I think making long-standing emotional investments in teams, players, and coaches is what makes following sports so compelling. Not exactly a ground breaking statement, I’m sure, but it does help set up the following: I prefer to keep my writing limited to the things, like stats, scouting blurbs, and rankings, that I can understand and analyze, and as devoid of subjective emotion as possible. Objectivity at any cost, that’s my goal. To that end, I have no favorite college or high school team. There is no player I prefer to succeed any more than his competitors. My rooting interest in amateur baseball is simple: I root for growth. In my paying gig, I work everyday to help aid in the growth and development of young people. It can be a frustrating daily endeavor because growth and development aren’t always easy to see in real time. The frustration is a small price to pay, however, when weighed against the satisfaction of seeing even the slightest proof of progress. That is what has drawn me to following amateur ballplayers. Every time I see a prospect play is an opportunity to see him get better right in front of my very eyes. That’s what makes opening weekend so great, at least for me. We’re at the start of another season of endless possibilities.
Follow all the action throughout the weekend here and be sure to check in on Tuesday for a weekend recap. Until then, enjoy the start of another year of baseball.
The Baseball Draft Report 
Nice but don’t forget to do the Outfielders, appreciate your view.
Definitely won’t forget the outfielders. I need to finish the OF rankings, finish the pitching rankings, publish the 2011 top college hitters/pitchers rankings, and, finally, do that college team profile of Western Carolina. Does anybody else remember anything else I’m missing?
WCU Opening Series Note
WCU’s Ross Heffley Named SoCon Player of the Week
Junior led the team with a .750 batting average in three-game sweep
Junior Ross Heffley was today named the Southern Conference’s Player of the Week for his performance against Morehead State over the weekend.
Baseball Home
Feb. 21, 2011
Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina second baseman Ross Heffley was today named the Southern Conference’s Player of the Week for games played over opening weekend the league announced.
The weekly honor is the first for Heffley, who garnered the SoCon’s Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-America plaudits during the 2009 season.
Heffley led WCU to the three-game sweep over Morehead State by hitting 9-for-12 with two doubles and a home run for a .750 batting average and a 1.167 slugging percentage. Bolstered by three walks in the series finale and a hit batsman, the Snellville, Ga., native recorded a .812 on-base percentage. He additionally drove in nine runs over the three-games in Cullowhee.
During Saturday’s 18-0 blanking of the Eagles, Heffley was a perfect 5-for-5 marking a career-high in base hits. Including six games at the conclusion of the 2010 season, Heffley is currently riding a nine-game hitting streak for WCU.
Western Carolina (3-0) visits Wake Forest on Tuesday, Feb. 22 in the first game at WFU’s new off-campus ballpark. Tuesday also marks the first game back on the bench for Demon Deacon head coach Tom Walter who recently donated a kidney to freshman outfielder Kevin Jordan. Wake Forest (0-3) dropped its first three games at LSU over the weekend without Walter on the bench.