June 24, 2004

Vern Sterry meet Colt Morton. Actually, no introduction is necessary. Once battery mates at NC State less than a year ago, the former Wolfpack teammates are together again in the San Diego Padres organization. Both are now playing professional baseball with the Class A Eugene Emeralds of the Northwest League. With Sterry pitching and Morton catching in 2003, the Wolfpack posted a strong 45-18 campaign that ended with an appearance in the NCAA Super Regional at Miami.

Sterry, an 8th round pick of the Padres in the baseball draft earlier this month, opened his pro career with a bang on Wednesday night. In his first start with the Emeralds, the right-hander took a perfect game into the 8th before giving up a double with one out in the inning. After retiring the first 22 batters he faced, Sterry would settle for a one-hitter over 7 and 2/3 innings. He struck out nine and hit the strike zone with 59 of 77 pitches in Eugene's 4-0 victory.

Now in his second year with the Padres organization, Morton has three hits in 12 at bats for Eugene since being sent down from Fort Wayne earlier in the summer.

In another NC State baseball note, coach Elliott Avent and reliever Joey Devine are donning their Red, White&Blue uniforms this week at Durham Bulls Athletic Park as the United States National Team faces off against Canada in a four-game exhibition series.

Avent is an assistant coach for team USA while Devine is one of 34 college players who will be trying to land a permanent roster spot for a squad that will compete in the World University games in July. The series against Canada will continue on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Team USA captured the opener on Wednesday 9-2. Devine did not see any action in the series opener.