Weymouth's Locke has a hot streak
Drew Locke of Weymouth is hitting up a storm in the Class A South Atlantic League for the Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate, the Columbus Catfish.
A former Boston College and BC High star, Locke was named to the Sally League's Southern Division all-star team for the first half of the season and played in the annual All-Star Game between the Northern and South Divisions June 20 at Classics Park in East Lake, Ohio.
He proved he could play pro baseball at this level. Locke was named the Sally Player of the Week May 22-28, when he went 14 for 27, a sparkling .519 clip. Locke, 23, was in the midst of a 15-game hitting streak, and on June 8 he hit a two-run, walk-off homer in Columbus' last at-bat, to beat the first-place Rome (Ga.) Braves, 2-1.
In 61 games, he is batting .329, best on his team and fifth best in the league -- and has knocked out eight home runs.
The Dodgers are so impressed with his play that Locke was selected as the organization's minor league player of the month for May. In 28 games in May, Locke batted .375 (42 for 112), with 8 doubles, 3 triples, three home runs, 34 RBIs, 25 runs, and 4 stolen bases.
You can bet it won't be long before the Dodgers move him up to the Jacksonville (Fla.) Suns, their Double A squad.
Norton's Norcott bolsters URI nine
Former Norton High School ace pitcher Jim Norcott completed his junior year in fine style at the University of Rhode Island, which qualified for the NCAA Tournament this spring.
Norcott finished the season with a 4-4 record. ``He has done a very nice job for us at URI," said coach Jim Foster. ``Jim is a very consistent pitcher. You know what you are going to get from him. He is an innings eater, works very hard, and gets it done in the classroom, as well as on the field. Next year he will be one of the leaders on our pitching staff."
A 5-foot-11-inch righthander, Norcott, who turned 21 on June 12, set the school record for consecutive scoreless innings pitched this spring with 18.
This summer, Norcutt is preparing for the real world. He has an internship at Fidelity Investments in Boston. He is also pitching in the Cranberry League.
On June 15 while pitching for the Norton Knights , he fashioned a 2-0 no-hit victory over the Cape Cod Braves in Sandwich. He struck out eight.
South Shore alumni taken in MLB draft
The Hingham-based South Shore Baseball Club continued an impressive streak during the recent Major League Baseball amateur draft, which was held June 6-7. Two players who received instruction at the club or played for the club's team, the Seadogs, were taken in the draft.
Greg Smith of Cohasset, a captain at Fordham University, went in the 14th round to the Pittsburgh Pirates, while Tim Thornton of Middleborough, a record-setting pitcher at Notre Dame, was selected in the 21st round by the Detroit Tigers.
That streak could continue next year when Jack McGeary, a standout at Roxbury Latin, becomes eligible for the draft. McGeary has played on the Seadog team for the last few years.
You can bet McGeary's telephone will be ringing off the hook on July 1. That's when college coaches are allowed to contact next year's seniors, under NCAA guidelines. Some expect that the battle for his services will be between Wake Forest University and Vanderbilt University, that is, unless he decides to turn professional.
``McGeary may be one of the top high school prospects in New England next year," said Red Sox scout Ray Fagnant.
Holbrook's Bagley named an all-star
Former Archbishop Williams star Chris Bagley of Holbrook has not given up the dream of playing professional soccer.
The former Saint Anselm (N.H.) College All-American was selected to the United Soccer League's all-star team.
Bagley scored the winning goal for the Wilmington (N.C.) Hammerheads in a 3-0 decision over Long Island June 12.
This is his third year on the Hammerheads. Before joining Wilmington, Bagley played for the Charleston (S.C.) Battery, winning a USL first division title in 2003.
He also played for the New England Revolution in 2005. Bagley, who has four goals in seven games this year, wears number 33 -- the same as that of his sports idol growing up, Larry Bird of the Celtics.
