MCKENZIE, Tenn. (June 13, 2008) – Bethel College shortstop Craig Massey isn't sitting around by the pool taking the summer off.  He is playing baseball in the Tar Heel Summer Baseball League in North Carolina for the Anson Rough Riders; a league for collegiate players.  On Sunday, players from a couple of teams in the Tar Heel league were chosen to play against the Burlington Royals, a Rookie affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.  Massey impressed by launching a homer, the only run in a 3-1 loss to the Royals.   

From the Burlington Time News

The Burlington Royals received the type of activity that pleased manager Tony Tijerina in Sunday night's exhibition game against a makeshift team from a college summer league.

And as a bonus, the Royals won.

The 3-1 victory against a collection of players from Tar Heel Summer Baseball League teams came in efficient fashion at Burlington Athletic Stadium.

"It was a good, competitive game," Tijerina said. "Even for many of our players that have been with the Royals, it's the first exposure to a fan base."

Tijerina said he was encouraged by the effort and the attention to detail. Despite acknowledging some nerves from his team, Tijerina said there were no missed signs during the game.

Burlington catcher Miguel Moctezuma said it was good to go through a game prior to the start of the Appalachian League season Tuesday night against the visiting Danville Braves.

"I was kind of nervous out there, first game in the minor leagues," Moctezuma said. "I settled in (behind the plate) after a couple of pitches."

Burlington's opponent was supposed to be the Monroe Channelcats of the Tar Heel Summer Baseball League. But disciplinary measures taken against that team for off-field player conduct caused league president Wesley Cook to hastily arrange for a replacement club to bring to Sunday night's game.

So members of the Anson Rough Riders and Pageland Red Roosters, who found out about the assignment Saturday night, filled in as the opposition. These are players in a college summer league, and Cook thanked them for their performance afterward.

Tijerina said members of the parent Kansas City staff on hand took note of some of the college players and might file that information away for future use in amateur scouting.

The college team scored first, with shortstop Craig Massey homering off Victor Jorge in the fourth inning. Massey finished his freshman season at Bethel College.

The Royals finally scored when left fielder Julio Aparicio tripled to left-center field and scored on a wild pitch in the fifth inning. They won it in the seventh, with Allen Caldwell scoring on a wild pitch and Carlo Testa crossing the plate on catcher Yenssi Reyes' single.

That made reliever O.D. Gonzalez the winning pitcher.

Both teams were limited to four hits.