Baseball Summer Update: August 8
BUIES CREEK, N.C.-Summer collegiate baseball is in full swing across the country, and five Camels are honing their skills in four leagues.
Jimmy Brenneman (Hamilton Joes / Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League) – Brenneman led the charge for Hamilton to lock in the No. 2 seed in the GLSCL South Division playoffs, going 15-5 in its last 20 games. The Joes were eliminated in the opening round of the playoffs, 10-0, by the No. 3 Xenia Scouts. The West Chester, Ohio native was 0-for-4 in the Joes only playoff game. Brenneman finished the season 13th in the league in batting average (.323) and ranked among the leaders in a number of other categories. The rising Campbell senior ranked first in runs (35), second in walks (24), tied for second in stolen bases (17), third in times hit by pitch (9), third in on-base percentage (.460) and 15th in hits (41). The GLSCL All-Star paced the Joes to a 24-18 overall record on the season.
Erick Gaylord (Watertown Wizards / Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League) – Gaylord posted an outstanding summer, nearly grabbing the triple crown of the Perfect Game Collegiate League. The rising Campbell senior led the league in home runs (10) and RBIs (42), while ranking fourth in batting average (.360). Gaylord also led the league in total bases (100), ranked second in stolen bases (21) and tied for second in runs scored (37). Watertown finished the year 18-29. Gaylord was named a PGCL All-Star and claimed headlines this summer with a four home run game midway through the season.
Matt Marksberry (Hamilton Joes / Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League) – One of Hamilton's lead arms both starting and out of the bullpen, Marksberry helped Hamilton qualify as the No. 2 seed in the GLSCL South Division playoffs, going 15-5 in its last 20 games. The Joes were eliminated in the opening round of the playoffs, 10-0, by the No. 3 Xenia Scouts. Marksberry was the first out of the bullpen in the Joes loss to Xenia, going 2/3 of an inning with three runs on three hits, two strikeouts and a walk. The Batavia, Ohio finished the summer with a 2-3 record, a 3.49 ERA and one save. Hamilton was 24-18 on the season.
Ryan Mattes (Peninsula Pilots / Coastal Plain League) – Mattes fashioned a 2.00 ERA in four appearances with a 1-0 record for the Pilots. The rising junior fanned eight and walked only one in nine innings.
Jake Smith (St. Cloud River Bats / Northwoods League) – Smith is 2-4 with a 5.51 ERA and one save over the summer campaign. The rising Campbell senior has fanned 19 in 32 2/3 innings spread over nine games, notching seven starts. In his last outing, Smith was charged with a loss, a July 31 start, allowing three runs on three hits with a strikeout and two walks against the Rochester Honkers. The River Bats are 29-34 this season, wrapping up the summer on Aug. 14 at Brainerd.
