Aug. 20, 2007

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The 23 University of North Carolina baseball players who spent the summer scattered up and down the east coast in various wooden bat leagues put up some impressive numbers before returning to campus this week to begin prepping for a run at a third straight trip to the College World Series next June.

Offensively, outfielder Drew Poulk, who hit .354 and earned Rookie of the Year honors in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, and second baseman Garrett Gore, who hit .400 and helped Thomasville capture the Coastal Plain League title, led the way for the Tar Heels.

On the mound, B.J. Dail, Bryant Gaines, Brian Moran and Rob Catapano showed they can be key pieces of the 2008 pitching staff with outstanding summers, and Rob Wooten carried his postseason success into a strong summer with the Chatham A's of the Cape Cod League.

Wooten teamed with Tim Federowicz, Kyle Seager, and Alex White to help lead the A's to the Cape League playoffs.

Additionally, Seth Williams and Matt McNichol each hit over .320 in their respective leagues.

CAPE COD BASEBALL LEAGUE
Rob Catapano, Orleans Cardinals
Went 3-1 with a 0.92 ERA in 19 2/3 innings over 14 relief appearances • Allowed just three walks and struck out 17.

Mike Cavasinni, Wareham Gatemen
Hit .159 (7-44) over 20 games • Stole two bases • Did not commit an error in the outfield.

Tim Federowicz, Chatham A's
Batted .297 (27-91) with one home run, seven doubles and 14 RBI in 28 games • Slugged .407 • Made one appearance on the mound.

Kyle Seager, Chatham A's
Hit .274 (29-106) with four doubles, one home run and one triple in 31 games • Also drove in nine runs • Played 27 games at second base and seven at shortstop.

Alex White, Chatham A's
Went 2-1 with a 2.10 ERA in 25 2/3 innings over seven appearances • Made three starts and threw one complete game • Struck out 31 and walked just eight.

Adam Warren, Brewster Whitecaps
Was 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA in eight games • Made four starts • Struck out 22 and walked 14 in 23 1/3 innings.

Rob Wooten, Chatham A's
Was 1-0 with a 1.77 ERA in 13 relief appearances • Pitched 20 1/3 innings and struck out 32, while walking only nine.

COASTAL PLAIN LEAGUE
Matt Cox, Wilmington Sharks
Went 3-1 with a 3.60 ERA in 25 innings on the mound • Pitched in six games and made five starts • Struck out 22 • Hit .375 in three games at the plate.

B.J. Dail, Wilson Tobs
Finished 2-3 with a 1.71 ERA in 10 appearances, including eight starts • Fired two complete games, including a shutout of Thomasville July 31 that earned him CPL Pitcher of the Week honors for week nine • Struck out 63 and walked only 15 in 56 innings • Hit .167 in four games.

Mike Facchinei, Columbia Blowfish
Made 11 appearances, including four starts • Went of 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA • Pitched 33 2/3 innings and struck out 27.

Tim Fedroff, Wilmington Sharks
Batted .213 in 15 starts • Had 10 hits with five RBI and eight runs scored.

Bryant Gaines, Wilmington Sharks
Went 4-4 with a 1.81 ERA in 10 starts • Tossed two complete-game shutouts (July 19 vs. Outer Banks, 1-0 and Aug. 2 vs. Columbia second game of a doubleheader, 1-0) • Pitched 54 2/3 innings with 48 strikeouts and 22 walks • Held opponents to a .197 average • Named Rawlings CPL Pitcher of the Week for week seven.

Garrett Gore, Thomasville Hi-Toms
Hit .400 to help lead team to the CPL title • Scored 14 runs and drove in six • Slugged .529 • Hit .368 with two doubles and four RBI in the postseason tournament.

Ryan Graepel, Wilson Tobs
Batted .191 in 37 games, including 31 starts • Had 22 hits, six doubles, 15 RBI and nine runs scored.

Mike McKee, Spartanburg Stingers
Hit .171 over 13 games played • Three of his six hits were doubles • Added two runs and two RBI.

Hunter Rome, Thomasville Hi-Toms
Recorded one save and posted a 10.12 ERA in five games • Fanned six in eight innings.

Kyle Shelton, Outer Banks Daredevils
Batted .184 in 14 games played • Had nine hits, including two doubles and two home runs, to go with seven RBI and six runs scored.

Tyler Trice, Spartanburg Stingers
Posted a 4.26 ERA in seven outings • Struck out six in 6 1/3 innings.

Seth Williams, Wilmington Sharks
Hit .333 in 14 games • Had 16 hits, including four doubles and two home runs • Drove in eight runs and slugged .542.

NEW ENGLAND COLLEGIATE BASEBALL LEAGUE
Jared Bard, Newport Gulls
Went 1-1 with a 7.08 ERA in 14 relief outings • Struck out 18 in 20 1/3 innings.

Mark Fleury, Keene Swamp Bats
Hit .235 (16-68) with five RBI in 20 games • Stole three bases and posted a .966 fielding percentage.

Drew Poulk, Newport Gulls
Named the league's Rookie of the Year and earned first-team All-NECBL honors • Led team with a .354 average (35-99) • Posted 12 doubles, two home runs and 16 RBI in 30 games • Slugged .535.

NEW YORK COLLEGIATE BASEBALL LEAGUE
Brian Moran, Glen Falls Golden Eagles
Went 5-3 with a 1.52 ERA in 10 games, including seven starts • Tossed four complete games • Struck out 49 and walked only seven in 65 innings.

SOUTHERN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL LEAGUE
Matt McNichol, Monroe Channelcats
Hit .320 (31-97) with 21 runs scored in 33 games • Drove in a team-high 20 runs and hit two homers • Slugged a team-best .515.