University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Baseball Summer Leagues Update
July 13, 2009 | Baseball
July 13, 2009
AMHERST, Mass. - Twelve members of the UMass baseball squad are currently honing their skills on the diamond in summer league action, with 11 Minutemen playing for teams in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) and one out in Michigan in the Northwoods League. Highlighted by rising junior Nick Serino's NECBL Co-Pitcher of the Week honor that was announced today, here is an update on UMass' summer league competitors.
Nick Serino was named the NECBL Co-Pitcher of the Week following a tremendous outing against Vermont (7/9). Against the Mountaineers, who went into the game with the third-best offense in the league, Serino hurled a five-hit complete game shutout and struck out 12 batters, while walking three.
Charlie Benson had a highly successful week for the Danbury Westerners. Benson threw a total of 4.1 scoreless innings and gave up just two hits with six strikeouts and no walks. Benson's control has been impeccable thus far as he has only walked two batters in 22.0 innings on the hill, while striking out 14 on the season.
Benson's Highlights For 7/6-7-12: Threw 1.1 scoreless innings of relief in 5-0 loss to New Bedford (7/6) and allowed one hit, struck out two and walked none ... Worked three scoreless innings in 4-1 loss at Sanford (7/10) and surrendered only one hit with no walks and four strikeouts.
Cameron McMullen (SS/2B), a transfer who will begin his first season with the Minutemen as a junior next spring, is currently riding a nine-game hitting streak as a member of the North Adams SteepleCats. McMullen had three multiple-hit games last week and went a combined 8-for-18 (.444) over five games.
McMullen's Highlights For 7/6-7-12: Went 2-for-4 in 4-3 loss at Vermont (7/7) ... Hit 2-for-5 in 9-5 setback vs. Pittsfield (7/8) ... Batted 2-for-4 with a run scored in 5-2 win over North Shore (7/10) ... Was 1-for-2 with a double in a 2-1 loss to Danbury (7/11) ... Drove in a run and went 1-for-3 in a 8-1 victory over New Bedford (7/12).
All-Atlantic 10 first team outfielder Mike Donato has seen significant playing time in Manchester this summer, starting 18 games thus far. Donato's bat helped the squad snap a nine-game losing streak and go on to win three of its five games last week, including driving in the winning run in the seventh inning ofa a 6-5 victory against Sanford.
Donato's Highlights For 7/6-7/12: Went 1-for-4 in 6-4 win vs. Vermont (7/6) ... Hit 1-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI in a 6-5 triumph over Sanford (7/9) ... Was 1-for-5 with a run scored in a 5-3 victory at Lowell (7/12).
Joining Donato on the Silkworms' roster is Minuteman-to-be, Eric Fredette, an incoming transfer from Vermont. The infielder played in four of vie games last week, starting three and drove in the tying run in the eighth inning of the team's come-from-behind win at Lowell (7/12).
Fredette's Highlights For 7/6-7/12: Started and drew a walk in 6-4 win vs. Vermont (7/6) ... Appeared in the starting lineup and walked once in a 5-1 loss to New Bedford (7/11) ... Went 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in a 5-3 victory against Lowell (7/12).
A late addition to New Bedford's Roster, 2009 A-10 All-Rookie Team selection Tom Conley has seen nearly half of his playing time come within the past week, appearing in five of the team's six games and making two starts. Though he did not have a hit in New Bedford's win over Danbury on Monday, Conley was behind the plate for all nine innings of the 2-1 win. The catcher has a perfect fielding percentage thus far.
Conley's Highlight's For 7/6-7/12: Had pinch hit RBI single in 6-5 loss to Newport (7/10) ... Walked twice and scored a run in 5-1 win over Manchester (7/11).
Another late roster addition, Matt Gedman has stepped right into a starting role with Lowell as the shortstop got the nod in all seven games last week, hitting safely in six of those contests. Gedman currently has an active five-game hitting streak.
Matt Gedman's Highlights For 7/6-7/12: Was 1-for-3 in 1-0 win over Vermont (7/9) ... Hit 1-for-3 with a run scored in 6-2 win vs. Pittsfield (7/10) ... Batted 1-for-4 with two RBI in 17-6 loss to Newport ... Went 1-for-4 with a double in 8-5 loss to Sanford (7/11) ... Was 1-for-3 in a 5-3 loss to Manchester (7/12) ... Drove in a run and finished 1-for-4 in 3-1 loss to Danbury (7/12).
Mike Gedman, who came out of the bullpen this spring in addition to playing first for the Minutemen, has transitioned into a starting role on the mound for the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers this summer. Gedman holds a 2.53 ERA and has seen spot time in the batting order, as well, both as a first baseman and a designated hitter.
Mike Gedman's Highlights For 7/6-7-12: Started two games in the field ... Went 1-for-3 with an RBI in a 5-4 loss to Alexandria (7/8) ... Hit 1-for-4 with an RBI in a 6-0 win vs. Green Bay (7/10) ... On the mound, threw 6.0 innings of a 6-3 win vs. Duluth, but did not record the decision ... Allowed three runs on 10 hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
Bryan Leigh made his first start of the season for Lowell, but did not earn a decision in the team's 8-5 setback vs. Sanford. The start was the sixth appearance of the year for Leigh, who boasts a 2.12 ERA.
Leigh's Highlights For 7/6-7/12: Threw six innings in 8-5 setback against Sanford (7/11) ... Allowed four runs, two earned, on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
Jared Freni is a member of North Shore's starting rotation and is averaging over one strikeout per-inning this season. Freni fanned nine over six innings in the season opener against Sanford back in June and now has 30 strikeouts in 25.2 innings on the season.
Freni's Highlights For 7/6-7/12: Started vs. Sanford (7/8) and was hooked for the loss in the 5-0 setback ... Allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts in 4.0 innings of work.
After joining the North Shore roster late to provide depth in the bullpen, Glen Misho has appeared in seven games for a total of 6.2 innings.
Misho's Highlights For 7/6-7/12: Made a relief appearance in a 17-7 loss to Pittsfield (7/12) ... Let up six earned runs on four hits in one inning on the mound and walked three.
Kyle Multner played in five of North Shore's six games last week, starting four, and reached base in four of those contests.
Multner's Highlights For 7/6-7-12: Hit 1-for-4 with a triple and a run scored in a 10-3 win vs. Lowell (7/6) ... Had one of team's four hits in 5-0 lost to Sanford (7/8) ... Walked in back-to-back games, losses to North Adams (5-2, 7/10) and Newport (5-4, 7/11).
CURRENT MINUTEMEN PLAYING SUMMER BALL
