2009 Cotuit Kettleers Roster (24-18-9)
2009 STATS: Regular and Playoffs – 2009 STANDINGS: Regular and Playoffs
Game Recaps, Notes, and Feature Stories of the 2009 Season
2009 BIOS: Players … Coaches … Bullpen Catchers, Bat Boys … Interns
Select Other Season:
Contract Players
# | Name | Pos, B/T, HT, WT, Class | College | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Photos | 30 | Bell, Chad | LHP, R/L, 6'4, 215, 2011 | Walters State |
Photos | 16 | Bisson, Chris | INF, L/R, 6'11, 185, 2011 | Kentucky |
Photos | 34 | Blair, Seth | RHP, R/R, 6'2, 190, 2011 | Arizona State |
Photos | 36 | Bowen, Ricky | RHP, R/R, 6'3, 192, 2012 | Georgia |
Photos | 33 | Buchanan, Jake | RHP, R/R, 6'0, 205, 2011 | NC State |
Photos | 36 | Caceres, Andres | LHP, L/L, 6'3, 195, 2011 | Connors State |
Photos | 8 | Cone, Zach (All Star) | OF, R/R, 6'2, 204, 2012 | Georgia |
Photos | 9 | Cox, Zack (All Star) | 3B-RHP, L/R, 6'0, 215, 2012 | Arkansas |
Photos | 15 | Cumpton, Brandon | RHP, R/R, 6'1, 190, 2011 | Georgia Tech |
Photos | 44 | Fritsch, Craig | LHP, R/R, 6'4, 180, 2011 | Baylor |
Photos | 26 | Guinn, Brian | INF, S/R, 6'1, 170, 2011 | Cal Berkeley |
Photos | 31 | Grace, Matt | LHP, L/L, 6'4, 205,2011 | UCLA |
Photos | 37 | Grimm, Justin | RHP, R/R, 6'4, 195, 2011 | Georgia |
Photos | 43 | Keyes, Kevin | OF, R/R, 6'4, 225, 2011 | Texas |
Photos | 23 | Maggard, Zach | C, R/R, 6'0, 190, 2011 | Florida Southern |
Photos | 6 | May, Brandon | INF, R/R, 6'0, 200, 2010 | Alabama |
Photos | 38 | Moore, Navery | RHP, R/R, 6'3, 205, 2011 | Vanderbilt |
Photos | 41 | Nesseth, Mike | RHP, R/R, 6'5, 213, 2012 | Nebraska |
Photos | 3 | Noel, Rico | INF-OF, R/R, 5'9, 165, 2011 | Coastal Carolina |
Photos | 35 | Patterson, Kevin (All Star) | 1B, L/R, 6'4, 220, 2011 | Auburn |
Photos | 32 | Plagman, Tony | 1B, L/L, 6'2, 220, 2010 | Georgia Tech |
Photos | 28 | Rowen, Ben | RHP, R/R, 6'4, 185, 2010 | Virginia Tech |
Photos | 2 | Rowland, Jeff | OF, L/L, 5'10, 185, 2011 | Georgia Tech |
Photos | 51 | Rupp, Cameron (All Star) | C, 5/5, 6'2, 235, 2011 | Texas |
Photos | 12 | Stanley, Cody (All Star) | C, L/R, 5'10, 200, 2011 | UNC Wilmington |
Photos | 24 | Tillman, Daniel (All Star) | RHP, R/R, 6'1, 186, 2011 | Florida Southern |
Photos | 10 | Vaughn, Cory | OF, R/R, 6'3, 225, 2011 | San Diego State |
Photos | 27 | Walters, Jeff | RHP, R/R, 6'3, 192, 2010 | Georgia |
Temporary Players
Photos | # | Name | Pos, B/T, HT, WT, Class | College |
---|---|---|---|---|
Photos | 20 | Bingham, Paul | INF. R/R, 6'3, 200, 2010 | Indiana Univ. of PA |
Photos | 48 | Cooper, Riley | OF, R/R, 6'4, 220, 2010 | University of Florida |
Photos | 7 | Dwyer, Chris | LHP, L/L, 6'4, 200, 2012 | Clemson |
20 | Harris, Devin | OF, R/R, 6'4, 225, 2011 | East Carolina University | |
Photos | 22 | Harrison, Brian | INF, R/R, 6'3, 190, 2011 | Furman College |
17 | Hillman, Drew | INF, R/R, 6'1, 195, 2011 | Orange Coast College | |
Photos | 6 | Kelliher, Brendon | OF-INF, R/R, 6'0, 190, 2011 | George Washington University |
Photos | 32 | Perez, Ruben | OF, R/R, 6'5, 235, 2011 | Abilene Christian University |
Photos | 27 | Russell, Max | LHP, L/L, 6'2, 190, 2011 | Florida Southern |
Photos | 10 | Wagner, Daniel | INF, L/R, 6'0, 185, 2011 | Belmont University |
2009 Coaches
Mike Roberts • Head Coach
Coach Roberts returns to Cotuit for his sixth consecutive season in 2009. During his coaching tenure in the Cape League, which includes 2 seasons in Wareham in 1984 and 2000, Coach Roberts has lead his team to the play-offs in 5 of those 7 seasons with the last trip being with the 2008 Western Division Champion Kettleers.
From 1978 through 1998, Roberts was the head coach at the University of North Carolina and then went on to UNC-Asheville, where he coached in the spring of 2000. All totaled, Roberts‘ teams have made nine NCAA post-season appearances and two College World Series appearances. His teams have also had a strong history of being tops amid their ACC peers, five times capturing the ACC Regular Season Championship and four times the ACC Tournament Championship. Eight of Roberts‘ former players have been first round draft picks in the annual Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft. Sixteen of his former players have played in Major League Baseball. His lifetime collegiate coaching record is 850-450-3. His greatest individual coaching success is his own son, Brian Roberts, currently the two time all-star 2nd baseman for the Baltimore Orioles.
Five of Coach Roberts’ former players are now collegiate head coaches, many are assistants, and several others work in professional baseball. “I am pleased so many of the fine young men I have recruited through the years continue to enjoy a career helping young men try to reach their academic, athletic, and career goals. Every summer in Cotuit the goal is to win a Cape League Championship. We strive to accomplish this goal with mature student/athletes from around the nation who embrace our wonderful community and their host families and want to be positive role models for the hundreds of youngsters who attend the ever-growing Kettleer baseball clinics.”
Prior to managing Wareham to the Western Division regular season title in 2000, Roberts had led Wareham to the same title in 1984. Each of those two seasons, Roberts’ Cape League teams led the entire League in stolen bases and continued this tradition with the 2007 Kettleers. In 2000, Roberts’ Wareham team tied the Cape League all-time single season stolen base record.
In the off-season, Coach Roberts is studying part-time for his Doctorate in Sports Administration at the University of New Mexico and just completed writing a book on base stealing titled “You Can’t Steal Second Base and Keep Your Foot on First!” published in Dec. 2008. His son Brian, who led the American League in stolen bases in 2007, contributed to the writing and included is a DVD showing Brian stealing bases for the Orioles.
Mike works for Athletes’ Performance as the Business Development Manager for Baseball. AP is featured often in publications and on ESPN as the premier athletic training center for Elite Athletes in the USA and around the world. Current Boston Red Sox players Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, and Jed Lowrie did their 2008-09 off-season training with AP.
Scott Gurss – Assistant Coach
Scott returns for a second season as an assistant coach with the Kettleers. Last season, 2008, Scott served as first base coach. Scott holds a BS Degree from Northwestern Oklahoma State University where he majored in Health and Sports Science. He was the senior co-captain of the baseball team and following his Collegiate career Scott served as student assistant baseball coach for the team.
Scott was a summer coach at the Deer Creek High School camps 2002-2008. He has also served as a Volunteer for the American Diabetes Association at Camp Discovery. Scott was a Future Christian Athlete Leader in High School.
Scott brings his outstanding experience and tremendous enthusiasm to the Kettleers clinics, and he provides Cape League coaching experience on the field. Scott resides in Edmond, OK.
Noah Scott – Strength and Conditioning Coach
Noah returns to the Kettleers coaching staff in 2009 after assisting Mike Roberts and the 2008 Western Division Champion Kettleers last season. Scott is a Performance Specialist employed through Athletes’ Performance, a sports performance institute located in Tempe, Arizona. While on site, Scott has trained several elite MLB players including Manny Ramirez, Dustin Pedroia, Brian Roberts, and Carl Crawford. Most recently, Scott trained one-on-one with two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove Award winner Vernon Wells, CF of the Toronto Blue Jays, during the 2008-09’ offseason near Vernon’s home in Ft Worth, TX and also in Dunedin, FL for Spring Training. Scott earned his B.S. in Health and Physical Education from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in 2007, played outfield for the Rangers,and was honored Team Captain during his senior year. He was the recipient of the Gene Filson Athletic Scholarship, awarded to a member of the baseball team who best typified characteristics of leadership, high morals, dedication, academic merit, and athletic talent.
Scott, 27, is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), andcurrently resides in Ft Worth, TX.
Collin Martin – Assistant Coach
Collin joins the Kettleers with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Webber International University Babson Park FL. Collin had a standout career at Webber, being named First Team All Florida Sun Conference, First Team Southern Region, and Honorable Mention First Team NAIA All-American in 06.
He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Cleveland Indians in 2006 and played for the Independent League Florence Freedom in 2007. Collin resides in Winter Park, FL and is the Step-son to Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel.
Brian Stoneberg – Assistant Coach
Brian joins the coaching ranks of the 2009 Kettleers with a B.S. in Exercise Science and Wellness from Arizona State University. He received the 2007 Outstanding Academic Junior of the Year award. Brian is a Certified Personal Trainer by the National Academy of Sports Medicine and certified in CPR/Adult and child first aid.
Brian has just completed an internship with Athletes’ Performance training facility located in Tempe, Arizona. He has worked with several professional athletes such as Justin Morneau (Twins), Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis (Red Sox), in their off season power and movement training at Athletes’ Peformance.
Brian played college baseball at Wisconsin Stevens-Point before transferring to Arizona State. He has coached at various youth baseball camps at the high school and college level. His hometown is Hastings, Minnesota.
Juliet Huang – Athletic Trainer
Juliet graduated from University of Virginia with a Master’s degree in Athletic Training, while completing her graduate assistantship with the Virginia Military Institute’s baseball and lacrosse teams. Juliet was also the student athletic trainer for the University of Alabama and Stillman College baseball teams. Juliet had a season long internship with the Baltimore Orioles AAA affiliate the Norfolk Tide. She has also interned with the minor league affiliations for the Red Sox’s, Cubs, Angels and Padres organizations. Juliet is fluent in Taiwanese and also speaks French, Mandarin and Spanish. Juliet is currently an intern with the Los Angeles Kings Eastern Conference Hockey League affiliate Ontario Reign.
Bullpen Catchers and Bat Boys
Spencer Perlmutter, bullpen catcher, will be a sophomore at Mashpee H.S. where he enjoys learning history, English and Latin as an honor student. He was goalie for the Mashpee J.V. Soccer team and catcher on his school’s Varsity Baseball team. He is also an avid X-box player. He also enjoys making things with his hands. In Woodshop this year he made a Bookshelf and a Baseball bat. He has an older brother Jake and two older sisters Karen and Catherine.






Interns
Kristen Beasley, a returning intern from Centerville MA, will be a senior at UConn, majoring in Sports Management. She is a Division I athlete on the Women’s Rowing team and was selected to the Big East Academic All-Star team for three seasons. She is active in the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, working with other athletes to organize, and participate in charitable events throughout Connecticut. She is also active in the Athletes in Action (AIA) an interdenominational Christian sports organization.















2009 Player Bios
Seth Blair • RHP • Arizona State • Sophomore
2008 (Freshman): Pitched in 19 games, starting 10…Had a 4-2 record with a 6.96 ERA and one save…threw 54.1 innings in his debut season…pitched for the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod League over the summer, going 4-1 with a 1.55 ERA in seven starts…had two complete games and one shut out, earning an All-Star berth and leading the Kettleers to the Cape Cod League championship series.
MLB Draft: Selected in the 47th round (1,388th overall) by the Oakland Athletics in the 2007 Major League Baseball draft.
Personal: Is an exploratory major…son of Alan and Cheri Blair of Rock Falls, Illinois…lists Jake Peavy of the San Diego Padres as his favorite player…enjoys watching Dancing With The Stars…born March 3, 1989 in Sterling, Illinois.

2008: Had an excellent freshman campaign, and emerged as an effective weekend starter by the end of the season … Made four starts, all among his final five appearances of the year, and was 2-1 with a 4.18 ERA as a starter … Went 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA and three saves in 16 relief appearances … Earned saves in two of his first three college appearances … Allowed one unearned run on two hits in three innings February 24 vs. Appalachian State in his college debut, striking out five without issuing a walk to earn his first college save … Worked three perfect innings March 15 vs. Miami, setting down nine consecutive Hurricanes on just 27 pitches … Made his first start May 10 at Maryland and tossed a five-hit complete game on just 98 pitches, beating the Terps 12-1 … Started NC State’s first-ever regional game played on campus May 30 vs. James Madison, and allowed two runs on three hits in 5 2/3 innings, but did not figure in the decision.
Personal: Born September 24, 1989 … The son of Sonda and Buck Buchanan … Enrolled in the First-Year College.

Summer Baseball: Played for the Midland Redskins on Cincinnati, Ohio, prior to attending Arkansas … Led the team to a runner-up finish in the Connie Mack World Series.
High School: Under Armour All-American, Rawlings All-American and Louisville Slugger All-American … Batted .449 while at Pleasure Ridge Park with 33 home runs … On the mound was 38-3 with a 1.03 ERA and 495 strikeouts over 300 innings … Mr. Baseball in Kentucky as a senior … MVP of the state tournament … As a junior was named all-state and was the Louisville Slugger Player of the Year … Led the Panthers to three straight No. 1 rankings in Kentucky and as a senior his team was No. 8 in the country. Drafted in 2008 by LA Dodgers, 20th round (607).
Personal: Cox is the son of Jim and Sandra Cox … has one brother, Madison … majoring in kinesiology.
Brandon Cumpton • RHP • Georgia Tech • Sophomore
2008: Made five starts and appeared in 14 games in his first season on the Flats … Went 2-1 with 40 K in 46.1 innings of work … Yielded just two hits while holding Georgia Southern (2/27) scoreless through four innings in his first career start … Struck out a season-high nine batters while holding Kennesaw State (3/5) to two runs on five hits in seven innings of work … Picked up his first career victory with six strong innings against Alabama State (3/26) … Struck out eight against the Hornets … Limited East Tennessee State (4/2) to three runs while striking out six through 6.2 innings for his second win of the season … Worked six innings in relief against Miami (4/12) … Limited the explosive Coastal Carolina (5/3) offense to two runs on three hits in three innings of work.
Personal:Full name is Brandon Tyler Cumpton … Born November 16, 1988 … Son of Ron and Jolene Cumpton … Majoring in business management at Georgia Tech.
Chris Dwyer • LHP • Clemson • Freshman
BEFORE CLEMSON: Drafted in the 36th round (#1100 overall pick) by the New York Yankees in 2008…Area Code Games, East Coast Pro Showcase, and Preseason Under Armour All-American All-Star…#3 prospect in Connecticut by Perfect Game…had a 7-0 record, 0.07 ERA, and 83 strikeouts, and allowed just 12 hits in 41.0 innings pitched as a junior at Salisbury (CT) School…pitched a no-hitter as a junior…hit .470 with five homers and 45 RBIs as a junior…had a 24-1 career record…first-team All-New England quarterback who passed for over 5,100 yards and 58 touchdowns along with 21 rushing touchdowns…led his team to a 38-2 record in four years as a starting quarterback, as he earned all-conference honors all four years…Boston Globe Player-of-the-Year in football as a senior…lettered five times in baseball, four times in football, and once in basketball at Salisbury School, where he was coached by Mark Leavitt.
PERSONAL: His sister Lindsay played soccer at Williams…his sister Lexi played soccer at Trinity…majoring in communication studies…born Christopher Paul Dwyer on Apr. 10, 1988 in Boston, MA.

2008: Made 17 appearances, including three starts…posted a 3.55 ERA, the second-lowest mark on the team…totaled 18 strikeouts in 33.0 innings, the highest totals by any freshman pitcher on the staff…allowed one unearned run in three innings in his second start of the season, a 6-4 win at UC Irvine (May 13)…limited Loyola Marymount (April 30) to two runs in 4.1 innings in his first collegiate start…hurled two scoreless innings in relief against Cal State Fullerton (March 5), totaling three strikeouts and just one walk…tossed two scoreless inning in relief against Cal State Northridge in a game resumed on April 15 (dated Feb. 26); game had been suspended due to darkness…credited with his collegiate debut in a UCLA victory against Southern (Feb. 29), striking out the one batter he faced in relief.
Personal: Full name: Matthew Aaron Grace…born December 14, 1988 in Torrance, CA…Matt is the younger of Charles and Barbara Grace’s two sons…has one older brother, Bob…mother, Barbara, attended UCLA…business/economics major.
Kevin Keyes • Outfield • Texas • Sophomore
High School: · Four-year varsity letterwinner as an outfielder/infielder for Coach Trent Dunavant’s Connally High School baseball team in Pflugerville, Texas
- Hit .440 with five home runs and seven triples to earn District 25-4 Most Valuable Player, All-District 25-4A and All-State as a senior.
- Batted a career-best .471 with seven home runs to earn All-District 17-4A and all-state honors as an outfielder during his junior season.
- Hit .405 with five home runs to garner All-District 17-4A honors as a shortstop during sophomore campaign.
- Hit .440 with five home runs and seven triples to earn District 25-4 Most Valuable Player, All-District 25-4A and All-State as a senior.
- Voted District 17-4A Newcomer of the Year batting .305 with five home runs as a freshman third baseman.
- Selected in the 26th round of the 2007 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Texas Rangers.
- Played for Coach Tommy Boggs’ Austin Slam of the Premier League.
Personal: Born Kevin Jamal Keyes on Mar. 15, 1989 in Austin, Texas … parents are Gregory and Barbara Keyes … has two siblings Jennifer and Michael … considering a major in education.
Navery Moore • RHP • Vanderbilt • Freshman
High School: Was named to 2008 first team All-Midstate as designated hitter and Anderson Bat National Player of the Year… Helped Battle Ground Academy to 2005-08 regular season region champs and 2005,06, 08 region tournament champs… Selected in the 26th round by the Boston Red Sox out of high school. Also played for the Brentwood A’s, leading them to 2nd place WWBA Perfect game 16U National Tournament finish, named MVP, and 16U Tournament, 3rd place AAU Junior Olympics… Was a three-year starter… Named to the National Honors Society, Science National Honors Society, and Plato Representative.
Personal: Navery Charles Moore III… Born 8/10/90… Son of Lynne and Navery Moore II… Has 2 siblings, Michael and Anisa… Undecided on a major… Favorites include Rafael Nadal, Jonathan Papelbon, the movie The Departed, the TV show Heroes, actor Will Smith, musical group Black Eyed Peas, and Spiderman Gummies… If he wasn’t an athlete at Vanderbilt he would be an Astronaut… One person living or dead he would like to have dinner with is Alex Rodriguez… If he could change one thing about his sport it would be to change from aluminum to wood bats… Favorite vacation spot is Miami, FL… Ten years from now he hopes to be pitching in the Majors… His advice to youngsters is to not take the easy way out of anything… Chose Vanderbilt because of its “great program, education, coaching staff, and facilities.”
Mike Nesseth • RHP • Nebraska • Sophomore
Honors & Awards
2008 Husker Power Baseball Lifter of the Year
2008 No. 2 Prospect in Northwoods League
Baseball America’s No. 63 Prospect for 2009 MLB Draft
Baseball America’s No. 29 College Prospect for the 2009 MLB Draft
2009: One of the proven commodities on the Husker pitching staff, sophomore Mike Nesseth enjoyed a breakthrough 2008 season • Reworked his delivery prior to the season and enjoyed the fruits of his labor, going 4-1 with four saves and a 3.58 ERA in 27 appearances • Showed the ability to dominate at times with a fastball in the mid-90s and a plus slider as he continued to gain confidence • Posted a 2-0 mark with a 2.11 ERA in his final 13 outings while averaging nearly two strikeouts per inning in that stretch • Will be moved into the weekend rotation and is penciled in as the Huskers’ top starter entering spring drills • Has worked hard to improve his variety of pitches in making the transition and is diligent about making improvements every time he is on the mound • Worked exclusively as a starting pitcher for Duluth (Minn.) in the Northwoods League over the summer • Went 0-2 with a 2.93 ERA in six starts, striking out 27 in 30.2 innings and holding foes to a .212 average • Started NU’s exhibition against Iowa in the fall, working two shutout frames and allowing only one ball out of the infield • Rated the No. 2 prospect in the Northwoods League by Baseball America and among the top 100 prospects for the upcoming draft.
2008: Nesseth put together a strong redshirt freshman campaign, emerging as one of the Huskers’ top bullpen workers down the stretch • Went 4-1 with four saves and a 3.58 ERA in 27 appearances, as he fanned 53 over 37.2 innings • Ranked second on the squad in saves and appearances and held foes to a .201 average • Established NU’s freshman record with 27 appearances, breaking the school mark of 25 set by Tim Schoeninger in 2003 • Was at his best down the stretch, going 2-0 with two saves and a 2.11 ERA in his final 13 outings, fanning 31 over 17.2 innings and holding opponents to a .151 average • Didn’t allow a run in two NCAA Lincoln Regional appearances, highlighted by a five strikeout effort over 2.2 innings of one-hit ball against Oral Roberts on June 1 • Threw twice in the Big 12 Tournament, allowing one earned run in 3.2 innings of work, including three strikeouts over two innings against Baylor on May 21 • Went 2-0 with a save in 13 conference appearances, while posting an impressive 25-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio • Pitched twice against No. 12 Missouri, fanning three over two perfect innings on May 18 after allowing three runs in 0.2 innings on May 16 • Threw twice against ninth-ranked Texas A&M, allowing one hit and striking out six over 3.2 innings of work • Earned the win in the series finale against the Aggies, fanning five and allowing one hit over the final 2.2 innings of a 13-10 win • Tossed a career-high 3.2 innings of no-hit relief with a season-high six strikeouts against Louisiana-Lafayette on May 3, a game NU won 4-3 in 14 innings • Collected his fourth save against Western Illinois on April 29, fanning two in a perfect inning of relief • Preserved Nebraska’s 4-3 win over Creighton on April 22 with 1.1 shutout innings, fanning two and allowing no hits for his third save • Went a then-career-long 2.1 innings against Kansas on April 19, striking out three and allowing a pair of runs on four hits • Tossed a perfect ninth inning with a strikeout in the series finale at No. 21 Oklahoma State on April 13 • Pitched twice against Oklahoma, earning the save in the series clincher on March 22 • Collected the win in the series finale against Kansas State on March 16, fanning four over two innings of shutout relief in a 5-3, 10-inning victory • Picked up his first college win against Northern Colorado on March 9, working two innings of no-hit relief and fanning two in a 3-2 victory • Collected his first career save against UC Riverside on March 1, fanning a pair over a hitless frame of relief • Pitched twice in the series at Stanford, allowing one hit over 1.1 innings of shutout ball.
2007: Nesseth redshirted as a true freshman in the Husker program • Spent the summer pitching for the Duluth Huskies in the Northwoods League • Made 17 appearances out of the bullpen, going 0-1 with a 4.08 ERA, as he struck out 14 and walked four in 17.2 innings.
Windom Area High School: Nesseth was one of the top prospects in the state of Minnesota, pitching for Coach Brad Schlomann at Windom Area High School • Garnered first-team All-Minnesota Class AA honors from the Minnesota State High School Baseball Coaches Association, going 3-4 with a 2.47 ERA as a senior • Struck out 78 and allowed only 18 walks over 51 innings • Was a two-time, first-team All-Section 3AA and All-Southwest Conference selection, going 8-4 with a 2.21 ERA and 94 strikeouts over 69.2 innings as a junior • Finished his four-year career with a 14-10 record, a 2.55 ERA and 249 strikeouts over 187 innings • Struck out a career-high 18 in a Class 3AA state playoff game as a junior • Totaled 11 letters in high school, as he also played football and basketball at Windom Area High School • Earned all-conference honors in each of his last two seasons in basketball, where he finished as the school’s all-time leading scorer • Captained the football, basketball and baseball teams at WAHS in 2005-06 and was tabbed the school’s Male Athlete of the Year • Was a member of the National Honor Society and on the honor roll throughout his high school career.
Personal: Born on April 19, 1988, in Worthington, Minn. • Parents are Larry and Deb Nesseth • Has one sister (Nicole) and one brother-in-law (Brent Staples) • Majors in business administration.
Rico Noel • INF/OF • Coastal Carolina • Sophomore
2008: Hit .240 with five doubles, two triples, two home runs and 26 RBIs for the Chanticleers… Had three hits and four runs scored in the NCAA Conway Regional…Was 2-for-6 with three runs scored in a 24-11 win over East Carolina June 1…Went 3-for-4 with a double and a triple in the 9-2 win over Liberty in the championship game of the Big South Tournament… Drove in four runs in the win over Radford May 17… Was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBI in the win over Albany March 22… Has eight multi-hit games and six multi-RBI performances… Had two RBIs in the win over North Carolina State April 9… Also had three RBIs in the win over Virginia April 15… Was second on the team with 16 stolen bases… Had two triples in the Big South Tournament… Hit his first career home run in the win over Winthrop May 23.
High School: Hit .391 and stole 31 bases his senior season at Lawton High School in Lawton, Okla… Named Lawton’s Most Oustanding Athlete his senior season… Hit .375 with six home runs, nine doubles and 37 stolen bases in 2006… Was an All-Southern Conference performer his junior year… Was a three-time All-Area performer by the Lawton Constitution… Named to the All-Tournament Team at the Sunbelt Classic twice… Also played football at Lawton and was an All-State Honorable Mention selection by the Daily Oklahoman his junior year… Was a member of the National Honor Society at Lawton and was on the Principal’s Honor Roll… Born Jan. 11, 1989… Is majoring in business.
Kevin Patterson • IF/OF/C • Auburn • Sophomore
SUMMER 2008: Played for the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod League where he was named an All-Star and won the Daniel J. Silva Sportsmanship Award … Hit .296 for Cotuit to help them to a league runner-up finish … Drove in 27 RBI and had a .454 slugging percentage (eight doubles, two triples, four home runs).
2008 (FRESHMAN): Hit .255 in 51 games (44 starts), scoring 23 runs and driving in 26 … 29 walks was tied for second on the team … Had a .433 slugging percentage (nine doubles, two triples, five home runs) … Designated hitter in 37 games and also made starts at first (three), behind the plate (two) and in right field (two) … Had a solid final week of the season, ending the year on a four-game hitting streak (7-for-17, .412) which included three doubles, a triple, a home run, two RBI and six runs scored … Hit his fifth home run during Auburn’s three-homer, 11-run fourth inning at Mercer on May 13 … Had two plate appearances in the inning, drawing a walk as a pinch-hitter before hitting his two-run home run as the 13th man to bat in the inning … Remained in the game and played first … Hit his fourth home run in the second inning at Vanderbilt on April 16 and scored two runs in the 6-3 win … Hit .308 (4-for-13) in the Arkansas series, driving in four runs … Two-out single in the ninth inning on Sunday, April 6 against the Razorbacks drove in the game-tying run … Had a modest five-game hitting streak in the final days of March (6-for-17, .353) … Hit first career triple in 14-6 win over Samford at Regions Park on March 26 … Hit .385 during the series at Florida (5-for-13, walk, run, RBI) … Blasted first career home run in second career at bat (February 22 vs. East Tennessee State) … Hit a team-best .467 in February with two doubles and two home runs for a 1.000 slugging percentage … Also drew eight walks while striking out just one time in 23 plate appearances.
PERSONAL: Kevin Carlton Patterson … Son of David and Laura Patterson … Has a brother, David (22) … Majoring in pre-business.
Jeff Rowland • Outfield • Georgia Tech • Sophomore
2008 ACC Honor Roll: Outstanding defensive outfielder that can cover a lot of ground … Has a pure left-handed swing with the ability to hit the ball to all fields … Also has a great approach and a good eye at the plate … An excellent bunter and threat on the basepaths because of his outstanding speed. Member of the 2008 ACC Honor Roll.
2008: Started 53 games in centerfield, and played in 59 of Tech’s 62 contests on the year … Finished second on the team in batting average (.335) and stolen bases … Swiped 22 bases on 26 attempts … Led the team with 10 sacrifices on the year … Had 20 multi-hit and four mutli-RBI games … Served as the leadoff hitter in 24 games during the season and hit second in the lineup 23 times … Belted his first career home run with a two-run blast against Georgia Southern (2/26) … Went 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored in the series opener against Rutgers (2/29) … Collected three hits – all infield singles – in Tech’s 2-1 win over Virginia Tech (3/9) … Went 2-for-2 with a pinch-hit RBI single and a run scored vs. Georgia State (3/12) … Hit .625 (5-for-8) with a triple and a home run in the three-game series against Duke (3/21-3/23) … Had four hits, including two doubles, and drove in two runs while scoring four times in a doubleheader at Boston College (3/29) … Went 2-for-3 with three walks and a career-high four runs scored at Georgia Southern (4/16) … Went 6-for-13 (.462) with a double, two runs and two RBI in the series at Maryland (4/18-4/20) … Collected a season-high four hits in five at-bats, scored three times and drove in a run in the series finale against Wake Forest (4/27) … Was a perfect 3-for-3 with a two-run home run in Tech’s ACC Championships game against Miami (5/22) … Went 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored against Georgia (6/2) in the NCAA Athens Regional Championship.
Personal: Full name is Jeffrey Daniel Rowland … Born April 1, 1988 … Son of Jeff and Carole Rowland … Grandfather Wilton Rowland played in the minor leagues for the Cardinals organization in 1947 … Uncle Buddy Rowland played in the Independent League from 1947-48, where he was a catcher for Hoyt Wilhelm … Uncle Parker Rowland was a two-time All-American at West Georgia from 1980-1981 and a West Georgia Hall of Fame inductee in 2001 … Business management major at Georgia Tech.
Cameron Rupp • Catcher • Texas • Sophomore
High School: · Three-year letterwinner as a catcher for Coach Kendell Clark and Coach Mike Maack at Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, Texas.
- Batted .644 with 46 runs, 20 doubles, five triples, six home runs, 55 RBI and 15 stolen bases as a senior, helping his team post a 31-1 record to win the district championship and reach the state title game.
- Earned district MVP, all-state, Rawlings All-American and Louisville Slugger All-America honors and won the home run derby at the PlayStation All-American High School Baseball game as a senior.
- Batted .500 with 12 doubles, five home runs and 35 RBI to earn district MVP, all-state and Aflac All-America honors as a junior, helping team win a district title with a 24-5 record and earn a state semifinal appearance.
- Won the home run derby at the Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic as a junior.
- Selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 43rd round of the 2007 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
- Earned all-state honors as a junior and senior while helping the football team win the state title his junior year and district title his senior year.
- Played with the Dallas BAT summer club in 2007, helping team win an AABC South Plains Regional title, batting .391 with 17 home runs and 58 RBI and earning Connie Mack World Series All-Tournament as a catcher.
Personal: Born Cameron Arthur Rupp on Sept. 28, 1988 in Dallas, Texas … son of Kevin and Kathi Rupp … has two younger siblings, Carley and Clint … father, Kevin Rupp, played baseball for the University of Houston (1974-1977) and in the minor leagues for the Montreal Expos (1977-1979) … uncle, Chris Rupp, played baseball for Texas A&M (1978-1980) and was head coach for San Jacinto College (1991-2000) and Sam Houston State (2003-2006), and an assistant coach for Rice (2000-2003) … participated in a mission trip to Panama … majoring in education.
Max Russell • LHP • Florida Southern • Sophomore
2008: Appeared in seven games, start six … was 3-0 with a 6.55 ERA … pitched 22 innings, struck out 21, walked 16 … missed first part of season due to injury … made first appearance on Mar. 18, pitched one scoreless inning in relief vs. Wisconsin-Parkside … made first start vs. Lincoln Memorial on Mar. 23 … pitched pre-determined three innings, allowed one run, to get first win … allowed one run in four innings of seven-inning game to get win vs. Rollins on Mar. 30 … best outing was vs. Eckerd on 4/11 … pitched five innings, allowed one run, three hits, struck out 10, walked three to get third win.
HIGH SCHOOL: 2007 graduate of Amity Regional High School … first-team all-state selection as a junior and senior … pitched Amity to back-to-back class LL state championships … career pitching record of 29-1 … pitched complete-game three-hitter with 13 strikeouts in 2007 state title game … also played hockey at Amity.
PERSONAL: son of Carl and Marla Russell … majoring in criminal justice … born 9/21/88.
Cody Stanley • Catcher • UNC Wilmington • Sophomore
2008: Colonial All-Rookie selection … Earned Third-team Ping Baseball All-America honors … Had eight multi-RBI games … Hit .467 (14-30) over a season-long 9-game hitting streak … Knocked in season-high four RBI at JMU (5/11).
At Clinton: Two-time All-State selection … Finished second in state with .629 batting average … Tabbed by ImpactBaseball.com as 11th best senior in state … Sampson County Player-of-the-Year … East Central Conference Player-of-the-Year … Three-time All-Conference selection … Team MVP … Added five home runs and drove in 43 runs his senior season … Drove in six runs in one inning during State tournament game … Hit .514 with five home runs as junior … Struck out only six times … Went 18-for-18 in stolen base attempts … Also served as team’s closer, recorded eight saves … Struck out 36 in 23.1 innings … Played for coach Tracey Thornton … Also played football for Dark Horses … Named Defensive Player-of-the-Game in 2A State championship game as punter … From same high school as Pittsburgh Steelers running back Willie Parker.
Personal: Full Name: Cody Stanley … Born Dec. 21, 1988, in Clinton, N.C. … Son of Kelly and Beverly Stanley … Father played football and baseball at Elon … Mother played softball at Lenoir CC … Played for Impact Dirtbags … Helped squad to third-place finish at WWBA Championships in Jupiter, Fla. … Earned All-Tournament honors after catching five games in less than 24 hours … Hit .833 in North Carolina State games as junior … Three-time Academic Honor Student … NCHSAA Scholar-Athlete … Beta Club member … Career and Technical Education Honor Society member … Earned rank of Eagle Scout.
Daniel Tillman • RHP • Florida Southern • Sophomore
2008: HONORS – Second-team All-South Region … second-team All-SSC … SSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll … appeared in 20 games, all but one in relief … became team’s closer in latter part of season … led team in ERA (1.80) … second on team in saves (5) … only start was vs. Saint Anselm on 3/5, pitched pre-determined three innings, allowed no runs, 1 hit, struck out 5, walked 1 to get first win … earned first save vs. Tampa on 3/8, retired side in bottom of seventh to preserve 4-3 win … longest outing was 3 innings vs. Eckerd, allowed 2 hits, no runs, struck out 3 … did not allow an earned run in last 12 appearances, covering 14.2 innings with 17 strikeouts, 8 walks … did not allow a home run all season.
HIGH SCHOOL: 2007 graduate of Suwannee High School … third-team all-state selection as a junior and a senior … had ERA of 0.67 in 62 innings as a junior … had ERA of 1.05 in 72 innings as a senior.
PERSONAL: son of Bruce and Suzanne Tillman … majoring in business administration … born 3/14/89
Cory Vaughn • Outfield • San Diego State • Sophomore
Power-hitting outfielder who will be the Aztecs’ starter in right to open the 2009 season … Played during summer 2008 for the La Crosse Loggers of the Northwoods League … Over 68 games, batted .251 with 14 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 35 runs scored and 41 runs batted in … Named MVP of the league all-star game after going 2-for-3 with a run scored and RBI … Was named the top prospect in the Northwoods League by Baseball America … Selected in the 43rd round of the 2007 Major League draft by the Phillies … Son of former major league outfielder Greg Vaughn.
2008: Freshman outfielder who started the season as the starter in right field and was the team’s primary designated hitter over the second half of the 2008 campaign … In his three games against fifth-ranked San Diego to start the year, went 6-for-11 with a double, triple, home run, five runs scored and four RBI … Extended that start to a five-game hitting streak, his longest of the season … Hit safely in 10 of the first 12 games in which he appeared to start the 2008 season … Had a pair of season-best three-hit contests: vs. Cal Poly on Feb. 28, vs. BYU on March 13 and at BYU on May 10 … Hit home runs in back-to-back games against Harvard (March 26) and Houston (March 28) … Had a four-game hitting streak (May 2-10) during which he went 7-for-13 with three doubles, home run, five runs scored and two RBI … Finished the season with 12 multiple-hit games and nine multiple-RBI contests.
High School: Won a pair of varsity baseball letters at Jesuit High School in Carmichael, Calif. … Coached there by Joe Potulny … As a senior, batted .330 with six home runs, 37 runs batted in and 18 stolen bases … During his junior year, hit .250 with three doubles, two triples, a home run, 16 runs scored, 18 runs batted in and six stolen bases … Played football for the Marauders during his final two years … Chosen MVP of the freshman basketball team.
Personal: Cory Thomas Vaughn was born May 1, 1989, in Green Bay, Wis. … Son of Greg and Michele Vaughn … Father was a major league baseball player who played for the Padres, Brewers, Reds, Devil Rays and Rockies during a 15-year career (1989-2003) and was named to the all-star team on four occasions … Interests include equestrian and golf … Favorite athlete is former major league outfielder Gerald Williams … Majoring in kinesiology looking to a career as a diabetes specialist.