Ryan Westmoreland at Fenway after signing in 2008

We are deep into the Ruffnecks season at all levels.  Our younger teams at 13U and 14U are in tournament mode and heading toward the CABA World Series.  Our high school teams, including our two college prospect teams are playing good competition in the most comprehensive schedule we have ever assembled.   Parents are anxious about their sons’ recruiting, playing time, roles and other issues that really find a way of working themselves out… usually with less parental involvement rather than more.  So we pause to remind ourselves what is really important… our boys are playing baseball while Ryan Westmoreland is working tirelessly to restoring himself to health with the goal of resuming his baseball career.  It will serve everyone’s heart well to read the article written by Brendan Hall for ESPN.com this past week.  We continue to keep Ryan in our thoughts.  We believe in him, and are inspired by him.  Our simple gesture of wearing a helmet decal is our way of saying that we support you, Ryan.  Please read the article linked below:

Ryan Westmoreland Article

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/mlb/news/story?id=5326318

Travis Dean, who played the past two years with the Ruffnecks, has been selected in the 14th round by the New York Yankees.  Travis is the third Ruffnecks player in the past three years to be drafted.  He joins Ryan Westmoreland (Red Sox) and Nelfi Zapata (NY Mets).  Yankees scout Matt Hyde has had plenty of opportunities to see and get to know Travis over the past several years.  Mr. Hyde has been a terrific supporter and advisor for the program and conducts our MLB Scout Hitting Clinics during the winter.  Travis Dean demonstrated some early flashes of pitching brilliance during the 2008 season when he lost a 1-0 one hitter to the North Carolina Baseball Academy in a game played at the University of South Carolina.  During the 2009 season Travis pitched under the watchful eye of Ruffnecks Head Coach Devitt Moore, who is now a scout with the Seattle Mariners.  Coach Moore, along with pitching coach Matt Blake, worked with Travis during last summer to harness control and velocity.  Their efforts, in addition to the hard work Travis has put in at Cressey Performance, have contributed to the success that has resulted in the excitement of being drafted by one of the most storied franchises in sports.  We all wish Travis the very best in making his decision, no matter where he goes.  Travis Dean is currently committed to Kennesaw State University in Georgia.