Two Lions to Roar for Steamers

Updated March 06 2017
EDENTON, N.C.

For the second time this preseason, the Steamers are excited to announce the signing of two university teammates. The Clams have inked Billy Wilson and Codie Paiva (PY-va). Both players will represent the Teal and Black from the Loyola Marymount University Lions of Los Angeles in the NCAA Division I West Coast Conference.

Billy Wilson, the Lions center fielder, will come to the Steamers after spending the 2016 summer in the California Collegiate League with the Healdsburg Packers. The 6’0” 200-pound junior posted a .292/.458/.454/.912 slash line in 185 at bats and 53 games last summer. Wilson scored a whopping 56 runs thanks in part to drawing 36 walks and stealing 36 bases. During the 2016 summer campaign, he was named a midseason all-star and postseason all-league member in center field.

The Glendale, AZ native should be one of the most dynamic players in the Coastal Plain League this summer. He has all the tools and will be a thrill for Steamers fans to enjoy. He provides a combination of patience, power and speed that makes him a great fit somewhere in the top third of the Clams’ lineup. The left-handed bat has primarily been the three-hole hitter this season for Loyola Marymount. He is off to a great start in 2017 with .317/.462/.512/.974 averages through 12 games, which includes five doubles, a jack and is seven of eight on the base paths; this has been complemented by a 2.75 range factor in center on defense.

Codie Paiva, a native of Pearl City, HI, will join the Teal and Black looking to help on the mound. During the 2016 spring season, the right-handed pitcher appeared 11 times including one start. The 6’5” 195-pound sophomore threw 23 innings with a .87 WHIP and 1.57 ERA during his freshman year. Teams hit just .200 off of him during the season and he allowed just three walks and three extra-base hits while setting down 19 via the strikeout. Paiva was a stellar multi-inning reliever as a 2016 freshman.

This season he has made the jump to Loyola’s rotation and has acquitted himself well already against opponents from the Southeastern and PAC-12 Conferences. Paiva possesses a prototypical pitcher’s frame with room still for gains. He shows advanced command for an underclassman of a quality three-pitch mix. The fastball sits in the upper 80s, touching some 9s, and is complemented by a good changeup and tight slider. His development this spring should allow him to make an impact in the Edenton rotation this summer. After four appearances and two starts totaling 15.2 frames to begin 2017, Paiva is 2-0 with a 2.87 ERA and 10 strikeouts to five bases on balls.

The Edenton Steamers will proudly be celebrating their 20th anniversary season as a member of the Coastal Plain League in 2017. The season will begin on Tuesday May 30th when the Morehead City Marlins visit Historic Hicks Field. Be sure to follow the Teal and Black on social media to stay up to date with all things Steamers. You can find the team on Facebook @EdentonSteamers, Twitter @EdentonCPL, Instagram @edentonsteamers, and Snapchat @edentonsteamers. For more information visit edentonsteamers.com or call (252) 482-4080.

The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 22nd season in 2018, the CPL features 16 teams playing in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL has had over 1,450 alumni drafted and 111 of those – including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander – make their Major League debut; while another notable alum – Russell Wilson – won Super Bowl XLVIII. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com and follow us via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @CPLBaseball..

Contact:

Elijah Gonzalez

Phone:

(252)482-4080