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If he chooses, Kyle Datres could be playing Minor League Baseball later this summer. The 2015 Loyalsock graduate and North Carolina draft-eligible sophomore almost certainly will be drafted next month. He is projected as a sixth or seventh-round selection and is Baseball America's 190th-ranked prospect.
The dream so many young athletes have is so close to becoming fruition. But Datres is not rushing things. He already is living a dream.
Datres has started all 46 games at North Carolina this spring and is a big reason the Tar Heels are ranked No. 3 in the country and looking like a College World Series contender. He is scheduled to play in the prestigious Cape Cod League this summer and, at the moment, Datres is content where he is at.
"The draft is not really on my mind right now. I am focused on just enjoying my college experience while I can and doing my best to take this team to Omaha," Datres said. "Professional baseball is my end goal, but right now I just want to enjoy my college days while I can."
Datres is having a lot of fun this season, helping North Carolina start 37-9 while remaining in the Top 10 all season. The 6-foot-1, 192-pounder has improved all his numbers from a solid freshman season and is hitting .269 with a team-high six home runs and team-best 36 RBIs. He also has a .376 on-base percentage, has scored 31 runs and has belted 10 doubles while playing well at third base.
A four-year starter, two-time all-state selection and two-time state champion at Loyalsock, Datres faced a transition year as a freshman. He went from playing in the Heartland Athletic Conference to playing his first collegiate game at UCLA. Datres adapted and hit .250 with three home runs and 23 RBIs. More importantly, he learned. And like he did in high school, when he was an eight-time all-state selection in three sports, Datres has come back stronger and better.
"Having a year of experience under my belt this year goes a long way. Especially as a hitter you learn quick that failure is a part of the game and it took me a little bit to adjust to that because it's not like high school where there are guys hitting above .400 all over the field," Datres said. "I have really worked on just staying in my routine and having an approach going in to every at-bat. But being able to play a lot as a freshman has really helped me with those things this year and just starting to understand how other teams will pitch against me. I feel a lot more comfortable this year all together."
What might have helped Datres most is what he did following that freshman season. Datres joined the Baltimore Redbirds of the Cal Ripken League and hit a league-best .378. He also led the league with 22 stolen bases and hit four home runs. That performance opened even more eyes, helped Datres grow as a player, and served as a 2017 springboard.
"Summer baseball is one of the big difference-makers in becoming a great ballplayer," Datres said. "Everything is up to you. You can choose to work as hard as you want or you can choose to sit around and just enjoy the summer because you don't have anyone telling you that you have to do certain things. I think that is another reason I have performed a lot better this year because I worked hard this summer and got a lot stronger and it is paying off."
That really applies to the entire team. A year ago, North Carolina was ranked in the top 10 early in the season but failed to qualify for the ACC Tournament. That was a big blow for a program that has reached six College World Series, including five since 2006. This season, North Carolina is running away with the ACC's Coastal Division and holds a five-game lead over second-place Virginia.
"There is no doubt in my mind that this team is capable of making it to Omaha and doing some damage," Datres said. "We have a great pitching staff and have solid bats all the way through our lineup. We just have the will to win and never believe the game is over. That is something that we didn't have on our team last year."
So forgive Datres if he is not caught up in the all the pre-draft hype. He is having too much fun right now to focus on that. Datres said it would take a lot for him to change his plans of competing in the Cape Cod League and returning to North Carolina for his junior year.
That might not be a bad move either. Barring injury, Datres really can only help increase his draft status over the next season. Anyone who has ever watched him compete knows Datres will never become complacent, so the future looks bright. So, too, does the present, and that is Datres' priority. He spent a lot of days imagining himself being a Tar Heel. The last thing Datres will do now is take his time in Chapel Hill for granted.
"I am excited to see how far this team can go and then to play in the Cape this summer," Datres said. "I'm having the time of my life, playing baseball with and against the best ballplayers in the country. I had always dreamed of coming to UNC and playing the game I love and it is not disappointing me at all. It is totally living up to my expectations."
AROUND THE AREA
Muncy (9-6) moved within a victory of reaching the District 4 Class AA playoffs, outscoring three consecutive opponents, 40-11. First baseman Chad McElwee had six hits in the wins, Caleb Smith went 3 for 4 with four RBIs against Benton, and Takoda Moyer was 4 for 5 with two RBIs against St. John Neumann … South Williamsport also is fighting for both a playoff spot and a high seed in the AA field and won a big game when it edged surging Hughesville, 3-2. Tyler Askey allowed no earned runs in five innings and Aaron Guerrisky threw two hitless innings to earn the save as South (7-5) recorded its fifth comeback win … Lewisburg (7-7) is coming on strong, winning three straight games and recorded the year's most impressive comeback so far, turning a seven-run deficit into a 10-7 win at Warrior Run. Dakotah Snyder threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, extending his scoreless streak to 13 1/3 innings. Sam Rosevear went 3 for 5 with two RBIs … Montgomery (8-2) remained just a game out of first in the Mid-Penn, scoring 28 runs in wins over Neumann and Bucktail. Hunter Budman had four hits and four RBIs in the wins and Eithan Marino went 3 for 3 with a double and three RBIs against Bucktail … Wellsboro (7-7) remained in the playoff hunt and put on an offensive show against Wyalusing, delivering 21 hits in the 16-5 win. Billy Lechler has been playing especially well and went 4 for 4 with two RBIs while Carson Davis, Cameron Tennis and Johnny Rowland, who won his fourth game, all had three hits.
Dr. Masse’s Top Five
1. Williamsport (11-2)
The Millionaires won another important league game last week, blanking Punxsutawney, 10-0 in five innings. Because District 2 bases its seedings on league records only, Williamsport can clinch the top seed if it defeats St. Mary's at home Wednesday. Williamsport is seeking its first district championship since 2011 and would host a semifinal if it earns either the No. 1 or 2 seed. Tanner Esposito and Isaac Snyder combined on a 1-hit shutout against Punxsutawney and the Millionaires topped 10 hits for a second straight game. Jesse Cornell, Quentin Brown and Ryan Jolin all are hitting above .400 and that trio combined for six hits against Punxsutawney with Brown going 3 for 4 with four RBIs, a double, a steal and two runs.
2. Loyalsock (13-2)
The Lancers looked strong last week, romping to 8-1 wins at Montoursville and Milton. Loyalsock clinched a third straight HAC-II championship in the process and has won 12 of its last 13 games and had 28 hits in its two wins last week. The Lancers have dominated HAC-II since the league was formed in 2009, winning eight of the nine championships. Loyalsock won 39 straight league games at one point and is 46-1 in its last 47 HAC-II games. Senior Larry Van Stavoren is having a big season and has delivered four straight multi-hit performances. The three-year starter is hitting above .400 and does a nice job, along with No. 2 hitter of setting the table for players like Hunter Webb and Andrew Malone. Eric Holz is part of a deep staff and improved to 3-0 against Milton.
3. Jersey Shore (9-5)
After a slow start, Jersey Shore has come together and is hitting its stride. The Bulldogs have won six straight and can clinch at least a share of the HAC-I championship if they beat Midd-West at home Tuesday. Jersey Shore won a league and/or district championship each season from 2006-15 before coming within two outs of reaching last year's district final. Now, the Bulldogs are looking like league and district title contenders again and the future looks bright as well with a good core of starters returning in 2018. The team's three leaders in wins are juniors and the pitching staff has compiled a 1.64 ERA. Timmy Saar (6-1) was part of his fourth shutout last week, throwing a 3-hit complete-game in a 1-0 win at Selinsgrove. Calvin Lesser has been brilliant in his last three starts, winning all three and surrendering just two runs and seven hits in 17 innings.
4. North Penn-Mansfield (12-3)
Two-win Northern Potter stunned last year's District 4 Class AA champions, winning 11-7 but they came back strong. Mansfield overcame multiple-run deficits against Towanda and Troy, scoring 17 runs in those games. Mansfield remains in the hunt for the Class AAA top seed and has reached 10 hits in three straight games. J.P. Shaw hit two home runs last week, including a grand slam against Troy. Carl Dinger tied Saar for the area lead in wins and also went 3 for 3 against Northern Potter.
5. Montoursville (7-4)
The Warriors easily shook off the Loyalsock loss and thundered back a day later, battering defending District 2 Class AA champion Northwest, 21-3. Every Warrior player reached base at least once in the four-inning game four players delivered multi-hit performances. Jaxon Dalena is making the most of increased playing time and delivered a pinch-hit RBI single against Loyalsock before going 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs at Northwest. Mitchell Rothrock and Brycen Mussina combined on a four-hitter and Rothrock won his third straight start. Dylan Bower made a highlight-reel catch in left field against Loyalsock while delivering two hits against Northwest.
Players of the Week
Daimeer Clark, St. John Neumann and Jeff Fry, Muncy
Clark dazzled against Sullivan County, striking out an area-high 14 in six innings as the Knights won, 10-5. Clark has become one of the area's breakthrough players and the sophomore also went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs in that game. He capped his week, going 2 for 3 against Muncy. Fry was a force in that game, going 4 for 4 with two doubles, four runs and three RBIs. After taking a year off from baseball last year, Fry has made a big impact and went 9 for 12 with seven RBIs and seven runs in Muncy's three wins.
Game of the Week
Backyard Brawl, Saturday, 10 a.m.
Please Mother Nature, do not ruin one of the year's best area events. The Backyard Brawl moves from Bowman Field to Logue Field Saturday and features four long-time rivals and playoff contenders colliding. Williamsport and Loyalsock play first in a rematch of last year's championship that the Millionaires won, 2-1. Montoursville faces South Williamsport in the next game with the consolation and championship to follow. Three different teams have captured the Brawl championship the last three years so anything goes here, especially with both teams having busy weeks and pitching possibly being limited. Buckle up for a long day and night of entertaining baseball.
Masse may be reached at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse