Brookhaven Student Signs With N.C. State

Pace Academy senior baseball player Raphael Ramirez, a Brookhaven resident, signed a National Letter of Intent on Nov. 13, the first day of the NCAA early signing period. The Knights centerfielder will join the North Carolina State Wolfpack.  

Ramirez's teammate Jared Datoc, a relief pitcher and starting shortstop, signed the same day with Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Datoc and Ramirez have been power players for the Knights since they were freshmen, according to a press release from Pace Academy. For three years they ombined to lead the team in every offensive category. 

Entering their junior season, Datoc and Ramirez were named 2013 Perfect Game Pre-Season High School All-Americans, identifying them as two of the top high school players in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. This past June, they traveled to Minneapolis to participate in Perfect Game’s National Showcase.

Later in the summer, Ramirez headed to Arizona to represent Georgia in the annual Area Code Games, and in October, Datoc and Ramirez traveled to Jupiter, Fla., where a field of the nation’s 85 elite club teams vied for the title of World Wood Bat Association World Champions.
“Jared and Raphael have made a tremendous impact on our baseball program during their time at Pace,” said Pace Academy Head Coach Matt Hall in the press release . “I look forward to coaching them during their final season as Knights and to following their college careers in the years to come.”

The Knights kick off their 2014 season on Jan. 13.
CAPTIONS
Coach Hall: L to R, Raphael Ramirez, Pace Academy Head Baseball Coach Matt Hall and Jared Datoc.
Ramirez Family: Pace Academy senior Raphael Ramirez’s parents, Ralph Ramirez and Jolie Malavé, look on as the centerfielder commits to play baseball at North Carolina State. Ramirez’s brother, Angelo Ramirez, is standing.
Ramirez_Pace: Ramirez (seated center) signs his letter of intent to play for the NC State Wolfpack while his parents and representatives from Pace Academy look on.