Ryan Daniels had just nine days between his last his high school game and his first one at the next level.
The recent St. Paul star is on the roster of the New Britain Bees, who play in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England. The league allows incoming college freshmen to play in it, so why not take advantage when your hometown is not far away in Meriden?
Daniels, headed to UConn in the fall, had a great debut for New Britain in a 5-4 road win over the Brockton Rox on June 22. He went 2-for-4 with a double and two stolen bases. Daniels played in his home opener against the Worcester Bravehearts on June 24, and he began it with a bang. He drew a 3-0 count in his first at bat in the bottom of the second inning. Daniels took a strike but didn’t pass on the next one, smashing it over the right field fence at New Britain Stadium for a solo home run. Later in the game, the shortstop ran down a groundball almost in center field, whirled and fired a strike to first base for the out.
Through two games, Daniels is hitting .429 (3-7) with two extra-base hits, an RBI and two stolen bases. In the field, Daniels has handled nine chances without an error, including seven assists.
PHOTO CAPTION: Ryan Daniels is off to a great start so far with the New Britain Bees of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England. (Copyright, Sports on CT-69, file)
