Steamers Load up on Lefties
March 31, 2014 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Edenton Steamers News Release
EDENTON, N.C - The Edenton Steamers of the Coastal Plain League announce today the signing of three left-handed pitchers for 2014. Caleb Ross, Zach Quayle and Micah Mabe (all photos courtesy of respective schools SID office) will join the Steamers pitching staff this summer.
Ross joins the Steamers as a redshirt-sophomore from Marshall University (WV) in the NCAA Division I Conference USA. The 6-2, 195-pounder is a left-handed specialist for the Thundering Herd this spring after playing last summer for the Front Royal Cardinals in the Valley League. Hailing from Barboursville, W.V, he made eight appearances, including four starts in Front Royal. In 30.1 innings on the mound he logged a complete game shutout, 2.96 ERA, .99 WHIP and struck out 31 hitters to issuing only four walks.
Ross is a former transfer from the University of West Virginia and a talented southpaw with a starter's future because of his plus command and quality three-pitch repertoire. After sitting out with Marshall due to NCAA transfer rules in 2013, Ross burst onto the national scene a summer ago by being virtually untouchable outside of two poor outings. He showed dominance in short-relief turns and the rotation, where he wrapped up his summer with a three-hit shutout. Currently being underutilized this spring as a match-up pitcher, he has previously shown great effectiveness getting guys out on both sides of the plate. Despite the challenging role this year, Ross has been very stingy, having not allowed a run through 15 appearances and only two hits in the process.
Quayle is a lefty weekend starter this spring for the Ave Maria University (FL) Gyrenes in the NAIA Sun Conference. The 5-9, 170-pound junior resides in Knoxville, T.N, and pitched for the Amsterdam Mohawks in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League last summer. In 13 appearances (all out of the bullpen) he logged 22.2 innings and finished with a 0.79 ERA, .75 WHIP, .175 batting average against, allowing only two extra-base hits (both doubles) and striking out 21 batters to allowing just three bases on balls.
Quayle bears a heavy workload as one of the key guys during the spring seasons for Ave Maria's rotation and likely projects to the Clams' bullpen, a role in which he excelled at last summer in New York. He was very effective as a multi-inning setup man for the Mohawks and, with a finesse style, his success is largely predicated on command and a filthy changeup that neutralizes hitters from both sides of the plate. This gives him the ability to go through the order one time or pitch in shorter leveraged roles. So far this spring he has appeared 13 times with nine starts. His ERA stands at 4.36, with a 1.34 WHIP, adding 36 strikeouts and 16 walks in 51.2 innings pitched.
Hailing from Cumming, G.A, Mabe is a junior at Covenant College (GA) in the NCAA Division III USA South Conference. A weekend starter for the Scots this spring, the 6- 2, 195-pound southpaw suited up for the Niagara Power in the New York Collegiate Baseball League last summer. In four appearances, all as a starter, Mabe pitched 23.1 innings and struck out 21 batters to issuing only five free passes, adding a .99 WHIP.
Mabe had a good showing during an abbreviated summer campaign after being shut down in the aftermath of a heavy spring workload and he gives Coach Hill and the Steamers another left-hander that can pitch with strong command and savvy. When he is on, he is able to be very economical by generating a lot of groundballs early in counts. This year he has bounced back from some early-spring dead arm issues and posted 32 strikeouts in 31 innings with a stellar 2.4 groundout:flyout ratio.
The Coastal Plain League is the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 18th season in 2014, the CPL features 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. The CPL has had over 1,100 alumni drafted and 65 of those - including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander - make their Major League debut; while another notable alum - Russell Wilson - won Super Bowl XLVIII. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at CoastalPlain.com, and be sure to friend us on Facebook (at www.facebook.com/coastalplainleague) and follow us via Twitter (as CPLBaseball).
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Coastal Plain League Stories from March 31, 2014
- Steamers Load up on Lefties - Edenton Steamers
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