University of North Carolina Athletics
Summer Ball Dispatches: Kyle Datres
July 25, 2016 | Baseball
Hello Tar Heel fans,
I am here in Baltimore, Maryland, playing for the Redbirds in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League with fellow Tar Heels Utah Jones and Cole Aker. We had about a five day break between the conclusion of our college season and the first game of summer ball. We just finished our 40-game regular season in first place, and we are starting the playoffs now. We have all had great and successful summer seasons. The summer was a bit of a grind at the beginning because we were frustrated to have had our school season end, but we eventually got into a daily routine and focused on getting better for this upcoming season. We are all ready to get back to Chapel Hill in order to start working towards a great 2017 baseball season.
While staying in Baltimore, we all have host families who are kind enough to take us into their homes for the summer as if we are part of their families. Our team owner, John Carey, is a very generous and giving man. He hosts several players at his home everyday for lunch, dinner and just a place to hangout.
One of the benefits of playing in a summer league like this is learning different parts of the game from all kinds of different people. I am fortunate enough to play for a former Major Leaguer in Larry Sheets. I have also really enjoyed playing with different kids from some of the best teams in the country. We have guys on our team from Virginia, Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Pittsburgh, Penn State, Tulane, Ole Miss and Maryland. It is very interesting to hear their philosophies of the game and to compare them to ours at Carolina.
As this summer is coming to an end, and we are preparing for next year, I would like to thank Coach Jackson and Coach Gaines for everything they did for me and our entire program. I would like to wish them the best of luck at Liberty University, because they deserve it.
Most importantly, I can't wait to get back to the Bosh to start working hard with the rest of my brothers. We need to and will get back atop the ACC and to Omaha in 2017!
Go Heels!
