Round 44 | Zac LaNeve | SS | Pine Richland HS (PA) | WILL NOT SIGN

[emkayseven]

Discuss.
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goes by Zac LaNeve, not Matthew LaNeve
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When Zac LaNeve trades his green Pine-Richland jersey for the sky blue of North Carolina at the end of the season, the Tar Heels will be getting a battle-tested pitcher.

LaNeve helped the Rams play for two WPIAL titles, winning one last season.

The road the finals was a tough one, as the Rams faced section rival North Allegheny in both finals appearances. After claiming four WPIAL titles since 2004 and a state title in that span, the Rams were targeted this season. At the bull's-eye was LaNeve, the pitching staff's ace.

"It was definitely a harder trip to the playoffs this season," LaNeve said. "Our section was so competitive; five teams were in the race until the end."
LaNeve loved the challenge of pitching in big rivalry games.

"Being ‘the guy' and getting to pitch against North Allegheny and Shaler, I enjoyed that," he said. "I like being the ace."

LaNeve isn't flashy. He attacks batters with strikes, confident that if an opponent makes contact, the defense will do its job.

LaNeve said he's throwing harder this year, and his curveball is working well. His changeup was inconsistent at times, but when he has his full arsenal clicking, he's tough to beat.

That's good for the Rams, who didn't have the pitching depth they have had in the past.

"You have to bring your ‘A' game each time out," LaNeve said. "Every team is as good as us, but we all play hard and are playoff ready."

LaNeve said the Rams got everyone's best game this season when, and when Pine-Richland lost "teams celebrated hard."

The senior also handles pressure well, even if he gets behind in the count or if there's a runner a scoring position.

"Even if the bases are loaded, I don't want to panic," he said. "I just keep a level head and just go at each batter."

He tries to instill that mentality in the rest of the rotation — that no matter what, it's possible to battle back.

In a game against Seneca Valley, LaNeve gave up a home run but gathered himself to strikeout the next batter. It's that short-term memory that allows him to succeed.

LaNeve has a good support system around him, especially with coach Kurt Wolfe and catcher Russell Clark.

"Coach Wolfe is great," LaNeve said. "He helps outside of baseball, too, and helped me become a good young man. I love playing for him, and it will be a lot different next year.

"I have a good relationship with Russell. He can tell if I am rushing and will come out to the mound to slow me down. He is definitely a good catcher to have."

LaNeve said he's enjoying this season but is excited about the opportunity at North Carolina.

"I am very comfortable there," he said last week. "The coaches recruited me the most, and when I got there for a visit, I was sold."

LaNeve signed his letter of intent during the early signing period and is excited to play for another program with a rich tradition.

Looking back on what he already has accomplished, LaNeve said the WPIAL title was awesome, but this season might be his favorite.

"We have not done anything yet, but this is the year I will remember the most," he said. "I have played with this group of seniors since I was 8 years old."

http://www.yournorthhills.com/northh...-carolina-blue

interesting that we drafted him as a SS
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rated the 25th best SS prospect this year: http://baseballdraftreport.com/2011/...resource-page/
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With graduation losses forcing the Pine-Richland baseball team to reload at some key positions, not many gave the Rams a shot at getting back to the WPIAL title game.

The Rams silenced their doubters and returned to the title game, thanks in part to the play of junior second baseman Zac LaNeve.

"This is a great year for the seniors and Pine-Richland in general," LaNeve said. "This has been a fun year with a lot of great friends, and we hope to finish it off with a WPIAL and state title."

LaNeve played shortstop as a freshman and saw a lot of time on the hill last year. He switched places with senior Matt Berezo, who was playing second base.
"Second is a good spot for me," LaNeve said. "My defense is the strength of my game."

Rams head coach Kurt Wolfe jokes with LaNeve, calling him mini-Berezo.

"He is smooth in the field and he is our No. 4 hitter," Wolfe said. "He has a compact swing, and that is what Boston College wants him."

Pine-Richland has a rich tradition of winning championships and sending players to college, and even straight to the pros.

"Pine-Richland is a top baseball team," LaNeve said. "At practice we work our butts off for Coach Wolfe. The coaching staff lets us have a good time, but we get serious at the right time. That has led to our success."

Although he is only a junior, LaNeve has a verbal commitment with Boston College. Playing in the ACC is something he set his sights on, and when the Golden Eagles saw LaNeve play, they wasted no time letting him know they were interested in his services.

"I talked it over with Coach Wolfe and his staff, and I felt this was the best situation," he said. "The education is obviously pretty good, and I just felt comfortable there."

Having a decision made more than a year before many of his peers is a relief, and LaNeve can put his mind to the thing he wants the most right now--a championship ring.

He said his favorite moment in baseball was playing on the big stage last year but hopes to replace that memory on his list with a different outcome. LaNeve will get that chance, as the Rams met their biggest rival (North Allegheny) in the WPIAL title game again this year.

"We just have to keep playing as we are now," LaNeve said. "Steve (Laylock) has been pitching great games. If we can just keep hitting, we can't be beat."

LaNeve credits Wolfe a great deal in several aspects of the game and life in general.

"He will help you with your homework or tough situations," LaNeve said. "He is always there for you. He stresses to keep working and never quit. He is a fighter. I hope I can fight like him."

http://www.yournorthhills.com/northh...ention-already

looks like he decommitted from BC and went to UNC
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[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG8nKdmVjHM[/ame]

[LocoMarlinFan]

"I'm kind of leaning toward school," LaNeve said. "I've got a good situation at North Carolina, and it would be pretty tough to pass up."

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt...#ixzz1Okef7ZqY

More info

http://baseballbeginnings.com/2010/0...me-4#more-8597

http://baseballbeginnings.com/2010/0...ders#more-9608

[emkayseven]

well at one time he was leaning toward BC so things change

[emkayseven]

It was a phone call that Zac LaNeve had to pull over to take.

He was driving his younger sister, Alexandra, to take her driver’s test when his phone rang. It was the Florida Marlins on the other end.

“I had been watching the [Major League Baseball] draft, but I hadn’t been picked so I decided to take her,” the 18-year-old said. “When I saw who it was, I definitely pulled over, parked and took the call.”

It was the call that may change his life.

LaNeve knew he was a good player – he had been recruited by colleges since he completed his freshman year at Pine-Richland High School, and he had accepted a baseball scholarship to the University of North Carolina. But he wasn’t sure he would be drafted by a major league team.

“It was wonderful, but a bit overwhelming,” he said.

After he received the news, LeNeve said he shared it with Alex and his good friend and fellow baseball player, Tyler Lawrence.

“They were so happy for me, we were just jumping in the car,” he said, laughing.

Then the phone rang again. This time, it was his dad, Matt.

“He was watching the draft and saw my name come up. He was so happy.”

Matt LaNeve said he and his wife, Dayna, knew fairly early on that Zac loved baseball.

“I remember him walking around with a bat in his hand when he was only 1. He was always hitting the balls that a neighbor would throw him, and then he played with his brothers,” the elder LaNeve said.

Richland Township residents Matt and Dayna are also the parents of Cody; 14, Troy, 11; and Christian, 7. All of the boys play baseball, and as a proud dad, Matt has something to say about all of their games.

“Cody loves playing and is quite good and Troy is the homerun king. Christian may actually be the one who is most into it,” he said.

Alex loves playing sports and is quite the natural athlete, but doesn’t have a favorite, according to her father.

“I think she lasts in a particular sport about one year before she moves to another,” he joked.

When the college recruiters started knocking on the LaNeves' door, Zac’s brothers were ready to help him choose a college.

“Troy is bigger and more outgoing and Zac is more reserved, so he would always want to take him along on the recruiting trips – he was his little agent,” said Matt LaNeve.

On the other hand, Christian was convinced they wanted to recruit him.

“When the coach came from Baylor, he kept saying, ‘You know he is really coming to see me,’” said Matt.

Both Zac and Matt LaNeve said the recruiting process was a bit overwhelming at times. The close family talked a lot about Zac’s options.

Matt LaNeve said he also asked for advice from his good friend, Bob Mollenhauer, whose son, Dale, plays for the Baltimore Orioles franchise. Dale graduated from Pine-Richland with Pittsburgh Pirates player Neil Walker.

“Dale went to college first and then was drafted, so it can go both ways,” said Matt LaNeve.

Now that Zac LaNeve has heard from the Marlins, he will wait to see what their final offer is before he decides to go right into professional baseball or head off to college.

Either way, Matt LaNeve said he and his wife will leave it up to Zac.

“If you had asked me a year ago, I would have definitely said Zac had to go to college. But this is his dream,” the elder LaNeve said. “I did make him promise that if he goes right to the MLB, that he will go back and get his degree later.”

In the meantime after the call, Zac LaNeve finished his errand and took Alex for her driver’s test. She passed.

“It was a good day for our family,” he said.

http://pine-richland.patch.com/artic...ons-for-future

[LocoMarlinFan]

Will not sign.

#Marlins 44th-round pick Zack LaNeve is already going to school and #Cubs 14th-round pick Dillon Maples could go either way. #mlbdraft #UNC

http://twitter.com/#!/KendallRogersPG