Baseball Represented Well This Summer
08/04/2003 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
Aug. 4, 2003
By: Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill.-Southern Illinois University baseball is being represented well this summer, as several Salukis are having success with different teams across the nation. Take a look at some news and notes about these Diamond Dawgs.
Greg Andrews, 6-0, 195, 2B, Peoria, Ill. (Manual)
Member of the Thunder Bay Border Cats of the Northwoods League...the Border Cats are the only team in the league from Canada...team record is 25-32...played in 47 games and is hitting .237 with both a second-best 11 doubles and 26 RBI...ranks third on the team in hits (40)...also hit two home runs, scored 14 runs, drew 18 walks and stole two bases...Andrews was a MVC All-Tournament Team selection and a second-team all-MVC pick for the Salukis in 2003.
About the Northwoods League: The Northwoods League is an NCAA sanctioned summer baseball league comprised of teams of the top college players from the Midwest and across the nation. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate. Players are not paid (this preserves their NCAA eligibility). Each team is operated similar to a professional minor league team, providing players an opportunity to play under the same conditions using wooden bats, major league specifications, experiencing overnight road trips and playing nightly before fans in a stadium.
Northwoods League Teams: Alexandria Beetles (Alexandria, Minn.), Duluth Huskies (Duluth, Minn.), LaCrosse Loggers (LaCrosse, Wis.), Madison Mallards (Madison, Wis.), Mankato Moondogs (Mankato, Minn.), Rochester Honkers (Rochester, Minn.), St. Cloud River Bats (St. Cloud, Minn.), Thunder Bay Border Cats (Thunder Bay, Ontario), Waterloo Bucks (Waterloo, Iowa), Wisconsin Woodchucks (Wausau, Wis.).
Josh Joiner, 6-1, 180, RHP, Jonesboro, Ill. (Anna-Jonesboro)
Plays for the Harrisonburg Turks of the Valley Baseball League...team finished second in the South Division with a 26-15 record, clinching a playoff berth...appeared in 12 games, while making seven starts...carries a 3-3 record with a 2.75 ERA...struck out a third-best 49 batters in 55.2 innings of work...also combined for one shutout and threw one complete game.
Eric Haberer, 6-2, 190, LHP, Bloomington, Ill. (Bloomington)
Also plays for the Harrisonburg Turks...is 0-3 in 17 appearances on the mound...struck out 24 batters to just six walks in 27.2 innings...combined on one shutout and holds a 4.55 ERA.
About the Valley Baseball League: The Valley Baseball League gets its name from the beautiful Shenandoah Valley nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains on the east and the Allegheny Mountains on the west. The Valley League plays a 40-game schedule in 7 1/2 weeks each summer and is an NCAA sanctioned, wooden-bat league.
Valley Baseball League Teams:Covington Lumberjacks (Low Moor, Va.), Front Royal Cardinals (Front Royal, Va.), Harrisonburgh Turks (Harrisonburg, Va.), Luray Wranglers (Luray, Va.), New Market Rebels (New Market, Va.), Staunton Braves (Staunton, Va.), Waynesboro Generals (Waynesboro, Va.), Winchester Royals (Winchester, Va.).
Nathan Emrick, 6-0, 160, INF, Griggsville, Ill. (Griggsville-Perry)
Played for the Quincy Gems of the Central Illinois Collegiate League...team finished at 23-23 after being recently eliminated from tournament play...participated in mid-season CICL All-Star Game...started all 46 games...hit .226 with 18 runs scored, a second-best 38 hits, five doubles, two home runs and 11 RBI...drew 10 walks and stole four bases in seven attempts.
About the CICL: The Central Illinois Collegiate League is one of only ten summer collegiate baseball leagues certified by the NCAA. Certified leagues adhere to a strict set of rules set forth by the NCAA in order to maintain certification and receive financial support from Major League Baseball through the NCAA. The CICL has been an NCAA certified league since its beginning in 1963.
CICL Teams: Bluff City Bombers (Bethalto, Ill.), Danville Dans (Danville, Ill.), Decatur Blues (Decatur, Ill.), Quincy Gems (Quincy, Ill.), Springfield Rifles (Springfield, Ill.), Twin City Stars (Normal, Ill.).
Cory Newman, 5-9, 170, OF, Ottawa, Ill. (Illinois Valley C.C.)
Member of the Harwich Mariners of the prestigious Cape Cod League...team record is 19-22...saw action in 37 games...hits .243 with nine runs scored, 27 hits, two doubles, one home run and nine RBI...also committed just two errors and stole three bases.
P.J. Finigan, 5-11, 170, SS, Springfield, Ill. (Lanphier)
Plays for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox who is also a member of the Cape Cod League...team record is 19-22...played in 25 games without committing an error...leads YD with 13 appearances out of the bullpen...is 2-0 with a 3.48 ERA...in 31 innings, he has struck out 19 batters and issued seven walks...also earned one save.
About the Cape Cod League: Since 1885, the Cape Cod League has been the premier amateur baseball league in the nation. The CCBL showcases some of the best talent in collegiate baseball.
Cape Cod League Teams: Bourne Braves (Monument Beach, Mass.), Brewster Whitecaps (Brewster, Mass.), Chatham Athletics (Chatham, Mass.), Cotuit Kettleers (Cotuit, Mass.), Falmouth Commodores (Mashpee, Mass.), Hyannis Mets (Hyannis, Mass.), Orleans Cardinals (Orleans, Mass.), Wareham Gatemen (Wareham, Mass.), Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox (So. Yarmouth, Mass.).
In other news...2004 signees Grant Gerrard (Castle Rock, Colo.) and Jason Chavez (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) have also been keeping busy this summer. Gerrard is currently playing for the Bellefonte Bandits of the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League. The Bandits are atop the league standings with a 19-3 mark. In 18 games played, Gerrard is hitting .418 with 15 runs scored, seven doubles, a triple, one home run and 13 RBI. He also appeared five times on the mound, where he is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA.
Chavez is 8-0 with a 1.77 ERA for the Cape Capahas. In 61 innings, he struck out 70 and walked 19, while only giving up 44 hits and 12 earned runs. The Capahas are currently 32-27 and Chavez is scheduled to pitch Friday against either the Wichita Braves or the St. Joe's (Mo.) Saints.
On the professional front...former Saluki outfielder Sal Frisella is hitting a second-best .330 for the Johnson City Cardinals (Johnson City, Tenn.), the rookie affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. After 42 games, Frisella currently ranks second in runs (21), third in hits (37), tied for fourth in doubles (6), second in home runs (5) and third in RBI (22).
Meanwhile, former two-time all-MVC catcher Toby Barnett is playing for the Gulf Coast League Phillies (Clearwater, Fla.), the rookie affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. Barnett has seen action in 18 games and is hitting .173 with two runs scored, nine hits, a pair of doubles and four RBI.