Goforth turns down Tribe, will return to Ole Miss
David Goforth has opted to return to Ole Miss for his junior season.
On Monday, the right-hander confirmed to RebelGrove.com that he has decided not to sign with the Cleveland Indians.
The Tribe, who drafted him in the 31st round of this month’s Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, had planned on “drafting-and-following” Goforth and keeping up with his progress in the Cape Cod Summer League, but that did not interest the former Neshoba Central standout. (June 22, 2010, Page 6)
Sifting through the minors & majors
Former Diamond Rebels are scattered throughout the minor leagues from coast to coast.
In an effort to try and keep up with all of them, I’ve going to link all of their stat pages here: (more…) (June 21, 2010)
North Delta squanders lead
You throw the ball, you hit the ball, you field the ball. Do those three basic fundamentals of baseball correctly and you’ll give yourself a good chance to win.
On Sunday, the Cotton States Baseball League’s North Delta Dealers struggled in all three facets of the game, falling to the Tippah County Tribe 8-7.
“You better play two out of the three aspects of the game pretty good to give yourself a chance to win and we haven’t done that,” said Dealers coach Doug Robbins after his team collected just five hits while also committing two errors. (June 21, 2010, Page 7)
Mort excited about signing with Pirates
The 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft came and went without Ole Miss shortstop Kevin Mort hearing his name called.
Although the 5-foot-11 shortstop hit .284 for the Rebels during his senior season, he held out hope a team would take a chance and select him in part because of his superb defense.
After the three-day draft concluded on June 9, Mort was hanging out when his cell phone rang. On the other end was a scout with the Pittsburgh Pirates offering Mort a chance to keep his baseball career alive.
It took no time at all for Mort to agree to sign with the Pirates organization. (June 18, 2010, Page 6A)
Rebs’ Hartzog taking it easy until August
After another successful prep season at Hillcrest Christian for Austin Hartzog, the Ole Miss signee is taking a bit of a breather until he reports to Oxford in August.
That doesn’t mean he’s just hanging out, however.
When he’s not fishing (“I love fishing,” he made that clear during a phone interview on Wednesday), he’s playing for the Mississippi Bandits, a travel team based out of Jackson. (June 17, 2010, Page 6)
Mort signs with Pirates
Former Ole Miss shortstop Kevin Mort has signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. (more…) (June 17, 2010)
Dreams are beginning to become a reality for Gainesville’s Allen
It’s all starting to become very real for Ole Miss signee Will Allen.
Ever since his dad bought him his first catcher’s mitt, Allen has had aspirations of playing baseball at an elite level.
This past week it hit home just how real his dreams are when the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Allen, a switch-hitting catcher from Gainesville, Fla., with their 37th round pick in the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. (June 16, 2010, Page 6)
Finding the barrel imperative for hitters
Hall of Famer Ted Williams was once quoted as saying, “the hardest thing to do in baseball is to hit a round baseball with a round bat, squarely.”
Players in the Cotton States Baseball League, a wood bat summer league based out of New Albany, are finding that out the hard way this summer.
Used to the enormous sweet spot on aluminum bats used in the high school and college ranks, players are having to adjust in a major way. (June 14, 2010, Page 6)
Rebel pitcher arrested on alcohol-related charges
Ole Miss pitcher David Goforth was arrested Monday evening and held at the Lafayette County Detention Center on charges of public drunkeness and disorderly conduct.
In a statement, Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco said he was informed of the situation and will handle it internally. (June 11, 2010, Page 7A)
Goforth, Tracy hear their names called
Two more Rebels were selected on Day 3 of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Redshirt sophomore David Goforth was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 31st round, while right-handed junior Matt Tracy was selected in the 43rd round by the Florida Marlins.
After struggling for most of the year — 1-6, 9.43 ERA — Goforth said he expected to go later in the draft rather than earlier, but added that he was still excited to be selected. (June 10, 2010, Page 6)
