Media Credit: JAKE DANIELS



Rich Poythress has been named to the Cap Cod League All-Star game as a starter. Georgia infielder Rich Poythress has been named a starter for the 46th annual Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star Game Saturday at Veterans Field in Chatham, Mass. Poythress has helped the Orleans Cardinals to a league best 21-9-1 record. Since Poythress arrived at the end of June, Orleans is 14-1-1. He is batting .340 with four doubles, eight RBI, 16 walks and a .507 on base percentage in the wood bat league. Poythress will represent the Eastern Division as each division's respective coaches select the All-Star teams. Poythress is one of eight Bulldogs who headed to the Cape Cod Baseball League following their dramatic run to the College World Series Finals. He has seen most of his action at third base for the Cardinals while he earned a spot on the All-SEC Defensive team as a first baseman this past season for the Bulldogs.




Poythress batted .374 with 15 home runs and 75 RBI for the Bulldogs, and those offensive numbers ranked second on the team behind consensus All-American and Major League Baseball first round draft pick Gordon Beckham. Recently, Poythress received national recognition for his stellar play at first base for the Bulldogs, earning a Gold Glove Award as voted on by the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings Sporting Goods. He recorded a .995 fielding percentage in 69 starts with a school record 55 assists to go with 535 putouts. He is the second Bulldog in school history to receive a Gold Glove.



http://media.www.redandblack.com/media/storage/pap er871/news/2008/07/22/Sports/Poythress.Starter.At. Cape.Cod.League.AllStar.Game-3392976.shtml

OF/1B Neil Medchill is an explosive hitter from the left side of the plate with the ability to use speed as an additional weapon on the base path. At such a young age the Lake Orion native is already making an impact for the Mallards offensively. This past spring the 1st-Team All American had a monster year for Chandler-Gilbert CC leading the club in several offensive categories. His batting average (.440), OBP (.531), stolen bases (36), runs scored (49), hits (77), and slugging percentage (.600), all ranked first among the ’07 Chandler-Gilbert CC roster. In 2005, Medchill was drafted by the Angels in the 30th round fulfilling a dream come true. Now playing for Oklahoma State.






http://www.mallardsbaseball.com/home/bios/medchill .php

By Zach Swartz

April 27, 2007

Considering the Bobcats’ trend this season of coming up with a rally too little and too late, it didn’t look very promising when the green and white failed to score in the eighth inning with bases loaded and two outs, trailing by two to Marshall on Wednesday.

When Marc Krauss stepped to the plate with one out in the ninth and a runner on first, it seemed only a matter of time before he would do what he does best. He slammed a game-tying home run 400 feet over the left-center-field wall, propelling the game into extra innings. In the 11th, Matt Stiffler rocketed a double to right, and Jared Willis drove him in when the ball he knocked to left rolled under the left fielder’s glove.

The ‘Cats finally found a way to win.

“It was big,” Krauss said. “We finally got some things going our way, and hopefully we can continue doing that and continue working. We’ve always battled back when we’ve been down, and a lot of times we’ve been coming up short, but we battled back, and we came through in the 11th, and it’s going to be nothing but a boost of confidence coming up to the weekend.”

A boost of confidence couldn’t have come any sooner. The Bobcats (15-23, 3-12 MAC) lost two of three games to the abysmal Buffalo Bulls (7-25, 6-9 MAC) over the weekend, including a heartbreaking loss on Sunday when they scored nine runs in the seventh inning to make it a one-run game, only to lose the game 13-10. Ohio trailed 5-0 after the first four innings of Wednesday’s game, but this time, their rally did not fall short.

Krauss’ ninth-inning home run was his second of the game and his eighth of the season, which leads the team, and the freshman has emerged as the elite power-hitter on his team. The former high school football phenomenon leads the Bobcats in batting average (.366), home runs (8), doubles (15), RBIs (32), slugging percentage (.679) and on-base percentage (.478). He is also second on the team in hits (48) and runs scored (30). On March 27, Krauss became the first Bobcat since 2003 to hit three home runs in one game.

http://www.speakeasymag.com/sports/baseball/2007/a pr/27/freshman-bopper-puts-show-once-again-walk-wi n/



Junior tabbed 44th-best MLB prospect in college

Nov. 11, 2008

ATHENS, Ohio - Junior Marc Krauss continues to receive national attention, as the outfielder was listed as the 44th-best Major League Baseball prospect playing in college on Baseball America’s list of the top 100 college prospects for 2009. This summer, Krauss was selected as the 27th-best prospect in the prestigious Cape Cod Summer League, also by Baseball America Magazine.

Over the summer, Krauss (Deshler, Ohio) led the Bourne Braves to a 23-20-1 record and was named to the All-Cape Cod League Team, as well as played in the league’s mid-season All-Star Game. Krauss hit .344 in the league, finishing fifth in the race for the batting title. The slugger scored 16 runs, while batting in 34, and had 44 hits, including three home runs. His 34 RBIs led the league, as well as his .473 on-base percentage.

Last season, Krauss, a two-time All-Mid-American Conference First Team selection and the 2007 MAC Freshman of the Year, led Ohio with a .448 on-base percentage, while hitting .332, which ranked 20th in the league. The junior was second on the team with 62 runs, 76 hits and 54 RBIs. His 10 home runs in 2008 were second on the team as well, while his 20 doubles tied for the team lead. Krauss, who was named to the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America Team in 2007, earned 48 walks a year ago, which led the MAC and is an Ohio single-season record.

http://ohiobobcats.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-r el/111108aaa.html

General: Continues in a long line of two-sport student-athletes that have played both baseball and football at Stanford • A talented baseball player who has an opportunity to become a full-time starter in 2008 • Excellent speed and great power offensively • Has a chance to be the team's starter in right field after seeing most of his outfield time in left field as a freshman in 2007 • Has suffered injuries during the 2007 football and baseball seasons that caused him to miss a great deal of action • Great work ethic.



http://gostanford.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/ger hart_toby00.html


By Diane Pucin, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Stanford football Coach Jim Harbaugh is partial to athletes whose fathers coached them, because he used to be one of those athletes.

So when his star running back, Toby Gerhart, calls home nearly every day to talk to his father Todd, and maybe hears a nugget of advice about the way his feet were moving or the way he cut right or left, Harbaugh isn't insulted. He's pleased.

Gerhart has rushed for at least 100 yards in four games this year, the first Stanford back to do that since Brian Allen in 2001. Going into today's game against UCLA at the Rose Bowl, Gerhart's 91.6 yards rushing per game ranks fourth in the conference, this only a year after he had knee surgery.




http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/ucla/la-sp-g erhart18-2008oct18,0,2098402.story

Posted by: Brian Foley




We continue the list today with Eric Erickson of Miami, FL checking in at the 47th spot in our countdown. He is a 6′0 190 pound left-handed pitcher out of Sarasota High School in Sarasota, Florida where he had an outstanding career under Clyde Metcalf.

Erickson has had a tremendous two years with the Miami Hurricanes. Last season, He had a record of 9-1 with a 4.15 ERA in 14 appearances (including 13 appearances). In 2007 which was his freshman season with the Hurricanes, he was able to become the number 1 starter with a 10-4 record and a 2.50 ERA. He made four starts for the Orleans Cardinals this past summer where he went 1-1 with a 3.27 ERA.

Erickson is one of the most polished pitchers in the country with control on all three of his pitches. He also has experience pitching in clutch situations leading the Canes to the College World Series in 2008. He should be able to become more consistent on the mound in 2008 and move up the draft boards for the 2009 MLB Draft.

http://thecollegebaseballblog.com/2008/11/06/cbb-t op-50-countdown-number-47-eric-erickson-miami-fl/

BY SAM MILES

COLUMBIA - Aaron Senne has imagined this countless times. Today, well before he steps to the plate at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, hundreds of fans will have risen to their feet, filling the atmosphere with an electric buzz of anticipation that soon will be replaced by an eruption of thunderous applause as his name is called by the public address announcer. They’ll chant his name louder than the rest, boo if he is walked and hiss at any umpire that dares to call him out on strikes.

For Senne, it will almost perfectly follow the script he wrote as a young boy in his backyard, especially if he can smash a couple of home runs over the giant blue-baggie wall in right field or make a highlight-reel grab in the alley like he always seemed to do then.

In fact, when he takes the field today, there will be but one major difference from how he had conceived it. In his dreams, Senne’s heroic feats were accomplished as a member of the Minnesota Twins, his triumphs won as a Minnesota Golden Gopher.

Today, despite being drafted by the Twins and recruited by the Gophers, Senne, a former Minnesota State Player of the Year, will take the field sporting the black and gold of a school that he once knew nothing about.

Although perhaps not the most original observation, Aaron Senne has a philosophy: You only live once. As much as anything else, it is because of that kind of practical wisdom that he finds himself as a sophomore at MU. His smooth, powerful left-handed swing also played a role, but he could have taken that—and expections of a significant amount of money—to the Twins organization. Put simply, he wanted to go to college, and not at age 30.

“It was real easy,” Senne said about turning down the Twins’ offer. “You only get the opportunity to go to college as a college-age student once in your life, and I didn’t want to pass that up. I wanted to experience that, you know. I didn’t want to skip it and go straight into a career.”

Though he could have been persuaded to forego college by a certain amount of money, and while referring to baseball as a career is somewhat underselling the occupation, one question remains: Why Missouri?

As a star pitcher and outfielder at Mayo High School in Rochester, Minn., Senne could have gone just about anywhere. Recruited by UCLA, Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State and Stanford, along with Nebraska, Iowa and the home-state Gophers, among others, in a sport that is dominated by warm-weather teams, the Tigers were at a disadvantage. But when Missouri recruiting coordinator Tony Vitello came to visit, Senne listened.

“Prior to that, I knew nothing about Missouri,” Senne said. “I didn’t even know Missouri was in the Big 12, or had a big school or anything.”

After becoming better acquainted with the Tigers’ program, however, Senne became intrigued. Impressed by the campus, the school’s academic standing, and Missouri’s more laid-back coaches, he narrowed his choices down to Missouri and Minnesota.

The decision wasn’t easy. While Missouri offered him a better fit, the allure of being a home-state star was a compelling factor, leaving him unsure of what to do only a few weeks before the official signing period. It was in his bedroom of all places, a room filled with Minnesota baseball memorabilia, that he decided to leave home.

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/03/ 24/missouri-home-away-home-tigers-outfielder/


MUCH MORE AT LINK

by www.LSUsports.net

BATON ROUGE -- LSU sophomore shortstop DJ LeMahieu has been selected to play in the Cape Cod League All-Star Game at 6 p.m. Saturday at Veterans Field in Chatham, Mass.

LSU junior outfielder Blake Dean will participate in the Home Run Hitting Contest as part of the All-Star pregame festivities.

Now in its 124th season, the 10-team Cape Cod League originated in1885 and is the premier collegiate summer league in the country. 

LeMahieu, a product of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., is batting .351(26-for-74) this summer in 19 games with the Harwich (Mass.) Mariners.He has scored 13 runs while collecting four doubles and eight RBI.

LeMahieu hit .337 (87-for-258) for LSU in 2008 with 11 doubles, onetriple, six homers, 44 RBI and 56 runs. He was one of three truefreshmen in the everyday starting lineup for LSU, which advanced to theCollege World Series and finished the season ranked No. 6 in the nation.

Dean, a 2008 Baseball America magazine first-team all-American, ****** three home runs this summer for the Wareham (Mass.) Gatemen.

The product of Crestview, Fla. was LSU’s leading hitter in 2008,batting .353 (95-for-269) with 18 doubles, three triples, 20 homers, 73RBI and 62 runs.

Dean enjoyed a phenomenal postseason for the Tigers, batting.407(22-for-54) in 13 games with five doubles, one triple, sevenhomers, 25 RBI and 15 runs.

https://www.nmnathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSI D=27865&SPID=2173&DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLI D=1522653

ANAHEIM -- When the Mariners selected Josh Fields in the first round of the First-Year Player Draft this past June, they envisioned another Brandon Morrow -- a high-quality college right-handed pitcher that did not need much seasoning to reach the Major Leagues.

But Fields remains unsigned, delaying his development into a big league pitcher.

It was projected that after a couple of months in the Minors, Fields would be ready to become a part of the Seattle bullpen in September when rosters become expanded to 40 players. If Fields showed that he wasn't big league ready, he would still be a potential member of the bullpen when Spring Training begins next February.

"I don't know what to say, other than we hope to get him signed," said Benny Looper, the Mariners' director of player personnel. "We would like to get him signed and out there playing, definitely. We're hopeful that we can get this done and get Josh out pitching. We think he is a pitcher who could be at a big league level in a short time."

How short?

"I wouldn't want to say a month, a year, two years, but you got to think that when you have that kind of stuff in a relief situation, obviously you feel they're closer than if they're a starter," Bob Fontaine, the Mariners' scouting director, said on Draft day. "A lot of it depends on when he gets started."

And "when" is the big question.

There is a Friday deadline for players selected in the June Draft to sign, or they are off-limits until the 2009 Draft. But because Fields has exhausted his college eligibility, the former University of Georgia closer does not figure in Friday's deadline. The Mariners would have until one week before the 2009 First-Year Player Draft to sign him.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080813&a mp;a mp;content_id=3301541&vkey=news_sea&fext=. jsp&c_id=sea





Issue date: 4/15/08

Joshua Fields is good. The Diamond Dog closer has a league-leading 10 saves, 33 strikeouts in 17.1 innings pitched and he hasn't allowed an earned run this season. And to top it all off, the shaggy-headed wonder hasn't gotten a haircut.

Fields said he decided "a couple of weeks ago" not to give up his locks until he gives up a run. He's succeeded on both parts thus far.

"He might not ever cut his hair," said shortstop Gordon Beckham, who came to Athens with a formidable head of hair himself. "He's going to be like Samson in the Bible. He'll cut his hair and lose his strength or something. He's doing some great things."

Fields tied Cris Carpenter on Sunday for most saves all-time by a Bulldog (33). Fields will get a chance to break the record tonight as No. 7 Georgia hosts East Tennessee State.

The second-round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves in 2007 said he decided to go without a haircut on a whim and it's been a running joke with Beckham since the junior's first year in Athens.

"I told him when he came in his freshman year that as long as he let his hair grow he might have a chance at hitting 20 home runs, and if he cut it he might lose his edge," Fields said.

Though he's always had a healthy head of hair, Fields has an even bigger ambition for his 'do this season. If he continues to dominate hitters, the right-handed flamethrower is thinking ponytail.

"Underneath the hat it's getting pretty long and getting pretty annoying and in my eyes all the time," the Hull native said.

http://media.www.redandblack.com/media/storage/pap er871/news/2008/04/15/Sports/Pitcher.Connotes.hair y.Motivation-3324370.shtml

Originally published: March 12. 2008

By Joe Kennedy
Daily Times Correspondent


KNOXVILLE -- Often times a nine-strikeout performance serves as the centerpiece for a pitcher's career.

For Tennessee's Bryan Morgado, Sunday's win against Eastern Michigan qualified as his worst outing of the season. Such is the standard that the Miami native has set for himself during the first month of the 2008 season.

Pretty impressive for a player a year removed from Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ligament in his elbow suffered the summer following his final high school season. And while many observers wondered whether the preceding hype would be justified, Morgado had little doubt.

"I had a feeling I was going to be this good," said Morgado, who is 2-1 with a 0.86 ERA this season. "I know what I can do. I did it throughout high school.

"Coming in here, a lot of coaches thought, 'This guy is going to be good. He's going to be real good for us.' So I have lived up to expectations. But I have to keep it up."

The left-hander began the year against Furman on Feb. 25, and went eight strong innings -- allowing only two hits while striking out 12 batters. Morgado then took the mound at Minute Maid Park in Houston to face Oklahoma.

The former Boston Red Sox draft pick allowed just one earned run and struck out 10 Sooners to further solidify the impression he left on first-year UT coach Todd Raleigh long ago.



http://www.thedailytimes.com/article/20080312/SPOR TS/890635392


MORE AT LINK

NSU Baseball Standout J.D. Martinez Named NYCBL Player Of The Week

Martinez Leads The NYCBL In Batting Average, Home Runs, Hits, Slugging Percentage (1.031) and Total Bases (33).

Saratoga Springs, Fla. (June 19, 2008) - No one was hotter in the Eastern Division than Nova Southeastern University outfielder J.D. Martinez (So., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) during the first nine games of the New York Collegiate Baseball League season.

Martinez hit a league-high .563 (18-for-32) with four home runs and nine runs batted in. Martinez leads the NYCBL in batting average, home runs, hits, slugging percentage (1.031) and total bases (33). He had seven multi-hit games and a co-league-high seven-game hitting streak.

Martinez also set a Saratoga Phillies record with three home runs in a game against Little Falls on June 7.

A consensus All-Region player and a first team All-Sunshine State Conference player, Martinez followed up his outstanding freshman season with an even better sophomore campaign. He hit .370 with 12 home runs and a team high 56 runs batted in. In addition he had 54 runs scored, 15 doubles and one triple.

http://nsuathletics.nova.edu/sharknews.cfm?num=938

May 10, 2008

CaneSport.com Staff


It's not often a player will point to a summer batting average of .215 as the reason he's now hitting .363.

But, for shortstop Ryan Jackson, his failures are what led to his current success.

A top recruit two years ago, Jackson batted just .236 in his freshman season last year. Coaches recommended he play in the wood bat Cape Cod league over the summer, and even though he struggled by hitting just above .200 there, it's where he tinkered with his stance and has now emerged as a force at the plate.

"It was a learning experience for me – I really found the things I needed to focus on to make myself a better player," Jackson said. "I had to sharpen up my approach because the pitching's a lot better (at this level).

"I have to say thanks to the whole coaching staff for sending me to the Cape Cod league. You face great pitching and you play every day. It's a great opportunity to work on things you need to work on. You just work on your craft, try to sharpen it."

Consider his craft sharpened.

Coming off summer ball Jackson hit .452 this fall at UM and is now batting .363 with a team-high 17 doubles.

"My approach - I'm focused now on making sure I'm hitting line drives and keep the ball low, and if it goes out of the park it goes out of the park," Jackson said.

Jackson looks back at his struggles of last year and says "It was a big adjustment period getting used to everything. I got injured a little bit halfway, got hit with a baseball in the face – there's stuff that gets thrown at you, but you learn to deal with it. It was a learning experience for me. It makes you stronger. I wouldn't change anything that happened. I wouldn't change last year for anything."

While he's a threat at the plate now, Jackson's calling card is his defense.

Coach Jim Morris calls him one of the best fielders in America – he has a .982 fielding percentage with only four errors.

"Growing up I always did a good job of playing my position," Jackson says. "I have soft hands, have had a lot of repetitions out there and I take pride in it. Not only does it help me out, but it helps the pitching staff out when I make plays. I'm trying to make plays for them and the team. I take both sides of my game seriously."


http://miami.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=805708

How many picks are we going to have stock our system?

I'm guessing that we have two Type A (manny/lowe) and two Type B (Blake/Beimel) but what does that mean for our draft?

I'm assuming that we are letting all of these 4 walk that we are going to lose our original 1st round pick somewhere by signing a type A FA somewhere.

Does that mean that...

1. We get only one first rounder draft pick from either Lowe or Manny which ever is higher.
2. We get 2 supplemental first rounders for Lowe and manny
3. We get 2 supplemental 2nd rounders for Blake and Beimel

Is that accurate?....because that would be awesome

Type A Free Agents

Catchers: Jason Varitek (Bos).

First Basemen: Mark Teixeira (LAA).

Second Basemen: Orlando Hudson (Ari).

Shortstops: Orlando Cabrera (CWS), Edgar Renteria (Det).

Outfielders: Manny Ramirez (LAD), Raul Ibanez (Sea), Bob Abreu (NYY), Adam Dunn (Ari), Pat Burrell (Phi).

Starting Pitchers: C.C. Sabathia (Mil), A.J. Burnett (Tor), Andy Pettitte (NYY), Mike Mussina (NYY), Ben Sheets (Mil), Oliver Perez (NYM), Derek Lowe (LAD), Jamie Moyer (Phi).

Relief Pitchers: Francisco Rodriguez (LAA), Brian Fuentes (Col), Russ Springer (StL), Ryan Dempster (ChC), Juan Cruz (Ari), Kerry Wood (ChC), Trevor Hoffman (SD), Doug Brocail (Hou), Darren Oliver (LAA), Bob Howry (ChC).

Type B Free Agents

Catchers: Ivan Rodriguez (NYY), Greg Zaun (Tor), Paul LoDuca (Fla).

Second Basemen: Jeff Kent (LAD), Juan Uribe (CWS), Mark Loretta (Hou), Mark Grudzielanek (KC).

Third Basemen: Casey Blake (LAD).

Outfielders: Garret Anderson (LAA), Moises Alou (NYM), Ken Griffey Jr. (CWS), Luis Gonzalez (Fla).

Designated Hitters: Milton Bradley (Tex), Frank Thomas (Oak).

Starting Pitchers: John Smoltz (Atl), Brad Penny (LAD), Jon Garland (LAA), Randy Wolf (Hou), Paul Byrd (Bos), Greg Maddux (LAD), Braden Looper (StL), Randy Johnson (Ari).

Relief Pitchers: Alan Embree (Oak), Brian Shouse (Mil), Jason Isringhausen (StL), Dave Weathers (Cin), Brandon Lyon (Ari), Jeremy Affeldt (Cin), Arthur Rhodes (Fla), Joe Beimel (LAD), Dennys Reyes (Min), Rudy Seanez (Phi), Luis Ayala (NYM), Eric Gagne (Mil).


First rd pick for A, and second rd for B.

BA.com

Type A Free Agent Compensation

---

If a Type A Free Agent is offered salary arbitration by his former team, but declines arbitration and instead signs with another team, the signing club must compensate the former club with a first round draft pick in the upcoming season’s amateur draft. However, picks 1-15 may not be awarded as compensation - in the event that the signing club owns a first round pick from 1-15, that team forfeits its second round pick rather than its first round pick. Additionally, if the signing club signs more than one Type A Free Agent, that signing team also must compensate the other Type A free agent's previous club with its second round pick, and a third round pick for a third signed Type A free agent, etc. The determination of which former team gets the higher compensation pick is based on the signing players' Elias rankings - the player with the highest ranking yields the highest pick to the that player’s former team. In addition to this compensation, a "supplemental pick" is created between the first and second round (the "supplemental round") to further compensate the former club for the loss of a Type A player. Picks awarded as compensation for the loss of a Type A Free Agent may not be later forfeited.

Type B Free Agent Compensation

---

If a Type B Free Agent is offered salary arbitration by his former team, but declines arbitration and instead signs with another team, the former team is compensated with a supplemtnal round pick. The signing team does not lose any draft picks for signing the Type B Free Agent. Picks awarded as compensation for the loss of a Type B Free Agent may not be later forfeited. There is no compensation required for free agents ranked lower than 40% (there is no longer a “Type C” classification).

Supplemental Round Order

---

Clubs that have lost a Type A Free Agent shall receive the first selections, in the reverse order of their win-loss percentage in the preceding season. Each team who lost a Type A player will pick once before any other team who lost a Type A Free Agent picks for a second time in the supplemental round, then if a team lost a second Type A Free Agent, it will pick again. (For example, if the NYY have the worst record in baseball and lose two Type A Free Agents, they would have the first sandwich pick, then all the other teams who lost Type A Free Agents will pick once, then the NYY would recieve their comp pick for the second Type A Free Agent). Following these selections, clubs that have lost a Type B Free Agent shall receive selections, in reverse order of their win-loss percentage from the preceding season, in the same fashion as the Type A comps. Supplemental picks may not be forfeited.

http://soxprospects.wikispaces.com/MLB+Compensator y+Draft+Pick+System

By TRISTAN AIRD

Jeff Malm couldn't help but smile when asked about the run the Bishop Gorman baseball program is on.

In May, the Gaels won their third straight Class 4A state championship.

As the Southern Nevada Titans, they captured the American Legion World Series in August. That enabled them to attend Game 2 of the World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays.

And on Wednesday, Malm and four teammates signed national letters of intent with NCAA Division I programs in an on-campus ceremony.

So how can the Gaels top that?

"I think just another state championship, the fourth in a row," Malm said. "Your senior year, you want to go out on top. That's really the only thing that's in any of our minds now that we've got signing out of the way."

Malm, a first baseman and left-handed pitcher, signed with Southern California. He was joined by outfielder/left-hander Joey Rickard (Arizona), right-hander Stephen Manthei (Arizona), third baseman R.J. Santigate (Long Beach State) and shortstop Tyler Wagner (Utah).

Dannielle Diamant, a post player on the Gaels' girls basketball team, also was at the ceremony to sign with Northwestern.

Gorman baseball coach Chris Sheff said Wednesday gave him greater pride than his team's stuffed trophy case.

"These are the moments that kind of give you goose bumps and you're more proud of because you're giving guys an opportunity to move on to the next level and actually get a college education," he said.

The 6-foot-3-inch, 225-pound Malm is considered the top prospect in the bunch.

He snagged last year's Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year award, is a member of the U.S. Junior National team and even has rookie cards fetching as much as $13 on eBay.com.

"It's a great feeling to get this out of the way and have something set in stone to be able to know that you're going somewhere in the future," Malm said.

Though he was wearing a USC tie Wednesday, Malm's future there might not be set in stone. He is expected to be a high first-day choice in June's amateur baseball draft and said it is "definitely" a possibility he could sign a professional contract.

http://www.lvrj.com/sports/34385939.html

MORE AT LINK

Andy Barkett, Publisher

Sunday, November 18th, 2007 -   Coach Landy Faedo has to be excited about the upcoming 2008 baseball season.  He has a top notch, one-two punch on the mound, with lefty Alex Panteliodis and hard throwing righty, Ray Delphey,   Delphey, a 5'10" junior from Tampa features a fastball, curve and change. 

His fastball has touched as high as 96, but he pitches 90-93.  He also plays centerfield and can swing the bat. Ray runs a 6.7 in the 60 and is undecided in his college choice so far.  In the summer, he plays for Bill Lockwood and the All American Prospects. He is looking forward to helping Tampa Alonso to the state title in 2008.  In his spare time, Ray likes to fish and go "muddin."



http://www.flhsbaseballreport.com/playerbios/index .php?edit_id=76&zone_id=9

Andy Barkett, Publisher

October 27th, 2007


Anyone in the market for a switch hitting SS with a plus arm and pop?  If you are, look no further than Altamonte Springs Lake Brantley Junior, Nick Franklin.  This 6'1" 165 lb. junior is a causing a buzz around the state.  He is currently uncommitted but is being recruited by Ariz. St, Arizona, Florida, Miami, Stanford, Tenn, LSU, Vanderbilt, Tulane, Harvard, N.C. St and UCF, just to name a few.  I have had the opportunity work with Nick in a handful of private lessons. 

I will admit, it was difficult to meet him at Lake Brantley High School to do some infield work, as in 1990, my Killian Cougars took it on the chin to the eventual USA Today National Champion Lake Brantley team which featured Jason Varitek at 3rd Base, Jerry Thurston behind the plate, Brad Rigby on the mound and Greg Thomas at 1st Base.  We lost in the semi-finals of the 1990 State Championship at the former Boardwalk in Baseball in Haines City. 

Nick has good pop from both sides of plate, however, I like him left handed a tad more.  He has good hands and actions at short.  He works hard and loves to play.  Perfect game has him ranked as top 25th prospect in the nation for 2009, and the 6th best prospect in Florida.  His numbers were impressive last year as he hit .379 with 10 doubles, a unofficial Lake Brantly record, 8 triples, stole 10 bases and was 2-0 on the mound with 1 save.  Last summer, Nick had the chance to represent his country on the USA Team where he hit .472 is 36 AB's with 6 2B's, 1 3B, 1 HR and 10 RBI's.  On the mound he pitched 6 innings, and punched out 8 without allowing an earned run. 

In the questionnaire I send out to players I feature on this site, I ask them to let me know their personal goals.  Nick's I enjoyed reading.  He wanted not only to make the big leagues, but to, "sustain a successful major league career."  I was impressed with his team goals as well and he is focused on helping his Lake Brantley teammates win the district and State Championships.  He does have some baseball pedigree as his grandfather, Ed Clifton, played in the Pirates system in the late fifties. And his brother Clint is a RHP for the Florida Gators. 

http://www.flhsbaseballreport.com/playerbios/index .php?edit_id=17&zone_id=9

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Alonso senior Alex Panteliodis (center), recepient of the third annual Wade Boggs Athletic Achievement Award, poses with Boggs (left) and county commissioner Brian Blair (Photo courtesy of Stacy Williams/Hillsborough County)






May 21, 2008









Alonso senior Alex Panteliodis arrived at the County Center Building downtown on coat-and-tie detail for the latest stop on his postseason awards tour. But receiving the third-annual Wade Boggs Award was different, first because he got to meet the Hall of Fame third baseman the honor is named after. But in addition, Panteliodis took pride in the award because it was given by the county commission for not only athletics, but academic accomplishments and community service. "I never would have thought about winning this award," Panteliodis said. "I'm just very proud to win it. All my family and friends pushed me to do good things. I'm just very happy. ... This pushes me too strive for bigger and better things."


Panteliodis, a UF signee, was 9-2 this season and won 20 straight decisions, a run than went back to his freshman season. He also owns a 3.8 unweighted GPA and is a member of Alonso's Science Honors Club. He's also collected more than 100 community service hours, helping to coach his younger brother's Town N' Country youth baseball team for the past six years. "Whenever I can get it in, I go over there to help him out," Panteliodis said. In spare time, he will help out the Town N' County Little League, working the gates, getting the fields ready and working the concession stands. On Sundays, Panteliodis also volunteers with a Safety Harbor power soccer league that allows paraplegics in power wheelchairs to play soccer on a basketball court. "It's awesome," Panteliodis said. "It's amazing."



http://blogs.tampabay.com/preps/2008/05/panteliodi s-col.html



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Panteliodis' fourth start of the 2007 season was almost symbolic of how his entire junior year went. The Ravens' hulky left-hander tossed a perfect game against Mitchell in that outing, and he did nothing but excel from that point on. Panteliodis went 11-0 with a 0.53 ERA in 2007, striking out 93, walking just eight and allowing only 36 hits in 65 1/3 innings.

His domination helped Alonso reach a Class 6A regional final, where the Ravens fell to eventual state champion Sarasota. Panteliodis, who has signed with Florida, also had a great summer with the Midland Redskins, an elite summer travel team that won the Connie Mack World Series, and he returns this year as Hillsborough County's top hurler.

COACHSPEAK: "He had a phenomenal year. Everything went perfectly for him. And he is very deserving of it because he works so hard. He's also a quality kid and a great person to be around and we're fortunate to have kids like that."

- Alonso coach Landy Faedo

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/feb/11/2008-tribu ne-baseball-preview/sports/

Published: November 6, 2008

Junior infielder Joseph Sanders has been ranked the No. 79 collegiate prospect by Baseball America, the organization has announced. Listed as a second baseman, he is the fourth-highest rated at that position.

From Millbrook, Sanders was used at multiple positions in the infield over the last two seasons. A career .342 hitter, he was an All-Star in the Cape Cod League this past summer, hitting .273 with 11 doubles, four homers and 17 RBI. Last season he hit .348 in 50 games, leading the team in RBI (52) and doubles (19), tallying 10 home runs, third-most on the team.

http://www.oanow.com/oan/sports/college/article/au burn_baseball_sanders_among_top_prospects/45190/

July 19, 2008

Clemson, SC -

Clemson rising junior Ben Paulsen was selected as the starting first-baseman for the West team in the Cape Cod League All-Star game on Saturday. Paulsen, who plays for the Hyannis (MA) Mets, will represent the West division in the All-Star game that will be hosted by Chatham (MA) on July 26. The Cape Cod League is the nation's premier collegiate summer league.

Paulsen is hitting .296 with six doubles, one triple, four homers, and 25 RBIs in 30 games for Hyannis. His 25 RBIs are second-most in the entire Cape Cod League.

The Acworth, GA native is coming off a solid 2008 season as a sophomore at Clemson. He hit .310 with a team-high 18 doubles, one triple, 13 homers, and 49 RBIs in 58 games (all starts).

http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec -rel/071908aab.html

Josh Phegley

Wareham catcher

Josh Phegley never expected an opportunity like this. Originally buried on the Wareham depth chart, Phegley came to the Cape from Indiana and quickly assumed the role of starting catcher. Through 14 games, he's hitting .300. Not bad for a guy who was second-guessing making the trip after a frustrating spring at the plate.

Did you ever expect to play this much here on the Cape?

"Not really. My coach told me that somebody wasn't going to show up and I would be the No. 2 (catcher). I thought I'd split time since it's summer ball. I think I'm the No. 1 right now, so it's working out."

What do you need to work on most this summer?

"My swing, for sure. I had a great senior year in high school. In the fall I got invited to come (to the Cape League) and I had a terrible spring (at Indiana). I was a little intimated coming here. I'm not hitting real well and they say you're going to face the best in the country. I was second-guessing myself. But I enjoy coming here with a clean slate. Nobody really knows how you played or how bad you were (laughs)."

Why do you think you've been successful so far?

"I'm relaxing and I have a lot of confidence. Coming in here with wood, all we did was swing the first couple weeks. I really got my swing back."

So the transition from aluminum bats has gone well?

"I think so. It's a big difference. You don't the cheap hits you do with aluminum."

How exciting was being named Indiana's Mr. Baseball?

"Awesome! I wasn't really expecting awards. I was having fun and we were finally winning games. We had never made it far in the tournament, so that's what I was focused on. At the end of the year, I was at the top."

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article ?AID=/20070706/SPORTS/707060319/-1/SPORTS01

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May 28th, 2008 by Ryan Gregg, Fall 2008 Sports Editor Everyone’s favorite catcher, Josh Phegley has earned a tryout with 2008 USA National Team. This is a great honor for Phegley, but shouldn’t really come as a surprise after the amazing season he had.

May 28, 2008

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Sophomore catcher Josh Phegley has been invited to the 2008 National Team Trials, USA Baseball announced today. Phegley is one of 26 college underclassmen that have earned invites to the Trials, which will take place from June 11-23 throughout the eastern part of the United States. Of the 32 who will eventually be invited to the Trials, 22 will be selected for the National Team, which will be selected on June 24.

“What a wonderful experience to be able to represent not only Indiana University but also his country,” Indiana head coach Tracy Smith said. “I know Josh is excited about the chance. We’ve known for a while that he’s one of the best players in the nation, and now he has a chance to prove it.”

USA Baseball’s 2008 National Team schedule includes a six-game friendship series against Chinese Taipei and a month-long trip to Europe where the team will compete in the Haarlem Baseball Week in the Netherlands and the IV FISU World Collegiate Baseball Championship in the Czech Republic. The 2008 USA Baseball National Team will be led by Oral Roberts University head coach Rob Walton, who served as an assistant coach for the 2005 National Team.

Phegley finished off one of the best offensive seasons in IU history with a .438 average, 15 home runs, 80 RBI and 20 doubles. He was the only Big Ten player with an average over .400 and also was the only one with an on-base percentage over .500 (.507). He led the conference in average, hits, total bases, sacrifice flies, OBP and RBI on the year, and finished second in runs (69), slugging percentage (.746). Phegley is currently second in the nation in average and fifth in RBI.

http://www.idsnews.com/blogs/insidepitch/?p=103