December 7, 2011
Written by Levi Weber

Willmar Stingers OF Pat Stover received accolades from the noted publication Baseball America in their special December 12th double issue as one of their Top 100 collegiate players for the 2012 MLB First-year player draft.

Drafted out of high school by the Oakland Athletics in 2009 in the 17th round, the 6’4 corner outfielder from Santa Clara University obliterated Northwoods League pitching in 2011, hitting at a clip of .337, which led the Stingers and was good for sixth in the league.

A native of Rocklin, CA, Stover is entering his redshirt junior season ranked 78th on Baseball America’s Top 100 College Players list. Santa Clara is a member of the West Coast Conference and Stover is one of four players from the aforementioned conference on receiving distinction.

In addition to his stellar batting average, Stover had an impressive .408 OBP and a slugging percentage of .462 in 46 games for the Stingers. For a few weeks in the sultry sauna that is the Bee Hive at Baker Field , Stover sported a mohawk that was well-received by teammates and fans. He made his first team appearance on June 18th, hitting two singles and scoring his first run as a member of the Stingers. A fierce competitor on the diamond yet courteous and genial off it, Stover also had 17 multi-hit games for the team and did not commit a single error the entire summer.

A well-respected authority on the game of baseball at an amateur, minor, and major league level, Baseball America is the paramount source of knowledge for any serious fan or employee of a baseball team, present company included. Although co-owners Ryan Voz and Marc Jerzak resigned Pat Stover for the 2012 Northwoods League season, Stover is draft-eligible in accordance to MLB rules. On behalf of myself and everyone involved with the Willmar Stingers, congratulations and kudos to Pat Stover on this prestigious and well-deserved accolade.

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