University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Two Former Bulldogs in Post-Season Play in Minor League Playoffs
09.07.2011 | Baseball
Former Bulldog Justin Schumer was a late-season call-up to the Richmond Flying Squirrels, the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. He pitched in five games and pitched extremely as he went 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA. Schumer pitched in 14 innings and only allowed two earned runs. He started in two games and came on in relief in three other contests.
Prior to coming to Richmond, Schumer had played with the Augusta Green Jackets of the South Atlantic League. Despite missing a month with an oblique injury, Justin finished with a 5-5 record and 5.24 ERA. One of the big highlights of the year for him came when he earned a win in relief against the Asheville Tourists at McCormick Field on July. Schumer tossed four scoreless innings that night to pick up the win against former teammate Alan DeRatt, who pitched for the Tourists that night.
Schumer and the Flying Squirrels will begin the Eastern League playoffs tonight against the Harrisburg Senators.
Speaking of DeRatt, he earned some frequent Flier Miles this season but he's still playing. The 2008 Big South Pitcher of the Year has pitched primarily with the Modesto Nuts, the Colorado Rockies High A franchise in the California League. He has a 6-5 record for Modesto with a 4.87 ERA. DeRatt has earned 69 strikeouts in 92.1 innings pitched.
Alan helped lead Modesto to a second-half championship and was the winning pitcher Sunday night when the Nuts clinched their title. DeRatt went seven scoreless innings, striking out five and scattering five hits in the victory.
The Cary native has also pitched for the Tulsa in Double A and the Asheville Tourists this season. He was scheduled to make a start for the Rockies' Triple-A franchise, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox but that game was postponed.
Former Bulldog outfielder Kevin Mattison enjoyed an outstanding season with the Jacksonville Suns, the Florida Marlins Double A franchise in the Southern League. He was selected to the All-Star Game in June, while playing center-field for the Suns. Mattison finished the year hitting .260 with 16 triples, eight home runs and 49 RBI. He played in a team-high 130 games and stole 38 bases. His 16 triples were among the best in minor league baseball.
"We're proud of all our guys playing in the minors and hoping they can join Ty Wigginton (UNC Asheville baseball player who is playing in the major leagues with the Colorado Rockies) in the show someday soon," stated Bulldog baseball coach Tom Smith. "It's nice to see Justin and Alan still playing in the post-season, and I'm really excited about the season Kevin had down in Jacksonville."
