Diamond Devil's

Hitman--can you give us a rundown about the team ranked #2 in the country by Perfect Games. I know they lost quite a few players to college, but how are they looking this fall?

 

The Diamond Devils U18 team lost a large number of key players, primarily pitchers, from this summers team that won the WWBA National Championship and CABA National Championship. Key losses include:

Matt Weiters (Ga Tech) - catcher and pitcher
Craig Thomas (USC) - pitcher
Chris Fidrych (Clemson) - pitcher
Ryan Basham (Elon) - pitcher
Jim Wagers (PC) - pitcher and outfielder
Timmy Martin (Citadel) - pitcher
Dawson Smith (Woffard) - pitcher
Dan Woodall (Charlotte) - 3B
Russell Robinson (PC) - outfielder

Additionally, Sonny Mead, 2005 graduate committed to the Citadel, who started in the outfield and was used as a closer, decided to take some time off this fall and is not playing.

Despite all of those losses, the outlook is still positive heading towards Jupiter. The fall team features 8 players who have made Division 1 commitments and returns the majority of its starting position players including the top three players in this summer's lineup. Returning position players include:

Wil Boyd (Clemson) - CF
Reese Havens (USC) - SS
Justin Smoak (USC) - 1B
Trey Thomas (Citadel) - RF
Alex Chapman (Charlotte) - 2B

Starting pitchers returning from this summer's team include Mike Cisco (USC) and Ryan Hinson (Clemson). Cisco was the number 1 starter each weekend this summer. Hinson was the number 4 starter and was named the Most Outstanding pitcher in the CABA National Championship.

Other returning players, including players that have moved up from the U17 team, include:

David Anderson (USC) - 3B and pitcher
Wes Chappell - catcher
Logan Bland - catcher
Tyler Barboza - IF
Houston Taylor - pitcher and outfielder

Key additions to the Diamond Devils program this fall include 3 2006 players:

Kyle Roller (Richmond) - 1B
Chris Love (Richland NE) - pitcher and 3B
Shaun Glover (Richland NE) - catcher and OF

The pitching is not as deep this fall, but the offense and defense are solid. The additions of Anderson and Roller in the 4 and 5 spots in the order, following Boyd, Havens and Smoak, add pop to an already potent lineup. Trey Thomas, named Most Valuable hitter in the CABA National Championship, hits in the 6th spot in the order. Reese at shortstop, Chapman at second base and Boyd in center field are the core of a solid defense.

The Diamond Devils are optimistic heading towards Jupiter. Repeating the success of this summer will be difficult.

 

Wow..it appears that Coach Rhodes is just reloading. Good luck at Jupiter hitman. It would be nice if our area had a repeat of last year.