Steamers Bring Back Versatile Quartet
February 8, 2016 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Edenton Steamers News Release
Jeremy Walker of the Edenton Steamers
(Edenton Steamers)
EDENTON,NC - Heading into the 2016 season, the Edenton Steamers look to build off of their Coastal Plain League championship last year. Perfect Game CrossChecker recognized the Clams as the nation's best collegiate summer team of 2015, and Edenton wants to continue that trend with four more re-signs from last season.
Julian Russell, a redshirt-junior from Chicago State University (IL), heads back to Edenton for a second summer. The six-foot, 175-pound infielder slashed .291/.450/.342/.792, good for the sixth best on-base average in the CPL in 2015. Russell was a tough out, who consistently manipulated the bat to stay in counts, find holes in the defense or draw a walk. An astounding 22 percent of his plate appearances resulted in a hit-by-pitch or base on balls. A college shortstop that showed a plus glove at second base early last summer, Russell became very reliable at the hot corner in the second half. The Chicago, IL native will look to be a more aggressive base-stealer in his encore with the Clams to maximize the impact of his offensive profile.
The University of Evansville's (IN) Trey Hair will also spend another summer with the Steamers. The Firth, NE native stands 5'9" 175 pounds. He produced .282/.390/.350/.740 averages while locking down second base defensively with a .969 fielding average and 4.68 range factor. Hair gave the Steamers essentially a half summer of baseball in 2015 after working through NCAA compliance protocols to participate in the CPL right out of Fort Scott Community College (KS). Defensively, he allowed Coach Hill to slide the aforementioned Russell to third base and Chad Sedio, CPL Hitter of the Year, to a super-utility role that kept him fresh and productive. At the plate, Hair flashes the tools to hit in the top third of the order, needing to either steal more bases or produce more slugging to realize his full potential. He brings a hard-nosed approach to the game, which is a hallmark of Steamers' baseball and a valued leadership quality. Hair follows previously announced returnee Tony Rosselli (Indiana State University) as one of four 2016 signees, hailing from the Missouri Valley Conference.
Junior Trevor Houck joins David Bednar, his teammate from Lafayette College (PA), in their second season with the Clams. The right-handed pitcher made 13 appearances for Edenton last year while maintaining a 3.58 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with the Steamers. The Westminster, MD native earned every inning he tallied on a Teal and Black staff that led the CPL in WHIP and nearly won the ERA title despite the obstacle of the smallest home park in the circuit. After a frustrating spring, he carved out a yeoman's role and even earned a pair of starts down the stretch. The 6'0" 200-pound junior is at his best when he commands and mixes, inducing contact early in plate appearances.
Jeremy Walker rounds out the list of Steamer returners for 2016. The junior from Advance, NC will serve as a weekend starter for Gardner-Webb University (NC) this spring. When he suits up for the Steamers this summer, Walker will join a short list (all pitchers) of men to appear for Edenton in three separate seasons. The righty has been limited in duty his first two summers while adhering to a cumulative, seasonal workload limit, and he could be subjected to that again, depending on his spring with G-WU. Professional baseball may also present itself if Walker makes strides with his command, secondaries and the nuances of pitching. The staff is again excited about his ceiling and potential impact, particularly as a power middle reliever if he will be working on limited summer innings and can establish some consistency appearance to appearance.
With this quartet, the Steamers have committed eight returning players off last summer's national-championship squad, a figure that would easily be the most bring-backs in franchise history. This week's group provides valuable versatility and experience - Russell defensively, Hair offensively, and with the arms, Houck and Walker, both enjoying success as starters and relievers to this point in their respective careers, the Teal and Black is poised for another stellar season.
Images from this story
 Julian Russell of the Edenton Steamers |
 Trey Hair of the Edenton Steamers |
 Trevor Houck of the Edenton Steamers |
 Jeremy Walker of the Edenton Steamers |
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Coastal Plain League Stories from February 8, 2016
- Steamers Bring Back Versatile Quartet - Edenton Steamers
- Tobs Sign a Pair of Tritons - Wilson Tobs
- Baseball Returns to the Swamp - Fayetteville SwampDogs
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