University of Georgia Athletics
Baseball Players Conclude Summer League Play
August 14, 2006 | Baseball
SOUTH YARMOUTH, Mass. --- University of Georgia All-American closer Joshua Fields capped off his summer with a Cape Cod League Championship Sunday as the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox captured the crown here in front of an estimated crowd of 8,000.
Fields, who was named the Cape Cod League Relief Pitcher of the Year, led the league in saves with 13 for the Red Sox. Fields appeared in 16 games with 27 strikeouts and only five walks in 17.2 innings during the regular season. Fields combined with Alabama closer David Robertson to form the league's best one-two punch out of the bullpen as the Red Sox went 32-18. Robertson began the season as the closer for the Red Sox until Fields arrived following Georgia's College World Series appearance. While Fields dominated hitters during the regular season, it was Robertson who earned playoff MVP honors, tossing seven hitless innings with 15 strikeouts in four outings.
Fields was one of five Bulldogs pitching in the Cape Cod League this summer. In the first round of the playoffs, the Red Sox eliminated Brewster which featured rising senior Bulldog Adam McDaniel. He went 1-1 with a 2.00 ERA and eight saves in 14 games. McDaniel tallied 17 strikeouts and 12 walks in 18 innings. Rising sophomore Nathan Moreau went 1-3 with a 2.53 ERA in five starts for the Chatham A's. Moreau had 22 strikeouts, 10 walks and one complete game in 32 innings. Rising sophomore Trevor Holder posted an 0-1 mark with a 2.38 ERA in 11 games and one start for the Bourne Braves. He tallied 26 strikeouts and only 11 walks in 22.2 innings. Rising sophomore Ben Jeffers went 0-2 with a 4.58 ERA in 18 relief appearances for the Hyannis Mets. He had 27 strikeouts, 18 walks and one save in 19.2 innings.
Also in action this summer, rising sophomore pitchers Stephen Dodson and Jason Leaver played for the Madison (Wis.) Mallards of the Northwoods League. Currently, the Mallards are 36-32 and slated to begin the first round of the playoffs Monday. Dodson is 2-1 with a 1.09 ERA in eight appearances including one start. In 24.2 innings, he has struck out 22 with only four walks. Leaver has not allowed an earned run in 13.1 innings. He has made 10 relief appearances with 19 strikeouts and only six walks. The summer season for rising sophomore right-hander Iain Sebastian is complete. He posted a 2-3 mark and 4.28 ERA in seven appearances including five starts for the Keene (N.H.) Swamp Bats. In 27.1 innings, Sebastian registered 30 strikeouts and 16 walks. Keene went 22-20 and lost in the first round of the New England Collegiate Baseball League playoffs.
The fall semester at the University of Georgia begins Wednesday while fall baseball practice is set to open Sept. 24. Georgia will play host to the defending national champion Oregon State Beavers to start the 2007 season in February at Foley Field. A complete 2007 Georgia baseball schedule will be released next month.