June 16, 2008

Cullowhee, N.C. -

Western Carolina sophomore centerfielder Dylan de Graaf became the 10th Catamount player to join a summer wooden bat league roster, signing with the Thomasville Hi-Toms of the Coastal Plain League (CPL). He is one of two WCU players in the CPL, joining Logan Bland, a transfer from Spartanburg Methodist who is playing in Forest City this summer.

Former Catamount coaches Alan Beck and Ryan McCurry both coached a season in Thomasville, winning the 2006 and '07 CPL Petitt Cup Championships, respectively. The Hi-Toms, owned and managed by team president Greg Suire, had a CPL Record 15 players drafted in this year's Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Last season, de Graaf was thrust into the line-up, appearing in 50 of WCU's 57 games with 42 total starts. He concluded the season with a .240 batting average, tallying 36 hits in 150 at bats with 10 extra base hits and a career-high 30 RBI.

The Cumming, Ga., native hit his first career home run on March 17 against Hartford, finishing with three round-trippers on the season. He enjoyed a career-long, five-game hitting streak in early April and was hitting over .300 through the mid-season before a 1-for-25 slump in mid-April dipped his average. In the field, de Graaf only committed one error with four assists in 100 chances for a team-leading .990 fielding percentage.

Follow all of the Catamount baseball players in the various summer wooden bat leagues by clicking HERE.