Diamond Heels Wrap Up Summer Ball

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The newest edition of Diamond Heels will be assembling at Boshamer Stadium this week with the 2024 fall semester scheduled to begin Monday, Aug. 19.

Over the summer, numerous Tar Heels competed as part of the USA Baseball Summer Tour, Appalachian League, Cape Cod League (CCBL), Coastal Plain League and Old North State League.

RHP Hugh Collins | Clayton Covers | Old North State League
Collins made 10 appearances this summer and compiled a 5-0 record with a 3.25 ERA. He struck out 36 and walked 10 in 33.2 innings. He had nine strikeouts in 6.0 innings against the Reidsville Luckies on June 22.

RHP Jason DeCaro | USA Baseball Summer Tour
DeCaro started the opening game of the against the Coastal Plain League Select Team and pitched 3.0 innings with three strikeouts and two runs allowed. He made two appearances for a total of 3.2 innings with four strikeouts and one walk.

RHP Boston Flannery | Brewster Whitecaps | Cape Cod League
Flannery made seven appearances for Brewster and pitcher 12.0 innings.

INF Gavin Gallaher | Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox | Cape Cod League
Gallaher batted .202 with a .560 OPS with two home runs and 15 RBIs. More than 40 percent of his hits were extra bases, also collecting five doubles.

RHP Ryan Hench | Burlington Sock Puppets | Appalachian League
Hench made eight appearances and tossed 34.2 innings. He struck out 41 and issued 21 walks, with opponents batting .265 against him.

OF Reece Holbrook | Cotuit Lettleers | Cape Cod League
Holbrook played in just six games.

RHP Olin Johnson | Harwich Mariners | Cape Cod League
Johnson helped lead Harwich to the Cape Cod Baseball League championship. He made five appearances, including five starts. He stuck out 14 and walked six in 15.0 innings pitched.

RHP Jacob Kirby | High Point HiToms | Coastal Plain League
Kirby pitched in seven games and made a pair of starts for the High Point HiToms. He posted a 3.20 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 19.2 innings against 12 walks. He held opposing hitters to a .211 batting average.

RHP Harrison Lewis | High Point HiToms | Coastal Plain League
Lewis tossed 29.1 innings in 12 appearances over the summer, making three starts. Opposing batters hit just .211 against him, while he struck out 46 – an average of 14.11 strikeouts per nine innings.

RHP Matthew Matthijs | USA Baseball Summer Tour
Matthijs made two appearances on the tour, striking out four in 2.0 innings pitched without issuing a walk. He struck out two in the opening game of the tour July 29 against the Coastal Plain Select Team in one inning pitched and repeated the performance against the Appalachian League West Select Team on July 2.

RHP Cameron Padgett | Bourne Braves | Cape Cod League
Padgett made six appearances and four starts in helping the Braves reach the CCBL championship series. He struck out 17 batters in 16.2 innings with eight walks.

LHP Kyle Percival | Brewster Whitecaps | Cape Cod League
Percival struck out four in 4.0 innings pitched during his only two appearances with Brewster.

RHP Will Simmons | Madison Mallards | Northwoods League
Simmons made five appearances and pitched 22.2 innings with 14 strikeouts and 11 walks. He had a 3.50 ERA in four regular season appearances before pitching in the first round of the playoffs.

C Luke Stevenson | USA Baseball Summer Tour
Stevenson played in three of five games during the USA Baseball Summer Tour, going 2-for-6 with run scored and RBI.

LHP Mason Yokum | Burlington Sock Puppets | Appalachian League
Yokum made 13 relief appearances for Burlington, pitching 19.1 innings. He posted a 2.25 strikeout-to-walk ratio with 27 strikeouts against 12 walks, while holding opposing hitters to a .200 batting average.

Scoreboard Slider

University of North Carolina Athletics

Players Mentioned

Hugh Collins

Jason DeCaro

Boston Flannery

Gavin Gallaher

Ryan Hench

Reece Holbrook

Olin Johnson

Jacob Kirby

Harrison Lewis

Matthew Matthijs

Cameron Padgett

Kyle Percival

Will Simmons

Luke Stevenson

Mason Yokum

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