July 8, 2008

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina All-Americas Dustin Ackley and Kyle Seager are off to sizzling starts in the Cape Cod League after stellar sophomore campaigns with the Tar Heels. Since making their debuts July 1, both are batting better than .400 through six games.

Ackley, who is hitting in the middle of the order and playing in the outfield for the Harwich Mariners, is batting .450 with nine hits and nine walks in just six games for a .621 on-base percentage. He had three hits against Orleans July 6.

Ackley has a hit in all six games for Harwich after hitting safely in his final 13 games of the season for the Tar Heels. Seager is batting third and playing second base for the Chatham A's. He is hitting .400 with 10 hits, including two doubles, and has already posted two three-hit games.

Ackley is making his wooden bat debut, while Seager is playing his second season in Chatham.

In other summer league news, right-hander Bryant Gaines has been dominant on the mound for the Wilmington Sharks of the Coastal Plain League. In six starts, he is 3-2 with a 1.41 ERA in 44 2/3 innings. He has struck out 26, walked 11 and is holding opponents to a .194 average.

Elsewhere in the CPL, lefty Brian Moran has made one start for the Wilson Tobs and struck out six and allowed just one unearned run in seven innings.