SteepleCats Sign Pair From ULL, Infielder
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Cook has had a solid rookie campaign for the Rajin' Cajuns as he has already become a starter for ULL, going 4-2 with a 4.50 ERA in eight games (four starts.) In 32 innings, he has struck out 20 batters and has kept the ball down, serving up just three homers this season. Standing at 6-foot-5, the tall righty was one of the most sought-after pitchers in the Louisiana after posting a 1.64 ERA as a high school junior and being named All-State as a senior.
"Cook has the potential to be dominant in the NECBL and the foundation of becoming a professional a few years down the road. ULL has a tremendous program and to step in as a true freshman and start right away says a lot about his ability," general manager Sean McGrath said.
Van Horn made an immediate impact as a freshman playing for the Princeton Tigers last season slotting third on the team in hitting at .323 with four homers and 20 RBI. Although a natural shortstop, he was used in the outfield as well last season in order to make sure he was in the lineup every game.
Van Horn knows how to get on base as he was second on Princeton with a .429 OBP thanks in large part to 14 times being hit by a pitch and led the team in steals with eight. A terrific overall athlete, Van Horn lettered in three sports at Cranford HS in Cranford, N.J. He was a two-time all county selection hitting .447 as a junior. Although not playing baseball this spring, he is currently enrolled at Brookdale Community College in New Jersey where he'll be earning his Associates degree while weighing his options for next season. Two potential schools are the University of Delaware and Elon University.
"Greg comes highly recommended from his former coach at Princeton and is being highly recruited right now for next year. Wherever he ends up, they know they will be signing an impact player who has the make-up of furthering his career professionally," said McGrath. "Although he isn't playing baseball this spring, we know that Greg is working harder than most in order to make sure that he begins the NECBL season with the same success that he had at Princeton during his freshman year."
A teammate of Cook's at Louisiana-Lafayette, Marze was another prized player recruited to Lafayette out of Teurlings Catholic and is being red-shirted this season. On the mound, he led the Rebels to three state playoff appearances and was All-State as a senior. Marze was also an accomplished basketball player having garnered all-state honors.
"Although he is being red-shirted this season, ULL does a phenomenal job developing their players, in particular their pitchers. He has an electric arm, like Cook, with a fastball between 88-92, a two-seam fastball with movement, and slider. The coaches are looking for him to refine his skills this spring and become more consistent on the mound over the course of the year as they expect him to be a major part of their pitching staff next season," said McGrath.
Two of Cook and Marze's teammates played for the SteepleCats last summer. Gregory Harmon is currently 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in 11 appearances. He's given up 26 hits in 21 innings while continuing his strike-out success from the NECBL as he has also retired 19 batters on strike-outs. Greg Wilborn had arm surgery and is rehabbing this spring. Wilborn continues to make progress and expects to be recovered and pitching for ULL next season.
The 'Cats will open their 2008 season with a three-game home stand, starting on June 6 against the Torrington Twisters. June 7 sees the Newport Gulls come to Joe Wolfe Field, with the weekend concluding against the Manchester Silkworms on June 8. All three games have a first pitch slated for 7 p.m. with the gates opening at 6. For more information, visit www.steeplecats.com
Season passes and ticket 10-packs are available, ranging from $100 to $45, at Man's World and Moulton's General Store; Val's Variety in Adams; Cross Road Variety in Clarksburg; Billmont's Country Store in Stamford, Vt., and Angelina's Submarine Shop and St. Pierre's Barber Shop, both in Williamstown.
