Though we ring in a new month, we start to wind down the summer leagues across America. Over the next few weeks leagues will wrap up as mid-August forces student-athletes to prepare for their academics and head back to campus. Just not our Buckeyes as our quarter system does not have us start until late September.
Anyhow, here is the latest on our Buckeyes around the diamond.
Coastal Plain League
Asheboro Copperheads
Brett McKinney: (3-2) 6 G, 6 GS, 30.0 IP, 6.30 ERA, 32 H, 25 R, 21 ER, 25 BB, 32 SO, .278 BAA, 1.90 WHIP
Jared Strayer: (4-0), 7 G, 6 GS, 36.2 IP, 2.45 ERA, 33 H, 12 R, 10 ER, 16 BB, 27 SO, .244 BAA, 1.33 WHIP.
Thoughts: With all due respect to Strayer, every time you look at his last outing you have to pinch yourself, then once you realize it is indeed real, its hard not to be excited about what this could mean for the Buckeyes in 2011. In Friday's 1-0 win over Gastonia the side-armed Strayer pitched eight innings, scattering six hits, walking two with five strikeouts to stay perfect on the summer. It is fairly safe to say he continues to shine the brightest of our Buckeyes this summer.
Following up Strayer's victory was one for McKinney in Saturday's 11-4 win. Though unlike Strayer, McKinney has been inconsistent this summer as his line of 5 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 5 BB, 3 SO could suggest. While unable to ride any current highs, but also not falling into a long string of sub par outings which is a positive. Still the walks continue to be an issue for McKinney, who is almost at one per inning, combined with hits, is averaging nearly two base runners for every three outs.
Florida State League
Orlando Mavericks
Hunter Mayfield: 29 G, 100 AB, 25 H, .250 AVG, 10 R, 3 2B, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 7 BB, 2 HBP, 20 SO, .306 OBP, .310 SLG, .613 OPS
Winter Park Diamond Dogs
Brad Hutton: 31 G, 99 AB, 24 H, .242 AVG, 19 R, 5 2B, 6 HR, 23 RBI, 11 BB, 10 HBP, 32 SO, .369 OBP, .475 SLG, .844 OPS
It's been a very hot last 10 games for our Floridian Buckeyes. Mayfield has collected 10 hits in 33 at-bats for a .303 average. This comes with improved plate discipline as the outfielder has collect five walks with five strikeouts. When last updated, his strikeouts against walks were piling up at an alarming rate so this is a positive.
For Hutton, the last 10 games have been equally as impressive. The catcher has belted three home runs while driving in 10. A participant in the league's home run derby, Hutton now leads the league with six home runs on the summer, his 23 RBI's stand third. Though with Hutton's power comes strikeouts as he has struck out in nine of the last 10 games, 10 times overall. But an OPS near .850 with wood against Division I competition you don't mind the strikeouts for the JUCO transfer.
The league is in their postseason with these two teams squaring off in a three-game series starting today.
Great Lakes League
Delaware Cows
Matt Streng: 34 G, 34 GS, 127 AB, 40 H, .315 AVG, 20 R, 9 2B, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 17 BB, 3 HBP, 18 SO, .405 OBP, .409 SLG, 5-8 SB-SBA
Theron Minium: (2-0) 4.41 ERA, 4 G, 4 GS, 16.1 IP, 16 H, 10 R, 8 ER, 4 BB, 10 SO, .250 BAA, 1.22 WHIP
Thoughts: Minium has not pitched in the last two weeks since our last update so there is not much to discuss there. Streng however has continued to see the ball well and hit, raising his average nearly .30 points in a few weeks. While the pitching as a whole in the GLSCL does not match the depth of the Big Ten rotations, for Streng to perform like this is a great sign heading into his senior season. With a near 1:1 BB:K ratio, the Buckeye first baseman is seeing the ball better, and with a healthy OPS is showing the pop we saw in 2009.
Stark County Terriers
Ryan Cypret: 31 G, 28 GS, 103 AB, 26 H, .252 AVG, 16 R, 5 2B, 1 3B, 12 RBI, 8 BB, 5 HBP, 11 SO, .320 SLG, .336 OBP, .656 OPS, 4-4 SB-SBA
Thoughts: It's been a rough summer for Cypret. In addition to struggling a bit at the plate, in the field seven erros have led to a .939 fielding percentage. Still it is beneficial for Cypret to get the extended playing time and addition at-bats that he has. A lot might be expected of him come to 2011 so this summer will be a tool in knowing what he needs to improve on.
New York Collegiate Baseball League
Mohawk Valley DiamondDogs
Greg Solomon: 26 G, 21 GS, 81 AB, 16 H, .198 AVG, 7 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 4 BB, 3 HBP, 26 SO, 3-4 SB-SBA
Thoughts: Little is known about the JUCO from Arizona and unfortunately the summer doesn't paint a pretty picture. As his summer in the NYCBL concludes Solomon struck out nearly one third of the time, while collecting just three extra-base hits.
Northwoods League
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
Brad Hallberg: 30 G, 75 AB, 16 H, .213 AVG, 2 R, 3 RBI, 11 BB, 8 SO, .213 SLG, .314 OBP, .527 OPS.
Thoughts: Its been a rough summer for Hallberg. Unable to find a flow and hampered by inconsistent playing time, the Buckeye third baseman has yet to turn the corner. There are positives such as the walks against the number of strikeouts, but for someone who could be a major force in the Buckeye lineup, having gone 75 at-bats without an extra-base hit is concerning.
Prospect League
West Virginia Miners
Dean Wolosiansky: (5-1) 8 G, 8 GS, 61.0 IP, 1.33 ERA, 42 H, 11 R, 9 ER, 23 BB, 50 SO, .201 BAA, 1.06 WHIP.
Thoughts: Dean has not pitched since his gem last Monday which is good for he and Coach Beals as Wolosiansky threw 141 pitches. The second time in 11 days his pitch count was 135+. Still there is little negative that could be said of the summer Wolosiansky is having. While Strayer's has been the most surprising, Wolosiansky's could mean the most for the Buckeyes. If he has restablished his command and is attacking hitters, a Wolosiansky of 2008 could greatly help the Buckeyes.
Valley League
Luray Wranglers
Andrew Armstrong: (0-0) G 1, GS 0, IP 0.2, 0.00 ERA, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 0 K, .000 BAA, WHIP 1.50
Brian DeLucia: 29 G, 18 GS, 67 AB, 17 H, .254 AVG, 8 R, 2 2B, 10 RBI, 10 BB, 21 SO, .284 SLG, .346 OBP, .630 OPS
Drew Rucinski: (5-1) 2 SV, 12 G, 6 GS, 43.1 IP, 2.28 ERA, 41 H, 14 R, 11 ER, 8 BB 39 SO, .256 BAA, 1.13 WHIP
Thoughts: July 29th sure was a good day for Buckeye baseball. Not only did Rucinski wheel a gem scattering eight hits in seven innings, allowing just one unearned run, the pitcher that relieved Rucinski was Andrew Armstrong. Armstrong making his first appearance on a mound in 2010 after having arm surgery nearly one year ago that forced him to miss all of the spring season. Armstrong recorded two outs before issuing a walk in his relief appearance.
Again the Buckeye power void continues this time falling on DeLucia. The most experienced Buckeye bat is suffering a similar fate that everyone but Hutton seems to be finding. With the wood DeLucia has picked up just a pair of doubles. For someone with the bat of DeLucia this could be the most puzzling summer slump. but starting in half of your team's game can't help one establish any flow I would imagine.
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