Forest City Adds Two Local Players
FOREST CITY, N.C. - A pair of local pitchers have signed with the Forest City Owls for the team's inaugural season. Spencer Patton from Parkland College and Ryan Leach from North Carolina will bring local flavor to the Owls' pitching staff.
Leach hails from nearby East Rutherford High School, where he helped capture a state championship for the Cavaliers in 2007. The 5-11, 173-pound right-handed freshman is a King Mountain, North Carolina native, who has made 13 appearances for the second ranked Tar Heels. During 10.1 innings pitched, the freshman has allowed two earned runs on three hits and is 1-0 on the season with a 1.74 ERA. During his high school career, Leach was selected as an Honorable Mention Louisville Slugger All-American and was a three-time all-conference selection.
Patton returns to Forest City as he has every summer to visit his grandfather, but this season he will pitch for the Owls. The 6-2, 190 pound sophomore right-hander from Kinmundy, Illinois comes to the Owls after completing his sophomore season with Parkland College. In 11 games played for the season with the Cobras, he held an 8-2 record with a 4.40 ERA. Patton allowed 21 runs on 38 hits and struck out 53, while walking 10 batters.
Second ranked North Carolina is 43-9 and currently in second place behind number one Miami in the ACC Coastal Division. Parkland College finished their season 37-16-1 after falling to Springfield College (Illinois) 5-4 in the regional National Junior College Athletic Association playoffs.
The Forest City Owls are a member of the Coastal Plain League. Entering its 12th season, the CPL has 14 teams in the Virginias and Carolinas. The Owls begin the 2008 season on May 29 when they host the Gastonia Grizzlies at McNair Field in Forest City. For more information on the Owls visit http://www.forestcitybaseball.com.
Contact:Russell Luna
(828) 245-0000