Former D&E Star Promoted To New York Mets
9/8/2009 4:54:32 PM
(NEW YORK, NY)---The New York Mets have announced that former Davis & Elkins' star Tobi Stoner has been added to the squad's active roster. The Cumberland, MD native was 7-7 with a 3.96 earned run average at AAA Buffalo, but was 4-0 with a 1.91 ERA during his final five starts in the minor leagues.
Stoner, a second team All-WVIAC honoree in 2006, was a two-way standout as a pitcher and shortstop during his two-year career at Davis & Elkins. He notched a 15-9 record with a 2.68 ERA and six saves as a Senator. His .465 batting average during his senior season ranks among the top twenty in league history. A 15-strikeout effort in a narrow loss to #3 West Virginia State during the WVIAC Tournament helped set the stage for Stoner to be drafted in the 16th round by the Mets of the 2006 draft.
Stoner becomes the first former Davis & Elkins player to reach the major leagues. He joins Texas Rangers hurler Dustin Nippert as active MLB players with WVIAC ties. Nippert, who is currently 5-2 with a 3.79 ERA, played for Ohio Valley in 2000 and 2001 before transferring to West Virginia University. In all, 17 major leaguers have been produced by WVIAC baseball programs according to the Society for American Baseball Research.
The list of WVIAC major league players follows:
| Player |
School |
MLB Teams |
Years |
| Tony Rodriguez |
Charleston |
Red Sox |
1996 |
| Tobi Stoner |
Davis & Elkins |
Mets |
2009 |
| Russ Kemmerer |
Glenville State |
Red Sox, Senators, White Sox, Astros |
1954-63 |
| Dustin Nippert |
Ohio Valley |
Diamondbacks, Rangers |
2005-09 |
| Floyd Giebell |
Salem |
Tigers |
1939-41 |
| Lefty Willis |
Shepherd |
Athletics |
1925-27 |
| Cecil Perkins |
Shepherd |
Yankees |
1967 |
| Clarence Garrett |
West Liberty |
Indians |
1915 |
| Gene Freese |
West Liberty |
Pirates, Cardinals, Red, White Sox, Astros |
1955-66 |
| Joe Niekro |
West Liberty |
Cubs, Padres, Tigers, Braves, Astros, Yankees, Twins |
1967-88 |
| Ray Searage |
West Liberty |
Mets, Brewers, White Sox, Dodgers |
1981, 84-90 |
| Larry Carter |
WV State |
Giants |
1992 |
| Paul Fletcher |
WV State |
Phillies, Athletics |
1993, 95-96 |
| Greasy Neale |
WV Wesleyan |
Reds, Phillies |
1916-24 |
| Sheriff Blake |
WV Wesleyan |
Pirates, Cubs, Phillies, Browns, Cardinals |
1920, 24-31, 37 |
| Harry Shriver |
WV Wesleyan |
Dodgers |
1922-23 |
| Kenneth Ash |
WV Wesleyan |
Reds, White Sox |
1925, 28-30 |