Pitt Baseball Players Earn Recognition
9/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Sept. 10, 2010
Perfect Game USA recently released its list of the nation’s top summer league collegiate prospects, and three Pitt baseball players were among those named. Catcher Kevan Smith, first baseman David Chester and pitcher Ray Black, each of which had standout summers, were included in the list. The players on the list were selected from various summer leagues from around the country.
“It was a great experience to be able to focus on baseball, play against guys from all over the country and stay competitive over the summer,” Black said. “I got a chance to work on a few things mechanically with my motion, and I’m hoping by the spring I’ll be even better and ready to go.”
Black, who will be a redshirt sophomore in the spring, played for the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers over the summer and was named the sixth-best prospect in the Northwoods League. Black was nearly unhittable as Brainerd’s closer, as he recorded eight saves in all eight save opportunities and gave up just five hits on 54 batters faced. Black compiled 15 strikeouts, posted an ERA of 1.42 and had his fastball clocked at as high as 97 miles per hour.
Smith, a redshirt senior for the Panthers, was named the 11th-best prospect in the Prospect League. Smith was the offensive catalyst for the Butler Blue Sox, batting .347 with an on-base percentage of .450. He led the team with 59 hits – including 10 doubles, two triples and a home run. Smith also led the Blue Sox with 30 RBI and was one of the toughest outs in the league, as he struck out just eight times in 170 plate appearances.
Chester, a senior, was named the 15th-best prospect in the Coastal Plain League while playing for the Gastonia Grizzlies. Chester batted .277 and had 41 hits, three doubles, four home runs and 27 RBI on the summer. Chester also belted an impressive 11 home runs in the CPL All-Star Home Run Derby Championship to take the crown. During the All-Star game, he went 2-of-3 from the plate with a two-run home run and three RBI. He added the game-winning base hit and was voted Offensive Player of the Game, becoming the first player in league history to win the Home Run Derby and Offensive Player of the Game honors.
The three players return to help anchor a 2011 Pitt team that compiled 38 wins last season, reached its highest-ever ranking in the Collegiate Baseball Poll (18th) and first-ever ranking in the Baseball America Poll (24th). The 2010 Panthers’ offense ended the season ranked second in the nation with a team batting average of .364 and fifth in runs scored per game (9.5).