Hokie ClubThe Virginia Tech baseball team began its fall practice onSept. 8 and will continue preparing as a team for the 2010 season until itsannual intra-squad Fall World Series, which will take place Oct. 15, 17 and 18at English Field. Until then, here is a complete recap of the Hokies whocompeted in summer leagues this year, which wrapped up in mid-August.
Led the Valley League’s Woodstock River Bandits with a .302average and seven home runs … Added 22 RBIs and 27 runs scored in 45 gamesplayed … Was a mid-season all-star.
Appeared in three games, all starts, for the RockbridgeRapids of the Valley League … Went 0-1 with 11 strikeouts in 13 inningspitched
… Then moved to the Petersburg Generals of the same leagueand pitched 23 innings in four appearances (three starts) … Went 2-2 with a2.74 ERA and 31 strikeouts.
Was ranked the eighth-best pro prospect in the Cape CodLeague by Baseball America … Was ranked the No. 1 pro prospect in the Cape CodLeague by PG Crosschecker … Appeared in nine games as a reliever, going 1-1with a 5.28 ERA and one save … Struck out 17 and walked six in 15.1 innings ofwork.
FromBaseball America: Two of the Cape's hardest-throwing relievers were VirginiaTech teammates Hahn and Mathew Price (Harwich). Hahn was limited by tendonitisin 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 onhis 6-foot-5, 195-pound frame. If he can improve the consistency of his hammercurveball, control and overall performance, he'll be a first-round pick nextJune.
Played in 31 games for the New England Collegiate Leaguechampion Newport Gulls … Batted .260 with five doubles, four home runs, 18 runsscored and 10 RBIs.
Played in 32 games for the Southern Collegiate Leaguerunner-up Lake Norman Copperheads … Batted .200 with eight doubles and 15RBIs.
Made nine appearances on the mound for the SouthernCollegiate League runner-up Lake Norman Copperheads, going 4-2 with one saveand a 2.93 ERA in 43 innings pitched … Struck out 60 and walked just 13, whilelimiting opponents to a .219 batting average … Also batted 18 times himself,recording six hits, three RBIs and two stolen bases … Was a mid-seasonall-star.
Appeared in 23 games for the Covington Lumberjacks of the ValleyLeague … Hit .187 with 11 runs scored, two home runs and six RBIs.
Made 10 appearances (four starts) for the Rockbridge Rapidsof 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 nineinnings of a 1-0 win over Waynesboro on July 27.
Was ranked the second-best pro prospect in the ClarkGriffith League by Baseball America after earning all-league honors at thecatcher position for the Carney Pirates … Batted .345 in 25 games with twohomers, three doubles, four triples and 21 RBIs.
FromBaseball America: Playing a premium position, Morgan drew considerableinterest from scouts during his senior year at Paul VI High in Fairfax, Va., buthis strong commitment to Virginia Tech caused him to go undrafted. He was amid-order hitter for Carney, batting .345 in the regular season and .467 in theleague playoffs. An above-average athlete with average arm strength, he playedcorner outfield in several games. But he profiles as a catcher, where he showsabove-averagereceiving 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 developsas a player in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Appeared in four games for the Staunton Braves of the ValleyLeague … Went 3-for-10 with a double, a home run, three RBIs and two runsscored
… Then moved to theSaratoga Phillies of the New York Collegiate League, where he hit .220 withfour home runs in 20 games.
Made 12 appearances for the Southern Collegiate Leaguechampion 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 theCape Cod League, where he was named a mid-season all-star … Made three startsin 12 appearances, going 2-2 with one save and a 2.97 ERA … Struck out 34batters in 36.1 innings of work.
Helped lead the Cotuit Kettleers to the Cape Cod Leaguechampionship series … Appeared in 20 games, making one start … Went 4-2 withone 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 ofthe Coastal Plain League … Batted .247 with 29 runs scored, three doubles and13 RBIs … Stole 10 bases.
Made 42 starts in 43 games for the Outer Banks Daredevils ofthe Coastal Plain League … Batted .210 with eight doubles, one home run and 17RBIs.
Was ranked the 13th-best pro prospect in theCoastal Plain League by PG Crosschecker … Led the Petersburg Generals of theCoastal Plain League with a .333 average … Started all 50 games in which heplayed, accumulating team highs of 30 runs scored, 16 doubles, seven home runsand 38 RBIs … Stole five bases … Also threw 24.1 inningsfrom the mound over nine appearances … Went 0-2 with 27 strikeouts and just sixwalks … Was a mid-season all-star and home run derby participant.
Was named to the New England Collegiate League second teamat 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 CodLeague … Batted .213 with two doubles, two home runs and 10 RBIs.
Played in 28 games for the Front Royal Cardinals of theValley League … Batted .247 with 14 runs scored, five doubles, two triples, twohome runs and six RBIs … Stole five bases.
Was ranked the 15th-best pro prospect in the CapeCod League by Baseball America … Was named an all-league team outfielder afterfinishing the season fourth in the league with a .312 batting average … Playedin 40 games for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox … Tallied eight doubles, twotriples and 21 RBIs … Also swiped 12 bases … Was a starter in the mid-seasonall-star game at Fenway Park.
FromBaseball America: Wates may have been Y-D’s best all-around hitter beforehitting a slump late in the year. He led the league in hitting for a large partof the season,ultimately finishing fourth at .312. Wates played all but one game on theoutfield corners for Yarmouth-Dennis, but he has the tools to play center. Oneof the faster players in the league, he consistently barrels balls from theright side with a line drive stroke. At 6-foot-1 and 186 pounds, he needs tohone his defensive instincts and has some untapped power. "He's athleticwith speed and a loose swing," the AL scouting director said. "He's alive-bodied kid who can fly."
Appeared in 11 games (four starts) for the Harwich Marinersof the Cape Cod League … Went 3-2 with a 4.26 ERA over 25.1 innings pitched andstruck out 19 batters.
Made five starts on the mound for the Saratoga Phillies ofthe New York Collegiate League, going 1-4 with a 4.44 ERA … Struck out 22batters in 24.1 innings of work … Also recorded four hits in 16 at-bats at theplate, driving in two and scoring two runs.