SteepleCats Sign Meintel And Semeniuk
 |
Semeniuk has seen a limited role for Wake Forest this season. He's coming off of a tremendous summer playing for the Winchester Royals of the Valley League. Baseball American magazine ranked Semeniuk the 7th top prospect in the Valley League. This honor follows his performance where he batted .303 with a team leading 13 doubles and 3 home runs and 29 runs batted in. The lanky Semeniuk red-shirted at Wake Forest as a true freshman in 2007 and thus played in first collegiate game on March 28th against Florida State and collected his first collegiate hit on April 12 against Virginia Tech. A superior overall athlete at Providence HS in Charlotte, Semeniuk earned three letters in basketball and two in baseball. A two-time all-conference in basketball and baseball (2005, 2006), Semeniuk was nominated for the prestigious Wendy's High School Heisman. A serious academician, Ryan earned Honor Roll status throughout high school and at WF is carrying a 3.5 GPA.
"Ryan is a 6' 6" athlete who had the opportunity to play division I basketball, but chose to play division I baseball at Wake. That tells you about the type of athlete Ryan is and his attendance at Wake Forest and his nominations for Wendy's High School Heisman award are very indicative of the quality of a student-athlete that is coming to North Adams. He hasn't played regularly at Wake this season mostly because of his lack of experience playing the outfield. Wake anticipates that after another solid summer and more time in the outfield that he'll step into their line-up next season," reported McGrath. "We are obviously anticipating that Ryan will once again perform like he did last summer, which garnered him with a very respected top prospect ranking by Baseball America."
Meintel arrives in North Adams with teammates, outfielder, Brian Adams and relief pitcher, Greg Robinson. Meintel has split time between the rotation and the bullpen for the Raiders in his initial collegiate season. The righty has contributed to the Wright State cause, picking up his first two collegiate saves on back-to-back days on April 1 & 2 against Xavier and Bowling Green. One of the best prep pitchers ever to come out of the state of Ohio, Meintel holds the Buckeye State record for ERA in a season with a 0.34 ERA as a junior and ranks eighth all-time in ERA in the state of Ohio. Meintel also attended the USA Baseball tryout in Joplin, Missouri.
"Mike has been thrust into a more demanding role this season that originally planned and has performed admirably. The hope was to gain some experience out of the bullpen this season. Mike made the most of his opportunities early in the season and found himself starting in conference games as a true freshman. He's back in the bullpen now, but comes to North Adams with a lot of versatility and is another one of those true freshmen who have gained a lot of experience," said McGrath.
The SteepleCats will open their 2008 campaign with a three game home stand, starting on June 6th with a date against the Torrington Twisters. June 7th sees the Newport Gulls come to Joe Wolfe Field with the weekend concluding against the Manchester Silkworms on June 8th. All three games have a first pitch slated for 7 p.m. with the gates opening at 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.steeplecats.com
In case you haven't purchased your season ticket for the upcoming season, please visit one of the 7 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; Clarksburg: Cross Road 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.
