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Chatham A’s 2007 Season Preview

05/15/2007 1:36 PM

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for immediate release: 15 May, 2007

Chatham A’s 2007 Season Preview

A’s Look To Returning Players And Top Newscomers 

CHATHAM, Mass. – The Chatham A’s look for strength in numbers this season. A six-man rotation is the key to a strong pitching staff, paired with strong defense up the middle and a potent batting line-up.

    Among the A’s pitching staff is returning A’s player Vance Worley (Long Beach State). Worley is the number one starting pitcher at Long Beach, with an ERA of 3.40, Worley is expected to step into a starting role for the A’s. Worley will be joined by 2006 A’s teammate Nathan Moreau (Georgia). Moreau showed dramatic improvement during the A’s 2006 season and finished out the summer with an ERA of 2.53.

    Worley will also be joined by Long Beach teammate Danny Espinosa. With a .319 batting average and 24 RBI, Espinosa will be a central contributor to the A’s not only offensively, but also defensively in the short stop position with a .967 fielding percentage.

    The A’s excitedly await the return of Allan Dykstra (Wake Forest), one of the top first basemen in the country. Dykstra has been dynamic for Wake Forest with an impressive .340 batting average, 15 home runs and 49 RBI. Other returning players include pitcher Matt Giannini (Rutgers), and local outfielder Richie Tri (Central Connecticut State).

    Four North Carolina newcomers are highly anticipated after having a stellar season with the No. 6 ranked Tar Heels. Dustin Ackley (North Carolina) has an explosive batting average of .467 and is a top candidate for Freshman of the Year. Offensively, Ackley has six home runs and 50 RBI for the Tar Heels this season. 

    Tim Federowicz (North Carolina) is heralded as one of the best catchers in the nation and is also used as a relief pitcher. Federowicz is equally effective at the plate, with a .363 batting average. Kyle Seager (North Carolina) has maintained a .322 batting average for the Tar Heels this season. In his roles as second basemen and short stop, Seager has proved to be a central element in the North Carolina defense. 

    Alex White (North Carolina) is the most exciting Tar Heel addition to the A’s roster this season. White, who was picked in the 14th round of 2006 MLB First Year Player Draft, is expected to be a starter in the A’s pitching rotation. With an ERA of 3.26, the A’s look to White to continue the Tar Heel/A’s pitching legacy of Robert Woodard (2006 Chatham A’s) and Andrew Miller (2004 Chatham A’s).

    Newcomer Aaron Miller (Baylor) is the A’s token lefty. Miller is expected to stand out at the plate, with a .296 batting average and 35 RBI. Miller was ranked 3rd nationally in Baseball America’s 2007 preseason top 50 freshmen list. 

    With five highly anticipated newcomers, along with the proven performances of returning players, the A’s have all the ingredients of a winning season. The distribution of talented players throughout the Cape League, however, has made the road to a league championship tougher each year. 
Despite a difficult course, the A’s continue to have the same goal.

    “Every year the A’s have the goal of reaching the play-offs and then winning in the “second season” for the league’s championship,” said Bob Sherman, sports information coordinator for the A’s. “The formula for winning in the CCBL has not changed over the years; strong pitching and defense along with timely hitting are the ingredients for a successful season.”

Gabriella Remington, CCBL Intern ([email protected])
 

John Garner, Jr.
Director of Public Relations & Broadcasting
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Robin Burns
Web Editor
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