Steamers Catch on with Backstop Duo
Published on May 1, 2013 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Edenton Steamers News Release
EDENTON, NC - The Edenton Steamers, 16-year members and two-time champions of the Coastal Plain League, announce today the addition of two catchers. Jacob Reese and Tyler Qualls will receive for the Steamers this summer.
Reese hails from Rochester, Ill., and comes to Edenton as a junior from Eastern Illinois University in the NCAA Division I Ohio Valley Conference. The right-handed hitting and throwing Panther is the everyday catcher this spring. He stands at 5-10, 185 pounds and spent last summer catching for the Grand Lake Mariners of the Great Lakes Collegiate Baseball League. He finished for the Mariners batting .340, which was good for the team lead and ninth in the league for hitters with 100-plus at-bats. He added a .429 on-base average and .427 slugging average, good for an .856 OPS. He walked 14 times and struck out 18 times in his 103 at-bats. This spring thus far has seen Reese hit .246, reach base at a .305 clip and slug .297 at the plate. Defensively, he has thrown out 25.6% of opposing base stealers.
Reese joins the Steamers as a traditional defensive-oriented catcher having thrown out over 50% of would-be base stealers during his 2012 spring. His success rate from this spring should go back up in the run-conscious environment of the CPL with holding runners a crucial priority for the pitching staff. He possesses great feet and a quick, accurate release that controls the opposition's running game. In general, he should make the Steamers pitching staff better with his leadership and receiving skills, which both add to his overall defensive prowess. Reese brings with him some advanced summer competition experience after finishing last summer with the Madison Mallards of the Northwoods League.
Qualls is a junior from Louisiana Tech University in the NCAA Division I Western Athletic Conference and is the everyday catcher this spring for the Bulldogs. He bats left and throws right while standing at 6-0 and weighing 200 pounds. The Jackson, Mo., native played for the Kelowna Falcons of the West Coast Collegiate League a summer ago and in 136 at-bats hit .272, had an on-base average of .387, and slugged .375. He finished with a .762 OPS with 23 walks and 17 strikeouts. For the Bulldogs this spring, Qualls is hitting .273, while adding a .368 on-base average, a .354 slugging average, a .722 OPS, a .989 fielding average and he has thrown out 24.1% of would-be base stealers. Qualls missed some time earlier this spring with a neck strain but since returning has been a vital piece for the 'Dogs, catching almost every game and hitting second or third in the lineup. He is a rare solid all-around catcher that hits left-handed and offers above average plate discipline and bat control, which La Tech has taken advantage of in the top-third of its order. He complements Reese to give Edenton a seasoned tandem behind the plate this summer with a lot of high-level college and summer experience from which to draw.
The Edenton Steamers are a proud member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 17th season in 2013, 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.
Furthermore, the CPL has had over 1,000 alumni drafted and 62 alums - including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander - make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to friend us on Facebook (at www.facebook.com/coastalplainleague) and follow us via Twitter (as cplbaseball).
Coastal Plain League Stories from May 1, 2013
- Sharks Seeking Host Families - Wilmington Sharks
- Steamers Catch on with Backstop Duo - 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.
