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ATHLETE: Dawan Smith (5-7/160) SPORT: Baseball HIGH SCHOOL: Bishop McDevitt, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania COLLEGE: Coppin State University Eagles
THE DETAILS: A quick visit in late April was enough to convince Bishop McDevitt’s swift second baseman that Coppin State would be his next baseball destination. The Crusaders’ lead-off man will join the Eagles of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in the Fall.
THE DECISION: “I met most of the players and they had a real good chemistry, and they have the type of coaches that I need,” said Smith, who was considering Duquesne before the Division I program was terminated. Smith also said interest came from several Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference programs and Virginia Military Institute. “They are the type of coaches that push you to the limit, preach discipline. There are some of the same rules I followed at McDevitt.”
PROJECTED MAJOR: Possibly business management.
THE ATHLETE: Speed is a precious commodity at the next level, so there was little doubt the dangerous Smith would find a spot in the collegiate ranks. After his call-up to the varsity level midway through his sophomore season, Smith gained a ton of attention last summer when he clocked a breezy 6.60 at the American Legion All-East workout. Gaining a “better understanding of the game” this season, Smith rolled up a .380 average from his lead-off position and shared the Mid-Penn Conference lead in stolen bases with 19. “Overall, it’s just the way you think about the game,” said Smith, who tacked on 25 runs for the Crusaders (10-11). “I definitely improved with my bat and defensively.”
Coach Mervyl Melendez and the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats fall to 1-19 all-time in NCAA Tournament play.
Gainesville, FL -- Freshman right-hander Hudson Randall (Atlanta, Ga.) notched a career-high 10 strikeouts over 7.1 innings as top-seeded Florida (43-15) defeated fourth-seeded Bethune-Cookman (35-21), 7-3, on Friday night at McKethan Stadium. In his NCAA Regional debut, the rookie (8-3) did not allow a hit until the fifth inning in picking up his sixth-straight victory. The fourth-ranked Gators will meet third-seeded Oregon State (32-22) in a winner’s bracket game at 7 p.m. tomorrow live on Sun Sports, while the Wildcats face second-seeded Florida Atlantic (35-23) in an elimination game at 1 p.m. The Beavers edged the Owls, 6-4, earlier this afternoon.
“Hudson Randall was outstanding on the mound,” third-year head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “We knew Bethune-Cookman would be a tough opponent. We jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but like we expected, they battled and gave it everything they had. It was hard to pull away from them. Bethune is always tough and they proved it again tonight.” The Wildcats used a two-out RBI single by sophomore Alejandro Sanchez (2-for-4) to narrow the gap to 4-1 in the fifth. Leonard had come through with Bethune-Cookman’s first hit with a one-out double just out of the reach of senior center fielder Matt den Dekker (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.). Although Randall had junior Emmanuel Castro fly out, Sanchez lined a single into left field that eluded a diving Pigott to score Leonard.
Bethune Cookman University head coach Mervyl Melendez was suspended for today's championship game due to ejection from yesterday's game, but Wildcats wins 10th MEAC Title in 11 seasons under Coach Melendez.
Daytona Beach, FL -- Bethune-Cookman won its fifth straight MEAC baseball championship with a 7-4 victory Sunday afternoon over North Carolina A&T. Jeremy Davis was 4-4 with two doubles, a triple, four runs scored and Alejandro Sanchez continued his hot hitting with a home run and two hits to pace the Wildcat offense. B-CU starter Roman Lancaro (4-2) pitched six innings for the win and Juan Perez pitched the ninth inning for his tenth save.
"What can you say about Jeremy Davis," said Head Coach Mervyl Melendez. "He has been a good player for us all season and saved his best game for the championship and the big game today. Roman Lancara gaves us a good pitching performance as the starter and we did what it takes to win."
"The comebacks by this team (12 this year) and play of this team all year was special. We talked last year and all this year about winning games and coming from behind. And like Florida's team last year (20 comeback victories), this team has the never quit attitude and we have a lot of baseball to play and to prepare for the regionals. I am very proud of these guys. They are a real team."
DJ Leonard Named Tournament Outstanding Player; NCAA Selection Day May 31
DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- In a game that had a little bit of everything, the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats provided plenty of drama on the way to a 7-3 come-from-behind victory Saturday over North Carolina A&T at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. A six-run rally in the seventh inning pushed the Wildcats to their 12th come-from-behind win of the season and earned them a spot in today's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament championship game.
B-CU (34-20), seeking its fifth straight MEAC crown and 10th in 11 seasons, plays the Aggies again for the title at 2 p.m. today. A North Carolina A&T victory would set up the "if necessary" game at 6 p.m. for the title. Bethune-Cookman trailed 3-1 heading into the seventh, but Jeremy Davis' RBI single provided the go-ahead run and D.J. Leonard's 10th home run of the season -- a three-run shot to left -- capped the comeback.
It was an emotional victory for the Wildcats, who saw head coach Mervyl Melendez get ejected in the top of the fifth inning moments after starting pitcher Ali Simpson was thrown out for pushing A&T's Alex Grubb. Simpson had reacted to a bump from Grubb as the B-CU pitcher covered first base on a groundout. "We've gotta stick up for our players and I thought it was my job to stick up for Ali," Melendez said. "The bottom line is our guys had the intensity to fight the adversity, and we were able to come back, which is a trademark of this team."
Tallahassee, FL - Adam Decker and Avery Moore must like going to the same school. The two athletes signed together to continue their education with FAMU, but their friendship before Rickards High. Decker says, "Avery has been a friend of mine since the sixth grade at Cobb (Middle School). Both of us signing and achieving this big of an accomplishment is great to do at the same time. It's just fun."
Moore says, "It's real good signing with Adam since we go way back to middle school at Cobb. We both played sports there together. We both went to high school together. It's an honor to sign with Adam because we've been together for so long." Decker will play baseball for the Rattlers while Moore looks forward to playing on the hardwood. FAMU's head basketball coach Eugene Harris wouldn't mind having some more Radiers committing to the Orange and Green.
The two MVP's sat there in their orange and green ties before more than 100 well-wishers. Thursday was a joyous day for Rickards High seniors Adam Decker and Avery Moore, both of whom signed to play collegiately at Florida A&M. Both Raiders athletes were named the most valuable player during their highly successful senior seasons. Decker, who led Rickards to two district titles as a pitcher, will play baseball. Moore, the most valuable player and defensive stopper on Rickards' undefeated basketball team, will fulfill his hoop dreams.
"I didn't want anyone to pay for my college," Moore said. "I wanted to do something on my own. There are a lot of people who doubted me at the Division I level, so I guess I proved them wrong." Those doubters certainly were not Moore's aunt and uncle, Cassandra and Andrew Molten. He has lived with the two since middle school and took time to thank them both for turning him into a young man who has the ability and drive to win a college scholarship. Moore may have been the more emotional during the brief speeches, but Decker was fulfilling a lifelong dream to play Division I baseball.
The comments came from all over at any given time. He'd walk across campus and some-one thanked him. He'd walk into an office and someone thanked him. Sometimes Harry Williams (Potomac H.S.'06, Dumfries, VA) knew the well-wishers and other times he did not, but in either case what mattered most to him was they appreciated his dedication to the Coppin State baseball program. For four years, Williams has been face of an Eagle team that has gone through three coaches and two winless seasons. He's been the top hitter and played his share of different positions to help out wherever he could.
All-MEAC "Mr. Everything" Harry Williams, Jr. is batting .373 in leading the deserving Coppin State University Eagles to the 2010 MEAC Tournament. You gotta love the underdog--Eagles.
Still, it wasn't exactly the college baseball experience Williams hoped for when he signed with Coppin State, but he stuck with it, believing each new season brought a chance for improve-ment even if the end result was just the opposite at times. "All I can do is thank the people for noticing," Williams said. "It makes me feel good inside to see that they see all the hard work I've put in and what's going on." You take what you can take and Williams is pleased that this season was a breakout one for the Eagles.
For the first time since 2006, Coppin State is playing in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tour-nament. The Eagles (13-31 overall, 7-11 in the MEAC) are seeded fifth and open up today against second-seeded North Carolina A&T at 10 a.m. Williams is the main reason the Eagles are at least competitive again. He earned second-team all-conference honors after finishing sixth in the league in hitting .373 while contributing two homers and 30 RBIs.
The former Atlanta Braves scout, Robert Lucus ends three stints with FAMU baseball with a 154-171-2 career record. The FAMU baseball program was provided below par support by the school's administration and less than six scholarships. The Rattlers are still operating without a permanent athletic director, since William "Bill" Hayes resigned from the post on October 2, 2009, that became effective on December 31, 2009. Hayes is now the A.D. at Winston Salem State University.
Florida A&M has fired Robert Lucas as head baseball coach, following the worst finish in the history of the program that left the Rattlers out of this week’s MEAC tournament. Lucas confirmed Sunday that he was put on administrative leave until August and said he was told his year-to-year contract won’t be renewed. Interim athletic director Mike Smith was in a meeting Monday and wasn’t immediately available to comment. Lucas, however, said that he was told his assistant Brett Richardson would stay on to handle the day-to-day operation of the program until a replacement is hired.
FAMU finished the season with a 10-31 record and 3-15 in conference play. One more conference win would have put the Rattlers into the tournament, but a 1-2 record against the University of Maryland Eastern Shore kept them out in favor of the Hawks, which also had a 3-15 conference mark. Lucas said he was on a recruiting trip when he was called by Smith, who later handed him his termination letter.
B-CU Coach Mervyl Melendez's Wildcats clinch #1 Seed for MEAC Tournament and earned 2010 Regular Season MEAC Baseball Title.
For the second time in school history, Bethune-Cookman's baseball team has gone undefeated in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. B-CU scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning in a 13-9 win over Delaware State (12-30, 8-10) on Sunday. It's the first-ever 18-0 MEAC regular season; B-CU was 15-0 in 2006. The Wildcats (32-19) will have the No. 1 seed for the conference tournament May 20-23 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach.
Dover, DE -- Bethune-Cookman scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning in a 13-9 win over Delaware State in MEAC baseball at Soldier Field today. The Wildcats, who clinched the MEAC regular season title on Saturday, completed the conference schedule with an 18-0 record (32-19 overall). Delaware State is 8-10 in the MEAC and 12-30 overall. Delaware State broke an 8-8 tie on a two-out single by Scott Davis in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Bethune-Cookman tied the game at nine on a single by Emmanuel Castro in the top of the ninth inning. The Wildcats pulled ahead 10-9 when Matt Wright followed with a run-scoring in the inning. BCU padded its lead when the next batter, Alejando Sanchez, followed with a three-run homer. The Hornets trailed 6-1 before scoring seven runs in the third inning to take the lead. Mike Rizzuto doubled in the first two runs of the inning. Also in the inning, Matt Aleman had a run-scoring single and Abe Eubank was credited with a RBI on a bases loaded walk. Brandon Crist capped off the inning with a three-run homer to give DSU an 8-6 lead.
North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University Aggies head baseball coach Keith Shumate signs a set of twins, a pitcher and a catcher from Statesville (N.C.) High School.
North Carolina A&T might have the most interesting battery in the state over the next few years. Statesville seniors Brett and Sean Young, twin brothers, have both accepted scholarship offers from the Aggies. Brett Young was recruited as a pitcher and Sean Young will play catcher. "We didn't really set it up where we both were (intending) to go to the same school," Brett Young said. "That's just how it turned out. It fits both of us the best."
The Youngs are going to a program that has won a lot of conference games lately. The Aggies (22-23, 12-3) are the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament. The MEAC is a conference comprised of Division I schools. "It was a nice Division I offer," Brett Young said. "It's small Division I, but we play against top-notch competition like (N.C.) State and Carolina." Brett Young said the coaching staff intends to pack 30 pounds onto his frame. He expects to likely start out as a relief pitcher and progress from there.
Meanwhile, Sean Young has a shot to contribute right away. He plays his position well and can really swing the bat. Sean Young finished the North Piedmont 3A season with better than a .460 batting average, along with three home runs, against some really good pitchers.
NORFOLK, VA - Mark Young II was coming off what he thought was a breakthrough baseball season in 2006. A Norfolk State junior, Young established himself as one of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's top pitchers after compiling a 3.21 ERA - second-best in the league - and tossing a two-hit shutout against defending league champion North Carolina A&T. "I felt great about myself," he said recently. "I couldn't wait until the next season."
It never came.
These days, Young is the varsity coach at Booker T. Washington High - a few blocks from where he flourished on the mound for Norfolk State, but a long way from his playing days and his dream of pro baseball. At Granby High, Young was a hard-throwing right-hander whose fastball was consistently clocked near 90 mph. Young, a first-team All-Eastern District pick as a senior, then spent a season at Louisburg (N.C.) College. Young transferred to Norfolk State and in the spring of 2006, helped the Spartans finish 11-7 in the MEAC, the program's best regular-season finish.
James Armstrong freely acknowledged he’d been in a slump, and he needed to hit his way out of it. Thursday afternoon, in the bottom of the ninth inning, he did it in a big way. Pinch-hitting for fellow senior Greg Whitfield, Armstrong smashed a game-winning two-run homer over the right-field wall, capping a six-run inning that gave Southern an 11-10 victory over Florida A&M at Lee-Hines Field, completing a two-game sweep.
It was also the third pinch-hit homer in the last two years for Armstrong. “He seems like he does that better than anything else,” SU coach Roger Cador said. “I’d been saving him all game for the right situation. Finally, we get it.” It was the first homer of the year for Armstrong, who lost his starting job in left field to Kyle Smith, thanks his recent struggles at the plate and in the field.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Savannah State swept Edward Waters, an NAIA team, in a doubleheader at the Baseball Grounds (SSU 4-8, EDWARD WATERS 3-4). SSU (22-17) was led in the first game by starter Joseph Jackson, who earned the win. He struck out one, walked three and allowed three earned runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings. Jonathan Ross was 2-for-3 with a home run and two runs RBIs. Darien Campbell was 2-for-3 with a double and RBI. Kevin Herlihy (two doubles) and Emory Barkley each were 2-for-3.
In the second game, SSU was led by starter Mark Sherrod, who earned the win. He struck out eight, walked one and allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits in six innings. Campbell was 4-for-4 with an RBI. Joseph McCrary was 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Brandon Webster was 2-for-3. Blake Lee, Dexter Kelley, Herlihy, Bubba Green and Dondregius Jackson each drove in runs. Edward Waters fell to 22-23.
Brandon Snyder collected four hits and seven Tides relievers held Norfolk State to two hits in a 6-0 win in front of 8,509 fans Tuesday night at Harbor Park. Snyder singled four times to pace Norfolk's 11-hit attack, while Josh Bell singled and added an RBI triple. Lou Montanez, Scott Moore and Miguel Abreu each added an RBI single for the Tides, while Joey Gathright added two stolen bases and a run scored. Seven Tides hurlers combined on the two-hit shutout, with Ross Wolf striking out the side in a perfect inning of work.
The contest was the first between the two teams and benefited the Norfolk State University baseball program. Brandon Hairston and James Taylor each singled for Norfolk State, who continue their MEAC schedule on Saturday with a doubleheader against Maryland Eastern Shore. The Tides open up their regular season on Thursday night against the defending International League Champion Durham Bulls, with first pitch slated for 7:15 pm.
The Savannah State University baseball team pounded out 28 hits Saturday en route to sweeping a home doubleheader from winless North Carolina Central (0-25), 11-1 in eight innings, and 11-6 in seven. The Tigers (13-13) had 15 hits in Game 1, as right fielder Dexter Kelley was 3-for-4 with two RBIs, three runs scored and one double. Third baseman-shortstop Joseph McCrary was 4-for-4 with one RBI, one run and one double. Michael Allegretti (7 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K) earned the win.
In Game 2, Kelley was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, and McCrary was 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Blake Lee was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs. Mark Sherrod (5 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K) was credited for the win.
Head Coach Claudell Clark and the Norfolk State Spartans will play an exhibition game against the Norfolk Tides, the triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, on Tuesday, April 6 at 7:15 pm at Harbor Park. Tickets for the event are $5.00, ($3.00 for students) with all proceeds from the contest going towards the NSU Spartans baseball program.
When Norfolk State’s baseball team gets to play the Norfolk Tides in an exhibition game at Harbor Park Tuesday night, it’ll be just one more reason why Suffolk native John Rasberry’s happy he’s worked and played his way to Norfolk State and the Spartan baseball squad. Rasberry was a standout outfielder and pitcher at Lakeland until transferring to Greenbrier Christian in Chesapeake as a junior.
With the Gators, Rasberry was a two-time all-Tidewater Conference and All-State (Virginia Independent Schools) player and on a state-championship Greenbrier club while hitting .475 in his senior season. Rasberry went to college and played ball for two years at Delaware Tech Community College before being recruited and coming to Norfolk State. Getting the chance to play Division I baseball was certainly one goal. Coming back close to home is a huge bonus.
“I’ve been away the past couple years. It’s great now playing in front of faces I know basically every home game. People who, for my whole life, have been cheering me on, are able to watch me play. It’s really fun,” Rasberry said. As the starting leftfielder and leadoff hitter for the Spartans, Rasberry’s hitting .371 (26-for-70) with 18 runs, three doubles, two homers, six stolen bases and 12 RBI.
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"We are really excited to welcome Norfolk State to Harbor Park for this exhibition game" said Tides President Ken Young. "This is a great opportunity for fans to catch their first glimpse of the 2010 Tides in action, and hopefully this is the start of a long-term relationship with an institution that is very important in the Hampton Roads community."
"We are pleased to have the opportunity to compete against the Norfolk Tides," Norfolk State head baseball coach Claudell Clark said. "The game will give our baseball program greater exposure in the Tidewater area as well as serving as a key fundraiser for us. We look forward to making the event a success each year."
This game supplants the annual exhibition game the Tides had played against the Old Dominion University Monarchs.
TALLAHASSEE, FL - Tobi Adeyemi’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth scored Daniel Lee as the Florida A&M University Baseball team rallied past Jackson State 11-10, here Saturday afternoon at Moore-Kittles Field. FAMU (3-4-1) tallied a game high 17 hits, while JSU (2-6) finished with 10 hits. The Rattlers were paced by Adeyemi, who went five-for-six from the plate with five RBI’s, and scoring two runs, while the Tigers were led by Braneric Holmes, who went three-for-five from the plate with four RBI’s and scoring three runs.
FAMU head baseball coach Robert Lucus
Tobias Lee (1-0) picked up the win for FAMU, allowing two hits, one earned run and striking out two in three and one-third innings of relief. Cortney Nelson took the loss for JSU, allowing seven hits, five earned runs and striking out six in four and one-third innings of relief. The Rattlers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Darryl Evans scored on a Jimmie Terrell single. Holmes tied the game at 1-1 for the Tigers in the top of the second inning as he scored on a Louis Mila ground out to first base. In the bottom of the second inning, FAMU took a 3-1 lead as Scott Sheplak homered to left field and Jared Jeffries scored on an Adeyemi single up the middle.
A pitcher can get a little rusty when he hasn't stepped on the mound in three years. Tobias Lee is no exception, as he tries to regain the stuff he had during his four years as pitcher for Pike County High School in Alabama. The four-seam fastball is coming back. So is his curve and change-up. But as he tries to execute them for the Florida A&M baseball team, he's found one huge challenge in his two starts for the Rattlers.
"Out of all those (the variation of pitches), just getting used to the strike zone is the most challenging," Lee said. "It's just a matter of getting used to that." If the last name seems familiar, it is. Lee is the same mild-mannered, easy-going, lanky sophomore who played tight end on FAMU's football team last season. Baseball has been a passion since he began playing the game at the T-ball level. He played both sports until his senior year at Pike High when fatigue from quarterbacking his football team in the fall was too much for him to go out for baseball in his senior year.
Coach Mervyl Melendez and Bethune-Cookman ends MLB Urban League Invitational with only one win--over Southern, dropping games against Cal State Northridge and UCLA.
COMPTON, Calif. -- Ryan Gonzalez pitched six strong innings and Matt Wright homered and had five RBIs to lead Bethune Cookman to a 13-8 victory over Southern University on Sunday at the Major League Baseball Urban Classic. Gonzalez (1-0) gave up three runs on three hits and struck out six for the Wildcats (1-2). Joey Sharkey and Justin Dahl combined to pitch the final three innings to secure the win.
Wright's three-run homer, his second of the weekend, sparked an eight-run fifth inning that propelled B-CU to a 12-1 lead. Justin Hoyte had two hits, including a two-run triple in the Wildcats' four-run third inning. Ryan Durrence had three hits and Emmanuel Castro went deep for the Wildcats. "We needed to win this game after losing the first two," said Gonzalez, a sophomore form Arecibo, Puerto Rico. "My fastball and curveball were working well and I felt like I was attacking the zone. I was motivated today to help my team win."
This weekend marked the third consecutive season that B-CU has opened its campaign at the MLB Urban Classic on the outskirts of Los Angeles. The third annual three-day event, which also featured No. 23 ranked UCLA, Southern University and Cal-State Northridge, helps spotlight Historically Black Colleges and Universities by giving them national exposure.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Richmond baseball team exploded for 10 runs in the second inning and senior Matt Zielinski was dominant in the season-opener as the Spiders rolled past Florida A&M, 23-1, Friday in the first game of the North Florida Classic. Zielinski fanned five and scattered just five hits over six innings to pick up the Spiders third-straight season-opening win under head coach Mark McQueen. The senior lefty allowed just one walk and a run in the winning effort.
"We threw strikes, only walked one and didn't commit an error," said McQueen. "I liked that we did the little things well and that's a credit to our guys. Even though we've practice outside only once with all the snow, we've worked hard and came ready to play today." Sophomore C Chris Cowell launched a three-run homer in the Spiders 10-run second inning and set a career-high with six RBI to lead an offensive attack that struck for 21 runs on 11 hits and benefited from 16 walks by Rattler pitching.
"The big second inning really gave us a chance to relax and allowed our guys to get in a zone," said McQueen. "We had good at-bats and I liked the approach." Junior DH Billy Barber had two hits, a solo homer, three RBI and scored four times, while sophomore LF Phil Ruzbarsky had two hits and scored a career-high three runs. After Barber led off the second inning with a single, Brown followed with a towering shot to left and Cowell later tomahawked a three-run homer over the left-center field wall. Richmond feasted on five walks in the frame and ended the day of FAMU starter Miguel Parga quickly.
FAMU Head Baseball Coach Robert Lucus and the Rattlers season opener is Friday, Feb. 19 in Jacksonville in a three-team tournament at the University of North Florida. The Rattlers will face Richmond, followed by Ohio State and UNF. (See complete schedule below)
Four years ago when Mykel Benson asked his FAMU football coach's permission to join the Rattlers' baseball team, he was denied. He didn't ask third-year coach Joe Taylor for fear of the answer he might have gotten. Now that his career as a fullback is over, Benson is making a comeback to the diamond after seven years. He's shown in practice that he hasn't lost much — at least with his bat — to earn a starting position at first base. "It's actually brought me some joy," said Benson, 6-foot, 240 pounds. "It's gotten me back to loving the game.
When I was trying out for high school, it wasn't fun to me, but I like it out here with these guys. They're a lot of fun." Benson grew up in Palm Bay playing football and baseball on several youth teams. He couldn't convince his baseball coach at Bayside High School that he deserved a starting position. Instead, he devoted time to playing football. But all the time that he was plowing over defensive players on the gridiron, he believed that he could still swing a bat and make plays. The rust was there during his first week in practice and he remains a work in progress, said coach Robert Lucas, who expects Benson to become more of an offensive spark for the team.
Florida A&M University Rattlers 2010 Baseball Schedule Date Opponent Location Time
North Florida Tournament 2/19/2010 University of Richmond Jacksonville, FL 3 PM 2/20/2010 Ohio State University Jacksonville, FL 5 PM 2/21/2010 University of North Florida Jacksonville, FL 3 PM 2/23/2010 Mercer University Tallahassee, FL 4 PM
Savannah State Tournament 2/26/2010 Delaware State University Savannah, GA 11 AM 2/27/2010 Savannah State University Savannah, GA 11 AM 2/27/2010 Norfolk State University Savannah, GA 3 PM 3/2/2010 Mercer University Tallahassee, FL 4 PM 3/5/2010 Jackson State University (DH) Tallahassee, FL 2 PM 3/6/2010 Jackson State University Tallahassee, FL 12 PM 3/10/2010 Albany State University Tallahassee, FL 3 PM 3/13/2010 Savannah State University Tallahassee, FL 11 AM 3/14/2010 Savannah State University Tallahassee, FL 12 PM 3/16/2010 Mercer University Macon, GA 6 PM 3/17/2010 Mercer University Macon, GA 4 PM 3/20/2010 * Bethune-Cookman University (DH) Tallahassee, FL 1 PM 3/21/2010 * Bethune-Cookman University Tallahassee, FL 1 PM 3/25/2010 Selma University (DH) Tallahassee, FL 12 PM 3/30/2010 Edward Waters (Fla.) Jacksonville, Fla 1 PM 3/31/2010 Jacksonville University Jacksonville, FL 6:30 PM
April 4/2/2010 * North Carolina A&T (DH) Greensboro, NC 1 PM 4/3/2010 * North Carolina A&T Greensboro, NC 1 PM 4/7/2010 Alabama State Montgomery, AL 1 PM 4/13/2010 Edward Waters (Fla.) Tallahassee, FL 2 PM 4/14/2010 Alabama State Tallahassee, FL 1 PM 4/17/2010 * Delaware State (DH) Dover, DE 1 PM 4/18/2010 * Delaware State Dover, DE 1 PM 4/21/2010 Southern Baton Rouge, LA 6 PM 4/22/2010 Southern Baton Rouge, LA 3 PM 4/24/2010 * Maryland Eastern Shore (DH) Tallahassee, FL 12 PM 4/25/2010 * Maryland Eastern Shore Tallahassee, FL 12 PM 4/27/2010 Jackson State University (DH) Jackson, MS 3 PM 4/28/2010 Jackson State University Jackson, MS 12 PM
May 5/1/2010 * Coppin State (DH) Tallahassee, FL 1 PM 5/2/2010 Coppin State Tallahassee, FL 1 PM 5/4/2010 Albany State Albany, GA 3 PM 5/5/2010 Jacksonville University Jacksonville, FL 4 PM 5/8/2010 * Norfolk State (DH) 1 p.m. 5/9/2010 * Norfolk State Noon 5/12/2010 Alcorn State Alcorn State, MS 6 PM
5/20 -22/2010 MEAC TOURNAMENT, Daytona Beach, FL , TBA
B-CU will play Cal State Northridge, UCLA, and Southern University at Classic on February 19, 2010. This is Wildcats third straight year at MLB Classic.
The 2010 baseball edition of B-CU returns six returning starting players including team hitting leader (C. J. Lauriello, .403, 4 HR, 36 RBI), team home run, RBI leader Ryan Durrence (11 HR, 48 RBI), and freshman All-American catcher Peter O'Brien (.314, 30 RBI). Also returning is a talented group of pitchers led by freshman All-American sophomore lefty Ali Simpson (9-2, 3.23 ERA, 79 K's). Coach Mervyl Melendez expects junior OF Matt Wright (transfer from Daytona State College) to be a starter in the outfield and four-year OF Justin Hoyte (.270, 32 starts in 2009) returns for his senior season. Transfer OF DJ Leonard adds depth to the B-CU outfield and will battle for a starting spot.
"Our team returns most of the position players from our NCAA regional team," said Coach Melendez. "C.J. (Lauriello) is a very advanced hitter will have a tremendous year for us. He is a very tough out and hits well in big games. We have high expectations as a team. We want to play for championships and have won four straight and nine of out the last 10 MEAC championships and NCAA regionals. We want to go out and play hard and out-play our opponents. I am excited about our team. We have the pieces in place to be a very good team."
The starting left side of the infield returns - in sophomore SS Alejandro Sanchez (.299, 2 HR, 24 RBI) and the teams' second leading hitter in 2009 - Jr. 3B Emmanuel Castro (.345, 4 HR, 36 RBI). Hard-hitting Sr. 1B Alejandro Jimenez looks for a solid final season with the Wildcats. Jimenez led the `Cats with 22 stolen bases last year and he hit .330 with 9 HR and 32 RBI. Jimenez did have surgery again following the 2009 season to repair the bone chips in his non-throwing elbow. Valuable infielders Sr. 3B Jeremy Davis (.333, 1 HR, 20 RBI) and So. 2B-SS-3B - Jairo Acevedo return in 2010. Both were impressive offensively in the Fall season and are solid veteran players.
The 2009 season was highlighted by winning the fourth straight MEAC championship and earning B-CU's ninth NCAA regional appearance in 10 years. Winning milestone game number 300 for Coach Mervyl Melendez, at Maryland-Eastern Shore in late April, was icing on the cake for the Wildcats.
Sophomore LHP Ali Simpson, last year's MEAC Rookie of the Year, will be the number one starter in 2010. His role expands from last year as the number three starter behind senior 1-2 aces Hiram Burgos and Eric Thomas. Simpson was tabbed the pre-season 2010 MEAC Pitcher of the Year in February balloting and he hopes to add to his Freshman All-American status of last year. Jr. LHP Joseph Munoz (3-6, 5.14) will be a specialist in the bullpen in 2010 and his new role bolsters the B-CU relief pitchers.
Sophomore RHP Rayan Gonzalez hopes for an injury free season and Jr. LHP Roman Lancara will be in his third year of pitching for the Wildcats. Both Gonzalez and Lancara are projected into the starting rotation as the season opens in February. Returning relievers RHP Andrew Tilka and LHP Justin Dahl (coming back off of knee surgery during the off-season) both return in 2010. Dahl had four saves and was the B-CU closer in the early season before his injury in March. The 2010 roster includes eight new pitchers all vying for innings and starts. Six are freshman and two are JC transfers (Jr. RHP Julio Morales and Jr. RHP/3B Juan Perez). Perez is the projected closer entering 2010 Spring practice after an impressive Fall practice season on the mound.
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Bethune Cookman University 2010 Baseball Schedule Date Opponent Event Location Time
February Fri., Feb. 19 vs. vs. Cal State Northridge @ MLB Urban Classic Compton, California 2:00 p.m. Sat., Feb. 20 vs. vs. UCLA @ MLB Classic Compton, California 6:00 p.m. Sun., Feb. 21 vs. vs. Southern Univ. @ MLB Classic Compton, California 2:00 p.m. Mon., Feb. 22 at UC-Riverside Riverside, California 3:00 p.m. Thu., Feb. 25 at Texas Tech Lubbock, Texas 4:00 p.m. Fri., Feb. 26 vs. Washington State Lubbock, Texas 1:00 p.m. Sat., Feb. 27 vs. Washington State Lubbock, Texas 1:00 p.m. at Texas Tech Lubbock, Texas 5:00 p.m.
March Tue., Mar. 2 vs. Stetson Daytona Beach, Fla. 6:00 p.m. Wed., Mar. 3 vs. Jacksonville Daytona Beach, Fla. 6:00 p.m. Fri., Mar. 5 vs. Troy Troy, Alabama 6:00 p.m. Sat., Mar. 6 vs. Troy Troy, Alabama 6:00 p.m. Sun., Mar. 7 vs. Troy Troy, Alabama 1:00 p.m. Wed., Mar. 10 vs. Wagner Daytona Beach, Fla. 6:00 p.m. Fri., Mar. 12 vs. Wagner - B-CU Invitational Daytona Beach, Fla. 2:30 p.m. vs. VCU - B-CU Invitational Daytona Beach, Florida 6:00 p.m. Sat., Mar. 13 vs. Wagner - B-CU Invitational Daytona Beach, Florida 6:00 p.m. Sun., Mar. 14 vs. VCU - B-CU Invitational Daytona Beach, Fla. 12:00 p.m. Tue., Mar. 16 vs. Stetson Daytona Beach, Fla. 6:00 p.m. Sat., Mar. 20 at Florida A&M * Tallahassee, Fla. 1:00 p.m. at Florida A&M * Tallahassee, Fla. 4:00 p.m. Sun., Mar. 21 at Florida A&M * Tallahassee, Fla. 1:00 p.m. Mon., Mar. 22 vs. Ohio State Daytona Beach, Florida 3:00 p.m. Wed., Mar. 24 vs. North Florida Daytona Beach, Florida 6:00 p.m. Thu., Mar. 25 vs. Dartmouth Daytona Beach, Fla. 6:00 p.m. Fri., Mar. 26 vs. Dartmouth Daytona Beach, Fla. 6:00 p.m. Sat., Mar. 27 vs. Dartmouth Daytona Beach, Fla. 12:00 p.m. Tue., Mar. 30 at UCF Orlando, Florida 6:30 p.m. Wed., Mar. 31 vs. UCF Daytona Beach, Fla. 6:00 p.m.
April Wed., Apr. 7 at Stetson DeLand, Fla. 6:30 p.m. Sat., Apr. 10 vs. North Carolina A&T * Daytona Beach, Fla. 1:00 p.m. vs. North Carolina A&T * Daytona Beach, Fla. 4:00 p.m. Sun., Apr. 11 vs. North Carolina A&T * Daytona Beach, Fla. 1:00 p.m. Tue., Apr. 13 at North Florida Jacksonville, Fla. 7:00 p.m. Wed., Apr. 14 at Florida International Miami, Fla. 6:00 p.m. Sat., Apr. 17 vs. Norfolk State * Daytona Beach Fla. 1:00 p.m. vs. Norfolk State * Daytona Beach Fla. 4:00 p.m. Sun., Apr. 18 vs. Norfolk State * Daytona Beach, Florida 1:00 p.m. Tue., Apr. 20 at Miami Coral Gables, Fla. 6:00 p.m. Wed., Apr. 21 at UCF Orlando, Fla. 6:30 p.m. Sat., Apr. 24 at Coppin State * Baltimore, MD 1:00 p.m. at Coppin State * Baltimore, MD 4:00 p.m. Sun., Apr. 25 at Coppin State * Baltimore, MD 1:00 p.m. Tue., Apr. 27 at Stetson DeLand, Fla. 6:30 p.m. Wed., Apr. 28 at Florida Atlantic Boco Raton, Fla. 4:00 p.m. Fri., Apr. 30 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore * Daytona Beach, Fla. 1:00 p.m. vs. Maryland Eastern Shore * Daytona Beach, Fla. 4:00 p.m.
May Sat., May 1 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore * Daytona Beach, Fla. 1:00 p.m. Tue., May 4 at Florida Gainesville, Fla. 6:30 p.m. Wed., May 5 vs. Florida International Daytona Beach, Fla. 6:00 p.m. Sat., May 8 at Delaware State * Dover, Delaware 1:00 p.m. at Delaware State * Dover, Delaware 4:00 p.m. Sun., May 9 at Delaware State * Dover, Delaware 1:00 p.m. Tue., May 11 at West Virginia Morgantown, WV 7:00 p.m. Wed., May 12 at West Virginia Morgantown, WV 7:00 p.m. Thu., May 20 vs. MEAC Tournament * Daytona Beach, Fla. TBA Fri., May 21 vs. MEAC Tournament * Daytona Beach, Fla. TBA Sat., May 22 vs. MEAC Tournament * Daytona Beach, Fla. TBA
ATHLETE: Dawan Smith (5-7/160)
