FMU Baseball Players listed in final NCAA stats

Six Francis Marion University baseball players were listed in the final 2009 NCAA Division II baseball statistical report, while the Patriots ranked highly in several team categories.
Junior right-handed pitcher Brandon Forshee (Jacksonville, Fla.) ranked second nationally in fewest hits allowed per nine innings (5.44), 19th earned run average (2.08), and 88th in saves (4). Junior southpaw Josh Edgin (Three Springs, Pa.) was 79th in fewest hits allowed per nine innings (7.83), while senior righty David Walters (River Hill, Md.) ranked 97th in wins (7).
Junior Barrett Kleinknecht (Florence, S.C.) was listed among both batting and pitching stats. On the mound, he ranked 46th in saves (6). At the plate, he was 34th in hits (89), 45th in runs batted in (64), 55th in RBIs per game (1.19), 67th in total bases (136), and was the 56th toughest batter to strikeout, fanning only 15 times in 264 plate appearances.
Senior third baseman Keon Graves (Dillon, S.C.) ranked 40th in on-base percentage (.507) and 59th in batting average (.411), while junior outfielder Alex Lee (Blythewood, S.C.) was 46th in sacrifice bunts (10), 65th in walks (34), and 67th in triples (4).
In the team rankings, the Patriots ranked 15th in sacrifice flies (31), 16th in winning percentage (.713), 18th in sacrifice bunts (47), 28th in hits (628), 29th in fielding percentage (.965), 37th in double plays turned (45), 39th in both batting average (.333) and walks (222), 40th in fewest hits allowed per nine innings (9.39), 42nd in team ERA (4.34), 46th in hit-by-pitches (67), 48th in double plays turned per game (0.83), 49th in runs scored (410) and 51st in scoring (7.6 runs per game).
Francis Marion posted a 38-15-1 record in 2009 and finished second during the PBC regular season, won the PBC Tournament title, and earned its fourth NCAA Division II national tournament bid in the past seven years, placing third at the Southeast Regional. The Patriots were ranked 14th in the final 2009 Collegiate Baseball Magazine NCAA Division II Top 30 poll.
Approximately 228 Division II institutions sponsor baseball.

Former Patriot Justin Greene promoted in White Sox chain

Former Francis Marion University outfielder Justin Greene was promoted from Kannapolis to high Class A Winston-Salem within the Chicago White Sox organization on July 19.

Greene’s first at bat (a walk) with Winston-Salem was in Myrtle Beach against righty Tim Hudson, who was making a rehab start with the Pelicans. Winston-Salem is in the Class A Advanced Carolina League.

With Kannapolis, Greene was batting .303 with seven home runs, 24 runs batted in, a .394 on-base percentage, and 16 stolen bases.

Greene was selected by the White Sox in the 20th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft. As a senior at FMU, he led the Patriots in hitting (.384), runs scored (54 in 54 games), sacrifice hits (11), slugging percentage (.581), stolen bases (16), and on-base percentage (.472). He ranked fifth in the Peach Belt Conference in hitting and third in on-base percentage.

He finished his Patriot career owning the school’s all-time records for runs scored (163), hit-by-pitches (48), and sacrifice hits (38).

Greene is one of five former Patriots currently playing professional baseball.

Francis Marion signs Waxhaw righthander

Francis Marion University baseball coach Art Inabinet has announced the signing of right-handed pitcher TJ Miller of Waxhaw, N.C., to a national letter of intent to attend FMU this fall and play for the Patriots in 2010.

Miller, 6-3 195-pounds, is a graduate of Marvin Ridge High School, where he played for coaches Mark Mennitt and Aaron Hammers.

This past season, he was 0-1 with a 5.35 earned run average and averaged nearly six strikeouts per nine innings. He was the recipient of his squad’s Teammate of the Year Award, while helping lead the Mavericks to the third round of the North Carolina 3A state playoffs.

As a junior, he helped Marvin Ridge to a 19-5 record, the South Piedmont Conference title, and a No. 5 ranking in the final 3A state poll.

“TJ has a bright future given his size and arm strength,” said Inabinet. “He throws in the low 80’s and has a good change-up. I project him as a good college pitcher. He will mesh well with our current staff.”

Francis Marion loses four seniors off last year’s 38-15-1 squad that finished second during the Peach Belt Conference regular season, won the PBC Tournament title, and earned its fourth NCAA Division II national tournament bid in the past seven years, placing third at the Southeast Regional. The Patriots were ranked 14th in the end-of-the-season Collegiate Baseball Magazine NCAA Division II Top 30 poll.

He becomes the seventh newcomer to join the Patriot program for the 2010 season.

2009 McLeod Health Dixie Youth Baseball AAA (Minors) State Tournament

Tournament website: www.2009scdybstatetournament.com

Tickets: $6 adults , $3 children ages 7-12 , 6 and Under FREE
Tournament pass: $20

All games will be played at Freedom Florence Complex in Florence.

Saturday, July 25
Opening Ceremonies 2:30 pm
Game 1: North Myrtle Beach vs Dillon 4 pm
Game 2: Parks Field American vs Rock Hill National 4 pm
Game 4: Bishopville vs Pineview 6 pm
Game 5: Gregg Park vs Sumter American 6 pm
Game 3: Maple Park vs Seneca 8 pm
Game 6: Hilton Head American vs Mid Carolina 8 pm
Sunday, July 26
Home Run Derby (Freedom Florence lower complex) 1 pm
Game 7: Elimination Game L1 vs L2 3:30 pm
Game 8: Elimination Game L3 vs L4 3:30 pm
Game 9: Elimination Game L5 vs L6 5:30 pm
Game 10: Winners' Game W5 vs W6 5:30 pm
Game 11: Winners' Game W3 vs W4 7:30 pm
Game 12: Winners' Game W1 vs W2 7:30 pm
Monday, July 27
Game 13: Elimination Game W8 vs W9 5:30 pm
Game 14: Elimination Game W7 vs L11 5:30 pm
Game 15: Elimination Game L10 vs L12 7:30 pm
Game 16: Winners' Game W11 vs W12 7:30 pm
Tuesday, July 28
Game 17: Elimination Game W13 vs W14 5:30 pm
Game 18: Elimination Game W15 vs L16 6:30 pm
Game 19: Winners' Game W10 vs W16 7:30 pm
Wednesday, July 29
Game 20: Elimination Game W18 vs L19 5:30 pm
Game 21: Possible Elimination Game W17 vs W19 7:30 pm
Thursday, July 30
Game 22: Championship Game 10 am
Game 23: If Necessary Championship Game 4 pm


2009 McLeod Health Dixie Youth Baseball Majors State Tournament
Saturday, July 25
Opening Ceremonies 2:30 pm
Game 1: York Central vs Surfside Beach 4 pm
Game 2: Hampton/Varnville vs Gregg Park 4 pm
Game 4: Walhalla vs Lake Marion 6 pm
Game 5: Parks Field American vs Hartsville National 6 pm
Game 3: Midlands vs McLeod Park 8 pm
Game 6: Maple Park vs Laurens 8 pm
Sunday, July 26
Home Run Derby (Freedom Florence lower complex) 1 pm
Game 7: Elimination Game L1 vs L2 4 pm
Game 8: Elimination Game L3 vs L4 4 pm
Game 9: Elimination Game L5 vs L6 6 pm
Game 10: Winners' Game W5 vs W6 6 pm
Game 11: Winners' Game W3 vs W4 8 pm
Game 12: Winners' Game W1 vs W2 8 pm
Monday, July 27
Game 13: Elimination Game W8 vs W9 6 pm
Game 14: Elimination Game W7 vs L11 6 pm
Game 15: Elimination Game L10 vs L12 8 pm
Game 16: Winners' Game W11 vs W12 8 pm
Tuesday, July 28
Game 17: Elimination Game W13 vs W14 6 pm
Game 18: Elimination Game W15 vs L16 7 pm
Game 19: Winners' Game W10 vs W16 8 pm
Wednesday, July 29
Game 20: Elimination Game W18 vs L19 6 pm
Game 21: Possible Elimination Game W17 vs W19 8 pm
Thursday, July 30
Game 22: Championship Game 1 pm
Game 23: If Necessary Championship Game 7 pm

ALL GAMES PLAYED AT FREEDOM FLORENCE COMPLEX in Florence, SC

Tickets: $6 adults , $3 children ages 7-12 , 6 and Under FREE
Tournament pass: $20

Lynch and Ammons Shine at SCBL All-Star Game

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
7/14/2009

Hartsville, S.C. - Trey Lynch and Matt Ammons represented Coker College extremely well over the weekend, as the two raising seniors on the Cobra baseball team played in the 2009 Southern Collegiate Baseball League (SCBL) All-Star game at Russell C. King Field at Wofford College.

Both players played for the South All-Star team representing the Carolina Chaos in the game and both players were instrumental in the South's 13-6 win over the North team.

Lynch (Florence, SC) was the leading hitter in the game, going 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored, while Ammons (Chester, SC) was 1-for-2. Lynch was the starting right fielder for the South, while Ammons was the starting second baseman.

Lynch and Ammons, along with fellow Coker teammates; Jonathan Gainey (Hartsville, SC) and Brian Luchsinger (Farmingville, NY) will now prepare for their final weeks of the SCBL season. The final regular season game is on July 21, with the top six teams advancing to the SCBL Championship Tournament.

2009 National CPL All-Star Team Announced

RALEIGH, N.C. - The Coastal Plain League announced today the roster for the 2009 National CPL All-Star Team. The Coastal Plain League’s 11th annual All-Star Game will be played at Buck Hardee Field in Wilmington, N.C. on Tuesday, July 21st.

The National Team features players from 11 CPL clubs (Edenton, Florence, Forest City, Gastonia, Martinsville, Outer Banks, Peninsula, Petersburg, Thomasville, Wilmington and Wilson), with the players being selected by head coaches and media representatives from all clubs. The National roster is comprised of 27 players, highlighted by nine Player of the Week selections: first baseman Phil Cerreto (Week 1), shortstops Ronnie Shaban (Week 1) and Tyler Stubblefield (Week 5), outfielders Randolph Oduber (Week 4) and Stewart Ijames (Week 5), as well as pitchers Trent Howard (Week 1), John Taylor (Week 2), Bryan Breedlove (Week 4) and Trent Rothlin (Week 4 & 6).

Furthermore, Gastonia’s Byron McKoy, Edenton’s Adam De La Garza, and Petersburg’s Jerry Battipaglia were also selected as All-Stars for the National team, but will not be able to attend due to injury and have been replaced on the roster.

The Wilmington Sharks, in conjunction with the Coastal Plain League, will host the All-Star Game and festivities beginning on Monday, July 20th and running thru Tuesday, July 21st. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. on July 21st.

Below is the complete roster for the National CPL All-Star Team (starters are shown with an asterisk (*)).


Pos. Name Team Ht. Wt. Yr. School Hometown
C Donnie Corsner* Outer Banks 6-4 185 So. Old Dominion Virginia Beach, Va.
C Tyler Smith Martinsville 6-0 185 So. Mount Olive Kinston, N.C.

1B Phil Cerreto* Martinsville 6-1 200 Jr. Longwood Midlothian, Va.
1B Josh Whitaker Outer Banks 6-2 230 So. Kennesaw State Augusta, Ga.

2B Matthew Hamlet* Gastonia 6-0 170 So. Boston College Chesapeake, Va.
2B Gerard Hall Edenton 5-9 165 Jr. Old Dominion Washington, D.C.

3B Greyson Schram* Gastonia 6-0 190 Jr. Concord Denver, N.C.
3B Derek Spencer Outer Banks 6-1 185 Jr. Bowling Green Oregon, Ohio

SS Ronnie Shaban* Petersburg 6-1 195 Fr. Virginia Tech Moseley, Va.
SS Tyler Stubblefield Outer Banks 5-11 185 Jr. Kennesaw State Woodstock, Ga.

OF Dylan Petrich* Outer Banks 6-3 190 Jr. Texas A&M Wichita, Kan.
OF Bobby Leeper* Wilson 6-1 175 Jr. UNC-Wilmington Raleigh, N.C.
OF Randolph Oduber* Gastonia 6-2 200 Fr. W. Oklahoma State Paradera, Aruba
OF Sam DiMatteo Florence 5-11 175 Jr. California of Pa. Center Township, Pa.
OF Will Lamb Peninsula 6-4 170 Fr. Clemson Seaford, Va.
OF Wade Moore Forest City 6-0 202 Jr. NC State Cleveland, N.C.
OF Billy Barber Peninsula 6-5 230 So. Richmond Fredericksburg, Va.
OF Stewart Ijames Thomasville 6-1 205 RS-So. Louisville Owensboro, Ky.
#OF Byron McKoy Gastonia 5-9 184 So. Temple Charlotte, N.C.
#OF Adam De La Garza Edenton 5-8 180 Jr. Sam Houston State Red Oak, Texas

RHP John Taylor* Florence 5-10 165 Jr. South Carolina Florence, S.C.
RHP Trent Rothlin Martinsville 6-2 190 So. Mississippi Hickory, N.C.
RHP Daniel Cropper Wilmington 6-4 190 RS-So. UNC-Wilmington Snow Hill, Md.
RHP Stephen McCray Florence 6-3 230 Jr. Tennessee Lilburn, Ga.
RHP Jason Sullivan Wilson 6-1 205 Jr. Western Carolina Shelbyville, Ill.
RHP Bryan Breedlove Forest City 6-1 185 Jr. Lynchburg College Suffolk, Va.
LHP Adam Kolarek Outer Banks 6-2 215 So. Maryland Baltimore, Md.
RHP Ben Booker Gastonia 6-2 175 So. East Tennessee State Knoxville, Tenn.
LHP Trent Howard Wilson 6-2 185 Fr. Central Michigan Hammond, Ind.
#RHP Jerry Battipaglia Petersburg 6-6 230 Fr. Villanova Katonah, N.Y.

# - injured but honored as an All-Star

The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league, now in its 13th season. Featuring 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, the CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with wooden bats during the summer months. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com.

2009 Coastal Plain League All-Star Coaches Announced

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Coastal Plain League announced today the 2009 All-Star Game head coaches and assistant coaches. For the third straight year, the CPL All-Star Game will feature all 14 CPL head coaches.

For the first time, Forest City’s Matt Hayes, the assistant head coach of last year’s American Team, will take the helm of the American CPL All-Star team. Hayes’ associate head coach will be Darrell Handelsman of Fayetteville. Serving as the assistant coaches for the American squad will be Hank Morgan (Peninsula), Tim Murray (Asheboro), Ray Greene (Thomasville), Lee Gronkiewicz (Columbia) and Steve Leake (Petersburg).

The National CPL All-Stars will be led by Outer Banks’ Jeff Wicker. Wicker will have Wilson’s Jeff Steele as his associate head coach, while their assistant coaches will be Wes Davis (Florence), Jake Tenhouse (Wilmington), Eli Benefield (Gastonia), Marty Smith (Edenton) and Barry Powell (Martinsville).

Hayes led the Owls to the West Division first half championship as well as claiming the title of best first half finish in the league’s 13 year history after posting a 24-3 record. Handelsman guided the SwampDogs to a 16-10 start for the 2009 season earning them the South Division first half championship.

Meanwhile, Wicker led his team, the Daredevils, to a 19-9 record and the North Division first half crown. Steele’s Tobs went 17-11 in the first half, a record that was second in the South, and the next highest winning percentage of the remaining teams.
The 2009 Coastal Plain League All-Star Festivities will feature several attractions during the two days. During Fan Fest on Monday, July 20, fans can look forward to the All-Star Home Run Derby, while on Tuesday, July 21, the main attraction will be the 2009 CPL All-Star Game. Both will be held at the home of the Wilmington Sharks, Buck Hardee Field in Wilmington, N.C. For ticket information, please call the Sharks at (910) 343-5621 or visit them on the web at www.wilmingtonsharks.com.

The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league, now in its 13th season. Featuring 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, the CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with wooden bats during the summer months. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com.

Former Patriot pitcher earns Player of the Week honors

Former Francis Marion University right-handed pitcher Dylan Owen, a member of the New York Mets’ AA affiliate Binghamton Mets, has been named the Eastern League Player of the Week for the week ending on July 5.

The 5-11, 185-pound hurler made a pair of starts for the B-Mets last week and posted a record of 1-0 with eight strikeouts and a 0.00 earned run average in 13.2 innings pitched.

Owen made his first appearance of the week on June 29 and pitched 7.2 shutout innings while earning a no-decision in Binghamton’s 1-0, 10-inning win over the Akron Aeros. He struck out seven batters and walked just one while giving up four hits.

The 22-year-old also did not allow a run in his second start of the week on July 4 at NYSEG Stadium, tossing six shutout innings in a 4-0 victory over the Erie SeaWolves. The Chesterfield native struck out one batter while surrendering one walk and five hits to earn his first win of the season for the B-Mets.

Owen, who was named the 2008 Florida State League Most Valuable Pitcher after going 12-6 with 116 strikeouts and a 3.43 ERA in 24 starts for the St. Lucie Mets last season, was selected by the New York Mets in the 20th round of the 2007 draft.

In his final season at Francis Marion, Owen was 10-1 with one save and a 1.14 earned run average. He struck out 121 batters in 102.1 innings pitched, walked only 19, and opponents hit just .208 against him, including a .178 figure by right-handed batters.

In three seasons at FMU, he compiled a 28-8 record with two saves, a 2.15 ERA, and a Peach Belt Conference career-record 334 strikeouts in 323 innings. Owen was named the 2007 NCAA Division II national Pitcher of the Year by two different voting groups, twice earned first-team Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association All-America honors, and was selected as the Peach Belt’s Pitcher of the Year for both 2006 and 2007.

Coastal Plain League Alums Highlight 2009 MLB All-Star Teams

Three former Coastal Plain League standouts were recently named 2009 MLB All-Stars. Boston’s Kevin Youkilis (Florence, 1999), Detroit’s Justin Verlander (Wilson, 2002) and Washington’s Ryan Zimmerman (Peninsula, 2003) were all named to the 2009 MLB All-Star Teams for their respective leagues.

Youkilis, the starting first baseman for the Boston Red Sox, is making his second appearance as an American League All-Star. He is currently batting .301 this season, and has hit 14 home runs and knocked in 47 RBIs for the Red Sox in 2009. The Red Sox are currently holding onto the number one spot in the AL-East standings going into the week.

While with the Florence RedWolves in 1999, Youkilis batted .284 and racked up 16 RBIs. He also went onto be named as the starting third baseman for the South Division CPL All-Star Team. He is also a member of the Coastal Plain League’s All-Decade Team.

Also making his second appearance as an AL All-Star, Verlander, leads the AL with 130 strikeouts. The Tigers right-hander has an 8-4 record and a 3.54 ERA. Thanks in part to Verlander’s dominance on the mound, Detroit currently holds the top spot in the AL- Central standings.

As a member of the Wilson Tobs in 2002, Verlander had an ERA of 2.68 and a record of 1-4, yet still struck out 54 batters in his seven appearances on the mound before being selected as the second overall pick in the 2004 MLB draft. Verlander was also selected to the CPL’s All-Decade Team in 2006.

Zimmerman, meanwhile, was selected as a MLB All-Star for the first time in his career. The Nationals third baseman is off to the best start of his career, after posting the longest hitting streak of 2009 – 30 consecutive games – earlier this season. On the season Zimmerman, is batting .293 and he has slammed 13 home runs while bringing in 47 RBIs.

While playing with the Peninsula Pilots in 2003, he earned team best marks in batting average (.331), hits (47), slugging percentage (.423) and total bases (60). Numbers like those saw Zimmerman named to the CPL’s All-Decade Team.

Furthermore, in the Final Vote race for the last spot on the NL All-Star team roster is former Fayetteville SwampDogs player and current Arizona Diamondback, Mark Reynolds. Reynolds is one of five NL players up for that final spot, giving fans the opportunity to vote and choose which one will make the team. Reynolds leads all third baseman in home runs and RBIs with 24 and 61 respectively. On the season, he is batting .269 with 81 hits. Back in 2003 as a SwampDog, Reynolds had 11 hits, nine RBIs and three home runs in his 16 games.

Fans can help vote for Reynolds by visiting http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2009/fv/ballot.html. Voting for the final spots on the MLB All- Star Teams ends Thursday at 1 p.m., with the winners being announced on MLB.com shortly thereafter. The 80th MLB All-Star Game will be on July 14 in St. Louis.

The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league, heading into its 13th season. Featuring 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, the CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with wooden bats during the summer months. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at http://www.coastalplain.com.

Francis Marion inks Charlotte backstop

Francis Marion University baseball coach Art Inabinet has announced the signing of catcher Taylor Patterson of Charlotte to a national letter of intent to attend FMU this fall and play for the Patriots in 2010.

Patterson, 6-1 195-pounds, is a product of Ardrey Kell High School, where he played for coach Hal Bagwell.

This past season, he hit .313 and was team captain as Ardrey Kell posted a 27-8 record and won the North Carolina 4A state title.

As a junior, he also batted .313 with an on-base percentage of .516. He threw out 40 percent of the base runners attempting to steal against him and led his squad with a .985 fielding percentage. He helped lead the Knights to a 28-6 record, the 4A Western Regional championship, and a spot in the 4A state championship series.

He owns Ardrey Kell’s all-time record for highest fielding percentage (.989).
“Taylor is a good defensive catch-and-throw guy,” said Inabinet. “He will have a chance to compete for playing time behind the plate as a freshman.”

Francis Marion loses four seniors off last year’s 38-15-1 squad that finished second during the Peach Belt Conference regular season, won the PBC Tournament title, and earned its fourth NCAA Division II national tournament bid in the past seven years, placing third at the Southeast Regional. The Patriots were ranked 14th in the end-of-the-season Collegiate Baseball Magazine NCAA Division II Top 30 poll.

He becomes the sixth newcomer to the Patriot program joining catcher Logan Bland of Charleston, infielder and right-handed pitcher Tyler Cappelmann of Sumter, right-handed pitchers Don Sandifer of Bamberg and Will Smith of Blythewood and outfielder Dalton Gress of Aiken.

FMU’s David Walters signed by Baltimore Orioles

Francis Marion University senior right-handed pitcher David Walters has signed a free agent contract with the Baltimore Orioles and has been assigned to the organization’s Gulf Coast (Rookie) League squad.

The GCL is based in Florida and consists of a 60-game season beginning on June 23 and running through Aug. 31.

The GCL Orioles will face the Reds’ GCL affiliate on June 23 to open the season.
Walters, a native of River Hill, Md., led the 2009 Patriot pitching staff with 15 starts, while posting a 7-3 record and a 5.97 earned run average. He fanned 55 batters in 72.1 innings, while walking only 23.

Only nine base runners attempted to steal while he was on the mound, and four of those were unsuccessful. Defensively, he did not commit an error in 22 fielding chances en route to earning a Rawlings Gold Glove award for the Southeast Region. He was a first-team All-Peach Belt Conference selection and earned second-team Daktronics Inc. All-Southeast Region recognition.

In 2008, Walters led the Patriot pitching staff with 16 starts, while posting a 9-4 record and a 4.66 ERA. He fanned 91 batters in 92.2 innings, while walking only 27. He compiled two complete games and opponents batted only .246 against him.

Prior to coming to FMU, Walters played two seasons at Spartanburg Methodist College and posted a combined record of 15-8 with a 3.62 ERA.

He was a two-time All-County pick at River Hill High School.
Walters was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 2008 MLB Draft, but chose to return to FMU for his senior season.

Francis Marion posted a 38-15-1 record in 2009 and finished second during the PBC regular season, won the PBC Tournament title, and earned its fourth NCAA Division II national tournament bid in the past seven years, placing third at the Southeast Regional. The Patriots were ranked 14th in the final 2009 Collegiate Baseball Magazine NCAA Division II Top 30 poll.

Poythress Heads List of 102 Coastal Plain League Alumni Selected

The Coastal Plain League announced Friday that 102 players, both former and players signed for
the 2009 season, were drafted in the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. A list that featured nine players selected in the first 10 rounds was highlighted by Rich Poythress of Georgia, who played for the Thomasville HiToms in 2007, and went in the second round, 51st pick overall to the Seattle Mariners.

The 102 players drafted is the second-most CPL alumni total drafted since the league started back in 1997. In 2008, 115 CPL alums were selected in the draft - giving the CPL 217 drafted players in the past two years alone. All 30 MLB teams selected at least one CPL alum in 2009; and all exisiting clubs of the current 15 CPL franchises had at least one alum drafted. The Thomasville HiToms led with 11 players drafted, while the Fayetteville SwampDogs and Forest City Owls (Spartanburg included) each had 10 players drafted. The Florence RedWolves and Wilson Tobs each recorded nine drafted alums, while the Edenton Steamers and Petersburg Generals were next with eight each. The Gastonia Grizzlies followed with seven draftees, and then the Asheboro Copperheads, Columbia Blowfish, New Bern River Rats, and Wilmington Sharks each had six. The Outer Banks Daredevils posted five drafted alums, while the Peninsula Pilots followed with four and the Martinsville Mustangs rounded things out with one alum taken in the draft.

2009 CPL Rawlings Players of the Week for Week Two

The Coastal Plain League announced Monday that Wilmington’s Adam Eggemeyer was named the Rawlings Hitter of the Week, while Forest City’s Heath Hembree and Florence’s John Taylor were tabbed Rawlings Co-Pitchers of the Week for week two of action (June 8- June 14).

Eggemeyer, a redshirt senior at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, started six games on the week for the Sharks and finished with an outstanding .500 batting average. On his 13 hits, he had three doubles and three home runs. He also scored eight runs and drove in nine RBIs, a league high for the week. Eggemeyer accumulated a total of 25 bases to go with a remarkable .962 slugging percentage and .536 on-base percentage. So far this season, Eggemeyer is batting .429 after 63 at-bats. He has helped Wilmington by tallying 17 RBIs on his 27 hits and hitting three home runs.

On the mound, Hembree was perfect for Forest City in his only appearance so far this season. The 6-4, 200-pound sophomore from College of Charleston had one start, pitching nine complete innings while striking out 13 batters and only allowing one hit. Overall, Hembree finished with a perfect 0.00 ERA and 1-0 record on the week.

In Florence, Taylor was also brilliant on the mound, making two appearances for the RedWolves, including one start. The 5-10, 165- pound junior right-hander from South Carolina finished the week with a perfect 0.00 ERA and 1-0 record, while also striking out 10 batters. Taylor pitched nine innings, allowing only one hit, but no runs. On the season, Taylor has made five appearances for the RedWolves and pitched 20.2 innings with a record of 1-1. In those five appearances he has struck out 22 batters and only allowed four runs with an ERA of 0.44.

The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league, heading into its 13th season. Featuring 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, the CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with wooden bats during the summer months. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com.

Coker Baseball Camp Starts Monday, June 15

The Coker College Athletic Department offers a wide variety of sports camps each summer and winter. Listed below is the most current information available for 2009 summer camps.

Follow each link to find dates, times, and costs for each camp. You will also be able to download PDF versions of camp brochures to fill out and mail/fax in. For more information on Coker Camps contact- Christian Stryker- SID, 843.383.8068 or cstryker@coker.edu.

Summer 2009 Baseball Camp- June 15-19- $65/player

2009 Coker College Skills and Drills Baseball Camp- June 15-19 9:30 a.m. - Noon daily.
Pitching and Hitting Camp for ages 6-17. Cost is $65/player for the week-long morning session.

Each player will receive a camp T-shirt and expert coaching and instruction for Coach Dave Schmotzer and his staff.

Each player should bring their own bat and glove to camp; all other equipment will be provided.

Contact Coach Dave Schmotzer at 843-383-8105 or dschmotzer@coker.edu for more information, or download and complete the registration form here: 2009 Baseball Camp Registration

FMU’s Josh Edgin taken by Braves in MLB Draft

Francis Marion University junior left-handed pitcher Josh Edgin was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 50th round of Major League Baseball’s 2009 First-Year Player Draft, Thursday (June 11).

Edgin was selected as the seventh pick in the 50th round (No. 1498 overall). A total of approximately 1,521 players were selected.

Edgin, a native of Three Springs, Pa., posted a 4-2 record this past season with a 4.04 earned run average. He appeared in 16 games, making 11 starts, and struck out 57 batters in 69 innings. Opponents batted .234 against him.

His two best starts may have been the final two of the season. He allowed only three hits and one run in seven innings while fanning nine in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship game, leading FMU to the title and earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Four days later, he tossed a two-hit shutout (5-0 FMU win) against nationally ranked Tusculum College in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Southest Regional.

Edgin has the option of signing with the Braves or returning to Francis Marion for his senior year.

Edgin is the eighth FMU player to be drafted over the past eight years, joining senior center fielder Justin Greene, selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 20th round (No. 600), and junior right-handed pitcher David Walters, picked by the Atlanta Braves in the 47th round (No. 1412) of the 2008 draft; right-handed pitcher Dylan Owen, chosen by the New York Mets in the 20th round (No. 633 overall) of the 2007 draft; left-handed pitcher Lee Tabor, taken by the Cincinnati Reds in the 30th round (No. 894 overall) of the 2006 draft; center fielder Quentin Davis, chosen by the Atlanta Braves in the 13th round of the 2005 draft; right-handed pitcher Erin Jones, chosen in the 31st round of the 2004 draft by the New York Mets; and left-handed pitcher Hal Chafey, chosen by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 20th round of the 2002 draft.

Francis Marion posted a 38-15-1 record in 2009 and finished second during the PBC regular season, won the PBC Tournament title, and earned its fourth NCAA Division II national tournament bid in the past seven years, placing third at the Southeast Regional. The Patriots were ranked 14th in the final 2009 Collegiate Baseball Magazine NCAA Division II Top 30 poll.

Inabinet adds transfers to Patriot baseball squad

Francis Marion University baseball coach Art Inabinet has announced the addition of a pair of transfers to the Patriot baseball program: senior catcher Logan Bland of Charleston and junior infielder and right-handed pitcher Tyler Cappelmann of Sumter.

Bland, 6-0 205 pounds, is a transfer from Western Carolina University. This past season, he batted .205 with five doubles, one home run, and 13 runs batted in. He played in 31 games and made 19 starts, including 15 behind the plate and four as the designated hitter.

Behind the plate, he threw out six of 34 runners attempting to steal and posted a .973 fielding percentage.

Bland played two seasons at Spartanburg Methodist College before going to WCU. As a sophomore at SMC, he batted .347 with nine doubles, 14 home runs, and 44 RBIs while earning second-team All-Region X honors. He was a first-team All-Region X selection as a freshman after he hit .340 with nine doubles, seven homers, and 37 RBIs and helped lead the Pioneers to a third-place finish at the 2007 NJCAA World Series.

He played for the Forest City Owls of the Coastal Plain League during the summer of 2008.
He is a product of Bishop England High School, and also played for the South Carolina Diamond Devils traveling team for four years.

Cappelmann, 5-10 180-pounds, is transferring from USC Sumter, where he played two seasons.

This spring, he batted .256 with 21 runs scored, two doubles, and 14 RBIs, while helping the Fire Ants to a 52-11 record, the Region X regular-season championship, and a spot in the NJCAA Eastern District Regional Tournament. He also compiled a .336 on-base percentage and a .952 fielding percentage, while leading his team with 96 fielding assists.

On the pitching mound, he was 2-0 with four saves and a 3.21 earned run average. He averaged more than one strikeout per inning pitched.

As a freshman, he hit .342 with 15 RBIs, and was 0-1 with a 4.36 ERA.

He is a graduate of Sumter High School, where he played for coach Brooks Shumake. He was the 2006 AAAA Player of the Year and participated in the North-South All-Star Game.

He also played for the Sumter P-15’s American Legion squad.

“Bland is a big strong receiver,” said Inabinet. “He throws well, has the potential to hit for power, and should challenger for the No. 1 catching spot.

“Cappelmann is a very good defensive middle infielder. He can also throw from the mound and should see innings out of the Patriot bullpen.”

The two will join three freshmen signees who were previously announced: right-handed pitchers Don Sandifer of Bamberg and Will Smith of Blythewood and outfielder Dalton Gress of Aiken.

Francis Marion loses four seniors off last year’s 38-15-1 squad that finished second during the Peach Belt Conference regular season, won the PBC Tournament title, and earned its fourth NCAA Division II national tournament bid in the past seven years, placing third at the Southeast Regional. The Patriots were ranked 14th in the end-of-the-season Collegiate Baseball Magazine NCAA Division II Top 30 poll.

Patriots sign two Sandlapper arms and one outfielder

Francis Marion University baseball coach Art Inabinet has announced the signing of right-handed pitchers Don Sandifer of Bamberg and Will Smith of Blythewood and outfielder Dalton Gress of Aiken to national letters of intent to attend FMU this fall and play for the Patriots in 2010.
Sandifer, 6-0 220-pound, is a product of Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School, where he played for legendary coach David Horton.

This past season, he was named the Class A State Player of the Year by the South Carolina Baseball Coaches Association after helping the Red Raiders to a 29-5 record and a second consecutive Class A state championship. He had a 10-1 pitching record with a 1.40 earned run average and 110 strikeouts in only 65 innings. At the plate, he hit .442 with six home runs and 42 runs batted in.

As a junior, he posted a 9-1 record with a 2.23 ERA and struck out 92 batters in only 66 innings. When not pitching, he also played first base, did not commit an error in the field, and batted .411 with nine home runs and 45 RBIs.

He will participate in the North-South All-Star contest next week in Conway. He was also an All-State selection as a junior and sophomore, and was named the HSSR Class A Player of the Year in 2008 and 2009.

Smith, 6-6 200-pounds, attended Blythewood High School, where he played for coach Barry Mizzell.
As a senior, he compiled a 3-6 record with a 2.06 ERA. He tallied 55 strikeouts in 47.2 innings and completed five of his starts. During the 2009 season, he set a school single-game record with 14 strikeouts and helped the Bengals to a 16-11 record and an appearance in the AAAA state playoffs.

He also had a 3-0 mark during the 2008 state playoffs.

Gress, 5-10, 160-pounds, is a product of South Aiken High School, where he played for coach Bob Polewski.

This past season, he batted .421 with one homer, three doubles, and 21 RBIs. He compiled a .548 slugging percentage and a .659 on-base percentage. On the mound, he recorded a 4-1 record with a 2.19 ERA and fanned 29 batters. Following a season that saw South Aiken post a 17-9 record, he was named to the AAA All-State Team and 5-AAA All-Region team.
Gress has also played with the East Cobb Baseball program.

“Sandifer is a power pitcher who has command of three pitches,” said Inabinet. “He possesses a fastball in the 88-90 mph range. He is a big sign for us and could be in our top-four rotation next spring.

“Smith is a tall, rangy pitcher with a live arm. His better days are still ahead of him, and the sky is the limit for his collegiate career.

“Gress is a very talented outfielder, with good speed and above average arm strength. He hits from the left side which is an added bonus.”

Francis Marion loses four seniors off last year’s 38-15-1 squad that finished second during the Peach Belt Conference regular season, won the PBC Tournament title, and earned its fourth NCAA Division II national tournament bid in the past seven years, placing third at the Southeast Regional. The Patriots were ranked 14th in the end-of-the-season Collegiate Baseball Magazine NCAA Division II Top 30 poll.

More, More, More All-Region honors for FMU baseball

Three members of the Francis Marion University baseball team – senior catcher Jared Barkdoll, junior shortstop Barrett Kleinknecht, and junior right-handed relief pitcher Brandon Forshee – have been named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) All-Southeast Region Team. It is the third regional award of the summer for both Barkdoll and Kleinknecht.
All three FMU players were selected to the 16-player second team.

Barkdoll batted .386 with 35 runs scored, 14 doubles, three home runs, and 41 runs batted in, despite missing 10 games with an injury. The Greencastle, Pa., native compiled a .456 on-base percentage and a .992 fielding percentage – only two errors and two passed balls in 44 games – while throwing out 12 of 38 runners attempting to steal. He recorded 23 multi-hit games and 13 multi-RBI games.

He finished his career owning the school’s all-time records for RBIs (162) and total bases (364), while tying the all-time mark for doubles (50) and ranking second in base hits (258).

Kleinknecht, a hometown product from Florence, batted .372 this past season with 50 runs scored and team-leading totals of 16 doubles, nine homers, and 64 RBIs. His RBI total was two shy of the team record. He had a pair of 12-game hitting streaks, 27 multi-hit games, and 17 multi-RBI games. In the field, he committed only 11 errors in 256 chances and contributed to 28 double plays.

He also made 15 appearances on the mound, where he posted a 1-3 mark with a team-leading six saves and a 3.41 earned run average.

Forshee, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., led the Patriot pitching staff with 29 appearances (all in relief), while compiling a 5-2 record with four saves and a 2.08 ERA. Of the 33 base runners he inherited this season, only nine eventually came around to score. He recorded 47 strikeouts in 56.1 innings of work, and opponents batted only .173 against him.

The three players helped Francis Marion to the second-highest win total in team history: a 38-15-1 record. The Patriots finished second during the Peach Belt Conference regular season, won the Peach Belt Tournament title, and earned their fourth NCAA Division II national tournament bid in the past seven years, placing third at the Southeast Regional. The Patriots ended the year ranked 14th in the final Collegiate Baseball Magazine NCAA Division II Top 30 poll.

Francis Marion ranked 14th in final NCAA II Baseball Poll

The Francis Marion University baseball team is ranked 14th in the final 2009 Collegiate Baseball Magazine Division II Top 30 poll.
The Patriots finished the year with a 38-15-1 record, the second-highest win total in the program’s history. Francis Marion finished second during the Peach Belt Conference regular season, won the program’s first-ever Peach Belt Tournament title, and earned its fourth NCAA Division II national tournament bid in the past seven years, placing third at the Southeast Regional.
The squad posted a 5-5 mark against nationally ranked opponents in 2009, and closed the season by winning 17 of its final 19 contests.
Dating back to the 2005 season, the Patriots have now appeared in 78 of the past 84 national polls. FMU has landed in the national Top 30 poll at the end of each of the past five seasons.
Four PBC squads are listed in the final poll, which is topped by Division II national champion Lynn University.


2009 Collegiate Baseball Magazine NCAA Division II Poll - June 1, 2009 (FINAL)

Rank Team Record Points Last Week
1. Lynn 46-16 480 5
2. Emporia State 49-15 464 3
3. UC San Diego 41-15 444 1
4. Southern Arkansas 52-11 408 7
5. Mesa State 44-15 406 6
Belmont Abbey 40-26 406 10
7. West Chester 46-12 372 2
8. Florida Southern 41-16 356 8
9. Grand Valley State 45-16-1 354 4
10. Central Missouri 44-15 330 9
USC Aiken 42-19 330 12
12. Dowling 35-18 296 T21
13. Sonoma State 35-16 294 11
14. Francis Marion 38-15-1 286 14
15. Barry 44-11 280 13
16. Abilene Christian 45-19 242 15
17. West Alabama 38-16 216 16
18. Western Oregon 34-14 202 T17
Angelo State 46-20 202 T17
20. Valdosta State 43-21 172 20
21. Indianapolis 43-21 162 19
22. Delta State 38-16 148 23
23. Ashland 42-15-1 120 T21
24. Catawba 36-18 114 24
25. Armstrong Atlantic St. 38-18 98 25
26. Tampa 39-17 84 27
27. Wayne State (Neb.) 45-15 50 26
28. Nebraska - Omaha 41-20 46 28
29. UT Permian Basin 39-19 16 T19
30. Mercyhurst 38-17 12 T29
UNC Pembroke 37-17 12 T29
Cameron 43-16 12 T29

Also Receiving Votes: Northern Kentucky 6, Georgia College & State 4, Adelphi 4, Slippery Rock 2, Cal State Dominguez Hills 2, Franklin Pierce 2, Tusculum 1, Dominican 1, New Mexico Highlands 1, Southern Indiana 1, Cal State Los Angeles 1, Cal State Chico 1, Rockhurst 1, North Georgia 1, Mount Olive 1, Erskine 1, Barton 1, Incarnate Word 1, St. Mary's (Texas) 1, Missouri Southern State 1, Alabama-Huntsville 1, West Florida 1, Nova Southeastern 1, Kutztown 1, Shepherd 1, West Virginia State 1, California (Pa.) 1, Colorado State - Pueblo 1, Minnesota State Mankato 1, Southwest Minnesota State 1, Bellarmine 1.

FMU diamonds stars in the summer

Thirteen members of the Francis Marion University baseball team will be playing in summer baseball leagues: 10 in the Coastal Plain League and three in the New York Collegiate Baseball League.

Florence RedWolves
Brandon Forshee (RHP), Barrett Kleinknecht (INF-RHP), Preston Shuey (1B), Austin Smetana (C-UT)
Columbia Blowfish
Jeremiah Meiners (LHP), Erik Sommerville (RHP)
Forest City Owls
Josh Biggers (RHP-INF), Josh Edgin (LHP), Alex Lee (OF)
Outer Banks Daredevils
Shane Gebhards (LHP)
Allegany County Nitros (NY Collegiate Baseball League)
Martin Gordon (OF), Sebie Kirkland (RHP), Tyler Lehman (INF)