Celenza (Bombers '07-'08, Big Train '09) earns D3 Preaseason All-America honors

Baseball America
February 22 - March 7, 2010; pp 20-49

There are other points of excitement throughout the Cal Ripken League's substantial off-season --- naming the prior season's All-League Team, the announcement of the upcoming schedule, the posting of preliminary rosters for the next season (coming soon!) --- but nothing may match the thrill of receiving Baseball America's College Preview edition and combing the conference and national preseason awards for Ripken League alumni. And the 2010 version did not disappoint!

Three Cal Ripken League alumni have been named to Baseball America's Preseason All-America Teams, the most in League history. Jarrett Parker (Virginia/Herndon Braves 2007) and Kevin Jacob (Georgia Tech/Youse's Orioles 2008) earned First Team honors, while Leon Landry (LSU/Youse's Orioles 2008) was named to the Third Team.

Of Parker, executive editor Jim Callis writes: ''Scouts want to know which is the real Jarrett Parker. Is he the guy who hit .355/.450/.664 with 20 steals to lead Virginia to its first-ever College World Series berth last June, or is he the guy who batted .188/.361/.313 and looked exhausted in the Cape Cod League? If he's the former, he'll be a first-round pick in the draft. At his best, Parker has the power, speed and on-base ability to be a dynamic offensive player. He also has the range and arm to play center field. He'll need to get stronger to hold up over a the much longer season in pro ball, and he'll have to make more consistent contact.''

Parker got hot in July for the Herndon Braves in 2007, and winded up leading the team in hitting (.311/.434/.462) en route to an All-Star appearance and a spot on the Ripken League's Top 10 Prospect List. Parker collected a team-high 37 hits, including three doubles, three triples and three homers in 2007. He drove in 22 runs and scored 19 while stealing five bases in nine attempts.

Of Jacob, Callis writes: ''Jacob showed he can be an overpowering closer while ranking as the No. 1 prospect in the Alaska League last summer. He posted a 0.34 ERA, 12 saves, .101 opponent average and a 45-4 K-BB ratio in 27 innings, but his most impressive number was 98 --- the peak velocity of his fastball. Jacob usually works in the mid-90s and hitters can't sit on his heater because his slider is equally devestating. He made strides with improving his command.

'''My god, does he have a good arm,' the first NL executive said. 'I saw him up to 97 mph in the fall, and his slider is nasty. Those are potentially two of the best pitches in the draft. He's unorthodox, over the top and throwing his glove way up in the air, but when his fastball and slider are on, those are two nasty pitches.'''

In 2008, Jacob appeared in 11 games for a Youse's Orioles staff that featured four pitchers who have already moved on to professional baseball and at least four more who will follow eventually. He went 2-0, 3.86 with 29 strikeouts and 10 walks in 28 innings. Jacob made two starts for the Orioles.

Landry starred as a teammate of Jacob's on Youse's Orioles in 2008, earning League Championship Series MVP honors and a spot on the Cal Ripken League's Top 10 Prospect List. Landry hit .304/.412/.420 for the O's with four doubles and two triples during the regular season after the College World Series. He drove in 16 runs, scored 17, and was a perfect 4-for-4 on the bases.

Parker (17), Jacob (25), and Landry (26) are all listed among Baseball America's Top 100 college players, as is Justin Grimm (Georgia/Youse's Orioles 2007) (23) and Blake Hassebrock (UNC-Greensboro/Herndon Braves 2008, Youse's Orioles 2009) (86). The magazine projects Parker as a 2010 first round draft pick (27 overall) and includes Jacob among its preseason accolades for Best Fastball and Closest to the Majors.

Parker, Grimm, Jacob, and Landry are included among Baseball America's Top 50 college juniors, while Steve Domecus (Virginia Tech/Rockville Express 2007) is the 45th rated senior.

NCAA Division I
Preseason All-America First Team - Jarrett Parker, of (Virginia/Herndon Braves 2007); Kevin Jacob, rp (Georgia Tech/Youse's Orioles 2008)
Preseason All-America Third Team - Leon Landry, of (LSU/Youse's Orioles 2008)

America East
Preseason Player of the Year - Corey Taylor (Binghamton/Herndon Braves 2009)
Preseason All-Conference - Ian Leisenheimer, of (Maine/Rockville Express 2009); Taylor, of; James Giuletti, sp (Binghamton/Herndon Braves 2009)
Top Prospects 2010 Draft - Taylor (1); Giuletti (3)

ACC
Preseason Player of the Year - Parker
Preseason All-Conference - Parker, of; Domecus, dh; Jacob, rp
Top Newcomers - Reed Gragnani (Virginia/Youse's Orioles 2008, Maryland Redbirds 2009) (8)
Top Prospects 2010 Draft - Parker (2); Jacob (4)
Top Prospects 2011 Draft - Kevin Brady (Clemson/Youse's Orioles 2008-09) (10)
Best Tools - Parker (Best Athlete)

Atlantic 10
Preseason Player of the Year - Ryan Rivers (Charlotte/Maryland Redbirds 2009)
Preseason All-Conference - Rivers, utl; Ian Marshall, rp (Richmond/College Park Bombers 2005)
Top Prospects 2010 Draft - Rivers (1)

Big East
Top Prospects 2010 Draft - Joe Leonard (Pittsburgh/Youse's Orioles 2009)

Big South
Preseason All-Conference - Scott Woodward, 3b (Coastal Carolina/Herndon Braves 2007)
Top Prospects 2010 Draft - Woodward (2)

CAA
Preseason All-Conference - Daniel Cropper, sp (UNC-Wilmington/Youse's Orioles 2006)

Conference USA
Preseason All-Conference - Collin Cargill, rp (Southern Miss/Bethesda Big Train 2007)

Horizon League
Preseason Player of the Year - Quentin Cate (Wright State/Rockville Express 2006)
Preseason All-Conference - Cate, 3b
Top Prospects 2010 Draft - Cate (5)

Ivy League
Preseason All-Conference - Tom Grandieri, of (Penn/Alexandria Aces 2008-09)

MAAC
Preseason All-Conference - Conor Mullee, ss (St. Peter's/Herndon Braves 2008-09)

OVC
Preseason All-Conference - Bert Smith, 2b (Jacksonville State/Bethesda Big Train 2007); Drew Lee, ss (Morehead State/Bethesda Big Train 2008-09); Michael Bottoms, utl (Morehead State/Bethesda Big Train 2009)
Top Newcomers - Devin Rivers (Tennessee Tech/Silver Spring-Takoma T-Bolts 2009) (3)

Patriot League
Preseason All-Conference - Andrew Brouse, of (Bucknell/Alexandria Aces 2008); Mike Guadagnini, dh (Navy/College Park Bombers 2009); Trey Frahler, sp (Bucknell/Maryland Redbirds 2008, Alexandria Aces 2008)

SEC
Preseason All-Conference - Landry, of
Top Prospects 2010 Draft - Grimm (7); Landry (8)
Best Tools - Landry (Fastest Runner); Nick Routt (Mississippi State/Rockville Express 2008) (Best Changeup)

SoCon
Top Prospects 2010 Draft - Blake Hassebrock (UNC-Greensboro/Herndon Braves 2008, Youse's Orioles 2009)

SWAC
Top Newcomer - Curtis Wilson (Southern/Silver Spring-Takoma T-Bolts 2009)

Sun Belt
Preseason All-Conference - Nick Schwaner, 1b (New Orleans/Youse's Orioles 2007)

NCAA Division II
Preseason Players to Watch - Max Russell, sp (Florida Southern/Youse's Orioles 2008)
Top Prospects 2010 Draft - Russell (6)

NCAA Division III
Preseason Players to Watch - Mike Celenza, 1b (Salisbury/College Park Bombers 2007-08, Bethesda Big Train 2009)

NAIA
Top Prospects 2010 Draft - Nolan Rudman (Lee/Bethesda Big Train 2009); Scott Swinson (Lee/Youse's Orioles 2007-09)