RE: UNC-W Baseball
So here's what I've got on our 7 incoming freshmen for the 2016 season, after a little research:
RHP Alex Royalty (Raleigh, N.C./Millbrook)
Most recently, on Oct 23, Royalty struck out 5 and allowed just two hits in the Blue-White series. His HS coach notes that he throws three pitches for strikes, a rarity for a pitcher that young.
INF Blake Deatherage (Burlington, N.C./Western Alamance)
Deatherage was a .505 hitter during his Junior season and has a brother, Brock, who plays at NC State. Deatherage also played football for Western Alamance as a linebacker. He mostly played 3B and was also an effective right-handed pitcher.
OF/RHP Clark Cota (Hampstead, N.C./Topsail)
Local product Clark Cota was originally a UNC recruit before flipping to UNCW after deciding he'd have better opportunities to succeed as a Seahawk. One of the reasons? UNCW's ability to make it to a Regional nearly every season.
Clark's father, Scott, suffered from a rotator cuff injury in 1985, and ever since has become an expert in the science of performance, serving as Topsail's Pitching Coach the past 3 years. The use of biomechanics has helped Clark begin to master his abilities on the mound, and he already has the ability to throw 5 different pitches.
1B Walker Imwalle (Wallace, N.C./Wallace-Rose Hill)
Imwalle is another "football mentality in a baseball body" type that typically finds success here. The first baseman had D-I football options but chose to come to UNCW, where his Uncle Battle Holley once played. He has the best chance to be another Corey Dick for our program.
INF Beau O'Connell (New Hyde Park, N.Y./Chaminade)
The corner infielder from Long Island helped Chaminade win the CHSAA Championship series in 2015, scoring the winning run on a suicide squeeze in Game 1 of the best of 3. In the Blue-White game on Oct 23, O'Connell went 1-2, was hit by a pitch and knocked in a run.
LHP Brandon Mulier (Fayetteville, N.C./Cape Fear)
Lefty pitching is at a premium at the collegiate level, as they typically get snapped up out of High School by MLB clubs. Mulier luckily went undrafted, and despite drawing interest from a host of top programs (including Clemson, NC State, South Carolina, Virginia and Vanderbilt), the 6-1, 170 lbs. Cape Fear HS product elected to stay in eastern North Carolina.
C Ryan Jeffers (Raleigh, N.C./Sanderson)
On Scout Day at UNCW on Oct 30, Jeffers cleared Home Run hill in batting practice, offering some insight into the kind of power he brings to the table. He later hit a grand slam in a team scrimmage. The 6-2, 220 lbs catcher hit 18 HR's his Senior Season and was also his team's defensive MVP all three seasons. The hope is Jeffers will continue the long line of successful catchers for the program.
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