Powerful Clams Roll Back To Edenton
Edenton, NC – SPRING IS BACK!!! which also means the 26th season of Steamers baseball is right around the corner at Historic Hicks Field. The 2022 Premier Collegiate League Champs are bringing back three household names to bat at the heart of the lineup.
Outfielder Nate Paulsen (West Virginia State University), outfielder Ryan Kay (West Virginia State University), and infielder Tate Abbott (Catawba Community College) make up a trio that PCL pitchers will fear this summer.
Paulsen returns to Edenton after bringing home some hardware. The 6’1 185 lbs center fielder played in 35 games for the Clams in 2022 and batted .319 (ranked 5th on the team), was one of two Steamers with a triple (Tyler West the only other), and a team-high 26 walks. In the field, Paulsen had a fielding percentage of .957 with 63 putouts.
As a result, the Bridgeport West Virginia native was one of 14 Steamers to be named as a 2022 PCL All-Star and at the end of the season was awarded the 2022 Gieseke Gold Award.
So far in his sophomore season at West Virginia State, Paulsen has one homerun, four runs batted in, and three walks in seven games for the Yellow Jackets.
“Steamers fans should be really excited about the return of Nate Paulsen,” said Steamers’ general manager Tyler Russell. “Whenever you can bring back your MVP from the previous season, your roster is off to a great start. He is a well-rounded player that will have an impact on the game from many angles. He’s a threat at the plate, on the basepaths, and with his arm in centerfield. “
Kay, Paulsen’s teammate at WVU, comes back after playing 18 games in the teal and black in 2021. The 5’11”, 205-pound left fielder had eight hits, six runs batted in, and seven singles. In left, the Murrieta California native had 16 putouts and no errors.
“Much like his WVSU teammate, Ryan Kay has all the tools to be impactful all over the field. When he was here in 2021, he really turned it on down the stretch and became an important player for us,” said Russell. “Having Kay and Paulsen in our lineup and outfield together should certainly strike fear into our opposition.”
Abbott enters his second season with Edenton after 33 games last season. Hailing from Camden, South Carolina, the 6’2″, 210-pound left-handed hitting first baseman finished with a .266 batting average, four home runs, 17 runs batted, and 18 runs scored. Abbott was a brick wall at first with 145 putouts and 13 assists.
In addition to Paulson, Abbott was also recognized as a 2022 PCL All-Star.
In 2023 as a redshirt sophomore with Catawba, Abbott is batting .302 with 9 runs batted in and 8 runs in 16 games. The Steamers’ first baseman has also been getting time at the hot corner for the Red Hawks.
“The return of Tate Abbott is another exciting piece of this year’s roster,” Russell said.”During the second half of last summer, Abbott really became a slugger for us. He hit some big home runs down the stretch, and solidly held down first base. He is spending a lot of time at third base this spring, so it will be interesting to see how that expands the versatility of our roster this summer. His sweet left-handed swing should play very well in the friendly confines of Historic Hicks Field again.”
Both Kay and Abbott wore number 20 for the Steamers the past two seasons (Kay 21′, Abbott 22′).
“If you were to look at our projected starting lineup for this summer, you would see this trio right in the heart of the order. Paulsen, Kay, and Abbott will be big pieces that Coach Hill can use to his advantage all summer. Moreover, all three are great individuals with quality college baseball experience, and will be leaders for us in the clubhouse. These guys are a great way to kick off our 2023 roster, and should get our fans excited for another big summer at Historic Hicks Field,” Russell said.
About the Edenton Steamers
The Edenton Steamers are proudly celebrating their 26th season of summer collegiate baseball in 2023. Looking to defend their Premier Collegiate League championship from last season, the Steamers will open their home schedule against the Tarboro River Bandits on Friday June 2nd, at Historic Hicks Field. The Steamers have had over 110 alumni drafted, and 20 to make it to Major League Baseball. 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, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube @edentonsteamers. For more information visit edentonsteamers.com or call (252) 482-4080.