Cream of the Crop

Coaches Pick Best of WSL Ballplayers
Part 2

Compiled by Ted Waddell

LIVINGSTON MANOR -- July 4, 2000

Ryan Edwards • FT • shortstop/third baseman • JR: Batting average of .564 in 16 games, 21 RBI, two homers, two triples, eight doubles. Co-captain and team co-MVP. Led his team in every offensive category.
“A real strong offensive year,” said Wildcats varsity baseball coach Chuck McKenna. “Played all summer with the local county team, and it really improved his ability. A leader by example, even when we were struggling… kept the guys going.”
Ryan Carlson • HM • shortstop/pitcher • JR: Batting average of .467 in 16 games, two triples, six doubles, 1–5 on the mound. Co-captain and team co-MVP.
“As a pitcher, he didn’t get the support behind him… he stepped forward as a team leader,” said McKenna. “Pitched real good games against Narrowsburg (a loss) and Eldred (a win).”


Roy Jay • FT • shortstop • SR: Batting average of .479 as third man in the lineup. Shortstop last three years, as a freshman tabbed WSL honorable mention and first team as a junior. Team MVP and co-captain.
“Easily the best player we had,” said Indians coach Scott Haberli. “Our main RBI man, and led our team’s on-base percentage with over .500. A quiet leader in many ways, a class act and a sportsman. If you had a tough time getting an out in an inning, you hoped the ball went to him.”
Rob Taylor • HM • third base • SO: Batting average of .400, one of only two tenth graders to make the 2000 WSL All-Stars. Second year as third baseman.
“Lives and breathes baseball, and played a very good third base,” Haberli said. “One of the the guys who works on his game in the off-season. Really driven to improve himself. I expect him to be a great infielder, and maybe help out on the mound a little bit in his next two years.”


Chris Ballard • HM • center fielder • SR: Batting average of .357, 11 walks, four strikeouts, 24-for-25 in stolen bases (he was caught trying to steal third in the final game of the season).
“Roscoe is just getting back into baseball (it’s their second season after a long hiatus),” said Matt Schuckman, coach of the Blue Devils. “We work as a team, we win as a team. Chris walked a lot because he had a real good eye at the plate… played with an awful lot of heart, good natural ability. Extremely supportive of his teammates and loved to play the game.”



TRI-VALLEY

Brian Garber • FT • third base/center field • SR: Batting average of .448 (26/58 in 18 games), 30 RBI, 17 runs, six homers, five doubles. Voted team’s most improved player.
“The hardest working kid on the team when it came to his turn at bat,” said Bears coach Jim Kelly. “Always trying to fine-tune his stroke and always the first one to ask for extra fungoes. Very vocal on the bench and in the locker room. Set goals for the team and worked hard to get there.”
Durk Pearston • FT • shortstop • JR: Batting average of .603 (35/58 in 16 games), 29 RBI, 35 runs, three homers, five triples, nine doubles, .724 on-base percentage. Team offensive player of the year, WSL second-team last season.
“Has one of the greatest baseball swings I’ve seen in a long time. Never gets frazzled at the plate, and has a great eye for the ball,” praised Kelly. “A real solid defensive glove… made some great plays at short, turning several double plays with his glove work.”
Mike Sheeley • FT, first base/relief pitcher • SR: Batting average of .583 (28/48 in 18 games), 24 RBI, 18 runs, one triple, seven doubles, .688 on-base percentage. Third year varsity.
“Toughest out on the team. If you got two strikes on him, he fouled off every pitch until he could find one that he could put into play,” Kelly said. “One of the best first basemen in the WSL. Watched him make some amazing plays with his great glove at first.”