until Opening Day!
| SwampDogs Add Tigers to 10th Anniversary Roster |
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| Monday, 08 February 2010 11:08 |
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After spending last summer with the Rockville Express of the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League, Towson University Junior Chris Wychock is changing leagues and joining the Fayetteville SwampDogs for the 2010 summer. During the 2009 summer, Wychock hit a solid .309 with the Express en route to being selected to the CRSBL all-star team. “I chose Fayetteville because it seemed like a good fit for me,” Wychock said. “It seemed like a winning program and I want to be a part of that.” Not only did Wychock shine last summer in the CRSBL, but the Wapwallopen, Pa. native enjoyed successful freshman and sophomore seasons with the Towson Tigers of the Colonial Athletic Association. In his first year with the Tigers, the 6-0 185 pound Wychock batted .314 with five homers and 21 RBI’s. As all good players do, Wychock improved in his sophomore season. The versatile infielder batted .310 with 14 homers and 51 RBI’s, while slugging .610. Wychock’s impressive campaign earned him a spot on the All-CAA second team as a second baseman. “I'm very excited for the start of the season in May,” says Wychock. “I'm looking forward to playing for the SwampDogs and trying to help them win a championship.” Meanwhile, Natoli is looking for a strong comeback after missing the entire 2009 school season due to an ACL injury he suffered in pre-season practice. The slick fielding Natoli is regarded as one of the best shortstops in the East, earning the CAA Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2008. The three-year starter committed only 12 errors in 2008, despite playing in 56 games. Not only did the 6-0 Natoli flash the leather in 2008, he also hit .349 with 3 homers, 13 doubles, and 37 RBI’s. Furthermore, Natoli stole a team leading 17 bases. Even with the outstanding offensive numbers Natoli has shown in college, he still points to his defense when talking about his play. “I usually bat 1 or 2 in the lineup so you could describe me as a line drive on base guy, “ Natoli said. “Stolen bases is another aspect to my game. I’m probably most recognizable for my defense in the infield though.” The Ellicott City, MD. Native is looking for a bounce back year at Towson after an injury plagued 2009 season. The shortstop has shown though; when healthy he is solid offensively and defensively. Fayetteville is very excited to have a player of his caliber. “Both Nick and Chris are experienced veterans of a lot of college baseball games. They are leaders of their team at Towson who take on a great deal of responsibility both on and off the field,” said SwampDogs head coach Darrell Handelsman. “I expect them to bring that same veteran leadership to our club in Fayetteville. Nick Natoli is a great defender in the middle of the field as well as being capable of hitting at the top of the order and stealing some bases for us. Chris is a versatile infielder who can play all over the field and is very athletic as well. I expect him to be in a position of responsibility in our lineup on a nightly basis this summer.” The Fayetteville SwampDogs are entering their 10th season as a member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 14th season, the Coastal Plain League features 15 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league Web site at www.coastalplain.com. To reserve your tickets today, contact the Fayetteville SwampDogs at (910) 426-5900. For more information on the team, log onto goswampdogs.com. |
