Edenton Lands More D-II Gems
March 14, 2016 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Edenton Steamers News Release
EDENTON, NC - The Edenton Steamers are pleased to announce that Perry DellaValle, Randy Dobnak and Michael Messier will take the hill for the Teal and Black this summer.
DellaValle (DELLA-vella) comes to the Clams from Seton Hill University (PA) of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. The sophomore from North Royalton, OH is the Griffins' emerging ace this spring. DellaValle spent the 2015 summer in the Great Lakes League with the Licking County Settlers, where the 6'0 185-pound right-hander made 19 appearances while maintaining a 1.71 ERA and 0.88 WHIP over 31.2 innings. His 52 strikeouts and five walks gave DellaValle the league's best strikeout-to-walk ratio, and his five saves were good enough for second in the Great Lakes. DellaValle was ranked 10th among professional prospects by Perfect Game CrossChecker with the following write-up:
"...shows good command of his upper-80s fastball... He was pinpoint with his control last summer, as he only walked five in 31 2/3 innings of work. Similarly he struck out 52, giving him a summer strikeout per nine innings of 14.77. His off-speed pitches are not wipeout, but both his breaking ball and changeup show average (professional) potential. If he continues to put up numbers like he did last summer, his prospect profile will surely rise."
DellaValle is making the transition from closer to ace for Seton Hill this spring, and the migration is going extremely well. His ultimate role this summer will likely be influenced by workload, but it is clear that he combines the stuff and command to succeed either in the rotation or in a leveraged bullpen role. He has logged 24.2 innings this spring through four appearances and three starts, posting a 0.36 ERA, .81 WHIP, .170 batting average against and 27 punchouts to five walks.
Randy Dobnak comes to Edenton from Alderson-Broaddus University (WV) where he serves as the Battlers' returning ace in 2016. The right-handed junior stands 6'1" and 215 pounds for his West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference school. Dobnak made 13 appearances, six starts, for the Front Royal Cardinals of the Valley League last summer. Over 44.2 innings, the Pittsburgh, PA native maintained a 2.01 ERA and 1.07 WHIP while fanning 44 batters and walking just 17. The unequivocal ace for the Battlers, Dobnak should be up for some regional or national honors this spring. He impressed in the Valley last summer, alternating between starting and closing for the Cardinals, and he has all the ingredients to round off his profile and be an impact rotation guy in Edenton for 2016.
Dobnak has one complete-game shutout under his belt through his first three starts this spring. In total, he has gone 20 frames with a 0.90 ERA, .95 WHIP, only one extra-base hit allowed and 30 strikeouts to four bases on balls. A scouting report reads that he succeeds with command, experience and moxie to combine with an upper 80s fastball he runs into the low 90s, complemented by a cutter and change-up.
Michael Messier (MESS-ee-ay) joins the Steamers from Bellarmine University (KY) of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The junior southpaw is a weekend starter for the Knights. Messier pitched for the Utica Brewers of the Perfect Game League during the 2015 summer, making eight starts in nine appearances. The lanky hurler held a 2.03 ERA and 1.15 WHIP through 48.2 innings while holding opposing batters to just a .267 slugging mark and a .232 average against. Messier was ranked the number-five prospect and the pitcher with the best command by Perfect Game CrossChecker with the following write-up:
"...a highly projectable 6-foot-6, 205-pound build and upper-80s fastball. He peaked at 91-92 mph in a shorter stint during the league's all-star game and could add velocity as he continues to add strength. Messier moves the ball around the zone very well and is able to keep the ball off opposing batters' barrels..."
The Milton, GA native is a very intriguing professional prospect given the intersection of present stuff, command, physical upside and the relative freshness of his arm given his projection. He is also off to a strong start in 2016 with 19 strikeouts and only one walk through 15 innings pitched.
The Steamers continue their coup on the pitching side with the additions of DellaValle, Dobnak and Messier. All three have top-of-the-rotation/all-star ceilings as CPL starters and will bring vast experience on the mound, both spring and summer, to Hicks Field in 2016.
Coastal Plain League Stories from March 14, 2016
- Edenton Lands More D-II Gems - Edenton Steamers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
