Baseball players still swinging

Penn players are gaining valuable experience by playing in summer leagues such as the Atlantic Coast Baseball League. College athletics is a year-round process and when school resumes in September, nearly every team -- not just the fall sports teams -- will meet and begin some serious practice. When this time comes, the players who have worked out during the summer will have an advantage. Fortunately for Penn baseball coach Bob Seddon, most of his players are spending their summers on the diamond. "A lot of guys are playing a lot of baseball," Seddon said. "The biggest thing is that they need to be ready in September." Being ready in September requires hard work in June, July and August. The Quakers are putting in this hard work in various summer leagues throughout the country. Each year, premiere summer leagues -- including the Cape Cod, Alaskan, Jayhawk and Valley Leagues -- invite top college players to compete. In the past, Penn players have performed well in these top leagues. In fact, 1992 grad Doug Glanville believes his showing at the Cape Cod League was a huge factor in his first round Major League draft status in 1991. Despite the fact that Penn has had representatives at these leagues in the past, no current members of the Red and Blue were accepted into these top wooden bat leagues this summer. Instead, the Quakers will be getting playing time in other quality leagues, such as the Atlantic Coast Baseball League. "These leagues aren't at the same level as the Cape or the Alaskan League," Seddon said. Leagues like the ACBL may not be on par with the nation's top leagues, but they still offer good competition and a chance to improve. Junior pitcher Sean McDonald, whose goal is to be accepted into the Cape Cod League next year, is using that chance, as he will be looked to lead the Quakers on the mound in 1999. A second-team All-Ivy League selection last season, McDonald's four victories led all Penn hurlers. He was also second on the team with 33 strikeouts and a 4.38 ERA. The highlight of McDonald's season came on April 18 when he tossed the first no-hitter by a Penn pitcher since 1992 in a 4-0 win over Cornell. McDonald is currently putting in the innings in the ACBL, pitching for the West Deptford (N.J.) Storm. "I'm enjoying playing in a wooden bat league for the first time in my life," McDonald, who will also play in a few national amateur tournaments next month, said. McDonald is not the only Quaker in the ACBL. Junior catcher Ralph Vasami is also gaining needed experience as a member of the New York Generals. McDonlad's Storm split a doubleheader with Vasami's Generals earlier this summer. McDonald earned a save in the Storm's win, getting Vasami to ground out. Last season, Vasami saw limited time as a backup to Dave Corleto, batting .276 in only 29 at-bats. He will be expected to take on a larger role next season, and his experience in the ACBL should help him in that process. Like Vasami, many Quakers will need to take on larger roles next season, as the Red and Blue lost several top performers to graduation. Without the services of first team All-Ivy Leaguers Drew Corradini and Mark Nagata, as well as team leaders Armen Simonian and Joe Carlon, Seddon's squad will need underclassmen to make significant contributions. "We'll be a very young team next year," Seddon said. The young players, however, will not be rusty when they come to Bower Field. All members of the recruiting class of 2002 are playing. Many are still playing with their American Legion teams. While the ACBL and the American Legion teams are the choice for many Quakers, members of the Penn team are represented in leagues throughout the country. Jim Mullin, who finished last season with a .327 batting average, plays for a team in Narberth, Pa., in the Penndel League, as well as for the Delaware Gulls in the ACBL. Travis Putnam, who will take over for Carlon at second base, is playing in a wooden bat league in Los Angeles. Randy Ferrell is playing for a team in Maryland which is sponsored by the Baltimore Orioles. Right fielder Kevin McCabe is playing for the Fort Washington Generals in the Delco League, and pitcher Matt Hepler is on a team near his home in Illinois. Wherever they may be this summer, the Quakers will soon be together in University City. When they meet as a team, the importance of the summer leagues will be clear. "The best aspect of the summer league is that you are playing with players from all different schools," McDonald said. "We converse, and I've picked up a few things that I think will be beneficial to our program at Penn." Like McDonald, many Penn baseball players may be bringing beneficial experiences back to campus this year.

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