Duke’s James Ziemba has not only made the top starters list, at #5, but he was also the tallest player the Valley has seen in quite some time (since probably Jon Rauch, who also pitched in Harrisonburg, but back in 1998). James is 6-foot-10.
James was dominant for the Turks, going 3-1, 2.08 in 34 2/3 innings, while allowing only 22 hits, 10 walks, and striking out 22. James had an interesting start to his season- his first four appearances were out of the bullpen. Manager/Owner Bob Wease decided to start James on June 26th against Winchester, and all Ziemba did is throw a 5-inning no hitter, walking just 2 and striking out 1. He was a starter from that point forward, as you might expect, brilliant reader.
James also threw a dynamite game on July 23rd at Charlottesville, allowing only 2 hits, 1 unearned run, 0 walks, and 2 strikeouts in 7 innings. James was named the Valley League’s #2 prospect by Baseball America.
James also played for the Turks in 2014. He went 0-4, 10.63 in 22 innings, along with 29 hits, 18 walks, and 15 strikeouts.
The big lefty, from Hillsborough, New Jersey, is currently a redshirt sophomore at Duke. He didn’t pitch in 2014, and then threw only 9 2/3 innings in 2015, while going 0-0, 7.45. He struck out 14 batters in those almost-10 innings, but he also walked 11.
It’s pretty clear that James figured some things out this summer in the ‘Burg. Watch for an explosion on the scene in Durham this spring!
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