Contact: Colton Andresen
colton@lacrosseloggers.com
Thursday, December 19
Returner Stinebiser, newcomer Pauley to represent Duke for Loggers in 2020
La Crosse, Wis. – The La Crosse Loggers Baseball Club announced on Thursday the signing of two players from Duke University to its roster for the 2020 season. Returning catcher Matt Stinebiser will be back for a second season with the Loggers and will be joined by freshman infielder Graham Pauley.
Matt Stinebiser returns to the Loggers in 2020 after his sophomore season with the Duke Blue Devils. The Northville, MI native appeared in 16 games as a freshman at Duke last season, hitting 4-for-15 with a double and a pair of RBIs. Stinebiser was very dependable behind the plate in his first collegiate season as he did not make an error defensively in 24 chances. The Duke backstop was recruited as the No. 11 overall prospect and No. 2 catcher out of the state of Michigan for the class of 2018 according to Perfect Game. Stinebiser appeared in 34 games for La Crosse last season, hitting .292 which ranked 4th among Loggers with at least 100 at-bats. The left-handed hitting catcher reached base at a .357 clip, hitting three doubles and one home run while driving in 14 RBIs on the summer. Stinebiser continued the trend of Duke catchers performing at a high level in a Loggers uniform, following the precedent set by Blue Devils teammate and 2018 Logger Mike Rothenberg.
Joining Stinebiser from Durham will be freshman Graham Pauley out of Milton, GA. The 6-foot-2 infielder attended Milton High School in central Georgia where he slashed .446/.584/.491 in his junior season, earning 7A State Player of the Year and First Team All-State honors. Pauley was awarded Most Valuable Player at Milton and was selected to the Atlanta Braves 400 Club All-Star Team. The Duke commit was recruited as the No. 3 third baseman and No. 48 overall player in the state of Georgia for the class of 2019 according to Perfect Game, and was also listed as the No. 26 third baseman in the nation.
“Graham Pauley is a tremendous hitter,” said Duke head coach Chris Pollard in an interview earlier this year. “He has a really advanced hit tool and can play any spot in the infield, but we really like the left-handed bat. We feel like he has the chance to come in and make an immediate impact with his bat.” The signings of Stinebiser and Pauley carry on a growing tradition of Blue Devils to play at the Lumberyard, as La Crosse has been the summer home to Duke players in four consecutive seasons.
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