Four Deacons Sign Pro Contracts
6/17/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Of the five Deacon veterans selected this month's draft, four have signed including seniors Adam Bourassa and Ryan Johnson and juniors Jamie D'Antona and Adam Hanson. Three of those players will be in the Low-A Northwest League. D'Antona, a second round pick by Arizona, has been assigned to Yakima (Wash.). Bourassa, taken in the sixth round by Texas, has joined Spokane (Wash.). Johnson, San Diego's 13th round pick, has been assigned to Idaho Falls.
Hanson, a 42nd round selection by Cleveland, is off to Mahoning Valley (N.Y.) of the New York-Penn League (Low-A).
Kyle Sleeth, the third overall pick of the 2003 draft by the Detroit Tigers, is unsigned as of June 17. Sixteen of the 30 first round picks remain unsigned including each of the top four selections.
Ben Ingold: PUBLISHED AUTHOR
Although it may require a translator from time-to-time, Wake Forest/Chatham A's shortstop Ben Ingold will be writing a weekly diary for CSTV.com, the television network that will carry two Cape Cod baseball games a week. Ingold's first installment includes his first impressions of the Cape Cod League and a run-in with the Virginia State Highway Patrol.
- Ingold Diary Entry #1
CATCHING UP WITH OLD DEACONS:
Two former Wake Forest players are currently in the major leagues. After missing the first two months of the season with injury, Kevin Jarvis rejoined the San Diego Padres rotation last week. He started against the Chicago White Sox but did not factor in the decision. Jarvis, who pitched for Wake Forest from 1988-91, is now in his 10th year in the major leagues. Mike MacDougal has made 32 appearances for the Royals this year with 14 saves. In his first full season in the majors, the former first rounder owns a 3-3 record with a 3.52 ERA.
Dave Bush, a second round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays last June, has been promoted to Double-A New Haven (Conn.). Bush, a two-time All-American closer for Wake Forest, made his professional debut in the bullpen last year with ten saves at Auburn (Low-A). This year, the Blue Jays have successfully converted Bush into a starter. In the first half at Dunedin (High-A), Bush went 7-3 with a 2.81 ERA to make the Florida State League All-Star team. Just as he did with the Old Gold and Black, Bush continues to strike out opposing hitters an alarming rate. He has 75 strikeouts in 77 innings with only nine walks.
Corey Slavik has ripped up California League (A-level) pitching with a .360 batting average through 40 games with nine home runs and 35 RBI. The .360 average would lead the league but he is 50 at-bats short of qualifying for the leaders. Slavik, who was released by the Cubs last season, has shifted to first base.
Cory Sullivan, a seventh round selection of the Rockies in 2001, is batting second and playing center field for Double-A Tulsa. He is batting .274 with two home runs and 39 RBI. His six triples rank second in the Texas League.
Danny Borrell, a second round pick of the Yankees in 2000, began the year in Triple-A Columbus. He made ten starts for the Clippers and was off to a 4-2 start with a 2.93 ERA before injuring ligaments in his shoulder.
Other Deacons in the minor leagues include Mike Buddie (AAA - Indianapolis - Milwaukee), Jamie Athas (AA - Norwich - San Francisco), Eric Schmitt (AA - Trenton - New York Yankees), Chase Voshell (A - Peoria - St. Louis), Dan Conway (A - Visalia - Colorado).
SUMMER ASSIGNMENTS
Summer baseball is in full swing and as always, Wake Forest is well represented in several leagues. The Deacon middle infield duo of Chris Getz and Ben Ingold are paired up with the Chatham A's in the Cape Cod League. They are joined by rising junior Daniel Davidson. Tim Morley is back for a second tour in the Cape, this time with the Hyannis Mets. Morley got the win in his first start on Monday. Steve LeFaivre is with the Bourne Braves and incoming Cypress JC transfer, pitcher Justin Keadle, is with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox where he is playing for Cypress coach Scott Pickler.
Rising junior Grant Achilles is tearing the cover off the ball for the New Jersey Colts in the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League. Through six games, Achilles leads the league, or is tied for the league lead, in home runs, RBI, sacrifice flies, sacrifice bunts. He ranks second in doubles and runs scored and ranks third in stolen bases and total bases.
Rising junior Brian Bach is with the Mat-Su Miners in Alaska this summer. Bach has made two starts for the Miners, owns a 1-0 record with a 1.46 ERA. In his first outing, Bach got the win for seven shutout innings. He gave up just three hits and one walk.
In the New England Collegiate Baseball League, rising senior Doug Riepe and rising sophomore Kyle Young are playing for the Riverpoint (R.I.) Royals. That team is being coached by former Deacon All-American and current Georgia Tech assistant Jon Palmieri. Rising sophomore Steven Malinowski is catching for Manchester (Conn.) Silkworms.
Rising sophomore reliever Kirby Wedekind is playing for the Wilmington (N.C.) Sharks of the Coastal Plain League.
