Ravens to send 16 to Futures League

RINDGE, N.H. (June 11, 2015) – Highlighted by three student-athletes who will ply their trade in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League this summer, the Northeast-10 Conference champion Franklin Pierce University baseball team is slated to send 24 of its players to NCAA- and/or Major League Baseball-sanctioned collegiate summer leagues in 2015. Leading the way is the ever-growing Futures Collegiate Baseball League, which will welcome 16 Ravens this summer.

In addition to the dozen-plus in the Futures League and the trio on the Cape, Franklin Pierce will also send three to the New England Collegiate Baseball League, one to the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League and one to the South Florida Collegiate League. To be eligible to compete in one of these summer leagues, a player must have completed at least one season of eligibility at the collegiate level and must have at least one season of eligibility remaining.

"We have had a great relationship with summer leagues over the years," said head coach Jayson King. "They have given our student-athletes the chance to play at a very high level year-in and year-out, which has assisted tremendously in the development of our players individually and of our program as a whole."

Summer ball serves as a showcase for college players hoping to attract the potential of professional scouts. As opposed to the college schedule, where teams generally play no more than four or five games a week, most summer leagues pack over 40 games plus an all-star break into a span of two months, which often leaves teams with only one off-day a week. Observing players working through the day-to-day grind helps scouts to project how well different individuals will adjust to life in the pros later in their career. Competing against the best college players in the country also pays dividends when the players return to their respective institutions in fall.

Headlining the two dozen Ravens bound for summer ball are the three players headed for the Cape Cod League. The left side of the Franklin Pierce infield, sophomore third baseman Jay Jabs (Schwenksville, Pa.) and junior shortstop Justin Brock (Latham, N.Y.), will both join the Wareham Gatemen, while senior right-hander Doug Willey (Shelburne, N.H.) will suit up for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox.

Long considered the other top-tier collegiate summer league, the NECBL will welcome three Franklin Pierce student-athletes in 2015. Junior right-hander Paul Covelle (Medford, Mass.) will pitch for the Keene Swamp Bats, junior right-hander Tanner Bird (Adams, Mass.) will toe the rubber for the North Adams SteepleCats, and sophomore right-hander Mike Lundin (Kingston, Mass.) will throw for the Plymouth Pilgrims.

The flock of Ravens headed for the still-growing Futures League features four who will play for the Wachusett Dirt Dawgs: junior left fielder Kurtis White (Nahant, Mass.), junior left-hander Gage Griffin (Moosup, Conn.), freshman catcher Christopher Stanford (Quebec City, Quebec) and junior outfielder Max DiTondo (Marshfield, Mass.).

Four other Futures League teams will feature two Ravens apiece: junior center fielder Maxx Sheehan (San Jose, Calif.) and freshman right-hander Anthony Matarazzo (Medford, Mass.) with the North Shore Navigators; freshman catcher Stephen Octave (New Windsor, N.Y.) and freshman infielder Bobby Schryver (Ansonia, Conn.) with the Bristol Blues; freshman infielder Garet Griffin (Moosup, Conn.) and sophomore right-hander Dylan Dennis (Wakefield, Mass.) with the Martha's Vineyard Sharks; sophomore right-hander Taylor Doyle (Peterborough, N.H.) and freshman right-hander Tom Corey (Londonderry, N.H.) with the Seacoast Mavericks; and freshman right-hander Luke Brennan (Worcester, Mass.) and junior right-hander Miles Sheehan (Madison, Conn.) with the Worcester Bravehearts.

Elsewhere, freshman infielder John Friday (Southborough, Mass.) will suit up for the Delray Beach Lightning of the South Florida League and freshman right-hander Sam Steeves (Dorchester, Mass.) will play for the Glens Falls Dragons of the Perfect Game League.

The Ravens (48-4) laid claim to their record-tying fifth Northeast-10 title this spring and played host to the NCAA Championship East Regional for the seventh time. Franklin Pierce captured its fourth straight Northeast-10 Northeast Division title along the way.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce baseball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).