at reigning SEC champion Ole Miss.

"The 2010 schedule features some great opponents in some great venues that should really challenge our squad each week," said McDonnell, who is 135-63 in three seasons in Louisville, including three straight NCAA appearances and back-to-back BIG EAST Tournament titles in 2008 and 2009. "As in years past, we continue to put an emphasis on playing against the best competition in the nation by scheduling more than 40 games against teams from the BCS conferences, as well as numerous NCAA Regional caliber squads. And as always, we've made it a priority to take advantage of having one of the top home facilities in the nation by playing more than 30 games at Jim Patterson Stadium."

Louisville will open the 2010 season at home on Feb. 19-21 with a three-game series against reigning Mid-American Conference champion Bowling Green at Jim Patterson Stadium and will follow that with a mid-week game at home against Morehead State on Feb. 23.

The Cardinals will then take to the road for the first time for their first appearance in the Big Ten/BIG EAST Challenge hosted by St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission on Feb. 26-28. Louisville will play Michigan on Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Dunedin Stadium, spring training home for the Toronto Blue Jays, in the only night game on the opening day of the event, which will feature 10 games each day matching up teams from the Big Ten and BIG EAST.

Following the opener, the Cardinals will face Michigan State on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 4:30 p.m. ET at Jack Russell Stadium, the longtime spring headquarters for the Philadelphia Phillies, while Louisville's finale will be against Minnesota, a 2009 NCAA Regional squad, on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. ET at the Naimoli Complex, former spring training host for the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Cards will return home from Florida to host a five-game homestand at Jim Patterson Stadium. Louisville will host a mid-week game against Evansville (March 3), a three-game weekend series with NCAA Division I independent Le Moyne College (March 5-7) and a mid-week game against Indiana (March 9) in a rematch of the last year's NCAA Regional first round game in Louisville. The Cardinals will play a return game against the Hoosiers on March 30 in Bloomington.

U of L will then return to the road for a three-game series in Oxford, Miss., against Ole Miss on March 12-14 in a match-up of reigning conference championship programs. It will also be a reunion for McDonnell, who served as an assistant coach at Ole Miss from 2001-06, and Cards' senior first baseman Andrew Clark, who played one season for the Rebels before transferring to Louisville.

After hosting 2009 NCAA Regional team Xavier on March 15 for Elementary School Day at Patterson Stadium, the Cardinals will host their final non-conference weekend series on March 19-21 against Ball State.

Following a mid-week return game at Evansville on March 23, the Cards will the defense of their 2009 BIG EAST Conference title with a three-game series at home against Connecticut on March 26-28 at Jim Patterson Stadium. The series will be a rematch of last year's BIG EAST Tournament title game, won by Louisville 11-3 in Clearwater, Fla.

Along with UConn, the Cardinals will host BIG EAST foes Villanova (April 1-3), Seton Hall (April 23-25), Rutgers (April 30-May 2) and St. John's (May 14-16). Louisville will play four BIG EAST opponents on the road, including Pittsburgh (April 9-11), West Virginia (April 16-18), Georgetown (May 7-9) and Notre Dame (May 20-22).

The Cardinals will play the first of two games against rival Kentucky on April 6 in Lexington, while the Wildcats will visit Jim Patterson Stadium in Louisville on April 28. U of L will also play two games against 2009 NCAA Regional squad Western Kentucky on April 14 in Bowling Green and on April 21 in Louisville and a mid-week home game against in-state foe Eastern Kentucky on May 18.

On May 4-5, Louisville will travel to Columbus, Ohio for a two-game, mid-week series against 2009 NCAA Regional participant Ohio State, while on May 11, the Cards will be in Nashville, Tenn., for a mid-week game at Vanderbilt in a rematch of last year's NCAA Regional title game, which was won by Louisville 5-3.

The 2010 BIG EAST Championship is set for May 26-30 at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla., where the Cardinals have won the last two tournament titles and have an 11-2 record overall. The 2010 NCAA Championship is set to begin on June 4 with regional play.

The 2010 Louisville squad returns seven position starters and most of its pitching staff from a team that finished the season ranked 14th in the nation after making the program's second NCAA Super Regional appearance in McDonnell's three years as the head coach.

2008 Railroader Jacob Donze signs for 2010

From the Fulton Railroaders
The Railroaders have secured the services of left handed pitcher Jacob Donze from Murray State Univ. The 6'1", 200 lb lefty played for the Railroaders in 2008 finishing the season with a 6-3 record and a 2.93 ERA. Jacob lead the '08 team with 65 strikeouts and the most innings pitched with 67 2/3 total. Donze's hometown is St. Genevieve, MO. The Railroaders look forward to Jake's return to the team in 2010. With this signing, Fulton's roster for the upcoming season now totals 10 players.

Four Questions With Zach Varce

Zach Varce is junior rhp from the University of Portland. He is 6-0/190 pounds and hails from Seattle. Last year for Portland, he went 3-5, with a 2.69 era in 60 innings. He saved 9 games, walked 23 and struck out 62 batters.

He spent this past summer playing for the Green Bay Bullfrogs of the Northwoods League. He was simply one of the best pitchers in the league. He went 3-5, with a 1.93 era in 74.2 innings pitched. He saved one game, gave up 50 hits, walked 20 and lead the league with 105 k's. 11 of his 18 appearances were starts for the Bullfrogs. He also struck out 2 batters in his 1 inning of work during the All-Star game. Perfect Game ranked him as the 7th best prospect in the league, while Baseball America has him as the 9th best prospect in the league.

Zach recently answered four questions for us.

Summer Ball--Who was your favorite baseball player when you were younger?
Zach Varce--Ken Griffey Jr.

SB--What were some of the best things about playing in the Northwoods League?
ZV--Traveling to different stadiums, the competition, and the fans.

SB--Do you have a summer assignment for next year yet?
ZV--Brewster Whitecaps in the Cape Cod League.

SB--What is your favorite baseball movie?
ZV--Major League---For Love of the Game

Thanks Zach.

To view a scan of his autograph, click here and here.

Levendoski Back With the Lunkers in 2010

From Summer Ball News Source
The Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers are proud to announce that Ryan Levendoski will return as field manager for the Lunkers 2010 season. This will be his fourth season in the Northwoods League and his second as field manager for the Lunkers.

"I am thrilled about the opportunity to return to the lakes area for the 2010 season," Levendoski said. "The Lunkers are a great organization with dedicated fans in a beautiful part of the state and I am really looking forward to building on what we started in the summer of 2009."

His passion for the game and dedication to the team last season made team owner/general manager Joel Sutherland's decision to bring him back an easy one.

"Ryan has proven time and time again that he is not only a great coach, but a fine mentor for the young players in our league," Sutherland said. "He is a great fit with our organization and we couldn't be happier to have him back next summer."

His past coaching experience includes seven years as the Head Coach of the Genoa-De Soto-Stoddard American Legion Program. In 2002, The Stoddard, Wis. native guided the Legion team to a Class A State Championship and a 3rd place finish in the Division II Midwest National Tournament. Currently, Levendoski is an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, Wis. Levendoski has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He received his Masters in Sport Administration from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in the spring of 2007.

Tech Baseball Releases 2010 Schedule

From Georgia Tech University
ATLANTA - Highlighted by five Atlantic Coast Conference home weekend series', Georgia Tech baseball's 2010 schedule as announced Wednesday by head coach Danny Hall includes 10 teams that participated in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

The Yellow Jackets open the 2010 campaign with eight games in the first 10 days, beginning with Missouri State for a three-game weekend series, Feb. 19-21, at Russ Chandler Stadium.

"I think when you look at our schedule the one thing that you'll see right away is that we get to open up earlier this year than we did last year," head coach Danny Hall said. "The NCAA gave us an extra week to play our season, which I'm excited about because it doesn't force us to play every Tuesday and Wednesday. Now we can space out some of those Tuesday-Wednesday games and have a little more room to play the season."

The Jackets will open ACC play at home against Wake Forest on March 12, one of five home conference series in 2010. Duke (Apr. 2-4), Clemson (Apr. 16-18), Virginia Tech (Apr. 23-25) and Miami (May 14-16) also will visit Russ Chandler Stadium.

Tech travels to Maryland (Mar. 19-21), North Carolina (Mar. 26-28), Virginia (Apr. 9-11) and NC State (Apr. 4-Mar. 2) before concluding with a three-game series at Boston College May 20-22.

Not on the schedule this year is Florida State, as the Seminoles roll off the ACC slate for the next two seasons.

"I think that Florida State is one of the premier programs in the ACC, and I don't like not having them on the schedule. I understand why we're not playing them, but it's not something that I really like because they always produce great games whether we're playing in Russ Chandler Stadium or at Florida State."

The mid-week schedule is filled with in-state teams, including a three-game series with rival Georgia. The Jackets and the Bulldogs square off March 16 on the Flats and Apr. 14, in Athens before concluding the series with the annual Children's Healthcare of Atlanta contest at Turner Field Apr. 27.

"I think it's a very competitive schedule that will challenge our team to the fullest," added Hall. "You look at the three games we have with Georgia. We play Georgia Southern four times. We play Mercer twice. We play Kennesaw State twice."

The 2010 Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament will take place May 26-30 in Greensboro, N.C. The five-day tournament will be held at Greensboro's NewBridge Bank Park.

"The ACC Tournament in Greensboro is a new experience in that we've never played there. I'm hearing that it's very hitter-friendly in the power alleys. I'm not sure that I like that, particularly with an aluminum bat. But everyone else has to play in it, and I think the biggest thing for us is making sure we're in that tournament because only the top eight teams in the league go. We definitely have our sights set on getting to Greensboro and then hopefully playing extremely well in that tournament."

The 2010 NCAA Tournament will kick off June 4 with regional action, to be followed by super regionals (June 11-14) and the College World Series (June 19-30).

Player To Watch For in 2010--Robbie Selden

Throughout the fall and winter, I will be highlighting, spotlighting or mentioning players that I believe are poised to have either big seasons in 2010 or are poised to have a breakout season. Again, I'm not a scout in any way or shape. The one constant factor in my picking of the players is that they all had productive summer seasons. I've slacked off a bit this week, so I'm doubling up on my Player To Watch For in 2010 lists today.

Robbie Selden is a senior rhp from Cal Luthern University. He is 6-5/215 pounds and hails from Moreno Valley, CA. He went 2-2, with a 3.47 era in 36.1 innings pitched last year. He lead the team with 5 saves and he fanned 36 batters as well.

Robbie pitched for the Conejo Oaks of the California Collegiate Baseball League this past summer. He went 3-1, with a 1.05 era in 60 innings pitched. He appeared in 12 games (9 starts) and he gave up 37 hits for the Oaks this season. He walked just 16 batters and fanned 57 this summer. He also held opponents to a .177 batting average. During the Oaks 5 games in the NBC World Series, Robbie pitched 11.1 scoreless innings. He walked 3, fanned 7 and gave up 9 hits during the W.S.

REGGIE CHRISTIANSEN TO SUCCEED SMITH AS SACRAMENTO STATE BASEBALL HEAD COACH

From Summer Ball News Source
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Sacramento State Director of Athletics Terry Wanless has announced that associate head coach Reggie Christiansen will succeed John Smith, who will retire following the 2010 season, as the school’s baseball coach.

“I am very excited to announce Reggie Christiansen as our next head baseball coach beginning in the 2011 season,” Wanless said. “I have been very impressed with not only Reggie’s work ethic and ability to teach the game of baseball, but his integrity and character. He has been a great asset to coach Smith, and I look forward to them working together during coach’s final season.”

Read the rest of this entry here.

Dobbins to Return to Wilson Tobs for 2010

From the Coastal Plain League
Brennan Dobbins, a junior right-handed pitcher for the University of Central Florida, will take the mound for the Tobs for the second straight summer.

Dobbins, a Longwood, Fla. native, will again be a strong contributor to the Wilson Tobs pitching staff. Last summer while in Wilson, he was considered by many around the Coastal Plain League to be one of the Tobs top pitchers. His 5-1 record combined with a 2.73 ERA and fanning 52 batters in 56 innings, made Dobbins an easy sign for 2010. His 56 innings led the Tobs last year and next year head coach Jeff Steele expects him to build on these impressive numbers.

“Brennan was one of our most reliable and prepared guys all summer” said Steele “He is a real gamer who makes every chance count”

During Dobbins’ sophomore year at UCF, he posted 12.60 ERA over 25 innings, but whiffed an impressive 23 hitters. For the Golden Knights, Dobbins was used mostly as a reliever but in his only start was able to pick up the win and earned another in a relief appearance.

The Wilson Tobs are a member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its fourteenth season, the Coastal Plain League features 15 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.

Player To Watch For In 2010--Joe Schmidtbauer

Throughout the fall and winter, I will be highlighting, spotlighting or mentioning players that I believe are poised to have either big seasons in 2010 or are poised to have a breakout season. Again, I'm not a scout in any way or shape. The one constant factor in my picking of the players is that they all had productive summer seasons.

Joe Schmidtbauer is a junior infielder fro Mesa State College in Grand Junction, CO. He is 6/3, 185 pounds and hails from Ft. Collins, Colorado. He spent this past summer playing for the College Park Bombers of the Cal Ripken Sr. League.

He lead the team with a .300 batting average and added a slugging percentage of .382, with an on base average of .379. He also lead the team with 17 runs batted in. He added 10 doubles and 1 triple to the Bombers offensive statistics this past summer as well. Joe walked 12 times, was fanned 24 times and stole 7 bases this past season.

I believe that Joe is healthy now, and should see significant playing time for Mesa State this spring.

Generals Re-Sign Two More for 2010 Season

From Summer Ball News Source
The Victoria Generals have announced the re-signing of two more stand-out players from their inaugural season. Third baseman Brian Nephew and left-handed pitcher Covey Morrow are set to return to help the Generals defend their regular season championship crown.

“These two young men had tremendous success in their first season with the Generals,” said Blake Koch, the team’s General Manager. “We are excited that they have chosen to come back to Victoria and play for us again.”

Nephew, who is currently a junior at the University of Texas at Arlington, was the Generals everyday third baseman this past season, hitting an impressive .291 while driving in 19 runs during the regular season. Prior to attending UTA, the Arlington native played for General’s head coach Chris Clemons at McLennan Community College in Waco.

“Brian came in last year and immediately asserted himself as the leader of our team,” Koch commented. “He comes to the park everyday with a positive attitude that rubs off on everyone around him. Brian is a great competitor that we can always rely on in big game situations.”

Morrow, a 6’5” left handed pitcher from Texas State University, returns to the Generals after being added to the roster with only three weeks remaining in the 2009 season. Morrow was dominant during his short stint with the Generals, appearing in five games, throwing 15 innings, and only giving up one run for a microscopic 0.60 ERA. Morrow attended Yoakum High School where he compiled an impressive career, pitching in 123 innings and striking out 206 with a 0.96 ERA.

“We are always happy to have local guys like Covey play for us,” Koch continued. “Covey came in at the end of the season and gave our pitching staff a much needed lift after we lost a few guys to injuries. We are excited to see him pitch a complete season for us here in Victoria.”

The Generals will return to action in early June at Riverside Stadium. Fans that are looking for unique Christmas gifts can get season tickets and team merchandise at the General’s team shop located at 3708 N. Navarro St. Suite A in the Landmark Shopping Center or online at www.victoriagenerals.com. Season tickets go on sale November 2 and all merchandise will be 25% off.

TD AMERITRADE Park Omaha Named New Home for Creighton Bluejay Baseball

From Summer Ball News Source
OMAHA, Neb. - Creighton University and the Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority (MECA) have reached an agreement for the Creighton Bluejay baseball team to play its home games at TD AMERITRADE Park Omaha. The MECA board approved a 10-year lease agreement with Creighton at its Oct. 27 board meeting.

Under the lease agreement Creighton will play some home games in 2011 and all of its home games in 2012 at TD AMERITRADE Park Omaha. This includes Missouri Valley Conference games and annual games against in-state rival Nebraska. Creighton games will be part of the TD AMERITRADE Park Omaha suite and club seat packages.

MECA Board Chair Gail Werner-Robertson said the lease agreement strengthens the positive relationship between the two organizations.

"MECA and Creighton have an excellent working relationship and we thank Creighton University President Father John Schlegel and athletic director Bruce Rasmussen for their continued support of our facilities and the City of Omaha," Werner-Robertson said. "We are proud to have Creighton basketball and now baseball as anchor tenants at Qwest Center Omaha and TD AMERITRADE Park Omaha."

Creighton University President the Rev. John P. Schlegel S.J., said Creighton Bluejay basketball took a major step forward after moving to Qwest Center Omaha, and he sees the same opportunities for the Creighton baseball program.

"Creighton Bluejay basketball has become one of the nation's home attendance leaders, and we see excellent potential for baseball attendance growth at TD AMERITRADE Park Omaha," Schlegel said. "There is great excitement for Bluejay baseball and we are anxious to start playing our home games at the new ballpark."

MECA President and CEO Roger Dixon said the agreement with Creighton creates new opportunities for additional baseball action at the new stadium.

"As the home park for Creighton baseball, we intend to work together for consideration as a host for Missouri Valley Conference tournament and the regional and super-regional games before the NCAA College World Series begins each June," Dixon said. "We also intend to keep the park active after the baseball season with concerts and family events. We look forward to the completion of construction and opening of TD AMERITRADE Park Omaha in spring of 2011."

University of Maryland Eastern Shore sending two to Sherrill

From Summer Ball News Source
October 26, 2009 The Silversmiths have received commitments from John DesChamps and Donnie Haines from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

DesChamps is a 6'2" 175 lbs, sophomore pitcher who led the UMES staff in innings pitched last year as a freshman and looks to be a big part of their staff once again this spring.

Haines is a 6'0" 195 lbs, freshman pitcher/outfielder who will be competing for time both on the mound and in the outfield as a middle of the order type hitter.

The Silversmiths are pleased to announce these commitments and are continuing to build for 2010.

John Denton's Knights Insider

From Summer Ball News Source
Terry Rooney makes no bones about the fact that he left one of the best jobs in all of college baseball more than a year ago to become the manager of UCF's baseball team. Rooney so believed in the enormous growth potential at UCF that he left LSU with the belief that he'd soon turn the Knights into a national powerhouse.

Apparently some of the best baseball prospects in all the country share Rooney's belief that UCF is a powerhouse program in the making.

Rooney's latest recruiting class is ranked No. 4 overall by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. The stellar class, which includes 21 players, was also ranked No. 10 in the country by Baseball America.

Read the rest of this entry here.

Tradewater Pirates Hire Pitching Coach

From Summer Ball News Source
The Tradewater Pirate collegiate baseball program proudly announces that it has hired Spencer Martin as its pitching coach for the 2010 season. Spencer Martin is currently an assistant coach at Penn State Greater Allegany University. Martin graduated from Methodist University and served as Pitching Coach for the Albany Dutchmen in the New York league in 2009.Martin in reunited with fellow Methodist University graduate William Blake Newsome who was earlier named as 2010 head coach of the Pirates. The Tradewater Pirates have won the regular season championship in each of the past two years in the KIT league. The Pirates were also the first team in KIT League history to win the league championship tournament as well as the regular season championship.

Four Questions With Kody Campbell

Kody Campbell is a sophomore infielder from Southeast Missouri State University. He is 6/4/210 pounds and hails from Oran, MO. As a true freshman last year, he hit .298/448/414 in 47 at-bats. He scored 12 runs, drove in 8 and hit 1 homer. He also walked 8 times and was fanned 6 times.

He spent this past summer playing for the Sikeston Bulls of the KIT League. He was one of the best hitters in the league this summer. He hit .313/411/464 in 163 at-bats. He hit 10 doubles and 2 homers for the Bulls. He scored 27 runs and knocked in 28. He also walked 42 times and struck out 32 times this summer.

Kody answered four questions for us.

Summer Ball--Who was your favorite baseball player when you were younger?
Kody Campbell--Albert Pujols

SB--What were some of the best things about playing for the Bulls?
KC--Playing with and making friends with guys from all over the country--Just getting to play baseball every day.

SB--What are your plans for next summer?
KC--I just signed a contract with the Butler BlueSox, in the East Division of the Prospect League.

SB--What is your favorite baseball movie?
KC--Major League

Thanks Kody.

You can view a scan of his autograph here.

Huskies Name Hersey As New Manager

From Summer Ball News Source
The Duluth Huskies have hired a former Assistant Coach Daniel Hersey as Field Manager for the 2010 Northwoods League season.

Hersey, currently an assistant coach at Central Florida Community College, and formerly at St. Leo College from 2003 - 2008, brings in a wealth of summer collegiate baseball knowledge as he has served as an assistant coach for the Zephyrhills Snappers in the Florida Collegiate Summer League, the Duluth Huskies in the Northwoods League, and as a Head Coach for the Wilmington Sharks of the Coastal Plain League. Also a Pitching Coordinator for the All American Prospects in Florida, he has coached many of the highest caliber Baseball Prospects in Florida.

"We're very pleased and excited to bring Daniel back to Duluth," General Manager Craig Smith said. "We were looking for a coach that brings managing experience coupled with Northwoods League coaching experience. We have no doubt he will put a highly competitive team on the field that the Northland can be proud of."

A native of Key West, Florida, Coach Hersey played collegiate baseball at Rollins College and the University of West Georgia.

While Coaching in Duluth in 2006, Dan met local teacher Catherine Callahan and the two will also be wed in Duluth this summer.

Hiring of Tradewater Pirates Head Coach

From the Tradewater Pirates
The Tradewater Pirate Collegiate Summer Baseball program in Dawson Springs, Kentucky is proud to announce the hiring of William Blake Newsome as their head coach for the 2010 season. The Pirates have won the KIT League each of the past two years and were the winners of the league end of the year tournament. Blake Newsome is an assistant coach at University of North Carolina at Pembroke. This past summer he was an assistant coach for the CPL Florence Redwolves. In 2009 the Pirates were coached by Brandon Kitch of Rose College in Oklahoma and by Brad Cowan of Pensacola Junior College.

SwampDogs Continue to Build Stellar Staff

From The Fayetteville SwamDogs
The Fayetteville SwampDogs announced today the latest addition to a stellar coaching staff. The SwampDogs welcome Brad Rupert to the team for the 2010 summer.

Coach Rupert is a 1984 graduate of VacavilleHigh School in Northern California. He started his college playing career at Cosumnes River College and finished at CSU Chico where he played for two years. After graduating with a BS in Physical Education and Health Science in 1991, Rupert accepted the Asst. Coach position at Shasta College in Redding, Calif. After five years coaching under the legendary Brad Peek, Coach Rupert accepted the head job in 1996. He is entering his 14th season as the head coach for the Knights.

Along the way, Rupert has coached and placed over a 100 players in Div. I programs and just as many in very good Div. ll and NAIA programs. Several players have signed professional contracts. Rupert was named coach of the year for the Golden Valley Conference in 1998, 2000, and 2003. The Knights have had five state playoff appearances.

Coach Rupert is no stranger to summer baseball. In 1998, Rupert and Skip Handelsman coached in the Northwoods league with the now defunct Kenosha Kroakers.
Coach Rupert spent the summers of 2002, 2007 and 2008 in Alaska coaching an elite CaliforniaCommunity College travel team. The Bears of California. The 2002 team featured Dallas Braden (Oakland A's) and Phil Coke (New York Yankees).

"That team went up to Alaska and beat all of the Alaskan Summer teams that were made of mostly Div. I players. Most of the players went on to Top Div. l schools and some are still playing minor league baseball. It took five years before they invited us back. That was a special group," explained Rupert.

In 2003 and 2004, Rupert was named the field manager for the Mankato MoonDogs of the Northwoods League. Brad has been married to Molly for 14 happy years and has two girls, Reilly (10) and Calley (8).

"Skip and I have a lot in common. We are the same age and both love teaching the game of baseball. We have been talking about coaching together for a long time. The timing is right. My family and I are looking forward to making Fayetteville our home for the summer and helping the SwampDogs achieve their goals," Rupert said.

"Rupe and I have been good friends for a long time and I have been trying to get him to come to Fayetteville for some time now," said SwampDogs head coach Darrell Handelsman. "We are fortunate to add someone with his experience and passion for the game to our organization. He will be a true asset as we embark on our 10th season in Fayetteville and work towards a CPL championship."

Peru State pair sign with Dawgs

From the Okotoks Dawgs
The Okotoks Dawgs are pleased to announce that they have added a pair of Peru State Bobcats for the 2010 summer season. Andre Kinder and Alejandro Gonzalez will join the Dawgs next June.

Andre Kinder, a 6’1’’ 200 lb LHP/OF native of Albion, New York, is going into his junior year at Peru State College in Peru, Nebraska. Andre is coming off a tremendous season. Offensively, Kinder held a .459 batting average in 111 at bats, with 2 homeruns and 27 RBI. He also added 41 stolen bases which was third in junior college baseball.

Read the rest of this entry here.

Power Names a New Head Coach for the 2010 Season

From Summer Ball News Source
The Niagara Power would like to announce that Eric Ebers will be the new head coach for the upcoming 2010 Baseball Season. He replaces Sam Kirby who managed the Power for the last three seasons. Ebers was the pitching coach for the Niagara Power's 2009 Season. "We needed to take the team in a new direction this coming year and Eric has already proved to be a huge help in recruiting. He has become our main recruitor for the team and that was one of the facets I was looking for in a new head coach," says Niagara Power General Manager, Cal Kern.

Following a very successful collegiate pitching career at big-time baseball school Mississippi State University, Ebers played in the highly prestigious M.I.N.K. and Northwoods summer leagues. He also pitched professionally in the Frontier, Northern and American Association leagues.

Ebers resides in Starkville, Mississippi with his wife Katie. He is a physical education instructor and baseball coach at Columbus High School in Columbus, Mississippi during the school year. Just recently, because of family priorities, Ebers turned down an opportunity to be the pitching coach at Division I Tennessee-Martin University for this upcoming school season.

Former Nitro is Head Coach for 2010

From Summer Ball News Source
Former Nitro (2005) RYAN SHOCKLY (Spalding University) Has been signed to Guide the 2010 Nitros. Coach Shockley a Graduate of Lindenwood University had a very sucessful career as a middle infielder for 4 years. He was named 1st Team All-Conference, First Team All Region his senior year. He led the his team to the final four Championship, and a NAIA World Series Berth. He is the current career hits leader at Lindenwood University.

Sliders Sign Two More Boilermakers

From Summer Ball News Source
SPRINGFIELD, IL – In addition to signing Purdue left-handed pitcher Calvin Gunter, the Sliders also signed two more players off the Purdue Boilermakers roster. Both freshman Cameron Perkins and Pat Gannon will be joining the Sliders in the summer of 2010.

Cameron Perkins is a 6-foot-5, 190 pound right-handed hitter from Indianapolis, Indiana. He broke the Indiana state record for batting average, hitting an astonishing .723.

Left-handed pitcher Pat Gannon is 6-foot, 180 pounds from Brother Rice High School in Evergreen Park, Illinois. He finished his high school baseball career with a 17-4 record.

The Boilermakers finished 25-26 (11-12 Big Ten) and lost to the Minnesota Golden Gophers in their third game of the Big Ten Conference Tournament. Drew Wurdack, was also pitched for the Sliders last summer, is a member of the Boilermakers pitching staff.

The Sliders finished 22-32 last summer and look forward to an exciting 2010 of summer baseball. Stay tuned to the Sliders website for more updates on next seasons roster.

The Springfield Sliders are a member of the Prospect League, a wood bat summer league featuring players from across the country. For ticket information contact the Sliders office at 217-679-3511 or visit the website at www.springfieldsliders.com.

Kubiak, Battipaglia return to league

From Summer Ball News Source
The Outer Banks Daredevils Baseball Club recently signed pitchers David Kubiak and Jerry Battipaglia for the 2010 season. Kubiak, a right-handed junior from Albany, pitched last summer for Outer Banks. He held a 2-0 record and 2.88 ERA in just more than 40 innings.

His best performance came last during the Coastal Plain League Petitt Cup semifinals. In the first of the three-game series at First Flight Baseball Complex, Kubiak struck out eight of the first nine Peninsula batters and finished with 16 strikeouts while facing 27 batters. Outer Banks won the game 4-3.

It was one of the strongest displays by any pitcher on our field,” Daredevils General Manager Owen Hassell said. “David certainly grew during the season and became a very effective pitcher.”

Battipaglia, a sophomore right-handed pitcher from Villanova, was a starter for CPL North Division rival Petersburg in 2009. He was 2-1 with a 1.29 ERA for the Generals and a CPL All-Star. He was unable to pitch in the game, however, due to injury and threw sparingly the rest of the summer.

He first proved his worth in the league at Outer Banks on June 5, allowing just one hit through six innings in Petersburg’s 2-1 win.

“We’re glad to have a player who has shown he can compete at a high level in this league, and Jerry will continue to keep our pitching staff strong in the CPL,” Hassell said.

To see the completed 2010 team schedule, go to www.obxdaredevils.com and click the schedule link. Last summer was a banner year for Outer Banks, winning the first half CPL North Division title and reaching the semifinals of the Petitt Cup Playoffs. The Daredevils were ranked as high as No. 7 in the weekly Perfect Game Crosschecker poll of the country’s top summer league teams, and had seven league all-stars.

Outer Banks is a member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Heading into its 14th season with 15 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 Web site at www.coastalplain.com.

New Playoff Format and Scheduling Changes Announced

From the Wareham Gatemen and by Scott Eaton
CARY, NC: The Cape Cod Baseball League will make two significant changes that will affect the regular season schedule and the post-season playoff format. Like 2009, the league will expand the number of teams that will qualify for post-season play. Additionally, double-headers will be featured as part of the 2010 regular season schedule.

The championship series will return to the traditional West vs. East match-up in a best of 3 final for the CCBL Championship. However, the biggest change is that the top 4 teams in each division will qualify for post season play. As a result, there will be two first round playoff series in each division with the winners moving onto a division championship playoff match-up. The winners of the division championship series will move on to the West vs. East CCBL Championship. All playoff match-ups in each round will be scheduled as best-of-three series.

To allow for an exanded playoff format, teams will play at least one scheduled double-header at home and one on the road. The schedule will be released shortly but the season will kick-off on Sunday, June 13th, 2010. The Gatemen will play that day vs. an opponent to be announced in the only scheduled game of the day; holding with the tradition of the league having one special opening game to kick-off the new season.

Coach C. Todd Godlewski to skipper the Pirates

From Summer Ball News Source
The Pirates have announced C. Todd Godlewski to skipper the 2010 Schenectady team in the ECBL. Godlewski previously coached the Vermont P.N.A. Eagles of the ECBL during the 2008 and 2009 campaign. Godlewski's background also includes one season (2003-2004) as the Head Coach for the Division III Minnesota State University-Moorhead Dragons, compiling an 18-11 record. Prior to his work at Minnesota State University, Godlewski was the Pitching Coach for District 2-2A St. Fredericks High School in Monroe, Louisiana (1999-2002). Godlewski’s pitching staff led the team into the state quarterfinals two of the three years. Godlewski began his collegiate level coaching career with the AAABA Schenectady Blue Jays (1994-1998). Godlewski also played five seasons with the Schenectady Blue Jays dating back to 1989.

Godlewski has served as a Graduate Assistant Coach for former Louisiana State University Tigers Head Coach Ray “Smoke” Laval while Coach Laval was at the University of Louisiana-Monroe. Godlewski also worked as an understudy for three seasons, with the current pitching coach for the Georgia Bulldogs, Brady Wiederhold. Godlewski has facilitated dozens of baseball camps and clinics for over 500 athletes.

Godlewski was a three-year letterman at Gannon University in 1991, 1992, and 1993. While playing, Godlewski compiled a pitching record of 29-9 for the Gannon University Golden Knights.

Godlewski, 38, earned his M.A. in Communications from the University of Louisiana. He earned his Bachelors of Science in Business Administration and Associate of Science in Finance from Gannon University in 1993. A native of Niskayuna, N.Y. Godlewski is married to the former Amy Denise Spillers of Downsville, LA and they currently have a one year old son, Anderson Todd Godlewski.

Aggie Baseball Set for Fall World Series

From Summer Ball News Source
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Texas A&M baseball team will conclude off-season workouts this week with the annual Fall World Series at Olsen Field.

The best-of-five series will open Monday at 4 p.m. One game is scheduled each day this week, with the series concluding Friday afternoon. All games will be played regardless of outcome, admission is free and fans are encouraged to attend.

The "Farmers" and "Plowboys" have been battling all fall for the coveted Omaha Cup, a trophy that rewards the squad that compiles the most points throughout the fall in many areas of competition--not only through on-field results, but effort, classroom attendance, academic performance and community service, among others.

A&M returns six starters and 20 letterwinners from last year's squad, which posted 37 wins and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season. The 2010 season will begin on Friday, February 19 against Olsen Field against Seton Hall.

FALL WORLD SERIES SCHEDULE:

Game 1: Monday, Oct. 26, 4 p.m. Game 2: Tuesday, Oct. 27, 4 p.m. Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 28, 4 p.m. Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 29, 4 p.m. Game 5: Friday, Oct. 30, 4 p.m.

ULM Fall Practice Underway

From Summer Ball News Source
MONROE, La.-Coming off its best back-to-back seasons since 2000 and 2001, the ULM baseball team has begun its preparations for the 2010 season as the Warhawks are a week into fall practice.

"Things are going well so far," head coach Jeff Schexnaider said. "We have a great group of seniors who are leading by example on the field. We are excited about the new guys that have come in this season. Not only are they talented baseball players, but they are also extremely hard workers. We have a lot of depth this season, which has provided competition at a lot of positions." Read the rest of this entry here.

(Photo is courtesy of ulmwarhawks.com)

Blog Related Info

Now that fall is fully upon us, I wanted to ask for your help in gathering information about the 2010 summer rosters. If you have roster updates or where a particular player will play next summer, please email me at 316sports@gmail. I really believe that summer ball fans would love to know where some of their favorite players will be spending their 2010 summers.

Also, feel free to stop by the forums section of the blog. I have a great group of loyal readers here, so stop by and say hello.

Sean Kinney Named Bend Elks Coach

From the West Coast League
The Bend Elks have a new coach for the 2010 season. Sean Kinney, an assistant coach under Scott Anderson last season, takes over for the upcoming season. Kinney has been an assistant coach at Whitman College since 2006. He played for the Elks in 2002 and 2003. Anderson will remain with the Elks as pitching coach, a position he formerly held for three seasons.

Donnie Wilson To Lead Copperheads In 2010

From the Asheboro Copperheads
Donnie Wilson enjoyed his summer as an assistant coach under Tim Murray in 2009 and says he can’t wait to return to Asheboro in 2010 in his new role as head coach of the Copperheads.

Wilson, 26, was recently named to succeed Murray as the team’s coach for 2010 after Murray opted not to return for a third season. He was the only multi-year head coach in the 11-year history of the Coastal Plain League franchise. Wilson is a native Californian and is an assistant at the College of the Sequoias in his home state. Although he hails from the West Coast, Wilson is no stranger to the region having graduated from Western Carolina University, where he played outfield for the Catamounts under current University of Tennessee head coach Todd Raleigh. He transferred to WCU after playing two years at College of the Sequoias.

“I enjoyed spending this summer in Asheboro and am very excited about being back with the organization and getting this opportunity to serve as the head coach next summer,” said Wilson recently. “The CPL is one of the best summer collegiate leagues in the country and I’m looking forward to working with some outstanding college players. My goal next season is to get the Copperheads back to post-season play and compete for the Petitt Cup championship.”

“We are very appreciative of the time and efforts Tim put into coaching the Copperheads the past two summers,” said Ronnie Pugh, one of the Copperheads’ owners. “He brought stability and maturity to our program. What he did for us the past two summers will help us in our efforts to bring a championship team to Asheboro. We’re pleased to be able to elevate Donnie to the head coaching position. Spending this summer here as an assistant and working closely with Tim is certainly a big plus and should make for a smooth transition. We’re confident he’s going to do a great job.”

“Donnie has a great desire to help us put a winning team on the field next season,” said David Camp, Copperheads’ general manager. “Not only does he possess a great knowledge of the game, but his personality coupled with his motivational and communication skills are huge pluses that we believe can play a crucial role in getting the most from the talent we hope to bring here next summer.”

“I’m happy for Donnie,” said Murray, who will be entering his fifth season as head coach at Asheboro High School. “This is an awesome opportunity for him as he continues to build his college resume. I think he’ll do a very good job.”

“These past two years were a great learning experience for me and I want to thank the Pugh family for giving me the opportunity to serve as the head coach of the Copperheads,” Murray added. “I’m looking forward to being able to relax a little next summer and do some things I haven’t been able to do the last couple of years. Being head coach (of the Copperheads) is something I enjoyed very much, but it’s a very time-consuming job and it can really wear on you. I just felt like two years was enough. But I plan on coming to quite a few games and supporting Coach Wilson and the Copperheads.”

As an outfielder, Wilson helped lead the Catamounts to the Southern Conference regular season title and a berth in the NCAA tournament as a senior. He is in his third year as an assistant at College of the Sequoias, located in Visalia between Los Angeles and San Francisco. He worked with Major League Baseball as an “envoy coach” in the fall of 2008, spending 10 days in Beijing, China, teaching baseball techniques to youngsters as part of a group that included Detroit Tigers’ star Curtis Granderson.

“I think working under Coach Murray this past summer allowed me to learn what it takes to be a head coach in the CPL and how to be a professional in that role,” Wilson added. “It will be different handling the day-to-day duties without Tim, but I’m confident I can get the job done.”

Home-Heavy Schedule For Rebs

From Summer Ball News Source
LAS VEGAS - A total of 35 home games, matchups with three teams that went to the NCAA Tournament last year and tilts with perennial powers Arizona and Long Beach State highlight the 2010 UNLV baseball schedule, which was announced by the athletics department Friday.

The Rebels open their season at home on Feb. 19 against Sacramento State and that begins a stretch where 19 of UNLV's first 22 games will be at Earl E. Wilson Stadium, with a total of five teams visiting in the season's first four weeks. Head coach Buddy Gouldsmith will begin his seventh season guiding the Rebels against his alma mater, as he graduated from Sacramento State in 1992, and he expects it to be the start to an exciting year at Wilson Stadium for Rebel fans.

Read the rest of this entry here.

Four Questions With Jake Magner

Jake Magner is a junior infielder from the University of North Dakota. He is probably the best baseball player in the State of North Dakota. He hit .393/673/459 in 168 at-bats for the Fighting Sioux last year. He smacked 10 homers and drove in 51 as well last year.

Jake spent this past summer playing for the Edenton Steamers of the Coastal Plain League. He hit .310/540/397 in 187 at-bats. He scored 38 runs, drove in 37 and hit 12 home runs for the Steamers. He was 4th in the league in slugging percentage, tied for 1st in homers, and 2nd in the league in total bases.

Jake answered four questions for us.

Summer Ball--Who was your favorite baseball player when you were younger?
Jake Magner--Derek Jeter

SB--What were some of the best things about playing for the Steamers?
JM--Atmosphere....playing in front of a thousand fans every night. Also playing against top competition in the nation.

SB--In your opinion, who was the best pitcher you had to face this past summer?
JM--Graham Stoneburner--Petersburg Generals

SB--What is your favorite baseball movie?
JM--Major League


Thanks Jake. Click here and here to view scans of Mark's autographs.

Josh Faiola ’06 To Be Featured on E:60

More often than not, the news (including ESPN) will focus on negative stories. On October 27th, ESPN will tell the story of Josh Failo and his "host family." You can view the Dartmouth press release here.

(photo is courtesy of Dartmouth)

Player To Watch For In 2010--Alan Denman

Throughout the fall and winter, I will be highlighting, spotlighting or mentioning players that I believe are poised to have either big seasons in 2010 or are poised to have a breakout season. Again, I'm not a scout in any way or shape. The one constant factor in my picking of the players is that they all had productive summer seasons.

Alan Denman is a junior infielder from Beaver Falls, PA. He is 6-3/195 pounds and will play for Campbell University after transferring from USC-Sumter. He hit .427 in 164 at-bats for the Fire Ants last year. He also added 11 homers and 43 rbi's last year. He was named All-Region X, All-Tournament team, and earned the Rawlings National Gold Glove at first base in 2008.

Alan played for the Battle Creek Bombers of the Northwoods League this past summer. He hit .290/353/397 in 214 at-bats. He hit 13-2-2 hr's, scored 39 runs and drove in 25. He also walked 18 times and was fanned 33 times.

Alan should see plenty of playing time for the Fighting Camels this spring.

McNair Field to Host South Atlantic Conference Tourney

From The Coastal Plain League
The Forest City Owls have announced that McNair Field will be the host for the 2010 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Baseball Championship. The tournament will be held Thursday April 22 through Sunday April 25. The South Atlantic Conference competes in NCAA Division II and features nine schools in the Carolinas and Tennessee. The top six teams will make the double elimination tournament.

The South Atlantic Conference is made up of Brevard College, Carson-Newman University, Catawba College, Lenoir-Rhyne College, Lincoln Memorial University, Mars Hill College, Newberry College, Tusculum College, and Wingate University. The 2009 SAC baseball championship was won by Catawba.

South Atlantic Conference Commissioner Patrick Britz noted “We are thrilled that the 2010 Food Lion SAC Baseball Championship will be hosted by the Forest City Owls and held at McNair Field. Both the city of Forest City and the Owls organization have been very gracious and welcoming toward the SAC and will provide a great experience for the teams and fans.”

“We are very excited to host the SAC tournament this spring” said Owls General Manager James Wolfe. “The SAC is one of the most competitive conferences in the NCAA Division II every year, and I’m sure our fans will recognize many of the players from their time in the Coastal Plain League. I think it is a great fit for both Forest City and the SAC.”

Game times and ticket information will be announced at a later date. For more information contact the Forest City Owls at (828) 245-0000 or visit http://www.forestcitybaseball.com and http://www.thesac.com.

The Forest City Owls are a member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league, heading into its 14th season. Featuring 15 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 http://www.coastalplain.com.

K-State Releases 2010 Baseball Slate

From Summer Ball News Source
MANHATTAN, Kan. - A 13-game homestand during the month of March and 29 games against 2009 NCAA Regional competition highlight Kansas State's slate as head coach Brad Hill released the Wildcats' 2010 baseball schedule on Thursday. Read the rest of this entry here.
(photo is courtesy of Kansas State Athletics)

Walla Walla Franchise Names General Manager

From the West Coast League
Sports management veteran Zachary Fraser is the first general manager of the West Coast League's Walla Walla franchise. Fraser will oversee all aspects of the organization, including baseball operations, sales, marketing, and general administration. "We were impressed by Zachary's knowledge of the business of baseball," said John Stanton, the team's managing partner. Fraser joins Walla Walla from the Seattle Storm of the WNBA, where he directed the ticket sales and service departments. His baseball experience includes serving as general manager of the Orem Owlz of the Pioneer League.

17 NWL Alums Competing in AFL

From The Northwoods League
The Arizona Fall League season began last week with 17 former Northwoods League players among the six team's rosters. Annually, Major League teams send some of their top prospects to the AFL where the teams compete in a 40-day season that wraps up a few days before Thanksgiving. Each AFL roster consists of players from five Major League organizations. For example, the Mesa Solar Sox have players from the Marlins, Cubs, Twins, Angels, and Red Sox.

Read the rest of this entry here.

Top Prospect In the Southern Collegiate League

I have been very fortunate to be able to work with Allan Simpson and the fine folks over at Perfect Game/PG Crosschecker. Perfect Game is the #1 high school baseball recruiting site on the web, and their knowledge and coverage of college baseball prospects is arguably the best around. Allan and his staff are in the process of ranking the top 25 prospects from all the major college summer leagues. You will need to become a subscriber to Perfect Game to view the list, but I have been give permission to publish the entire top 25 lists from the Alaska Baseball League, Great Lakes League and the NYCBL. I have also been given permission to publish the remaining leagues intro's and their leagues top prospect. (To become a subscriber to Perfect Game, please visit this link.)

SOUTHERN COLLEGIATE LEAGUE

TOP 10 PROSPECTS, 2009

COMPILED BY ALLAN SIMPSON

In Association with League Managers and Scouts

Official League Website: http://www.scbl.org/

FAST FACTS

Year League Established: 1999.

States Represented in League: North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee.

Level of Competition (1-to-4 Scale, 1 being highest): 4.

No. of Teams in League: 7.

Regular-Season Champion: Tennessee Tornado.

Post-Season Champion: Tennessee Tornado.

Teams, PG Crosschecker Summer 25/Final Ranking: None.

No. 1 Prospect, 2008: Anthony Sosnoskie, c, Lake Norman Copperheads (Virginia Tech; played in Cape Cod League in 2009).

First 2008 Player Selected, 2009 Draft: Teddy Fallon, rhp, Carolina Thunder (USC Upstate; Pirates/43rd round).


Most Valuable Player: Zeke Blanton, dh, Morganton Aggies.

Most Outstanding Pitcher: Adam Beach, rhp, Carolina Stingers.

Top Prospect (as selected by league): None selected.


BATTING LEADERS

Batting Average: Zeke Blanton, dh, Morganton Aggies (.415).

Slugging Percentage: Samson Williams, of, Morganton Aggies (.619).

On-Base Average: Zeke Blanton, dh, Morgantpon Aggies (.482).

Home Runs: Sam Eberle, 3b, Tennessee Tornado (7).

RBIs: Samson Williams, of, Morganton Aggies (34).

Stolen Bases: Zeke Blanton, dh, Morganton Aggies; Fabian Harper, ss, Tennessee Thunder (18).


PITCHING LEADERS

Wins: Kevin Bratcher, rhp, Morganton Aggies; Wes McIntyre, rhp, Spartanburg Blue Eagles (6).

ERA: Adam Beach, rhp, Carolina Stingers (1.36).

Saves: Jason Trivette, rhp, Tennessee Thunder (9).

Strikeouts: Wes McIntyre, rhp, Spartanburg Blue Eagles (65).

Opponent Batting Average: Sean Albury, rhp, Tennessee Thunder (.127).


BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter: Sam Eberle, 3b, Tennessee Tornado.

Best Power: Joaquin Valdes, 3b, Carolina Stingers.

Fastest Base Runner: Shane Brown, of, Lake Norman Copperheads.

Best Defensive Player: Brian Litwin, of, Lake Norman Copperheads.

Best Velocity: Sean Albury, rhp, Tennessee Tornado.

Best Breaking Ball: Sean Albury, rthp, Tennessee Tornado.

Top 10 Prospects

PLAYER POS. TEAM B-T HT WT YR 2010 SCHOOL

1. Brian Litwin OF Lake Norman Copperheads R-R 6-4 210 So. Duke

SCOUTING REPORT: There wasn’t a player in the Southern Collegiate League this summer that could match Litwin’s athleticism and raw tools. His speed (6.5 in the 60), raw power, defensive ability and arm strength all graded above-average. But the key for Litwin, a 24th-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008, lies in his development as a hitter. That may be a challenge as he batted just .195 with six RBIs in 21 games as a freshman at Duke, and continued to struggle this summer with Lake Norman. He batted .231-2-30 and struck out 42 times in 130 at-bats. Litwin has an aggressive, explosive approach to hitting but the holes in his swing were routinely exposed. He also stole just six bases for the Copperheads as his speed was largely negated because of his simple inability to reach base consistently. Litwin hit well over .400 in both his final two years at a North Carolina high school, and he could blossom as a prospect if he can come close to hitting the ball like he did then.

To view the rest of the top 25 list, become a subscriber click here.

Baseball Team Participates in Read Aloud

From Summer Ball News Source
FAIRFIELD, CT - Several members of the Sacred Heart baseball team went to Black Rock Elementary School on Wednesday, October 21 to participate in Read Aloud program. The Pioneers spent the day reading to every class in the school.

Team members participating were Greg Depalma, Mike Drowne, Carl Brooks, Jeff Heppner, MJ Schifano, Robert Griffith, Hunter Phillips, Steve Armato, Rocco Gondek, Mick Oswald, Mike Korevec, John Hermanson, Mike Olszyk, James Ineson, Troy Scribner, and Corey Corcoran.

Smith to Return for Third Season as Edenton Steamers Head Coach

From The Coastal Plain League
The Edenton Steamers Baseball Club is proud to announce that Marty Smith will return to serve as the team’s head coach for the 2010 summer season. This will mark the third campaign that Smith will lead the Steamers, a member of the Coastal Plain League’s North Division.

“It’s fantastic to be a coach of really good baseball and work in a place like Edenton,” Smith explained. “The players strive to be the best baseball players they can be. The Steamers expect to contend for a league title before each season and that makes you feel good as a coach that the city and organization have set high standards.”

Smith guided Edenton to a franchise-record 39 wins in 2007. That season featured first and second half North Division titles and a berth in the CPL’s Petitt Cup playoffs. He returned to the North Carolina coast last summer and led the Steamers to a playoff appearance and winning record for the sixth consecutive year. The team ranked among the league leaders in home runs, stolen bases, batting average, and ERA in 2009.

“The Edenton community and our Steamers organization are very fortunate to have Marty Smith at the helm again in 2010. Many people may not understand that this position goes beyond what occurs between the lines; and Marty handles his off-field responsibilities with equal aplomb. He has truly become a friend to this town and an ambassador for our franchise,” declared team president, Katy Ebersole.

Highlights from the Steamers 2009 campaign, under Smith’s leadership, featured infielder Gerard Hall being named the CPL All-Star Game’s Offensive Most Valuable Player. Jake Magner, Anthony Markham, and Billy Swanson also earned all-star honors.

“Edenton is the foundation of the Coastal Plain League that every year competes for a league title despite being a small market team,” Smith added. “The fan base expects good quality baseball and for the players to be hard-working. The Coastal Plain League is a great league and the Steamers are one of the organizations that make the league successful.”

Smith is in his first season as the assistant coach in charge of pitching at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and will also serve in a recruiting capacity, after serving as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Angelo State University (Texas) for five years. While at Angelo State, he helped lead the Rams to a NCAA Division II World Series appearance in 2007 and a national ranking to end the 2009 season.

Smith played college baseball at Hardin-Simmons University (Texas), where he still holds single-season and career records for stolen bases.

The 2010 summer season with the Steamers will once again be a family affair for Smith as his wife, Lauren, and two-year-old son, Brody, will return to Edenton.

“We love spending time in the awesome atmosphere at the ballpark. It is great having your son around great young men that can play and hang out with him. The host family situation and with me being family-oriented creates a great situation for us to be in.”

The Edenton Steamers are a member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its fourteenth season, the Coastal Plain League features 15 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.

Gators Are No More

Although the news is a month old, the Fauquier Gators of the Valley League have ceased operations. Apparently, they tried to find someone to take over the clubs operations, but their efforts failed. You can read the release here.

A baseball team dies -- does Clermont care?

From FRANK JOLLEY

Sports Columnist at the dailycommercial.com

Baseball fans in New York cried when the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants moved to California after the 1957 season.

It's likely the only people crying about the demise of the Clermont Mavericks are the team's owners and the 20 or 30 die-hard fans that supported the franchise during its only two seasons of existence.

That's right, the Clermont Mavericks -- the Florida Collegiate Summer League champions in 2008 and runners-up in 2009 -- are no more. Team owners Tim Dye and Dan Decker made that official Friday in an e-mail sent to FCSL officials. Read the rest of this entry here.