Summer Baseball League Update #1

Stetson's Benjamin Carhart has twice put his name in contention for a Player of the Week award in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League. For the season he ranks in the top five in average, home runs and RBI. His 17 RBI trail the league lead by only one.

In the prestigious Cape Cod League, A-Sun Player of the Year Paul Hoilman has shined early, slugging a pair of home runs and a league-leading seven doubles for Cotuit. Overall the first baseman owns a .262 average and his .370 on-base percentage ranks sixth among those with at least 50 at bats.

Billy Burns, on of the catalyst's for Mercer's A-Sun championship squad has carried his stellar play to the Coastal Plain League. He ranks fifth in average at .356, fourth in on-base percentage (.468) and trails the league leader in runs by one with 23. Campbell's Jacob Smith owns a 0.82 ERA and a pair of saves in seven appearances. His teammate, Corey Carver, has held hitters to a .169 batting average in 24.2 innings for Wilmington. A third Camel, pitcher Joe Wagstaff owns a pair of complete games in six starts and ranks fifth in batting average against at .162, yet is only 2-2 despite a sparkling .169 ERA. Kennesaw State's Jeff has split four decisions with a 2.63 ERA. USC Upstate's Phillip Brannon has a 3-1 record and a 3.19 ERA for Forest City. Belmont backstop Matt Zeblo maintains a .303 average for Wilson.

A-Sun Freshman of the Year Dan Gulbransen has paced the way for Licking County of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. The Dolphin outfielder has hit .354 and ranks in the top 10 in hits and runs scored. His teammate both in the Summer League and with the Dolphins, Adam Brett Walker III, has supplied the power, hitting five home runs and two triples to rank third in the league in slugging percentage. His 21 RBI places him in second. Amongst the pitchers, Mercer's J.T. Odom ranks third in the league in strikeouts, having fanned 21 in only 14.2 innings of work. He owns a 1.26 ERA in nine appearances. Kennesaw State's Andrew Austin ranks second in the league in saves with four. Campbell's Matt Marksberry has also excelled early in the summer. The Camel pitcher has allowed only four hits in 11.2 innings of work and owns a .114 batting average against. Mercer's Russell Moses has surrendered five hits in 13.2 innings and has held hitters to a .116 average.

In the Jayhawk League Lipscomb signee Connor Sinclair has started strong for the El Dorado Broncos, posting a 2-0 record while ranking second in the league with a 1.23 ERA (2 ER in 15.2 IP).

Lipscomb catcher Brett Teschner landed on the All-Star game in the Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League. He is batting .284 with a .422 on-base percentage. He has six doubles, one home run and 11 RBI.

ETSU's All-Atlantic Sun catcher Derek Trent has slugged four home runs and drove in 11 RBI for Laconia of the the New England Collegiate Baseball League. His home run total ranks second in the league. Fellow Buccaneer, Bo Burton leads Vermont with a 2.28 ERA

ETSU's Matthew Scruggs leads Oneonta Outlaws of the New York Collegiate Baseball League with a .333 average. Lipscomb's Tennyson Dodd ranks second on the Niagara Power in average at .306 and doubles, with four.

Mercer's Jacob Tanis, the MVP of the A-Sun Championship has lit up opposing staffs in the Northwoods League. He ranks fourth in the league in average at .371 and paces Alexandria in doubles, home runs, RBI and slugging percentage. His teammate, David Randall, has proven to be nearly unhittable, posting a 0.40 ERA in 22.1 innings of work. He has struck out 21 batters and held the opposition to a .130 average. Also on Alexandria, Stetson's Lindsay Caughel leads the squad in wins with four and sports a 2.81 ERA after five starts. FGCU's Rob Matthews has served as one of Brainerd's top set-up men, owning a 0.79 ERA in eight appearances. UNF's Robbie Collier leads Duluth in wins, three, and strikeouts, 26, while sporting a 2.03 ERA. FGCU's Sean Dwyer leads Willmar with a .513 slugging percentage and ranks second with seven doubles and a .321 average. Fellow Eagle Jacob Barnes has registered three saves and has struck out 18 batters in 12.2 innings. UNF's Michael Smith paces the Wisconsin Rapids in average with a .309 average and shares top honor in doubles, four.

Mercer's Brandon Love has split time between starting and relieving for the Palm Springs Power of the Southern California Collegiate Baseball Association. In 18 innings of work he owns a pair of victories and has surrendered only one earned run. He has struck out 16 batters while allowing only two walks.

A pair of of USC Upstate Spartan hurlers have started strongly for the hometown Spartanburg Blue Eagles of the Southern Collegiate Baseball League. Chris Knauff paces the squad with seven saves and owns a 1.88 ERA over 11 appearances. His teammate Gaither Bumgardner leads the team with a 1.71 ERA. Bumgardner owns a perfect 3-0 record and at the plate has posted a team-leading .338 average. Mercer's James Kimsey leads the Statesville Owls out of the pen having held the opposition to just three hits over 11 innings of work. He owns a 2-0 record and a 0.82 ERA.

A trio of A-Sun players made the Valley Baseball League All-Star game. Lipscomb's Mike Grace has posted a 2.66 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 20.1 innings out of the bullpen for Front Royal. He has held the opposition to a .157 average. Campbell's Frank Zier also made the All-Star team as he shares the league lead in wins with four. Stetson catcher Nick Rickles rounds out the All-Star choices. He leads the league have thrown out 11 potential base stealers. At the plate he has hit .290 with two home runs and 11 RBI. Recently Stetson's Ryan Lashley earned a Player of the Week award. Over a seven-game span, he hit .519 with four runs. He had 14 hits in 27 at-bats. Lashley led the offense with two doubles, a triple and a home run. On the season, he owns a .265 average with three home runs and 13 RBI.