NEWS DIGEST, SEPT. 18

State players ranked among Cape Cod League's best
Nine players from state schools or with other state ties are among those ranked as the 150 top prospects in the Cape Cod League, one of the oldest and most prestigious summer leagues. There are four USC players, two Clemson players, one apiece from Coastal Carolina and USC Upstate and Georgia outfielder Hunter Cole, a product of Dorman High.

15. Chad Sobotka, RHP, USC Upstate; 32. Ben Smith, LHP, Coastal Carolina;  38. Hunter Cole, OF, Georgia (Dorman); 39. Tanner English, OF, USC (Murrell's Inlet); 48. Evan Beal, RHP, USC; 54. Steven Duggar, OF, Clemson (Byrnes); 97. Joel Seddon, RHP, USC; 117. Max Schrock, 2B, USC; 142, Steven Wilkerson, IF, Clemson;
Cape Cod

Patriots plan fundraiser
Francis Marion will hold a 100-inning marathon fundraiser game Oct. 22 in Florence.
Patriots

Mincey honored
Lou Bezjak of the Florence Morning News has a feature on former Francis Marion pitcher and Hartsville native Patrick Mincey. Mincey, pitching for the Grand Prairie Air Hogs, was named Relief Pitcher of the Year in the American Association Independent League. He pitched for Spartanburg Methodist before moving to FMU.
Mincey

Warriors get OK
Southern Wesleyan has received NCAA approval to begin the process of transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II. The Warriors likely will have baseball travel expenses reduced greatly when they move from the far-flung Southern States Athletic Conference to Conference Carolinas.

Dwyer promoted
Former Clemson pitcher Chris Dwyer has been called up to pitch for the Kansas City Royals.
Dwyer

Recruiting
TheDiamondProspects.com reports the following commitments involving state high school players.
* Fort Mill OF Jaden Savage has decided to play for USC Upstate.
Savage
* Woodruff IF Jake Smith has selected North Greenville.
Smith
* Blue Ridge RHP John Mason Reynolds plans to play for Newberry.
Reynolds
* North Augusta C Ryan Lark has announced plans to play for Erskine.
Lark
* Spartanburg Methodist C Cameron Garrett, a Bishop England grad, plans to further his career at the College of Charleston.
Garrett

National notes
* Brian Foley of CollegeBaseballDaily.com reports the University of North Texas has approved $600,000 to use to start up a baseball program. It's always better to see baseball being programs being added instead of cut.
NT
* Kendall Rogers of PerfectGame.org discusses Alabama's recent announcement of plans to spend $30 million on a new baseball stadium.
Tide