Former Seahawks Get Pro Baseball Careers Underway

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Former UNC Wilmington righthander Brad Holt mowed through the Aberdeen Ironbirds lineup with five hitless innings to win his first professional game as the Brooklyn Cyclones picked up a 4-2 win Thursday, June 26, at KeySpan Park.

Holt, who was on a pitch count in making his second start of the season, faced just two batters over the minimum while striking out six. His five shutout innings lowered his earned run average to 2.45 and opponents are hitting a meager .083 against him.

Fellow 2008 draftees Jason Appel and Daniel Hargrave are having mixed results at the plate to begin their professional careers. Appel is hitting a blistering .368 and has 14 hits in 38 at bats so far for the Hudson Valley Renegades who sit in first place in the McNamara Division of the New York Penn League, two games ahead of Holt’s Cyclones. We could have UNCW mates facing off on Tuesday, as Brooklyn is playing a three game set at Hudson Valley that wraps up on July 2, which should be Holt’s next start.

Hargrave, playing for Williamsport - also in the NY-P League, is having a tough time warming up to the northern climate as he is hitting just .119 (5 for 42) in his first 10 professional games. -Information provided by UNCW Sports Information Department

-- Jesse Jones, CAPE FEAR SPORTS REPORT