Edenton Coach Names Assistants for Summer Season

January 25, 2011 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Edenton Steamers News Release


Dirk Kinney, the 2011 head coach of the Edenton Steamers, has finalized his coaching staff. Steve Moritz and Rob Vessell will report to Edenton and Historic Hicks Field this May to help Kinney with the 2011 squad.

Steve Moritz enters his first season as hitting coach for the Steamers. Moritz is currently an assistant coach at Georgia College and State University under Head Coach Tom Carty. Moritz had prior stints at Darton College in 2009-2010 and Middle Georgia College from 2006-2009.

While at Middle, Moritz served as the hitting coach and assistant recruiting coordinator. He also worked with catchers and the development and running of the Warriors strength and conditioning program. Moritz saw all three teams finish with a team batting average of .320 or better and the teams averaged 40 wins a season. In 2009 Moritz helped lead the Warriors to a GJCAA championship, a regional championship and a trip to the 2009 JUCO World Series.

The 2010 season saw Moritz switch gears and stay within the GJCAA conference as he accepted the job offer as the Darton College pitching coach. The Cavaliers finished fourth in the conference and RHP Kevin Bibler was named 1st team all conference. Moritz also saw three other pitchers off that squad sign Letters of Intent to continue their baseball careers at either the NCAA Division 1 or 2 level.

Moritz serves as the strength and conditioning coach at Georgia College while he helps Assistant Coach Zeke Mitchem in recruiting and working with hitters. Moritz will also continue to work with the catchers and spend time with head coach Tom Carty in coaching the pitchers.

Moritz is originally from Overland Park, Kansas where he attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School. He graduated from Kansas State University in 2005 with a degree in Speech Communication and is pursuing his graduate degree in Exercise Science at Georgia College. Moritz is single and currently resides in Milledgeville, Georgia.

Rob Vessell begins his second season as University of Arkansas at Fort Smith's pitching coach, assistant recruiting coordinator and academic advisor. Vessell was previously the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at NCAA Division II Henderson State University.

The Russellville, Ark., native was an assistant coach for six seasons at Henderson State. The last season he was with the Reddies, who compete in the Gulf South Conference, they posted a 34-16 win-loss mark and set the school record for wins in a season, as well as being ranked as high as #7 in the country. During his six seasons, Vessell coached 21 all-conference players, five all-region players and three All-Americans as well as one player being drafted in the 26th round by the Kansas City Royals.

Vessell is a 1999 graduate of Russellville High School, where he was a three-sport athlete earning all-state honors in baseball as a junior and senior. He played four seasons at NCAA Division II Arkansas Tech University. The former pitcher helped lead the Wonder Boys to a runner-up finish in the Gulf South Conference in 2001 and holds the Wonder Boys' record for most appearances during a career with 63.

Vessell earned a bachelor's degree in physical education with a minor in health from Henderson in 2004 and continued his education by earning a second bachelor's degree in general studies with a minor in history from Henderson State just three years later in 2007.

The Edenton Steamers compete during the summer at Historic Hicks Field in downtown Historic Edenton, North Carolina. Edenton is a member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Heading into its 15th season, the Coastal Plain League features 15 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. Furthermore, the CPL has had over 800 alumni drafted and 39 alums make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league Web site at http://www.coastalplain.com. For more information on the Edenton Steamers, please visit the team website at http://www.edentonsteamers.com .



Coastal Plain League Stories from January 25, 2011


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