Summer Baseball Roundup

With most of the country's summer collegiate baseball leagues coming to a close, several Duke baseball players have made tremendous impacts on their respective teams. Six Blue Devils were named all-stars, while numerous others have led their teams to post-season success. All-in-all, Duke was well-represented in various leagues while several players have flashed signs of what to expect during the 2008 season.

“We are pleased with the progress of our players around the country,” head coach Sean McNally said. “The summer is a very important development period, and as a whole the group took advantage of their time away from campus to elevate their strengths and eliminate limitations on the diamond. We are excited to welcome them back to campus and eager to have them join our incoming freshman for the 2008 season.”

Will Currier ? RHP/INF ? Freshman
Texas Collegiate League (Brazos Valley Bombers)
Right-hander Will Currier tossed a seven-inning shutout in his last start for the Brazos Valley Bombers on July 31. Currier limited fellow teammate Matt Williams' Duncanville Deputies to two hits and a walk through the seven-inning affair while racking up six strikeouts in his first summer-league complete game. The victory was the third of the season for Currier and lowered his ERA to 3.63, nearly a full run lower than it was following his previous start. For the season, Currier held opposing hitters to a .220 batting average through 34 innings of work and allowed just two homers all summer.

Brazos Valley Bombers
http://www.bvbombers.com/

Jonathan Foreman ? RHP/INF ? Freshman
Coastal Plain League (Asheboro Copperheads)
Two-way Blue Devil Jonathan Foreman filled multiple roles for the Asheboro Copperheads, seeing time as a pitcher and the team's third baseman. The Duke right-hander made eight starts on the mound and posted a 3.48 ERA through 54.1 innings of work, racking up 36 strikeouts and one complete game. The utility infielder also made several appearances at third base and drove in nine RBI while crossing the plate eight times. He knocked 15 hits, including two doubles and a triple.

Asheboro Copperheads
http://www.teamcopperhead.com/

Nate Freiman ? C/INF ? Sophomore
Cape Cod League (Orleans Cardinals)
Blue Devil first baseman Nate Freiman had continued success for the Orleans Cardinals in the Cape Cod League. After leading Duke with a .369 batting average as a sophomore, Freiman posted a .286 clip in one of the most competitive summer wooden bat leagues in the country. With 28 RBI, he drove in the fifth-most runs in The Cape while ranking among top-10 in the league with 42 hits. Eight of his 42 knocks went for extra bases, including two home runs and five doubles. Freiman was also the recipient of the 2007 Manny Robello Award, a Cape Cod League honor that recognizes players for their service both on and off the field.

Orleans Cardinals
http://www.orleanscardinals.com/

Michael Ghizzoni ? OF ? Freshman
Southern Collegiate Baseball League (Davidson Copperheads)
Duke outfielder Michael Ghizzoni appeared in 18 games for Davidson and knocked 13 hits, including two doubles and a home run, to drive in six RBI and score eight runs for the Copperheads. He also came up safe in all eight of his stolen base attempts and boasted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.

Davidson Copperheads
http://www.scbl.org/viewpage.asp?key=15050&pi=Team

Jeremy Gould ? LHP/INF ? Freshman
Texas Collegiate League (Denton Outlaws)
Duke southpaw Jeremy Gould was one of the most valuable pieces of the Denton Outlaws' lineup after seeing action on the mound, in the field and at the plate. Gould drove in 19 runs and scored 10 of his own after knocking 21 hits, including a double, triple and a home run. He also swiped three bases and compiled a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 92 chances. Gould was also 1-0 as a reliever and held opposing hitters to a .243 batting average.

Denton Outlaws
http://www.thedentonoutlaws.com/

Alexander Hassan ? RHP/OF ? Freshman
New England Collegiate Baseball League (Pittsfield Dukes)
Two-way Blue Devil Alex Hassan became a staple of the Pittsfield Dukes lineup and started 38 of the team's 41 games. Hassan was successful at the plate and on the base paths, boasting a .303 average and 18 steals in 19 attempts. He led the team in numerous categories, including runs (34), doubles (8), RBI (19), stolen bases and on base percentage (.408). He was perfect defensively and ranked among the top-three in the league in stolen bases, runs scored, walks (26) and sacrifice flies (4). Hassan also logged three pitching appearances, including two starts, in which he posted a 1.80 ERA and a .238 opposing batting average.

Pittsfield Dukes
http://www.pittsfielddukes.com/index.html

Michael Ness ? RHP ? Freshman
Atlantic Baseball Confederation (Jersey Shore Tides)
ABC All-Star reliever Michael Ness was a key component in Jersey Shore's stretch run that landed them in the 2007 Atlantic Baseball Confederation Championship. Ness compiled a 2.37 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP through 13 appearances during the regular season and allowed one earned run or less in eight of his nine starts. He also contributed six scoreless innings from the bullpen and led the Tides with 35 strikeouts.

Atlantic Baseball Confederation
http://www.abccl.com/home.htm

Jonathan Nicolla ? INF ? Junior
New York Collegiate Baseball League (Saratoga Phillies)
Jonathan Nicolla was the only player on the Saratoga squad to start every game and finished the season with 19 RBI and 17 runs scored to lead his team to a 25-13 record. He led the Phillies with eight doubles and was one of five on the team with a home run. His summer resume included 37 hits, 10 of which went for extra bases. He logged playing time at a number of positions, including first base, catcher and as a designated hitter.

Saratoga Phillies
http://www.saratogaphillies.com/

Gabriel Saade ? INF ? Freshman
New England Collegiate Baseball League (Newport Gulls)
Blue Devil infielder Gabriel Saade enjoyed a successful summer campaign with the Newport Gulls and finished the season with a .240 batting average, 23 runs and 13 stolen bases. Saade ended his season on a hot streak, raking a .345 batting average and a .441 on base percentage over the last ten games while contributing six runs and two RBI during the stretch.

Newport Gulls
http://www.newportgulls.com/

Michael Seander ? RHP ? Freshman
New England Collegiate Baseball League (Newport Gulls)
Blue Devil closer Michael Seander successfully filled the end-game role for the Newport Gulls and had much to do with the team's 25-17 regular season record. Seander finished 15 games for Newport and led the team with seven saves while posting the lowest ERA among Newport pitchers with at least 10 appearances. The 6-2 right-hander scattered 11 hits through 17 innings for a meager .193 opposing batter average and racked up 21 strikeouts for an average of 11.11 strikeouts per nine innings. He allowed just two extra base hits all season, both doubles, and dished out only seven walks to his 66 batters faced.

Newport Gulls
http://www.newportgulls.com/

Tim Sherlock ? OF ? Sophomore
California Collegiate League (Monterey Bay Sox)
Duke outfielder Tim Sherlock made 24 starts for the Monterey Bay Sox and contributed two home runs, 11 RBI and 15 runs scored. Sherlock drew 15 walks, the fourth-most on the team, and was 43-for-44 in fielding opportunities for a .977 fielding percentage.

Monterey Bay Sox
http://www.montereybaysox.com/index.html

Matt Williams ? C ? Sophomore
Texas Collegiate League (Duncanville Deputies)
Duke backstop Matt Williams emerged as one of the best defensive catchers in the Texas Collegiate League. The TCL All-Star committed just two errors in 219 total chances behind the plate and let just nine pitches slip by him all season. He led the team with 203 putouts and collected 18 hits and 11 walks for six RBI and seven runs scored.

Duncanville Deputies
http://www.duncanvilledeputies.com/

Andrew Wolcott ? RHP ? Sophomore
Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League (Delaware Cows)
Andrew Wolcott and the Delaware Cows advanced to the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League Championship, thanks largely in part to Wolcott's performance in the league's playoff semifinals. The 2007 GLSCL All-Star sent the Cows to the league championship after holding the Lima Locos to two runs on two hits before exiting the game with a 3-2 lead in hand. For the regular season, Wolcott compiled a 3-0 record and a 2.45 ERA for Delaware, which entered the playoffs with a 25-14 record. Wolcott made four starts and seven total appearances, spanning 29.1 innings, and finished third on the team in ERA, strikeouts (21), opposing batter average (.267) and innings pitched (29.1).

Delaware Cows
http://www.delawarecows.com/

Other Blue Devils in Summer Ball
Kyle Butler ? RHP/INF ? Sophomore
Fuquay-Varina (Twins)

Ron Causey ? RHP ? Junior
Local Greensboro League (Greensboro)

Kyle Kreick ? C ? Junior
Local Dallas League (Dallas)

Christopher Manno ? LHP/OF ? Freshman
New York Youth Service League (NY Youth Service)

Ryan Perry ? RHP ? Junior
Karl Young Collegiate Baseball League (Sky Sox)

-d-u-k-e-

Players Mentioned

Kyle Butler

Ron Causey

Will Currier

Jonathan Foreman

Nate Freiman

Michael Ghizzoni

Jeremy Gould

Alex Hassan

Kyle Kreick

Christopher Manno

Michael Ness

Jonathan Nicolla

Ryan Perry

Gabriel Saade

Michael Seander

Tim Sherlock

Matt Williams

Andrew Wolcott

Duke information