It’s been two weeks since our last update on the dozen or so local ballplayers making strides at the college level.
Sunday marked a big moment for the UNCW baseball program as a former Seahawk was called up to the big leagues and recorded his first career hit for the St. Louis Cardinals.
After being drafted by the Cardinals in the fourth round of the Major League Baseball draft in 2010, Stanley played some 400 games in the minors for various teams within the Cardinals’ organization before being promoted from Triple A Memphis after 15 games this season.
He smacked a pinch-hit single in his MLB debut during an eighth-inning at-bat against Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.
Stanley will be working behind MLB catcher Yadier Molina.
He becomes the eighth Seahawk to reach the major leagues, joining Bill Harris (1968), Bill Haywood (1968), Carl Willis (1984), Brian Smith (2000), Jason Roach (2003), John Raynor, Tyler DeLoach and Chris Hatcher.
Hatcher has been getting work out of the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen after being traded from the Miami Marlins this offseason. In 2015, the right-handed reliever has thrown 6.1 innings in nine appearances. He has a 0-2 record, with one save, 12 strikeouts and seven earned runs.
Earlier in the week, DeLoach was promoted by the Los Angeles Angels to their AAA affiliate Salt Lake City and earned a win in his debut. DeLoach tossed seven shutout innings and faced the minimum over his outing thanks to three double plays.
Below are 2015 statistics for each local college player through April 27.
Trevor Kelley, senior, RHP, North Carolina, Ashley
Kelley made just one appearance out of the Carolina bullpen over the weekend in a three-game sweep over Boston College. The senior side winder recorded four strikeouts in two innings of relief on Saturday.
For the season, Kelley leads the nation with 31 pitching appearances. He has a 2.17 ERA and a 4-1 record, with two saves. In 58 innings pitched, opposing hitters are batting .222. Kelley has allowed 14 earned runs, with 47 strikeouts to 15 walks.
Bryan Sammons, sophomore, LHP, Western Carolina, Hoggard
Sophomore southpaw Bryan Sammons struck out a career-high eight in seven innings on Saturday in Western Carolina’s 4-3 win over East Tennessee State. On the year, Sammons has a 3-3 record with a 4.58 ERA. He has 57 innings pitched in 10 starts. Sammons has allowed 29 earned runs, with 47 strikeouts.
Sam Foy, junior, 2B, Davidson, New Hanover
Foy went 6-for-13 at the plate in a three-game weekend sweep over St. Bonaventure. He opened the series with three hits and three runs scored in game one of a doubleheader on Saturday and finished with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored on Sunday.
Foy is hitting .329 this season as the second leading hitter for the Wildcats. He’s started in all 37 games, with 24 runs scored, a .403 on-base percentage and 23 runs batted in.
Joe O’Donnell, sophomore, RHP, N.C. State, Hoggard
O’Donnell threw two innings over the weekend in a series win over Virginia. The right-handed hurler allowed two runs–one earned–on three hits in a relief appearance on Sunday.
The former Hoggard standout is second on the team in pitching appearances this year. In 41.2 innings pitched, O’Donnell has a 2.38 ERA. He has a 3-3 record, with 40 strikeouts to just 16 walks. Opposing hitters are batting just .200 against the sophomore.
Steven Linkous, junior, OF, UNCW, North Brunswick
Linkous tied the school record for steals in last week’s game against Carolina with four, a career-high. The last UNCW player to steal four bases was Chip Grawey in 2004 against Campbell. He has 22 stolen bases on the year.
The junior outfielder went 3-for-12 over the weekend against Elon. He drew a pair of walks in the series opener, with three runs scored and a run batted in for the series.
Linkous has started all 40 games atop the lineup for UNCW. He has a .341 average, with a team-high 41 runs scored and a .426 on-base percentage.
Chance Shepard, junior, C, N.C. State, Ashley
Chance has seen action in 20 games for the Wolfpack with 10 starts. In 40 at-bats, Shepard has nine hits, two doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs.
He hit his fifth career homer in last week’s setback to East Carolina. With N.C. State trailing late in the game, Shepard put the Wolfpack in front 5-4 with a two-run shot in the ninth inning. His brother, Shane, led off the frame with a single to set the stage for his older sibling.
Shane Shepard, freshman, INF, N.C. State, Ashley
Shepard went hitless in five at-bats over the weekend. He drew three walks as the designated hitter in two games played against Virginia. The freshman is 6-for-41 in his rookie season for the Wolfpack, with one home run.
Pete Wildeboer, sophomore, Methodist, Laney
Wildeboer went 3-for-11 over the weekend for the Monarchs with three runs scored. Methodist is ranked in the top 30 in Division III and clinched the USA South Title with a three-game sweep
Wildeboer is batting .315 this season in 130 at-bats. He has seven doubles, two triples, 18 RBIs and 32 runs scored.
Scott Johnson, senior, INF, Gardner Webb
Johnson has just one hit in nine at-bats over the weekend against Liberty. For the season, he is hitting .208 for Gardner Webb in 130 at-bats. He has 27 hits, two doubles and six RBIs.
Colin Thacker, sophomore, C, OF, Gardner Webb, New Hanover
Thacker went 1-for-8 over the weekend against Liberty with one walk. In 133 at-bats, the sophomore is hitting .256. Thacker has played in 41 games this season. He has five doubles, two home runs and 23 runs batted in.
Eric Eason, sophomore, UNC-Charlotte, Ashley
Eason had one hit in nine at-bats for UNC-Charlotte over the weekend. Eason has played in 18 games with 13 starts for the 49ers. The sophomore from Ashley has 10 hits in 43 at-bats, with a pair of doubles, three runs scored and six runs batted in.
Coley Thompkins, P, Campbell, Hoggard
Thompkins leads Campbell with 21 pitching appearances. In 35 innings pitched, he has a 3-2 record with two saves and a 3.09 ERA. Thompkins has allowed 12 earned runs, with 24 strikeouts.
Joe Catenacci is a sports writer at Port City Daily and host of The Sports Connection on 103.7 FM at 6 p.m. Mondays and 11 a.m. Saturdays. Reach him at joe.c@portcitydaily.com.
