Hokie ClubThe Virginia Tech baseball team began its fall practice on Sept. 8 and will continue preparing as a team for the 2010 season until its annual intra-squad Fall World Series, which will take place Oct. 15, 17 and 18 at English Field. Until then, here is a complete recap of the Hokies who competed in summer leagues this year, which wrapped up in mid-August.
Led the Valley League’s Woodstock River Bandits with a .302 average and seven home runs … Added 22 RBIs and 27 runs scored in 45 games played … Was a mid-season all-star.
Appeared in three games, all starts, for the Rockbridge Rapids of the Valley League … Went 0-1 with 11 strikeouts in 13 innings pitched
… Then moved to the Petersburg Generals of the same league and pitched 23 innings in four appearances (three starts) … Went 2-2 with a 2.74 ERA and 31 strikeouts.
Was ranked the eighth-best pro prospect in the Cape Cod League by Baseball America … Was ranked the No. 1 pro prospect in the Cape Cod League by PG Crosschecker … Appeared in nine games as a reliever, going 1-1 with a 5.28 ERA and one save … Struck out 17 and walked six in 15.1 innings of work.
From Baseball America: Two of the Cape's hardest-throwing relievers were Virginia Tech teammates Hahn and Mathew Price (Harwich). Hahn was limited by tendonitis in his middle finger, but he was still the only Cape pitcher to reach 98 mph. Hahn usually operates at 95-96 mph and has the room to add a lot of strength on his 6-foot-5, 195-pound frame. If he can improve the consistency of his hammer curveball, control and overall performance, he'll be a first-round pick next June.
Played in 31 games for the New England Collegiate League champion Newport Gulls … Batted .260 with five doubles, four home runs, 18 runs scored and 10 RBIs.
Played in 32 games for the Southern Collegiate League runner-up Lake Norman Copperheads … Batted .200 with eight doubles and 15 RBIs.
Made nine appearances on the mound for the Southern Collegiate League runner-up Lake Norman Copperheads, going 4-2 with one save and a 2.93 ERA in 43 innings pitched … Struck out 60 and walked just 13, while limiting opponents to a .219 batting average … Also batted 18 times himself, recording six hits, three RBIs and two stolen bases … Was a mid-season all-star.
Appeared in 23 games for the Covington Lumberjacks of the Valley League … Hit .187 with 11 runs scored, two home runs and six RBIs.
Made 10 appearances (four starts) for the Rockbridge Rapids of the Valley League … Wemt 1-2 with 26 strikeouts in 33 innings pitched … Tossed the first shutout in Rapids history by scattering five hits in nine innings of a 1-0 win over Waynesboro on July 27.
Was ranked the second-best pro prospect in the Clark Griffith League by Baseball America after earning all-league honors at the catcher position for the Carney Pirates … Batted .345 in 25 games with two homers, three doubles, four triples and 21 RBIs.
From Baseball America: Playing a premium position, Morgan drew considerable interest from scouts during his senior year at Paul VI High in Fairfax, Va., but his strong commitment to Virginia Tech caused him to go undrafted. He was a mid-order hitter for Carney, batting .345 in the regular season and .467 in the league playoffs. An above-average athlete with average arm strength, he played corner outfield in several games. But he profiles as a catcher, where he shows above-average receiving and blocking skills. Morgan has below-average power at present, but that might improve as his 6-foot-1, 190-pound body matures and he develops as a player in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Appeared in four games for the Staunton Braves of the Valley League … Went 3-for-10 with a double, a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored
… Then moved to the Saratoga Phillies of the New York Collegiate League, where he hit .220 with four home runs in 20 games.
Made 12 appearances for the Southern Collegiate League champion Tennessee Tornado … Recorded a 3.05 ERA in 20.2 innings pitched, striking out 31 batters and holding opponents to a .187 average.
Matt Price
Enjoyed a stellar season with the Harwich Mariners in the Cape Cod League, where he was named a mid-season all-star … Made three starts in 12 appearances, going 2-2 with one save and a 2.97 ERA … Struck out 34 batters in 36.1 innings of work.
Helped lead the Cotuit Kettleers to the Cape Cod League championship series … Appeared in 20 games, making one start … Went 4-2 with one save and a 2.21 ERA … Struck out 31 batters in 36.2 innings of work.
Made 49 starts in 51 games for the Outer Banks Daredevils of the Coastal Plain League … Batted .247 with 29 runs scored, three doubles and 13 RBIs … Stole 10 bases.
Made 42 starts in 43 games for the Outer Banks Daredevils of the Coastal Plain League … Batted .210 with eight doubles, one home run and 17 RBIs.
Was ranked the 13th-best pro prospect in the Coastal Plain League by PG Crosschecker … Led the Petersburg Generals of the Coastal Plain League with a .333 average … Started all 50 games in which he played, accumulating team highs of 30 runs scored, 16 doubles, seven home runs and 38 RBIs … Stole five bases … Also threw 24.1 innings from the mound over nine appearances … Went 0-2 with 27 strikeouts and just six walks … Was a mid-season all-star and home run derby participant.
Was named to the New England Collegiate League second team at shortstop after starting 37 games for the champion Newport Gulls … Batted .210 with 14 doubles, three home runs and 21 RBIs.
Played in 22 games for the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod League … Batted .213 with two doubles, two home runs and 10 RBIs.
Played in 28 games for the Front Royal Cardinals of the Valley League … Batted .247 with 14 runs scored, five doubles, two triples, two home runs and six RBIs … Stole five bases.
Was ranked the 15th-best pro prospect in the Cape Cod League by Baseball America … Was named an all-league team outfielder after finishing the season fourth in the league with a .312 batting average … Played in 40 games for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox … Tallied eight doubles, two triples and 21 RBIs … Also swiped 12 bases … Was a starter in the mid-season all-star game at Fenway Park.
From Baseball America: Wates may have been Y-D’s best all-around hitter before hitting a slump late in the year. He led the league in hitting for a large part of the season, ultimately finishing fourth at .312. Wates played all but one game on the outfield corners for Yarmouth-Dennis, but he has the tools to play center. One of the faster players in the league, he consistently barrels balls from the right side with a line drive stroke. At 6-foot-1 and 186 pounds, he needs to hone his defensive instincts and has some untapped power. "He's athletic with speed and a loose swing," the AL scouting director said. "He's a live-bodied kid who can fly."
Appeared in 11 games (four starts) for the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod League … Went 3-2 with a 4.26 ERA over 25.1 innings pitched and struck out 19 batters.
Made five starts on the mound for the Saratoga Phillies of the New York Collegiate League, going 1-4 with a 4.44 ERA … Struck out 22 batters in 24.1 innings of work … Also recorded four hits in 16 at-bats at the plate, driving in two and scoring two runs.