Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Kipnis to Return? Blair Starts Game 1 of Cape Cod Finals

It looks as if Jason Kipnis, the 4th round pick for the San Diego Padres, will most likely be returning to ASU. From the San Diego Union-Tribune:

Fuson said a deal with Kipnis "doesn't look like it's going to happen." Persons close to ASU's team, too, expect Kipnis to return for his junior season as the centerpiece player to a program that sent 14 players to the minors this summer. The Padres and Kipnis are more than $600,000 apart. The player the Padres signed from the third round is another center fielder/leadoff man, Blake Tekotte. After 25 games with Eugene, Tekotte was batting .337 with five homers and 11 doubles.

"Kipnis is a good player," Fuson said. "We'd like to have him (for the average price) where we took him."

This is great news for the Sun Devils. Wallace and Davis may have drawn all of the accolades, but Kipnis was the motor of the 2008 squad. His return automatically puts the Sun Devils back in contention for Omaha, most likely with Matt Newman and freshman John Ruettiger rounding out the outfield. The main questions for the Devils will be who will properly replace Petey Paramore at catcher and as the inspirational leader?

Kipnis will be playing in the Cape Cod League Championship Series, which starts Wednesday at 3 PM EDT for the Cotuit Kettleers. ASU's Seth Blair will be taking the mound for Cotuit against the Harwich Mariners.

If you want to watch Seth Blair pitch live, just click here for the live online stream.

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