THE PROSPECT LEAGUE PROSPECT(US)

For the Love of the Game since 1963

 

GAME DAY – Sunday, July 14, 2019

 

HANNIBAL, 0  DUPAGE, 13   (GM 1) - The DuPage Pistol Shrimp were fully loaded in game one of Sunday’s doubleheader, with the DuPage offense manufacturing 13 runs on 13 hits, and the Pistol Shrimp pitching staff shutting out Hannibal, limiting them to just three harmless base hits.

DuPage starter Logan Schmitt, (W, 2-0, 2.70 ERA), from Bolingbrook, IL, a sophomore at Miami University, pitched five complete innings, giving up just two hits and two walks while striking out five of the 20 batters he faced. Reliever Garrett Navarra, (0-0, 4.37 ERA), didn’t factor into a decision or earn a save, while pitching two shutout innings, giving up only one hit, he did not walk anyone and he struck out four of the seven batters he faced.

Pistol Shrimp, third baseman Kyle Kolb from Roanoke, IL, a senior at Missouri Valley College, hit three home runs with 10 RBI, the 10 RBI set a new Prospect League single-game record, surpassing the record set earlier this season by the Cape Catfish slugger Taylor Pridgen, who drove in nine runs, breaking the previous record that was eight RBI, held and set by Matt Baer, for the Quincy Gems, June 20, 2011 & Chad Roberts, Chillicothe Paints, June 25, 2017.

BOXSCORE

 

HANNIBAL, 2  DUPAGE, 1  (GM 2) - A stark contrast from the 13-0 loss in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader, the Hoots regrouped and won the nightcap 2-0.

On the mound for the Hoots, starter Jacob Young, (W, 1-0, 4.83 ERA, 1 SV), from Lisle, IL, a freshman at Morton College, won his first game, tossing 4.1 innings, giving up just one run on five hits and a walk with a single strikeout. Reliever Matt Ottsen, (1-2, 10.80 ERA, 2 SVs), from St. Louis, MO, a sophomore at Bucknell University, earned his second save in his scoreless one and a third inning on the mound, striking out two of the four batters he faced.

Hannibal scored two runs on six hits with Center-fielder Jared Wegner, from Kearney, NE, a freshman at Creighton University having the only multi-game hit, going 2-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored. The Hoots have spent a big portion of the season trying to stay out of the last place in West division, has now won six of their last ten games and are in fourth place ahead of the Normal CornBelters and Springfield Sliders.

On the hill for the Pistol Shrimp, starter Anders Davidson, (L, 2-2, 3.00 ERA), from Walla Walla, WA, a junior at San Jose State University took the loss, giving up one unearned run on two hits and three walks, while striking out two of the 10 hitters he face.

Third baseman Kyle Kolb, from Roanoke, IL, a senior at Missouri Valley College, who hit three home runs and set a new Prospect League record with 10 RBI in game one, went 1-for-2 at the plate and drew a walk.

Hannibal Hoots, 14-25-0, 4th place, West Division, 13 GB

DuPage Pistol Shrimp, 23-15-0, 2nd place, West Division, 3.5 GB

BOXSCORE

 

CHAMPION CITY, 6  WEST VIRGINIA, 9 - The Miners capped off their weekend with a 9-6 win over the Kings, as West Virginia took 3-of-4 from Champion City.

The Kings scored six runs on nine hits, struck out 13 times and did not draw a walk during the game, leaving six runners on base. Left-fielder Jacob Freeland, from Cape Coral, FL, a senior at Faulkner, University hit his fourth home run on the year, driving in three runs and driving in another run on a sac fly.

The Miners offense was led by shortstop Brock Randels, from Baldwin City, KS, a junior at Northwest Oklahoma State University, who went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored. Teammate, third baseman Clay Wisner, from Bellefontaine, OH, a sophomore at Malone University, also drove in three runs, going 2-for-3 with a double, the three RBI and a run scored.

On the mound for the Miners, starter Zachariah Devon, (W, 2-4, 7.99 ERA), from Livonia, MI, a senior at Spring Arbor University, ate up five innings, giving up five runs on seven hits and no walks, while striking out seven of the 23 batters he faced to get his second win on the year. Reliever Nick Turnbull, (2-2, 8.82 ERA, 3 SVs), earned his third save, with a scoreless frame to close out the game.

The Kings starter Jacob Bradley, (L, 1-2, 10.05 ERA), from South Charleston, WV, a junior at West Virginia State University suffered the loss, giving up nine runs on 12 hits and three walks, in just 4.1 innings pitched. Reliever Joshua Pahlad, (2-0, 4.55 ERA), from Kissimmee, FL, a junior at the University of West Florida, did a nice job out of the bullpen, shutting down the Miners for 3.2 innings, giving up just two hits and striking out two for the 12 hitters he faced.

Champion City Kings, 20-20, 5th place, East Division, 7.5 GB

West Virginia Miners, 14-27-0, 6th place, East Division, 14.0 GB

BOXSCORE

 

CHILLICOTHE, 10  LAFAYETTE, 12 – Nothing left the ballpark, but a lot of balls hit in the gaps with 23 hits, including 11 doubles and 22 runs scored in a game marred by 10 errors and a combined six unearned runs, with the Aviators coming out on top 12-10 in a game they needed to win to keep their playoff hopes alive.

On the mound for the Paints, Cody Orr, (L, 1-1, 2.96 ERA), from Rossford, OH, a sophomore at Tiffin University, had a very rough day, giving up more runs in the first inning than he had given up all season to get tagged with his first loss.

For the Aviators, reliever Tyler Kissinger, (W, 2-1, 6.94 ERA, 1 SV), from Fort Wayne, IN, a junior at Purdue Fort Wayne, picked up his second win with two and two-thirds innings of work, giving up two runs on two hits and a walk, while striking out two of the 13 batters he faced. Reliever Alex Dorethy, (0-0, 3.97 ERA, 1 SV) from Ipava, IL, a junior at Western Illinois University faced six batters in his one inning on the hill, giving up a run one hit and a walk to get credited with his first save.

The Paints scored 10 runs on nine hits and five walks, with leadoff man and center fielder Chris Eisel, from Pittsburgh, PA, a junior at Indiana University of PA, who hit for the cycle on Friday night, having another good night at the plate, going 3-for-6 with two doubles, an RBI and three runs scored.

The Aviators offense was led by right-fielder Mason Sykes, from Elk Grove Village, IL, a freshman at Wabash Valley Community College, who went 3-for-5 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored, in his best night at the plate this season.

Chillicothe Paints, 26-15-0, 2nd place, East Division, 2.0 GB

Lafayette Aviators, 21-20-0, 4th place, East Division, 7.0 GB

BOXSCORE

 

 

CAPE, 10  SPRINGFIELD, 8 - The Sliders scored first and after six were tied with the division leaders at two apiece, before the Catfish offense would explode and put six runs on the scoreboard in the seventh and if you didn’t know any better, you would have thought that would have been a knockout blow, but the scrappy Sliders, still looking for just their 10th win on the season, always seem to be in it. Springfield responded by scoring five runs in the bottom of the eighth and another run in the bottom of the ninth to keep it close. The Sliders, the ultimate underdogs are the best 9-30-0 team you are probably ever going to see play summer collegiate baseball.

The Catfish offense was led by their designated hitter, Andrew Keck, from St. Louis, MO, a freshman at Southeast Missouri State, who made his one hit, a triple, count driving in three runs. Center-fielder John Behrends, from Chattanooga, TN, a redshirt freshman at Belmont University, went 2-for-4 at the plate, with a triple of his own, driving in a run and scoring two runs. Behrends also reach base twice via a base on balls.

Catfish starter Cam Stewart, (ND, 0-1, 6.86 ERA), from Apopka, FL, a freshman at Troy University, making his first start on the season, after a couple of pitchers departing from the team due to innings restrictions placed on them this summer by their college coaches, did a great job stepping up and filling that void. He gave Cape five full innings on the hill, giving up just two runs on four hits, while striking out four of the 21 batters he faced, ending up with a no-decision for a nice effort. Reliever Braden Cox, (W, 1-1, 3.62 ERA, from Scott City, MO, a sophomore at Three Rivers College, who is already making plans to return to Cape next season, picked up his first win with a scoreless frame in the seventh. Reliever Ryan Vogt, ( 0-0, 1.35 ERA, 3 SVs), from Ava, IL, a freshman at McKendree University, earned his third save on the year with an inning of relief, giving up one run on two hits, while striking out three of the five batters he faced to avoid further damage.

Sliders starter Nick Mackdeon, (0-0, 10.80 ERA), from Windermere, FL, a junior at Trinity Baptist, gave Springfield 4.2 decent innings on the mound, scattering five hits and three walks, allowing just two runs to score while striking out four of the 20 batters he faced for a no-decision. Reliever Luke Abraham, (L, 0-1, 11.57 ERA), got ticketed with the loss, giving up three runs on a hit and four walks, in his two innings of work.

Springfield’s offense was led by leadoff man and second baseman Alex Ludwick, from Brunswick, OH, a junior at Baldwin Wallace University, who hit his fourth home run this season, going 2-for-5 at the plate, with two RBI and a run scored. Third baseman Talon File, from Springfield, IL, a sophomore at Lincoln Land Community College, hit his first home run on the year, reached base on a walk and scored twice in the loss.

Cape Catfish, 28-13-0, 1st place, West Division

Springfield Sliders, 9-30-0, 6th place, West Division

BOXSCORE

 

DANVILLE, 8  QUINCY, 10 - The Quincy Gems who were manhandled by the Dans on Saturday night, losing  20-4 to the division leaders, turned the tables on Danville on Sunday with a 10-8 win, to keep the Gems hopes for a postseason berth alive.

In the second inning, both teams scored two runs, but Quincy began to pull away after the Dans scored two more in the third and the Gems responding with four runs in the bottom of the third and three more in the fourth, giving them a 9-4 lead, enough runs for the win, as the Quincy bullpen shutdown Danville’s comeback.

The Dans got a big game out of right-fielder Sam Crail, from Sheridan, IN, a sophomore at Indiana University, who went 3-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored. Catcher Richard Sorrenti, from Tallahassee, FL, a junior at the University of Alabama, hit his third home run on the year and drove in another run with a sac-fly.

The Gems shortstop Kyle Crowl, from Council Bluffs, IA, a junior at the University of Central Oklahoma, who may be one of the most underrated players in the league, hit his 12th home run on the year, going 3-for-5 on the day, driving in three runs. In 38 games this season, Crowl is hitting .297, 12 HR, 37 RBI and has scored 40 runs and stolen six bases. Designated hitter Joey Polak, from Quincy, IL, a junior at Missouri State University, who has missed playing time this season due to a foot/toe injury, hit his eighth home run in just 15 games, 58 at-bats. He went 2-for-5 Sunday, with the dinger, three RBI and a run scored. Right-fielder Clayton Schares, from Washburn, IA, a junior at Maryville University, also went deep, hitting his third home run on the year

On the hill for Quincy, it was the bullpen taking over the game that made it possible for the Gems to get the win. Reliever CJ Grant-DeBose, (W, 2-1, 8.72 ERA), from Los Angeles, CA, a junior at Union College, getting the win, giving up one run in 2.1 innings on the mound. Reliever Ryan Ignoffo, (1-1, 5.46 ERA, 2 SVs), from Cary, IL, a freshman at Eastern Illinois University, earned his second save pitching an inning and two-thirds of scoreless relief.

Danville starter RJ Kuruts, (L, 3-1, 5.40 ERA), from Forest City, PA, a sophomore at St. John Fisher College, suffered his first loss on the year, giving up six runs on seven hits and a walk in just three innings on the mound.

Danville Dans, 27-13-0, 1st place, West Division

Quincy Gems, 23-19-0, 3rd place, West Division, 6.0 GB

BOXSCORE

 

REX, 2 NORMAL, 1  POSTPONED  - due to continual lightning in the area Sunday night’s game was suspended and will be made up on July 30th, when the REX return to the Corn Crib with the CornBelters trailing 2-1 in the 5th inning.

Terre Haute REX, 23-17-0, 3rd place, East Division, 4.5 GB

Normal CornBelters, 13-27-0, 5th place, West Division, 14.5 GB

 

PLAYER OF THE DAY – DuPage Pistol Shrimp, third baseman Kyle Kolb from Roanoke, IL, a senior at Missouri Valley College, in game one of a doubleheader against the Hannibal Hoots, hit three home runs with 10 RBI, the 10 RBI setting a new Prospect League single-game record.

 

PITCHER OF THE DAY – DuPage Pistol Shrimp starter Logan Schmitt, (W, 2-0, 2.70 ERA), from Bolingbrook, IL, a sophomore at Miami University, pitched five complete innings, in game one of a doubleheader against the Hannibal Hoots, giving up just two hits and two walks, while striking out five of the 20 batters he faced.

 

 

 

RAINOUTS

REX, 2 NORMAL, 1  POSTPONED  - Due to continual lightning in the area Sunday night’s game on July, 14th was suspended and will be made up on July 30th, when the REX return to the Corn Crib with the CornBelters trailing 2-1 in the 5th inning.

DUPAGE vs DANVILLE,  RAINOUT – Due to the projected rainfall the game between the Pistol Shrimp and Danville Dans on Sunday, June 16, will be rescheduled for a doubleheader on July 28th. The make-up game will take 30 minutes after the 1:05 PM games. Both games will be seven innings each.

 

NEWS TIP – Do you have a news tip, story or photo you would like to share with the Prospect League? Please contact, Historian & Media Representative, Ray Mileur a raymileur@prospectleague.com .