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Ryan
McCleney |
WILSON - Former West Columbus High School athletic standout Ryan McCleney had a big day for the Barton College baseball team last Wednesday as he went 4-for-4 , including a double, and drove in two runs in the Bulldogs’ 16-15 non-conference victory over visiting Indiana University of Pennslyvania.
McCleney, a freshman, played the entire game at shortstop, scored three runs and was also hit by a pitch. His eighth-inning single brought home the game-deciding run in a contest that lasted 3 hours and 45 minutes.
He had another big outing on Saturday with a 3-for-3 effort in the Bulldogs’ 12-7 win over Carolina-Virginia Athletic Conference (NCAA Division II) rival Belmont Abbey in the second game of a doubleheader.
McCleney earned All-State honors in both baseball and football at West Columbus High School before graduating last spring.
He helped pace the WCHS Viking baseball team to a 28-4 record and a runnerup finish in the state 1A playoffs.
McCleney attended East Carolina University this past fall as a walk-on in both football and baseball, but decided to transfer to Barton this semester when Bulldog head baseball coach Todd Wilkinson showed interest his talents. Wilkinson and McCleney;’s father, Mitch McCleney, were teammates on the UNC-Chapel Hill baseball team in the early 1980’s.
As of Saturday, Barton had a season record of 17 wins and 17 losses and a 7-6 mark in CVAC play.
McCleney has played in 30 Barton games to date and has started in 21. Since last Wednesday, his batting average has risen above .360. He has stolen three bases in as many attempts and has been hit by pitches seven times. He has played shortstop, second base and third base.
McCleney, the son of Mitch McCleney and the late Sheri Le Davenport McCleney, was the recipient of 2006 Jiggs Powers Memorial Award as Columbus County’s Most Outstanding Athlete.