Wood looks up to Jarrett

By Dave Fawcett

Published: March 27, 2008

Ryan Wood (Hylton ’05) calls East Carolina assistant baseball coach Link Jarrett the most knowledgeable baseball person he’s ever been around. Jarrett calls Wood a joy to coach because he does what he’s told. 

That strong bond between teacher and student has helped Wood develop into one of the top players this season in Conference USA.

Coming into the week, the junior shortstop ranked among the top six in the league in runs scored (tied for first), RBI (tied for sixth), home runs (tied for second) and total bases (tied for fifth). He is currently hitting .337 with seven home runs and 26 RBI and has been named the league’s hitter of the week once already this season.

“He’s one of the most special players I’ve been around in a long time,” Jarrett said. “He applies what he learns and puts it into use. That’s what separates himself from other players.”

One noticeable improvement has been in the home run category. Wood had only hit eight total home runs in his first two seasons.

Wood and Jarrett attribute the jump to how ECU develops its hitters.

During practices, the Pirates focus on hitting ground balls with a swinging motion that comes from good mechanics. If anything, hitting homers in practice is de-emphasized.

So when Wood comes to the plate, he’s looking to make quality contact first.

“He’s not trying to hit home runs,” Jarrett said. “He’s looking at things like good pitch selection and good technique.”

Being 100 percent healthy has helped Wood as well. He was slowed his freshman season because of the lingering effects of a torn labrum he suffered in his shoulder his senior season at Hylton.

After his freshman season in college was over, Wood had surgery on the shoulder, which forced him to miss preseason practice for his sophomore season.

With his shoulder now healed and not as vulnerable to the stress of throwing the ball, Wood has moved from second base to shortstop, the position he played in high school.

He also could pitch some this season. Wood was originally recruited as a two-way player, but his injury shelved his status as a pitcher.

Jarrett, who arrived on ECU’s coaching staff Wood’s freshman season, has coached a number of players who have been selected in the major league draft, including shortstop Stephen Drew at Florida State.

Drew, a 2004 first-round pick, starts at short for Arizona.

“He’s right up there with any of them,” Jarrett said. “I enjoy working with him. He’s fun and ready to listen and do what you ask of him.”

Wood, in turn, absorbs whatever Jarrett says. Wood is so dedicated to improving himself that he comes in on his off time three times a week in the morning just to work on his swing.

“I love his intensity, his passion,” said Wood, a 49th round draft pick of the Cleveland Indians in 2005 who, coming into this season was rated the fourth-best draft prospect in Conference USA by Baseball America. “He’s always showing me new stuff, things I’ve never seen before.”

Mike Matta (Potomac ’06) has a 1-1 record and a 2.45 ERA in six games for Mount St. Mary’s.
SOFTBALL

Courtney Steele (Manassas Park ’07) has been named the PSAC Eastern Division Player of the Week. A freshman at Shippensburg (Pa.) University, Steele hit three home runs in four games last weekend at the Salem Tournament. She also hit .600 in the tournament and went 9-for-14 from the plate.

For the season, Steele has a team-high five home runs along with 15 RBIs in 23 games.

BASKETBALL

Dominique Stroman (Freedom ’07) was a member of the Millersville University team that reached the NCAA Division II Tournament.

Stroman played in 23 games and averaged 1.2 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.

Millersville finished the season 24-6, one win shy of tying the school record, and lost in the first round of the NCAA East Regional.

Chris Vann (Gar-Field ‘04) has been named one of Mount St. Mary’s two athletes of the week.

A senior guard for the men’s team, Vann scored 16 points in the Mountaineers’ loss to North Carolina a week ago in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Vann, who finished with 1,019 career points, also was named the CBS Chevrolet player of the game for the Mount.

David Fawcett’s They’re In College Now column appears Fridays in the Potomac News & Manassas Journal Messenger. Reach him at (703) 878-8052 or at