Pitching Search Takes Steamers To Binghamton
EDENTON, N.C. - The Edenton Steamers announced two more player signings for the 2008 summer season.
Jeff Dennis is a 6-6, 215-pound junior lefthanded pitcher attending Binghamton University (New York), a member of the NCAA Division I America East Conference; Jeff's hometown is Syracuse, New York.
Dennis is currently pitching the 2008 spring season for the Bearcats as the game two weekend starter. He is attempting to continue his success from the 2007 summer campaign with Coastal Plain League foe Martinsville. Dennis appeared in seven games for the Mustangs and pitched two complete games. He recorded a 3.73 ERA in 41 innings pitched and opposing batters hit .247 against him. He struck out 38 while only walking 12 and allowed one home run throughout the summer season, due in part to a 2.16 groundout:flyout ratio. Three out of his six starts came against the most powerful offense (Thomasville HiToms) in league history.
Dennis was named to the 2008 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award Watch List, given annually to the top Division I college baseball player. Through five starts for Binghamton, he has thrown two complete games and pitched 27.1 innings, striking out 25 and only allowing one home run with a 1.75 groundout:flyout mark.
The southpaw is a highly-touted pro prospect who combines ample accomplish and experience in his background. Dennis features imposing height that helps create favorable leverage and angle to his pitches along with impressive movement on his fastball.
Meanwhile, Murphy Smith is a 6-3, 200-pound sophomore righthanded pitcher, who attends Binghamton University (New York), an NCAA Division I member of the America East Conference. His hometown is Clifton Park, New York.
Capitalizing on a strong summer last year, Murphy took hold of the Sunday spot in the Bearcats rotation to open 2008. In the 2007 summer campaign, Smith pitched alongside fellow 2008 Steamer signee Dan Gardo (previously announced from Campbell University) and had an all-star season with the Kutztown Rockies in the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League. He appeared in five contests, all starts, completing two with one shutout over 27 innings. In those outings he held opposing batters to a .175 average, .89 WHIP, and a 0.67 ERA. He struck out 25 while walking seven and had a staggering groundball ratio of 2.40.
Smith has started the 2008 season on the right foot as he is coming off America East Pitcher of the Week honors and through five appearances, four starts, has posted a 1.88 ERA in 24 innings pitched with an opposing batting average of .179. He has struck out 20 while walking six and has recorded a WHIP of .88. Murphy appears to be developing into a complete pitcher on the mound as he is able to induce a lot of groundouts, finish a batter by punchout, and is commanding the strike zone well due in part to plus control at the collegiate level.
Similar to last week's announced pitching duo from Middle Tennessee State University, Jeff and Murphy are also following a Binghamton pitcher to Edenton. Redshirt-senior right-hander Zach Groh took his place as one of the finest Steamer starting pitchers in franchise history last summer. They all follow the first Bearcat in Edenton, all-star first baseman Brendon Hitchcock from 2006.
The Edenton Steamers compete in the Coastal Plain League, a summer collegiate baseball league that features 14 teams in three states (NC, SC, VA). The wooden bat league is certified by Major League Baseball and offers players an opportunity to improve their skills in a professional baseball environment. For more information on the CPL, please visit www.coastalplain.com. For more information, call the Steamers office at (252) 482-4080, or e-mail us: info@edentonsteamers.com.
Contact:Chris Bell
(252) 482-4080