Joel Collins To Join Terriers Coaching Staff This Fall, News (Terriers Baseball)

There is an old saying that goes, "You spend your whole life gripping a baseball, and in the end you find out it was the other way around all along".

So it is with Joel Collins. A lot about life in the minor leagues is long bus rides, late night pizza joints, and hard hotel beds. Joel is living it, and after an endless campaign that started with spring training in January, then meandered through the summer, he will still not have had enough! Joel is presently playing in the Pittsburg Pirates organization and after he wraps up his season in early/mid September, he'll switch uniform colors to navy and gold, when he joins the Terriers coaching staff. From the years 2000 to 2004 Joel followed a similar baseball path as to what the present Terriers program includes. He was recruited by, and played for Coach Thompson and Coach McEwan as an up and comer with aspirations of playing college and professional baseball. Joel accomplished everything amateur baseball had to offer him. His superior understanding of the game and a work ethic beyond his years helped him to achieve lofty team and individual goals. In 2001, mostly in part to Joel's leadership, he guided the troops to a staggering 75-15 record! The following summer Joel was picked up by Canada's Junior National Team, and immediately won the job as the starting catcher. Blessed with soft hands, tremendous arm strength, bat speed, and a burning desire to compete at the highest level, Joel garnered a lot of interest from college recruiters and pro scouts alike. In June of 2004 he was drafted out of high school, however opted to go the college route. Joel had acquired had a significant scholarship at the University of South Alabama (NCAA D1- Sun Belt Conference). After great freshman and sophomore years Collins was invited to play in the Cape Cod Summer League. Yet another impressive notch in his belt, as roster spots are hard to come by. "The Cape", is where the select best of the best college players go to play their summer baseball. During Joel's two seasons in the Cape Cod League he played against future big leaguers such as Aaron Bates, Chris Coghlan and Evan Longoria. After three years as the starting catcher at USA, he was drafted again, this time by the Blue Jays in the 10th round. Joel signed, and was off to professional baseball. He has since moved on from the Blue Jays, and is in the Pirates minor league system based out of Lynchburg Virginia. The Terriers are extremely grateful to Joel for affording them this opportunity. His work ethic, experience and expertise both on and off the field will undoubtedly have a very positive influence on everyone in the organization. MORE ABOUT JOEL COLLINS College Career... * Hit .300 for his college career, with 19 HRs and 111 RBIs * In 171 games he made only 6 errors for a .998 fielding percentage * He threw out 79 of 175 runners (45%) in college, that is approx. 15% higher than the NCAA Division 1 average * In his junior year, Joel was one of the country's 10 finalists for the Johnny Bench Award for the NCAA's most outstanding catcher * Joel was named to several All Conference and All Regional Teams throughout his college career Cape Cod League... * Joel spent the summers of 2005 and 2006 with the Wareham Gatemen in the Cape Cod League * He hit .291 in 117 ABs , 13th overall in the league * Threw out 40% of runners in The Cape * Was named to the All Star Team and also named team Co- MVP * Won the Daniel Silva Award for Outstanding Sportsmanship in The Cape Professional Baseball... * Hit 7 homers in his rookie season in the Florida Gulf Coast League * In 2007 his SLG was .614 and his OPS was .991 * 2008 in the NY Penn League , Joel was 46/141 for a .326 avg, 3HRs, .525 SLG and .939 OPS * 2009 promoted to high A, Carolina League