Edenton Returns Four Power Players
February 1, 2016 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Edenton Steamers News Release
EDENTON, NC - The Edenton Steamers finished the 2015 season on top of the Coastal Plain League, tying a league high with their third Petitt Cup championship. The Steamers swept the individual awards, as Bryan Hill took home Coach of the Year while Chad Sedio and Zach Prendergast were named Hitter and Pitcher of the Year, respectively. At the end of the summer, the Teal and Black were also recognized as the top summer-collegiate team in the nation by Perfect Game CrossChecker.
The Clams return a rotation ace in junior David Bednar of Lafayette College (PA). The Valencia, PA native stands 6'1" and 220 pounds. In 2015 he hurled 53 innings in 10 starts for Edenton, maintaining a 4-1 record and a 2.89 ERA with 76 strikeouts to 15 walks. The righty took home Defensive Player of the Game honors in the 2015 CPL All-Star Game and finished the season ranked second among CPL pitchers in strikeouts and fourth in batting average against (.182). He also led the circuit in strikeout ratio by a starting pitcher and set an Edenton franchise record at 12.9 K/9 IP by a starter. Bednar has quintessential ace stuff and makeup. He is drawing ample interest from scouts in 2016 with a rare collegiate combination of power, command and an out-pitch curve that freezes hitters and changes their eye level.
Tony Rosselli also returns for a second season in Edenton. The redshirt-junior from Terre Haute, IN stands 6'2", 205 pounds and projects as an everyday outfielder and mid-order hitter for the Indiana State Sycamores in 2016. Last season with the Steamers, Rosselli slashed .277/.346/.518/.864 in 166 at bats. He was one of just three Steamers to top both 30 runs and RBI while leading the team with seven outfield assists. Rosselli also consistently made highlight-reel catches en route to the club's Goodman Glove Award for defensive excellence. A physical and athletic college veteran that features four average or better tools on the Major League scouting scale, Rosselli plays the game with an inspiring reckless abandon. He possesses the offensive skillset to fit into a couple different spots in the top half of the batting order.
The Clams also bring back a right-handed pitcher in Devan Watts of Mooresville, NC and Tusculum College (TN). During the 2015 summer, Watts pitched 25 innings in 23 appearances while collecting three saves and 32 strikeouts. He continues to make impressive strides less than two years following the switch to the mound after beginning his college career as an infielder. Watts seemed to get stronger as the summer evolved, touching 95 on the radar gun in the second half of the season and recording the final out for the Teal and Black in the Petitt Cup Championship. He has quickly become a sleeper follow in 2016 amongst MLB area scouts. Watts' improved command should lead to greater consistency, as he gains experience with his craft, and it could result in even further success this year.
Catcher Stefan Van Horn of Washington State University will also spend his second season in the Teal and Black. The Puyallup, WA native stands 6'0", 210 pounds, and he will serve as the Cougars' starting catcher this spring. The redshirt-sophomore put up a .188/.233/.450/.673 slash line in 80 at bats during the 2015 summer. Van Horn cracked six homers with 20 RBI while only committing one error, three passed balls and throwing out 29.4 percent ofopposing base-stealers in 22 games. He reported late last summer after finishing up summer classes, dropping bombs and throwing guys out behind the plate, and he provided a consistent punch in both of those departments for most of the season. Van Horn possesses great qualities all around as a defender, and he should benefit from increased playing time this spring.
Power is always one of the scarcest and most coveted tools and traits in baseball at any level. This quartet not only brings this quality in spades, both at the plate and off the bump, but also the foundation of successful experience in the Edenton program and at the CPL level on a national-championship outfit from last summer.
Coastal Plain League Stories from February 1, 2016
- Edenton Returns Four Power Players - Edenton Steamers
- Tobs Sign Two Braves for the Summer - Wilson Tobs
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.
