2006 SOUTHEASTERN CONNIE MACK REGIONAL AWARDED TO THE YANKEES:  The Yankees have been awarded the host site for the 2006 Connie Mack SE Regional, to be played the last week of July.  The Yankees have been bidding for years to host the event, which is considered one of the top regionals in the country.

COVER BOYS:  Late 2005 saw 3 former Yankees from the 2001 team grace the cover of Baseball America.  Micah Owings was the first, in a feature highlighting him and his top ranked Tulane team. Next, Jeremy Hermida made the cover of the late November issue, and then Stephen Drew followed on the cover of the year end issue in December. 

Also of note in Baseball America’s end of year issues, several other Yankees were also rated among their respective organization’s Top 10 prospects:

Houston Astros:                      4) Jimmy Barthmaier

Florida Marlins:                        1) Jeremy Hermida

Pittsburgh Pirates                      10) Matt Capps

Arizona Diamondbacks:             1) Stephen Drew

                                                 9) Micah Owings

St. Louis Cardinals                    2) Tyler Greene

Colorado Rockies                    10) Chris Nelson

The following were also noted in their teams’ prospect rankings:

 Jon Mark Owings                    Atlanta Braves               Best Outfield Arm

Dexter Fowler                          Colorado Rockies          Best Outfield Arm

Chris Nelson                            Colorado Rockies          Best Athlete

Jimmy Barthmaier                     Houston Astros              Best Curve Ball

Jeremy Hermida                       Florida Marlins               Best Hitter

EAST COBB AWARDS:   Shortstop Gordon Beckham was awarded the “Player of the Year” award for the entire East Cobb Baseball Program at the recent ECB Awards Banquet, and pitcher Chris Hicks was awarded “Pitcher of the Year” for the program.  Congratulations to both Gordon and Chris on their well earned honors.

MORE COLLEGE COMMITMENTS:   Kevin Bishop (Lassiter HS) has committed to the University of Kentucky, and catcher Danny Petro (Campbell HS) has inked with East Tennessee State. Pitcher Kyle Heckathorn (Ringgold HS) signed with Kennesaw State.  Kennesaw State has moved to  Division I beginning this season.  Petro will play for former Yankee standout and Roswell HS grad, Tony Skole, head coach at ETSU, and join former Yankees Blake Church (Roswell HS) and Trey Sheffield (Milton HS) on the ETSU roster.