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Narodowski And Law Join The SteepleCatsBy Rick Zmudzien
08:42AM / Wednesday, April 22, 2009
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – The North Adams SteepleCats of the 12-team New England Collegiate Baseball League have signed shortstop David Narodowski, and left-handed pitcher Charlie Law for the upcoming 2009 season.
Narodowski is originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, and is currently a junior at the University of Kansas. So far this season Narodowski has seen action in 36 of the Jayhawks’ 39 games, and is hitting .322. His batting average is fourth best on the team, while his 48 hits are second best on the team. Narodowski has also driven in 21 runs, and stolen five bases while batting in the lead-off position. He’s been stellar at shortstop earning a .936 field percentage while recording 105 assist.
Two weekends ago, despite an ankle injury, Narodowski hit .357 for the Jayhawks, going 5-for-14 with five runs scored, an RBI and a walk in the Jayhawks’ three-game sweep of then nationally ranked Oklahoma State University. The sweep was the Jayhawks’ first over Oklahoma State since 1993 and catapulted the Jayhawks to No. 24 in the nation, as ranked by Baseball America. It is the first time the Jayhawks have been ranked in the nation’s top 25 since May 29, 2006.
Prior to playing at Kansas, Narodowski played junior college baseball at Vernon College in Wichita Falls, Texas. His sophomore season, he hit .450, with eight home runs and 42 RBI, en route to being named a first team all-conference selection.
“David comes very highly recommended. We have very high expectations for him this summer and think he’s an All-Star quality player in the NECBL,” said McGrath. “He’s made the transition from junior college to a top tier Division I conference in the Big XII and hasn’t missed a beat. He started the season batting clean-up, but has really flourished at the top of the line-up where SteepleCats fans can expect to see him on June 5.”
Law is a native of Linwood, N.J., and is currently a freshman at Rutgers University after not signing with the Philadelphia Phillies last summer. The 6’ 8” lefty was drafted by the Phillies in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft in the 44th round following a sensational high school career. He was named the South Jersey Player of the Year as a senior in high school. On the mound, he went 5-0 with a 0.66 ERA as a senior. He recorded 66 strikeouts and just 11 walks in 42 innings of work. At the plate, he hit .394, with four home runs, 19 RBI, and an on-base percentage of .608.
Law made his collegiate debut against the U. of Miami and pitched 4 innings; while giving up three hits and striking-out four and leading the way for Rutgers first win of the season. In seven appearances this season, all starts, Law is 1-4 with an ERA of 8.49. He has recorded 29 strike outs in just 29.2 innings pitched.
“It says a lot about Charlie that Rutgers immediately made him a weekend starter in the Big East. It’s not very often that true freshman are given that opportunity. That says a lot about Charlie’s ability,” said McGrath. “Law was the highly recommended by MLB scouts last summer. We aggressively recruited him and am pleased to have been able to sign him,” said McGrath. “We anticipate Charlie taking the mound every 5th day this summer.”
Notes: University of Pittsburgh sophomore shortstop Danny Lopez was named the Big East Player of the Week for the week ending April 19. This summer, Lopez will be coming to North Adams to play for the SteepleCats.
This past weekend, Lopez hit .600 and slugged 1.000 as the Pittsburgh Panthers swept the Seton Hall Pirates. The three-game sweep was the Panthers’ first series sweep in Big East play since the 2007 season.
Lopez went 3-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a sacrifice bunt as the Panthers defeated the Pirates 3-1 on Friday afternoon. He went 2-for-4 with a home run, a stolen base and two RBI on Saturday during the Panthers 5-2 win. In the series finale on Sunday, Lopez went 1-for-3 with a run scored as the Panthers won the game 5-4. With the sweep, the Panthers passed the Pirates in the league standings, and now stand in seventh place in the Big East with a Big East record of 7-8, and an overall record of 20-13.
Overall, Lopez is hitting .331 this season with two home runs, 30 RBI and 14 stolen bases.
Opening Day is right around the corner. The SteepleCats will open up their season on Friday, June 5, in New Hampshire to take on the Keene Swamp Bats. The SteepleCats play their home opener on Saturday, June 6 against the Danbury Westerners. Game time is 7:00 p.m. at Joe Wolfe Field, and the gates will open at 6:00 p.m. For more information on the roster, schedule and other news, please visit www.steeplecats.com.
In case you haven't purchased your season ticket for the upcoming season, please visit one of these local businesses listed here to purchase your full season's ticket or 10-pack ticket. The Full Season Family Plan is $100; Full Season Individual Plan is $70; Ten-Pack Family Plan is $60; and the Ten-Pack Individual Plan is $45. Tickets are sold at all of the following locations: Adams: Val's Variety; North Adams: Man's World and Moulton's General Store; Stamford, VT: Billmont's Country Store, and in Williamstown at Angelina's Submarine Shop and St. Pierre's Barber Shop. |
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