Rafters add two new coaches for 2010 summer season

From WAOW.com
Wisconsin Rapids, WI (PRESS RELEASE) – March 29th, 2010. The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are excited to announce the addition of coaches John Hessel and Josh Tavelli for the inaugural season in 2010. Hessel and Tavelli, who each maintain a strong focus in hitting and fielding, will be brought on as assistants to Field Manager, Scott Laverty. Hessel has been the Director of Baseball Operations for the University of Nevada- Las Vegas (UNLV) since June of 2007. Tavelli will join the Rafters after a season as Assistant Coach at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California.

As the Director of Baseball Operations for UNLV, Hessel has been in charge of organizing a majority of the team's functions. His exceptional leadership skills have guided him in successfully planning team schedules, travel arrangements, and managing the program's budget. His experience and organizational skills will be invaluable as Hessel helps the Rafters transition to life in the Northwoods League.

In addition to Hessel's administrative experience, he has also displayed a great understanding of baseball on the diamond. For the past five years, Hessel has been the head baseball coach at Sierra Vista High School along with teaching in the physical education department. As a teacher Hessel focuses on strength and conditioning, body composition, and player development.

Tavelli is a 2008 graduate of the University of California- Irvine where he excelled on the field for the Lions. Tavelli was able to jump right into coaching upon graduation and spent last season with Vanguard University.

"I am excited to continue my coaching career in the Northwoods League," said Tavelli. "I have seen lots of friends come through the League and they've found success in all aspects of the game. The Rafters will give us a unique experience with the chance to progress as coaches in a competitive league."

Tavelli will work with the team's infielders as well as the hitters' approach at the plate which is his favorite part of the game to coach.

"I love teaching hitting," said Tavelli. "Motivating the young players is fun and I love seeing the progress these guys can make with some hard work. It's great to help make a difference in their careers."

The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are also excited to announce that Viroqua, WI native, John Fanta, has joined the Rafters front office as the team's Assistant General Manager.

"I'm extremely excited to assist with the start-up of this franchise and to be a part of the inaugural season," said Fanta. "I look forward to working with the passionate fans of Wisconsin Rapids and can't wait for the season to begin!"

Fanta is a 2009 graduate from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, receiving his bachelor's degree in Sport Management and Business Administration. Fanta is familiar with the Northwoods League having spent the previous two summers as an intern with the La Crosse Loggers, working closely with ticket sales and operations. During college, he was also an intern in the Viterbo University athletics department where he was an assistant to the athletics director in events management.

Fanta graduated from Viroqua High School in 2005 and was a member of the 2004 and 2005 Viroqua American Legion baseball teams that won back-to-back state championships. He currently resides in Wisconsin Rapids.

The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters will have their home opener on June 6th at 6:05pm against the Eau Claire Express. Please visit www.raftersbaseball.com or call 715-424-5400 for ticket prices and latest team news.

Bombers Sign Mules Outfielder

The Sedalia Bombers of the MINK League have signed University of Central Missouri outfielder, Jon Wegener for the summer 2010 season.  Jon is a 6-2/200 pound junior from Raytown, MO.  He is currently hitting .337 in 89 at-bats for the #2 ranked team in Division II baseball.  He has hit 5 home runs, smacked 4 doubles and has driven in 24 base runners this season.

Great South League announces addition of Hank Aaron JR to Awbil Staff

From the Great South League
The Great South League and the AWBIL Royals are proud to announce that Hank Aaron Jr., will join the coaching staff of AWBIL for the 2010 season. Hank Aaron Jr., is the son of Hank Aaron Sr., Major League Baseball's legendary home run king.

Hank Aaron Jr., is presently working as an assistant baseball coach at Mundys Mill High School in Jonesboro, Georgia.

Hank Jr., will be the head coach of a team of players that include graduating high school seniors en route to college along with other college baseball players from the Atlanta area and vicinity.

Copperheads Add Six More To Roster

From the Coastal Plain League
Three pitchers and three catchers, all from Division I programs, are among the latest roster additions for the 2010 Asheboro Copperheads.

The six signees (pictured L-R, courtesy of respective school’s SID offices) include battery mates from both Rhode Island and Tennessee, plus another catcher and pitcher from a couple of Virginia programs, Longwood and George Mason.

From Atlantic 10 member Rhode Island, the Copperheads welcome catcher Milan Adams and pitcher Ken Graveline, two very experienced players. Adams started 48 games as a freshman in 2009 and is getting the majority of starts behind the plate thus far in his sophomore season. The 6-3, 215-pound Adams, from Exeter, RI, was named to the A-10 All-Rookie team as a freshman. His batting average was right around the .300 mark through the first 15 games this season. Graveline is a 6-2, 200-pound junior who is a weekend starter for the Rams and has been one of the workhorses of the staff the past two seasons. He won six games as a sophomore, appearing in 19 games and making seven starts. As of late March, he had a couple of wins in four starts and was second of the pitching staff in innings pitched. Graveline, who hails from Prospect, CT, pitched a pair of perfect games during his high school and American Legion days.

From Tennessee, the Copperheads will have the services of sophomore lefthander Josh Allman and catcher Adam King, a transfer into the Vols’ program from a strong Georgia JUCO program at Young Harris. King, a 6-2, 200-pounder from Alpharetta, GA, hit .319 in his only season at Young Harris and had a nice debut for the Vols this spring with doubles in his first two official at bats. Lefthanded pitcher Allman hails from Bryson City, NC, and graduated from Swain County High School, where he went undefeated as a senior in 2008 and was twice named all-conference. Allman, 5-11, 175, saw limited duty on the mound for the Vols as a freshman, but pitched scoreless ball in three of his four outings and did not walk a batter. He is working out of the bullpen again this spring.

Robby Newman of Longwood will also bring some impressive credentials to Asheboro this summer. The 6-3, 220-pound catcher from Virginia Beach has tremendous power potential and already has a wealth of collegiate experience behind the dish. He started 46 games as a freshman for the Lancers, belting four homers along with seven multi-RBI games and an 11-game hitting streak during one stretch. He had four homers halfway through his sophomore season this spring as the team’s No.1 signal caller.

The Copperheads are also getting an experienced pitcher in George Mason righthander Ryan Pfaeffle, a 6-2, 190-pounder from Commack, NY. Pfaeffle has been both a starter and reliever in two seasons for the Patriots. As a frosh, he started six games and made five relief appearances. Opposing hitters batted just .220 off Pfaeffle in 2009 and he finished his freshman year with a fine 3.35 ERA in 45-plus innings. As a high school senior he put up some amazing numbers, including a miniscule 0.29 ERA.

The Asheboro Copperheads are a member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 14th 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 and hosts. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at http://www.coastalplain.com.

Slack Helps To Lead UNC Greensboro Past Davidson

UNC Greensboro Junior pitcher, Warren Slack pitched 8.1 strong innings of baseball to help lead the Spartans over rival Davidson last night.  Warren allowed 3 earned runs on 9 hits, while fanning 7 en route to his 2nd win of the season.  Warren has signed on to play for the Asheboro Copperheads this summer, which will make it three straight summer he will have played for the Copperheads.

Vazquez Swinging A Hot Bat For Wingate

Chris Vazquez has been seeing the ball very well this season, as he is now batting a team-high .417 in 108 at-bats for the Wingate Bulldogs.  Chris, a sophomore ss from Tyrone, GA also leads the team with 11 doubles and has hit 4 home runs this spring.  The hot-hitting infielder has signed on to play for the Statesville Owls of the SCBL this summer.

Former Honker Picks Up Award

Former Rochester Honker and current Oral Roberts senior pitcher, Jeff Burleson has been named the Summit League Pitcher of the Week.  He picked up the award for his outstanding performance against Wichita State University, in which he pitched a five-hit complete game.  You can read the press release here.  Jeff went 4-3, with a 5.19 era in 34.2 innings for the Rochester Honkers this past summer.  (Photo is courtesy of ORU Media Relations)

Bells Lower Ticket Prices for 2010 Season

From the Bellingham Bells
Bellingham, Wash. – Each year the Bellingham Bells strive to provide their fans with affordable entertainment in a family-friendly atmosphere—the 2010 season will be no different. For the upcoming 2010 season, the Bells have cut ticket prices in an effort to pass the savings on to their fans.

The most expensive ticket in the ballpark this year is $7, down over 40 percent from the previous two seasons. With the single-game ticket adjustment, season ticket prices have also changed. This year, Bells fans can enjoy all the action of 29 home games from either of Bellingham’s reserved seating sections for $155 a seat. The new price represents a 22 percent savings in the Grandstand Reserved section and a 35 percent savings in the Dugout Box section.

The team has also developed a new ticket option for the 2010 season. For $49 fans can purchase a Bells Bonus Book which includes 20 general admission tickets. The new plan makes each ticket just $2.45 and represents a savings of $71 off the individual ticket price. Tickets purchased as part of the Bells Bonus Book can be used at any home game and fans have the opportunity to use them all at one game to bring out a group, individually for 20 different games, or whichever way best fits their baseball viewing pleasure.

“We wanted to make sure that our ticket prices reflected our commitment to the community of providing quality, affordable, and family-friendly entertainment to the city of Bellingham,” said Bells general manager Justin Stottlemyre. “We’re hopeful that people will respond to the price reductions. We want everyone to have a chance to catch as many games as they want during the summer without breaking the bank.”

During the off season, the Bells discussed the possibility of adjusting their ticket prices with a number of longtime supporters and received an overwhelming positive response. The price reduction positions the Bells as one of the most affordable teams to watch in the growing West Coast League as the average reserved seating ticket costs over $9 at other ballparks in the league.

The Bellingham Bells kick off their 12th season June 4, 2010 at Joe Martin Field against the Kelowna Falcons. Great season and group tickets are still available for the 2010 campaign by calling the Bells Ticket Office at 360-746-0406. Fans can also find out more about how to purchase season, group, and individual game tickets by visiting http://www.bellinghambells.com/.


About the Bellingham Bells
The Bellingham Bells are a professionally operated collegiate summer baseball team in the West Coast League. The team is owned and operated by Brett Sports & Entertainment which includes Major League Baseball Hall of Famer George Brett and Brett Sports managing partner Bobby Brett. The Bellingham Bells strive to provide their fans, sponsors, and partners with the very best in competitive baseball and affordable entertainment in a family-friendly atmosphere. The team is comprised of college baseball players from across the country. In recent years, the Bells have produced a number of Major League products including Jeff Francis of the 2007 National League Champion Colorado Rockies and Whatcom County natives Ty Taubenheim and Kevin Richardson.

-----

Justin D. Stottlemyre
General Manager | Bellingham Bells
jdstottlemyre@bellinghambells.com
Ph: 360.746.0406 | Fax: 360.671-3934
http://www.bellinghambells.com/

Campus Connection - UBC

From the Western Major Baseball League
This week's segment of Campus Connection looks at an institution right here in Canada. The UBC Thunderbirds, who play in the NAIA, went into the season with the highest pre-season ranking in school history (#13).  Read the rest here.

Recent Signings Having Big Spring

From the Northwoods League
Even though Opening Day 2010 for Northwoods Leagers isn't until June second, some of them are already making waves in the baseball world. With the college season well underway, more than a few of the recent NWL signings are raising eyebrows (and opposing pitchers ERAs in some cases).

Leading the charge so far is Eduardo Gonzalez, recently signed by the Willmar Stingers. Gonzalez is leading his college team, Alcorn State, with a .411 batting average. Close behind him are Paul Hoenecke of the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and the Green Bay Bullfrogs (.373 batting average, 10 RBI), Will Fadness of South Mountain CC/Eau Claire Express (.356 batting average, 10 RBI), Andrew Haake of the U of Nebraska Kearney/Willmar (.323 with three homers), and Joel Hutter of Des Moines Area CC/Green Bay (.324, one home run, 14 RBI).

On the pitching side of things, Pulama Silva has been nothing short of dominant so far for Yavapai College. Silva, who will play for Eau Claire this summer, has struck out 48 in 29 innings, and has an ERA of 0.93. Other notables are Arik Sikula of Marshall/Rochester, currently 3-2 with a 3.12 ERA, and Michael Wacha of Texas A&M/Madison, who has 41 strikeouts to go with 3 wins and a 1.38 ERA.

To read more about these and other recent player signings click over to the Northwoods League blog at blog.northwoodsleague.com.

McArdle Strikes Out Six

Stanford freshman, Dean McArdle had an excellent outing in Stanford's loss to San Francisco last night.  He pitched 3 shutout, 1-hit innings in relief last night.  He walked 1 and fanned 6 batters in his outing.  Dean is set to pitch for the Corvallis Knights this summer.

Catching Up With A Former Osprey

Joe Finora is certainly making the most of his senior year at Stevens Tech.  The Mattituck, NY native is 3-1, with a 2.83 era in 35 innings of work.  He has surrendered just 25 hits, walked 10 and fanned 33 batters this season.  He was also recently named the Empire-8 Co-Pitcher of the Week. You can read the press release here.

Joe played for the North Fork Osprey's of the ACBL this past summer.  He went a perfect 4-0 and had a 2.91 era in 34 innings of work.

Southpaw added to staff

From the Marion Bobcats
Austin Park is the latest addition to the Marion Bobcats. A sophomore at Wabash Valley College in Mt. Carmel, Ill., he is primarily a lefty pitcher but also plays first base. He is 6-1 and is 180 pounds and hails from Elburn, Ill.

"He is throwing well so far this year," said General Manager Gordon Guess.

Park is 2-0 with eight strikeouts in 11.2 innings with an ERA of 0.771.

Edenton Steamers Land Versatility with Three More Position Players

From the Coastal Plain League
Today the Steamers announced the signing of three more players. While the last several announcements have been pitching-related, the attention has now turned to adding some offensive firepower. That is just what was accomplished when we inked Robert Maddox, Kevin Gillespie and Brian Blasik. All three are currently playing at the Division 1 level with Gillespie and Blasik even competing against each other in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Maddox meanwhile plays for the Ohio Bobcats of the Mid-American Conference.

Robert Maddox is a left-handed slugger capable of playing first base and the corner outfield. He is also a middle of the order caliber hitter. Maddox was drafted by the Braves in the 34th round in 2007. He spurned Atlanta in order to play for Ohio. As a sophomore last year he hit .320 with 13 HR and 55 RBI. That impressive performance was followed by a stint in the Valley Baseball League last summer. While there, Maddox hit .275/.362/.438 with three doubles, two triples, and two home runs in 80 at-bats. Entering his junior season, Baseball America named him to the 2010 preseason Mid-American All-Conference team. He has not disappointed, as he is currently hitting .346, tied for the team lead with four homers, and also boasts 18 RBI through 20 games.

Edenton Steamers manager, Marty Smith, was quick to qualify that, “Robert is a prototypical left-handed RBI man for our level. After turning down pro ball out of high school, he’s enjoyed a successful offensive career with Ohio that has included two productive summers heading into his tour with us. He’s probably our truest defender at first base, but we sure also value that his athleticism and arm strength allow him to man a corner outfield spot with ease, as he’s done for Ohio this spring.”

Kevin Gillespie is an infielder who hits left-handed while throwing right-handed. This spring, he’s been the everyday third baseman, but he can also play the other infield positions with aplomb. He is a redshirt-junior for the UNC-Charlotte 49ers, who is hitting .319 this season. He is also displaying power and productivity with four bombs, 21 RBI, and a .479 on-base percentage keyed by 18 walks versus only 12 strikeouts. Baseball America named him the preseason Atlantic Ten Conference Top Newcomer for 2010. In the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League last year, he was third in hits and led the league in assists with 135 from the shortstop position. A former all-region junior college shortstop at Lincoln Trail College (Illinois), Gillespie is from Bedford, Indiana.

“Kevin has a chance to be very important for us between where he could end up in the batting order and his ability to play three infield positions with above average defense. He’s a natural shortstop, giving us some protection at that spot, and it’s showing this spring with his performance at third down at Charlotte. His entire career, including last summer in the Great Lakes, he’s shown excellent pure hitting ability, on-base skills, and is a good enough runner to steal some bags for us.”

Brian Blasik plays for the Dayton Flyers in the Atlantic Ten Conference. This year, he has been used mainly as a designated hitter starting every game. He is hitting .289 with six doubles and a pair of homers. While playing for the Southampton Breakers in the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League last summer, he produced an excellent line of .299/.383/.530. He showed good speed stealing 14 of 15 bases, while playing all over the diamond. He is comfortable on the infield or in the outfield. A native of Germantown, Ohio, Blasik should bring an aggressive quality to the Steamers while being able to play many different positions.

“Brian is a player that you just have to have in summer ball. It’s an everyday caliber bat in a super utility defender. Despite DH-ing every day so far for Dayton, we know he’s capable at second base and the corner outfield, and could even cover shortstop or center field in a pinch. I had Adam De La Garza last summer and Ryan Bledsoe back in ’07; both guys were just huge in terms of being able to handle multiple positions well and still produce at the plate. As a first-time starter this spring, he’s experiencing the grind a little bit and fighting through some strikeouts. But he’s an aggressive player with sub-6.8 speed, so we expect him to have success.”

Coach Smith summarized the signing of all three players by maintaining, “Robert, Kevin, and Brian constitute three of our most important signings because of their supreme versatility in combination with excellent offense. Between them, they can play every position on the diamond except the battery. Couple more left-handed sticks (Maddox, Gillespie) doesn’t hurt and we think both Gillespie and Blasik will be able to help us in the run game.”

Edenton 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 http://www.coastalplain.com.

Harrington Is C-USA Hitter of the Week

ECU's Dustin Harrington has been named the Conference USA Hitter of the Week.  The Pirates went 5-0 last week behind Harrington's outstanding hitting.  He went 12 for 20, with 2 home runs and 9 rbi's.  You can read the press release here. Dustin played for the Hyannis Mets this past summer, where he hit .265 in 136 at-bats.

Generals Sign K-State Outfielder

The Petersburg Generals of the CPL have signed Kansas State junior outfielder, Kent Urban.  Urban is a 6-0/225 pounder from Seward, NE.  He spent his first two years of college at Barton County, CC, where he was named a Honorable All-Jayhawk Conference selection as a sophomore.

Kent is off to a fine season in Manhattan.  He is hitting .338/.507/.422 in 71 at-bats.  He's hit 6 doubles, smacked 2 home runs and has driven in 16, while scoring 21 runs.  He has also stolen 5 bases for the #20 ranked Wildcats.  (photo is courtesy of KSU Athletics)

Cotton Named SAC Player of the Week

Tusculum's Sean Cotton has been named the South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week. The following is from the SAC Press Release:

Cotten, a junior catcher from Mooresville, N.C. (Lake Norman HS), went 9-for-16 (.562), including four home runs and 14 RBI to lead the Pioneers to a perfect 4-0 record. Tusculum posted a win over Southeast Region opponent Limestone, followed by a three-game sweep at Lincoln Memorial. Cotten opened the week with a 2-for-4 effort in Tusculum’s 9-6 win over Limestone. In Tusculum’s 23-15 win over LMU in the series opener, Cotten went 3-for-5 with two homers and seven RBI. The RBI tally is tied for the second most in Tusculum single-game history. In the second game of the series, he accounted for a home run and followed with a perfect 3-for-3 effort, including three RBI and his fourth round-tripper of the week in TC’s 17-10 win over the Railsplitters. He scored six runs and posted a 1.313 slugging percentage. He was also perfect in his 29 fielding chances.

Sean hit .174 in 69 at-bats for the Asheboro Copperheads last summer.

West Coast League Welcomes Two Japanese College Stars

From the West Coast League
Two Japanese pro prospects will be playing for the Kitsap BlueJackets this summer. Southpaw pitcher Koji Hamaguchi and right-handed hitting catcher Hiroto Ohmachi will join the BlueJackets following their season at Riseisha College. "I can't tell you how excited I am to have these guys come to play in the West Coast League," said Kitsap coach Matt Acker.

Generals announce signings of Austin Peay trio

From the Waynesboro Generals
Austin Peay has had a pipeline into Waynesboro sending players to play in the summer for the Waynesboro Generals. The pipeline will send three members of the Governors program to Waynesboro in 2010.

Pitcher Lucas Anderson, middle infielder Jon Clinard and outfielder Cody Hudson have signed to play with Waynesboro in the Valley League this summer, the team announced today.

Anderson, a 6-3, 208-pound sophomore, is 0-0 with a 11.25 ERA in eight innings out of the Austin Peay bullpen in 2010. He was 1-2 with a 7.78 ERA as a freshman in 2009.

Clinard, a 5-10, 177-pound sophomore, is third on the Governors in hitting in 2010 with a .333 batting average. Clinard has stolen 14 bases in 15 attempts through 18 games for Austin Peay this season.

Clinard was named to the All-Ohio Valley Conference freshman team in 2009 with a .287 batting average and 25 stolen bases.

Hudson, a 5-11, 183-pound freshman, is hitting .278 with a .344 on-base percentage and .481 slugging percentage with eight stolen bases in nine attempts in 2010.

Former Grand Lake Star Named MAC West Player of the Week

Former Grand Lake Mariner and current University of Toledo shortstop Jared Hoying (photo is courtesy of Toledo athletics) has been named the MAC Division West Player of the Week.  He went 9 for 19 last week and has helped the Rockets (13-8) to their best record in the last 10 years.  You can read the press release here.

Jared was an All-Star for the Grand Lake Mariners last summer.  He hit .375 in 96 at-bats for the Mariners. He also hit 4 home runs and knocked in 29 runners.

UT-Tyler Star Set To Return To The Niagara Power

Matt Schimpf has agreed to return to the Niagara Power for a 2nd stint with the Power and his third season in the NYCBL.  (Matt briefly played for the Bolivar AIA team in 2008).  Matt is a junior pitcher from Arlington, TX.  He starred at Arlington Martin high school.  Currently, Matt is 2-0, with a 1.64 era in 22 innings pitched for the UT-Tyler Patriots.  He has made 13 appearances, saved a team-high 2 games and has fanned 23 batters.

Matt had a team-high 4 wins for the Power this past summer.  He also had a very nice 3.88 era in 69.2 innings of work.  He walked 18 batters, fanned 43 and was one of the workhorses for the Power in 2009.

Tobs add Keen player

From the Wilson Tobs
Wilson, NC — The Wilson Tobs are pleased to announce the addition of Heidelberg University infielder Gar Keen for the 2010 season.

The junior, from Sparta, OH, has impressed during his three years with Heidelberg. Through 15 starts this year, the 5-10, 165 pound Keen is batting .354 with seven doubles, seven RBI and four stolen bases in five attempts.

In 2009, Keen led Heidelberg in doubles (17), total bases (117), slugging percentage (.613), RBI (61) and homeruns (8). He had 21 stolen bases in 28 attempts. Keen was also second on the team with 72 hits and 119 assists.

His career has garnered several accolades. He was named to the D3Baseball.com All-American Honorable Mention, ABCA All-Mideast Region First Team and is a two-time All-OAC First Team selection.

Defensively, Keen figures to be a prominent fixture at second base for the Tobs this summer. He currently sits second on the Heidelberg squad in turning double plays with 10 this season.

“We have a real quality defender with a very strong arm in Keen,” head coach Jeff Steele said. “His left-handed bat will be a very nice option this summer as well.”

The Wilson Tobs are a member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 14th 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 and hosts. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com.


Contact:
Ben Jones
252-291-8627

McCullough takes some lumps, yet learns lessons along way

From the Stamford Times
FAIRFIELD -- For a moment, it looked like it would be another setback for former Stamford baseball standout Gavin McCullough in just the second inning of Fairfield University's game against Quinnipiac on Thursday, March 18.   Read the rest here.

Segel eager for Knights' promotions this summer

From the Gazette Times
The season opener is still 72 days away and the home opener isn't for 11 days after that.

But it's never to early to generate some preseason buzz and Corvallis Knights president Dan Segel says he's "pumped" about the West Coast League team's promotional schedule for its fourth season at Goss Stadium.  Read the rest here.

Boyd Is On Fire For OSU

Matt Boyd is having quite a start to his freshman season at Oregon State University.  Boyd, a 6-3/215 pound lefty from Mercer Island, WA is 4-0, with a sparkling 1.90 era in 23.2 innings pitched this year.  He has allowed just 16 hits, walked just ONE and fanned 17 batters.  He is also holding opponents to a .188 batting average.  Matt has signed on to pitch for the Corvallis Knights this summer.

Ravens’ pitcher throws another gem

From the Sentinel Source.com
RINDGE — Junior right-hander Jose Macias allowed just one run on four hits in eight innings to lead Franklin Pierce University to an 8-2 victory over St. Anselm Thursday in its Northeast-10 baseball opener at Dr. Arthur and Martha Papas Field.  Read the rest here.

Two New Teams Join Eastern Collegiate Baseball League

The Eastern Collegiate Baseball League will expand by two this summer, as the Syracuse Salt Cats and a team from Herkimer will join the league.  This is a press release from the Rome Thunderbolts:

The GM's from the ECBL met on Sunday to discuss many topics including the league schedule. The schedule is complete minus two games that every team needs to schedule with one of our new teams. Two new franchises in Syracuse and Herkimer have joined the ECBL which has changed the way we were going to schedule games in our league. Each team will play one another other four times, twice at home, twice away. We will now have two divisions, East and West. The West division is comprised of the Rome Thunderbolts, Oriskany Blazers, Sherrill Silversmiths and the Syracuse Salt Cats. The East will have the Utica Brewers, Herkimer, Schenectady Pirates and the Tri-County Bees.


As for the playoffs, the top two teams in the East will face each other and the same will go for the West. The winners of those games will play a two out of three series determing the ECBL champion. The league champion will receive an automatic bid to the NABF World Series while the runner up will receive a bid to the NABF Regionals and a chance to go to the World Series. The Regionals will be played in Youngstown, Ohio starting on July 29 while the World Series will be in Toledo, Ohio beginning on August 5. An added incentive to make it to the World Series is that ESPN will be covering a portion of the games live!

Sikula Returns to Honkers

From the Rochester Honkers
(Rochester, MN)-- The Rochester Honkers Baseball Club announced today their closer from the 2009 Championship team, Arik Sikula, will return for the 2010 season. Sikula will be joined by Marshall University teammate, Ian Kadish as pitchers for the Rochester Honkers.

Sikula is a 6-foot 198-pound right-handed junior pitcher. He is currently is 3-2 with a 3.12 ERA. Sikula has made 7 relief appearances, pitching 17.1 innings and striking out 12. Last summer for the Honkers, Sikula finished the regular season 3-1 with a 1.14 ERA. He appeared in 30 games, pitching 39.0 innings, and struck out 51. He held opponents to a .203 batting average against. Sikula recorded 2 saves during the post season including game #3 of the NWL Championship Series.

Kadish is a 6’1”, 196-pound junior right-hander that is the Thundering Herd’s Friday night starter. He is currently 1-2 with a 6.12 ERA over 5 starts. Kadish has recorded 20 strikeouts in 25.0 innings of work. As s sophomore, Kadish pitched 23.1 innings, in 19 appearances and struck out 20.

Marshall University participates in their first Conference USA series this weekend, at Tulane. Ian Kadish will start game 1, Friday night, and Sikula will get his first start opportunity Sunday afternoon.

The Rochester Honkers 17th season begins on June 2nd when they travel to Mankato, MN for a 7:05pm start. Their home opener is Thursday, June 3rd against Mankato at Mayo Field starting at 7:05pm. Season Tickets, Bonus Books, Suites and Patios are now available. Call the Honkers office at 507-289-1170 for more information.

Wood County's rich history tied to Witter Field

From the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune
(photo is courtesy of McMillan Memorial Library)
When it takes the field in June, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters will become the latest group to call one of south Wood County's most iconic sports facilities home.  Read the rest here.

Muskrats Sign Judson University Pitcher

The Laconia Muskrats of the NECBL has signed Nick Krisman from Judson University.  Nick is a junior pitcher from St. Joseph, IL.  To date, he is 2-2, with a 3.51 era in 25.2 innings pitched.  He has also walked 4 batters and fanned 14 this season.

Two More Commit to Bullfrogs

From the Green Bay Bullfrogs
The Bullfrogs have announced the signing of two players for the 2010 season. With these two signings, the Bullfrogs have seven players on the roster. Infielders Paul Hoenecke (UW-Milwaukee) and Joel Hutter (Des Moines Area CC) are rejoining the Bullfrogs after playing with Green Bay last summer.

A native of Kewaskum, Wisconsin, Hoenecke returns to Green Bay after a successful summer in 2009. He had the highest batting average of the Bullfrogs, hitting .285. Hoenecke drove in 25 runs and belted two homeruns and 10 doubles for the Bullfrogs in 2009.

Hoenecke, a sophomore, is currently leading the Panthers of UW-Milwaukee in batting average (.373), hits (19), and runs batted in (RBI) (10). In 2009, his freshman year, Hoenecke batted .286 with three homeruns and 30 RBIs.

Hutter, a sophomore at Des Moines Area Community College, has helped lead his team to an 8-1 record to start the 2010 season. He has started all nine games for the Bears. Hutter is batting .324 with one homerun and 14 RBI in the start of the 2010 season.

With the Bullfrogs in 2009, Hutter appeared in 53 games, had 41 hits in 182 at-bats and batted .225. In the 41 at-bats, Hutter recorded one homerun and nine doubles. He also registered 17 RBIs.

The Bullfrogs are scheduled to open their season on June 2 against the Battle Creek Bombers at 6:35 P.M. at Joannes Baseball Stadium in Green Bay. Season and Group Tickets for the 2010 season are on sale now. For more information on the Bullfrogs, visit our website www.greenbaybullfrogs.com. You can also follow the Bullfrogs on Facebook and Twitter.

New Site/Domain Name!

I (and many others) were growing very tired of having .blogspot.com at the end of my blog address, so I was determined to find a new domain name.  Unfortunately, a couple people that run far inferior blogs, "bought" the rights to the .com version of summer ball.  So, update your bookmarks to include http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/.  I'm not going anywhere.  Summer Ball is still the #1 college baseball blog on the net.

Also, feel free to send me any information that's related to summer ball.  As a one man blog, I sometimes miss or overlook some pretty interesting information.  You can email me directly at 316sports@gmail.com.

Temple Owl Flies to Wilson

From the Coastal Plain League
Steve Nikorak (picture courtesy of Temple SID office) will play summer collegiate baseball in Wilson pin stripes.

The East Stroudsburg, Pa., native is a junior talent at Temple University that plays multiple positions on the diamond. Standing at 6-2, 215 pounds, Nikorak plays primarily at first and third base, but also pitches for the Owls.

The right-hander made one start on the mound for Temple in 2009, and did not allow a run during his 3 1/3 innings of work.

Nikorak’s versatility as a player will certainly work as a major asset for the Tobs this summer.

“He will play primarily for us at one of the corner spots, but the fact that we have an extra arm available to us is wonderful,” said Tobs head coach Jeff Steele.

Added to Nikorak’s flexibility, the intangibles he brings could be the biggest asset of all.

“He will be a great addition because of his ability,” added Steele. “But he’s also a team captain for Temple and one of the hardest workers on and off the field.”

At Stroudsburg High School, Nikorak was a two-time Pocono Record Player of the Year, the 2007 American Legion Player of the Year and captured the league MVP for batting .406 with 30 RBsI.

The Wilson Tobs are a member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 14th 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 and hosts. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at http://www.coastalplain.com/.
 

Torrington Titans getting ready for season

From Pat Tiscia at the Republican American
(photo is courtesy of the RA)

With a little more than two months until the season-opener, the newly-founded Torrington Titans are putting the final touches on their inaugural season roster.  Read the rest here.

28 Former Athens Pirates in Siena-New York Tech Series

From Summer Ball News Source
This past weekend, Siena College went on the road to play the New York Institute of Technology (New York Tech) in a 3 game series. Siena took all three games 21-14 (1st game); 13-4 (2nd game); and 9-8 (3rd game) at the home of NYIT in Old Westbury, New York.

This in itself was not the whole story of the weekend's competition. As a backdrop the series was a "reunion" or "matchup" of former Athens Pirates, the well-known College Summer League team from Athens, GA and a member of the Great South League.

The teams rosters account for 28 former Athens Pirates players: 12 from Siena and 16 from NYIT. Last years players (Siena - Danny Paolini; Ryan Poplawski, Andrew Sawyer, Nicco Stento) (NYIT- Sebastian Grazziani, Mike Roth) were teammates on the 2009 Athens Pirates. The 2008 Athens Pirates had: (Siena - Kevin Quaranto; Zach Hartman; Kyle Sumple) and (NYIT - George Carroll; Christian Diena; Eric Cos; Preston Wasmund).

The players enjoyed their "reunion" and look forward to summer ball.

Future Elk Pitching Well For The Wolves

Michael Ward is off to a great start for the Western Oregon Wolves.  To date, he is 3-1, with a 2.00 era in 36 innings pitched.  He has made 5 starts, has 1 complete game and has only surrendered 22 hits.  He has an excellent bb/k ratio of 4/27 and has limited opponents to a .176 batting average.  Michael should be one of the better pitchers on the Bend Elks staff this summer.

College Baseball Weekend Preview

From the La Crosse Loggers
As the season goes on and teams start entering conference play we continue to bring you previews of your future La Crosse Loggers. This weekend features UCLA attempting to keep their perfect season intact, a local guy looking to continue to lead his team up in the rankings, and more future teammates squaring off.

Heyer and the Wildcats to face Oregon in conference opener

The University of Arizona begins Pac-10 Conference play this weekend as they face the Oregon Ducks in a three-game weekend series. Arizona is currently on a 13-game winning streak which is their longest since the 2007 season. Kurt Heyer (Arizona – Fr. – RHP) continues to lead the Wildcats pitching staff with his 3-0 record which includes a 2.10 ERA and 43 strikeouts while allowing just four walks. Heyer is currently tied for second in the Pac-10 in strikeouts as he accounts for 24.9% of the team’s strikeouts despite pitching just 18.2% of the teams innings pitched.

Perfect record on the line as Bruins face Cal Poly

On Thursday the Bruins kept their perfect season alive as they extended their record to 18-0. The 18-game win streak is currently the second longest streak in the nation trailing only Arizona State (20). Dean Espy (UCLA – So. – IF) went 3-for-5 with two RBI on Thursday as the Bruins defeated Cal Poly 11-7 in the series opener. The two teams will play twice more this weekend as Espy continues to impress in his first season as a Bruin. Espy continues to lead the Bruins with 23 RBI while hitting for an impressive .400 average.

Lamb and the Huskies get first victory against future teammate

Jacob Lamb (Fr. – IF) and the University of Washington will take on Ryan Behmanesh (So. – RHP/IF) and Dallas Baptist University twice more this weekend after Washington came away with the 7-4 victory on Thursday. Both players will look to improve over the weekend as neither collected a hit in the first game of the series. The first game saw plenty of excitement as the Huskies put together a four-run ninth inning to take the lead and seal the victory as they held Dallas Baptist scoreless in the bottom of the ninth. Expect both Lamb and Behmanesh to heat up over the weekend though as they are both key hitters in their respective lineups.

O’Dowd looking to continue success of last weekend’s debut

The weekend series between Dartmouth and Bethune-Cookman got underway on Thursday as Bethune-Cookman came away with the 4-2 victory as Dartmouth left two base runners on to end the game. The two will play twice more this weekend as Chris O’Dowd (Dartmouth – Fr. – C) will look to continue the success of which he enjoyed in his debut last weekend. O’Dowd went 4-for-7 in the two games he played in last weekend as Dartmouth earned victories over both Bradley and Long Island.

Winona State climbing in the rankings

Despite dropping to No. 4 in the Central Region in the poll that the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association puts out, the team has moved up to No. 26 in the national poll. A big part of the early success that the 10-4 Warriors have had is due in large part to the performance of Tony Mueller (Winona State – So. – RHP/OF). Mueller continues to lead the Warriors with a .455 batting average as he is also the team leader in innings pitched with 18.2. This weekend Mueller and the Warriors face Minnesota Crookston in a double-header on both Saturday and Sunday. Games will be played in Winona with the first game scheduled for 1:00 pm on Saturday.

San Diego State to open conference play in New Mexico

Teammates and returning Loggers Brandon Meredith (San Diego State – So. – IF) and Blair Moore (San Diego State – Fr. – IF) will travel to New Mexico this weekend as the Aztecs open Mountain West Conference play against the University of New Mexico. Meredith is currently on a six-game hitting streak during which he has gone 9-for-25 (.360) with five RBI. Along with the streak, Meredith is hitting .410 over the team’s last 10 games. Moore had his own six-game hitting streak earlier in the season before it came to an end on March 4th.

Other intriguing matchups

Cal-State Fullerton vs. Hawaii (weekend series)

San Diego @ Coastal Carolina (weekend series)

Pepperdine vs. Stoney Brook (weekend series)

Memphis vs. Rice (weekend series)

Wichita State vs. Bradley (weekend series)

Oral Roberts vs. North Dakota (weekend series)

Florida Gulf Coast vs. Kennesaw State (Friday, DH Saturday)

Nebraska vs. Oklahoma (weekend series)

Great South League Player, Jono Waugh of the Big Train, named National Player of the Week

From Summer Ball News Source
Jono Waugh of Southern Polytechnic State University (Ga.) has been selected as the NAIA National Baseball Player of the Week, the National Office announced Tuesday. Waugh is the second honorees of the 2010 season based on his performances from March 15-21. Waugh was chosen out of a pool of conference player of the week selections among 20 conferences and independents.

Waugh, a 6-0 senior shortstop from Oxford, Ala., led the Hornets to a win over NCAA Division II University of West Georgia and a three-game sweep of conference foe Southern Wesleyan (S.C.) last week. He batted .706 (12-for-17) knocking in 8 RBIs, scoring eight runs and posting six extra-base hits, including two home runs.

He nearly hit for the cycle going 4-for-5, coming up a single shy in the 9-3 win over West Georgia. He finished with six RBIs, two triples, one double, one homer and scored twice. In NAIA statistics, he ranks first overall in triples (6), total bases (91), and third in runs scored (43) and total hits (47). Waugh played summer ball last season for the E. Alabama Big Train of the Great South League. For more information about the GSL, go to: www.greatsouthleague.com . He is signed again as a "Player/Coach" for the Big Train for the 2010 season. The Great South League has a couple of roster spots per team for graduating seniors (or players that have used up their college eligibility in 2010) as "Player/Coaches" to help them prepare for a chance at professional baseball.

Staunton Braves finalize coaching staff

The Staunton Braves of the Valley Baseball League have finalized their 2010 coaching staff.  Lance Mauck, assistant coach at Towson University will return as head coach of the Staunton Braves this summer. Paul Lamarr, assistant coach at Concordia College, NY, will be the pitching coach while Phil Savage, who was an assistant coach with last summers #1 Forest City Owls will assist the Braves hitters. Rounding out the Braves coaching staff will be first year coach Anthony Jackson who is finishing up his senior season with Sheppard University.

Woodchucks Revamp Logo

From the Northwoods League
The Wisconsin Woodchucks Baseball Club is excited to announce the unveiling of a new fan-friendly logo. This will be the first time since 1999 that the franchise's logo has been given a face-lift.

The new primary logo still features the fan-friendly Woody Woodchuck. The new, revised Woody, sporting a forest green cap and jersey, displays a more revealing face than what he has had over the past decade. While the "old" Woody was in a pitching motion, the new version features Woody preparing to swing a wood bat. The circle around the swinging Woody resembles the end of a log with small notches chipped into the sides. A revised "Wisconsin Woodchucks" font is around the border of this highly unique, log-like look. "We think the Woodchucks fans will be excited to see the fresh take on the new Woodchucks look, additional logos, and uniform's" said Woodchucks General Manager Ryan Treu. "We had started this process about two years ago and it has been exciting to see the transformation of the revamped logo".

In conjunction with the new logo launch this season, the Woodchucks will be donning new uniforms at Athletic Park this summer. The new home uniforms include "CHUCKS" lettering across the chest, and the jersey and pants are white with black pinstripes, similar to that of the New York Yankees. The black home caps will feature the Woodchucks secondary trademark, a bold tan "W" outlined with black and vegas gold.

The Woodchucks 2010 home opener is on Thursday, June 3rd as they take on the Madison Mallards. For group outing/ticket information contact the Woodchucks office at 715-845-5055 or visit the Woodchucks website at woodchucks.com.

Colopy Joins Bomber Organization

From the Northwoods League
The Battle Creek Bombers Baseball Club is pleased to announce that Brian Colopy has joined the front office staff as the team's Assistant General Manager.

"I am excited to be a part of the Battle Creek Bombers and the Northwoods League," says Colopy. "I'm looking forward to the challenges of the upcoming season, along with a great season of Bombers Baseball."

Colopy, 26, is joining the Bombers from Augusta, Georgia where he worked as the Corporate Partnerships Manager with Ripken Baseball and the Augusta GreenJackets of the South Atlantic (Class A) League. Prior to that, he was the Assistant General Manager for the Southern Ohio Copperheads Baseball Team in the summer collegiate Great Lakes League.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Colopy earned his Master's Degree in Sports Administration and Business Administration from Ohio University. During his collegiate career, Colopy was a member of Ohio University's Varsity baseball team and later became the Assistant Baseball Coach at Capital University in Columbus.

Colopy continued his competitive baseball career as a member of the Chillicothe Paints Professional Baseball Club (Frontier League) for two seasons in 2005-06.

The Battle Creek Bombers begin their fourth season of play on June 2, 2010. For schedule information, or to reserve your season tickets, call (269) 962-0735 or e-mail to info@battlecreekbombers.com.

Rafters sign two more players including one Pointer for summer season

From WAOW.com
Wisconsin Rapids, WI (PRESS RELEASE)– March 23rd, 2010. The Rafters added a familiar name to many in the area today when they announced the signing of infielder Justin Jirschele (UW-Stevens Point). The club has also signed UNLV freshman catcher Craig Shul to a 2010 contract.   Read the rest here.

Yellow Jackets hire new coach

From the Star Pheonix
The Western Major Baseball League's Saskatoon Yellow Jackets have a new head coach.  Read the rest here.

All American Comes to the All American City

From the Fayetteville SwampDogs
The Fayetteville SwampDogs are pleased to announce the addition of Heidelberg University (OH) pitcher Andy Lowe to the 2010 SwampDogs roster.

Lowe, a 6-0, 165 pound right-handed reliever, has had an impressive career so far for the DIII Student Princes. As a sophomore in 2009, the Heidelberg hurler led the team with a microscopic 1.34 E.R.A, which is also the best single season E.R.A. all-time at the Tiffin, OH University. Appearing in 27 games, Lowe saved nine games while holding opponents to a .191 batting average. The Fort Wayne, IN native finished the season with a record of 3-1 in 53 and two-thirds innings pitched.

The remarkable 2009 season helped Lowe earn numerous accolades. The Heidelberg pitcher was named to the D3baseball.com All-American Second Team, the ABCA All-American Third Team, and the ABCA All-Mideast Region First Team. On top of that, Lowe was named the Pitcher of the Year in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC).

So far in 2010, Lowe has been virtually unhittable. Through March 22nd, the Heidelberg closer was 1-0 with an E.R.A. of zero. Lowe has only given up one unearned run. In 14 and one-third innings of work, the 6-0 right-hander has struck out 15 batters and walked only one, while opponents hit just .137 off of him. Lowe has appeared in nine games, earning four saves.

In Fayetteville, Lowe figures to be a steady part of a consistent pitching staff. His experience throwing at the end of games should only bolster what looks to be an impressive group of relievers, highlighted by CPL All Star and 2009 league saves leader, Lee Zerrusen.

"The team is highly recognized by the people of Fayetteville and that seems very exciting to play in a town like that," Lowe said. "I'm looking forward to seeing the stadium and also to play in front of the fans and hopefully keep them happy. I think that Fayetteville and the rest of the league will be very competitive."

"Andy will give us another experienced arm at the end of games, which will be invaluable over the course of a long season," said SwampDogs head coach Darrell Handelsman. "You can never have enough quality guys at the end of games in this league and I expect Andy to be a big part of our success".

Generals Sign Two Freshmen Infielders

From the Victoria Generals
(Victoria, TX) The Victoria Generals have announced the signing of two new freshmen infielders, Taylor Terrasas and Lawton Langford, to their 2010 summer roster.

“With the loss of guys like Joey Kenworthy and Mike Davis from last year, we had to go out and get a few new infielders for the upcoming season that would help us fill some of the holes that we have,” said Blake Koch, Victoria’s general manager.

Taylor Terrasas, a native of Santa Fe, TX, is currently in his freshman season at Louisiana Tech. Following his graduation from Santa Fe High School, Terrasas was selected in the 39th round (1179th overall) of the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. Terrasas lettered three years at Santa Fe where he was a first team all-district and first team all-county selection his junior and senior years. Terrasas hit .515 as a senior with 20 RBI, 22 runs, and 19 stolen bases. Terrasas also participated in the 2008 Area Code Games in California with the Cincinnati Reds.

“Taylor is the type of player that we are working hard to recruit into our organization here in Victoria,” said Koch. “We want to continue to build a roster that has solid major league prospects from top to bottom, and Taylor is clearly that type of player.”

The Generals also added Lawton Langford, a freshman middle infielder from Baylor University. Langford pitched and played shortstop at Uvalde High School last year, leading his team to an undefeated season in district 29-4A. Langford hit .385 with 10 doubles, four triples, and two home runs as a senior. He also hit .505 as a sophomore and .448 as a junior. Langford was a three-time first-team all-district selection and a two-time all-state selection while claiming the district 29-4A defensive MVP award as senior.

“Lawton is a solid defensive player that uses his speed to his advantage on offense,” commented Koch. “Lawton will mix in well with some of our veteran players and has a lot to gain from playing with us this summer.”

The Victoria Generals begin their second season in the Texas Collegiate League on June 1 against the Texas Tomcats at Riverside Stadium in Victoria at 7:05pm. Season tickets are on sale now and can be bought online at http://www.victoriagenerals.com/, by calling the front office at 361-485-9522, or by visiting the team store located at 3708 N. Navarro Suite A in the Landmark Shopping Center.

Carter Named MAAC Player of the Week

From the Coastal Plain League
Saint Peter’s sophomore infielder Justyn Carter (photo courtesy of Saint Peter’s SID office) has been named MAAC Player of the Week. Over the course of the past week, Carter batted .480 (12-25), drove in four runs and tallied nine stolen bases as the Peacocks went 6-1 last week. He scored 10 runs and recorded three doubles. In the weekend series at Delaware State, Carter went 6-for-12 at the plate, with eight runs, four RBI and seven stolen bases to his credit.

On the season Carter is hitting .392 with 20 hits, 6 doubles, 1 triple, 13 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases. Carter leads the team in average, hits, doubles, triples, run scored and stolen bases.

The Marlins open their inaugural season at home May 28th. For season tickets or individual tickets, call 252.269.9767 or visit the website at http://www.mhcmarlins.com/ .
The Morehead City Marlins are the newest member of the Coastal Plain League. The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s hottest collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 14th season, the Coastal Plain League features 15 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The CPL gives 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 ticket information call 252.269.9767 or visit the webpage at http://www.mhcmarlins.com/.

Erskine’s Fogle Named Baseball Player of the Week

Erkine's Bryan Fogle has been named the Conference Carolinas Baseball Player of the Week for week seven. You can read the press release below:

High Point, N.C. –Erskine College’s Bryan Fogle (23-7 overall, 10-4 conf.)has been selected as the NCAA Division II Conference Carolinas baseball Player of the Week during week number seven in the 2010 season. Bryan continues to swing a hot bat for the 24th ranked Flying Fleet. On Thursday he went 2-5 against Augusta State, hitting a grand slam that gave the Fleet some breathing room as they took the victory. He followed that performance up the next day against Coker with a career high five hits and two doubles and three RBI. On Saturday with Erskine trailing 1-0 early in the game, Bryan blasted his second grand slam of the week to deep center field to give them the lead and spark the Fleet offense to a 19 run output against the Cobras. For the week, Fogle hit .529 with three doubles, two home runs, 12 RBI while slugging 1.059. On the season he is hitting .416 with 12 doubles, 11 home runs, 57 RBI and a .814 slugging percentage and is currently on a 10 game hitting streak.

Bryan played for the Forest City Owls back in 2008, where he hit .275-4 hr's-22 rbi's in 160 at-bats.

Aces sign LSU-S pitcher

From the Town Talk.com
The Alexandria Aces on Tuesday announced the signing of LSU-Shreveport pitcher Trevor Stennett for their first season in the Texas Collegiate League.  Read the rest of this article here.

Dartmouth Duo Join Marlins

From the Coastal Plain League
The Morehead City Marlins announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Ryan Smith and infielder Joe Sclafini from Dartmouth University. The Dartmouth duo brings impressive backgrounds to Morehead City.

Sclafini, a 5-11 middle infielder from Palm City, Florida looks to build off of an outstanding freshman season. During his freshman year, Sclafini led the conference in triples, runs scored, and ranked second in hits. For his accomplishments, Sclafini was named the Ivy Leagues Rookie of the Year and a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball. Before this season, Sclafini was named the preseason Ivy League Player of the Year by Baseball America. Through seven games this year Sclafini is hitting .464 and leads the team in hits, doubles and triples.

Smith, a 6-1 right-handed pitcher from Greenlawn, New York, comes to Morehead City after two impressive seasons at Dartmouth. A two time All-Ivy League selection, Smith holds the Dartmouth all time saves record. As a freshman Smith broke the all time saves record with eight saves, and broke it again as a sophomore with 11. Through seven games this year Smith is 0-0 with a save and a 2.70 ERA.

“We could not be more excited to have two players of this caliber coming to Morehead City this summer,” said Vice President Buddy Bengel. “Both Joe and Ryan have had great starts to their careers at Dartmouth and we look for them both to have a solid impact on our team this summer. We look for Joe to be a solid everyday player for us in the field and at the plate, and Ryan to come in late in games and close the game out.”

The Marlins open their inaugural season at home May 28th. For season tickets or individual tickets, call 252.269.9767 or visit the website at http://www.mhcmarlins.com

The Morehead City Marlins are the newest member of the Coastal Plain League. The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s hottest collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 14th season, the Coastal Plain League features 15 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The CPL gives 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 ticket information call 252.269.9767 or visit the webpage at http://www.mhcmarlins.com