Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Summer leagues close for Blue Raiders
8/14/2017 2:23:00 PM | Baseball
Players enjoy success across country
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Blue Raiders participating in collegiate summer leagues have concluded play across the country.
"There are different (summer) leagues all over the country," Blue Raider Head Baseball Coach Jim McGuire said. "Some of them are geared towards younger players, some are suited more for experienced players ... we really like to have guys play in different leagues every summer to give them a different experience."
McGuire added that, even as early as recruiting his players out of high school, he emphasizes the importance of summer ball to add to growth and development.
"There's a lot in the development stage other than what goes on the field," McGuire said. "The experience they get off the field, living in another part of the country, playing with different guys and living with host families – that goes into it.
"But the biggest thing in summer ball is wanting (players) to win and compete, and to get better.
With the goal of advancing their game and getting better, here's how some of Middle Tennessee's finest faired against the competition.
Alex Carignan | C | Madisonville Miners | Ohio Valley League
Carignan finished the season as one of the top offensive performers in the Ohio Valley League. Among those who played greater than 15 games in the OVL, he finished fifth in batting average (.348) and tied for ninth in total hits (47). He also placed in the top three on the Madisonville Miners in average, hits, on-base percentage (.417), RBIs (23) and runs scored (24). The Murfreesboro native, who redshirted last year, was also named an all-star starter at catcher for his play behind the plate.
Blake Benefield | OF | Mat-su Miners | Alaska Baseball League
Benefield played a key role in the Mat-su Miners' pursuit of the 2017 ABL Championship. Named an all-star and a participant of the home run derby, Benefield finished the season atop the league in home runs (6) and RBIs (30) to go along with his .260 average in the wooden bat league. From June 22-thru-July 7, he hit safely in 11-of-14 games, including four multi-hit games, two home runs and an average of .313. Throughout the summer, he accumulated nine multi-hit games.
Austin Dennis | UTIL | Mat-su Miners | Alaska Baseball League
ABL all-star Austin Dennis played the Swiss Army Knife role for the Miners' championship run over the summer, making plays in the infield, outfield, on the mound and at the plate. Not only did he hit .258 with 12 walks and 10 RBIs in 34 games, but Dennis also led the team in stolen bases with 10. On the mound, he recorded 16 innings in mostly relief work and posted a 2.40 ERA with a 2.25 K/BB ratio.
Manuel Lopez | OF | Show-Me Stars | Show-Me League
Like some of his Blue Raider counterparts, Lopez was dominant at the plate over the summer. In 35 games, he posted the second-highest batting average in the Show-Me League (.388) and finished second in runs batted in with 26. He also led both the Show-Me Stars and the league in home runs with four. The highlight of his summer came on July 16, when he went 3-for-5 with two home runs, four RBIs and a triple in a winning effort.
Aaron Antonini | C | Battle Creek Bombers | Northwoods League
Antonini began his summer league in dominating fashion. In his first five games, the Florida native hit 8-for-21 including a double, three walks and a five-game hitting streak. He finished the season hitting .250 with a .350 on-base percentage in what McGuire calls one of the toughest summer leagues in the country. As an everyday starter, Antonini was a staple for the Bombers at catcher for his strong play behind the plate as well.
Drew Huff | IF | Kalamazoo Growlers | Northwoods League
Drew Huff made plays for the Growlers as a batter and a relief pitcher. On the season, Huff accumulated a .324 on base percentage, including two streaks of seven games or more where he reached base safely. One of his streaks, the final nine games of the season, he went 11-for-33 with four walks and accrued four multi-hit games. He also made 13 appearances on the mound, throwing 14-1/3 innings. In his last four outings as the de-facto closer for Kalamazoo, Huff went 4-2/3 scoreless innings, earning three saves and only allowing one hit.
Andy Rivera | P | Pompano Beach Clippers | South Florida League
Rivera, a junior college transfer for MT, had perhaps the strongest summer of any Blue Raider pitcher on the 2017 roster. He posted 17-1/3 scoreless innings in eight appearances, registering a 2-0 record. In his only start and final appearance for the Clippers, Rivera recorded 5-1/3 innings pitched and only allowed two hits while striking out nine of the 22 batters he faced. |
Jake Wyrick | P | Thomasville Hi-Toms | Coastal Plains League
Wyrick worked almost exclusively as a reliever for the Thomasville Hi-Toms in the CPL. He threw 26-1/3 innings in 17 appearances and finished the summer with 40 strikeouts and a 2-2 record. Wyrick also finished tied for third in the league with games finished (12) and only allowed a .269 opponent batting average. On June 21, Wyrick got the win for the Hi-Toms after throwing two hitless innings of relief.
Grant Williams | P | Paducah Chiefs | Ohio Valley League
Williams served as the Paducah Chiefs workhorse, accounting for a team-high 49 IP; good for second-best in the Ohio Valley League. In his eight starts over the summer, Williams finished with a record of 5-2, racking up 40 strikeouts. In his only playoff start, Williams went seven scoreless innings, allowing only six hits and striking out five batters.
"There are different (summer) leagues all over the country," Blue Raider Head Baseball Coach Jim McGuire said. "Some of them are geared towards younger players, some are suited more for experienced players ... we really like to have guys play in different leagues every summer to give them a different experience."
McGuire added that, even as early as recruiting his players out of high school, he emphasizes the importance of summer ball to add to growth and development.
"There's a lot in the development stage other than what goes on the field," McGuire said. "The experience they get off the field, living in another part of the country, playing with different guys and living with host families – that goes into it.
"But the biggest thing in summer ball is wanting (players) to win and compete, and to get better.
With the goal of advancing their game and getting better, here's how some of Middle Tennessee's finest faired against the competition.
Alex Carignan | C | Madisonville Miners | Ohio Valley League
Carignan finished the season as one of the top offensive performers in the Ohio Valley League. Among those who played greater than 15 games in the OVL, he finished fifth in batting average (.348) and tied for ninth in total hits (47). He also placed in the top three on the Madisonville Miners in average, hits, on-base percentage (.417), RBIs (23) and runs scored (24). The Murfreesboro native, who redshirted last year, was also named an all-star starter at catcher for his play behind the plate.
Blake Benefield | OF | Mat-su Miners | Alaska Baseball League
Benefield played a key role in the Mat-su Miners' pursuit of the 2017 ABL Championship. Named an all-star and a participant of the home run derby, Benefield finished the season atop the league in home runs (6) and RBIs (30) to go along with his .260 average in the wooden bat league. From June 22-thru-July 7, he hit safely in 11-of-14 games, including four multi-hit games, two home runs and an average of .313. Throughout the summer, he accumulated nine multi-hit games.
Austin Dennis | UTIL | Mat-su Miners | Alaska Baseball League
ABL all-star Austin Dennis played the Swiss Army Knife role for the Miners' championship run over the summer, making plays in the infield, outfield, on the mound and at the plate. Not only did he hit .258 with 12 walks and 10 RBIs in 34 games, but Dennis also led the team in stolen bases with 10. On the mound, he recorded 16 innings in mostly relief work and posted a 2.40 ERA with a 2.25 K/BB ratio.
Manuel Lopez | OF | Show-Me Stars | Show-Me League
Like some of his Blue Raider counterparts, Lopez was dominant at the plate over the summer. In 35 games, he posted the second-highest batting average in the Show-Me League (.388) and finished second in runs batted in with 26. He also led both the Show-Me Stars and the league in home runs with four. The highlight of his summer came on July 16, when he went 3-for-5 with two home runs, four RBIs and a triple in a winning effort.
Aaron Antonini | C | Battle Creek Bombers | Northwoods League
Antonini began his summer league in dominating fashion. In his first five games, the Florida native hit 8-for-21 including a double, three walks and a five-game hitting streak. He finished the season hitting .250 with a .350 on-base percentage in what McGuire calls one of the toughest summer leagues in the country. As an everyday starter, Antonini was a staple for the Bombers at catcher for his strong play behind the plate as well.
Drew Huff | IF | Kalamazoo Growlers | Northwoods League
Drew Huff made plays for the Growlers as a batter and a relief pitcher. On the season, Huff accumulated a .324 on base percentage, including two streaks of seven games or more where he reached base safely. One of his streaks, the final nine games of the season, he went 11-for-33 with four walks and accrued four multi-hit games. He also made 13 appearances on the mound, throwing 14-1/3 innings. In his last four outings as the de-facto closer for Kalamazoo, Huff went 4-2/3 scoreless innings, earning three saves and only allowing one hit.
Andy Rivera | P | Pompano Beach Clippers | South Florida League
Rivera, a junior college transfer for MT, had perhaps the strongest summer of any Blue Raider pitcher on the 2017 roster. He posted 17-1/3 scoreless innings in eight appearances, registering a 2-0 record. In his only start and final appearance for the Clippers, Rivera recorded 5-1/3 innings pitched and only allowed two hits while striking out nine of the 22 batters he faced. |
Jake Wyrick | P | Thomasville Hi-Toms | Coastal Plains League
Wyrick worked almost exclusively as a reliever for the Thomasville Hi-Toms in the CPL. He threw 26-1/3 innings in 17 appearances and finished the summer with 40 strikeouts and a 2-2 record. Wyrick also finished tied for third in the league with games finished (12) and only allowed a .269 opponent batting average. On June 21, Wyrick got the win for the Hi-Toms after throwing two hitless innings of relief.
Grant Williams | P | Paducah Chiefs | Ohio Valley League
Williams served as the Paducah Chiefs workhorse, accounting for a team-high 49 IP; good for second-best in the Ohio Valley League. In his eight starts over the summer, Williams finished with a record of 5-2, racking up 40 strikeouts. In his only playoff start, Williams went seven scoreless innings, allowing only six hits and striking out five batters.
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