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The summer league action around the country is rolling along and we continue our summer league coverage with an inside look at the Cape Cod League, New England Collegiate League, Northwoods League and Perfect Game Collegiate League.
As we continue our national tour each week, our coverage will include an inside look at the Coastal Plains League, Valley League, California Collegiate League and Prospect League.
Cape Cod League
Spotlight player: C Dane Phillips, Oklahoma State
Georgia Southern’s Victor Roache had been leading the league in batting average for a couple of weeks, but Oklahoma State’s Dane Phillips has gotten red hot as of late. Phillips is hitting a league-best .355 with 23 runs scored, 43 hits, seven doubles, two triples, four home runs and 32 RBIs. He also has struck out 25 times and walked on 24 occasions.
Top performers
OF Jeremy Baltz, St. John’s: Baltz has had a productive career for the Johnnies and continues to do a solid job this summer. He’s hitting an impressive .319 with 21 runs, 44 hits, 13 doubles, two home runs and 23 RBIs. He also has walked on 24 occasions and struck out 23 times.
OF Victor Roache, Georgia Southern: Roache has tailed off when it comes to his batting average, but he’s still having a mammoth summer at the Cape. He’s hitting an impressive .313 with 29 runs scored, 42 hits, 12 doubles, six home runs and 28 RBIs. Roache just might be the top hitting prospect at the Cape this summer.
LHP Joe Bircher, Bradley: After having a solid spring for the Braves, the talented left-handed pitcher continues to take another step forward this summer. He has started eight games and has a fabulous 1.44 ERA in 43 2/3 innings. He also has struck out 48 and walked nine and allowed just 35 hits.
RHP Tony Bucciferro, Michigan State: We’ve talked a lot about Bucciferro this summer for good reason. The talented right-handed pitcher is having a great summer at the Cape. He has started eight games and has a 1.90 ERA in 47 1/3 innings. He also has struck out 37 and walked eight and has allowed just 34 hits. Interestingly, Bucciferro has just a 1-4 record with Brewster.
RHP Chris Beck, Georgia Southern: Beck is another talented pitcher we’ve said a lot of positive things about this summer, and that’s for a good reason. The right-hander has started eight games and appeared in nine and has a fabulous 2.12 ERA in 51 innings. He also has struck out 41 and walked 13 and has allowed 48 hits.
New England Collegiate League
Spotlight player: OF Tyler Horan, Virginia Tech
Horan definitely is making a bigger name for himself so far this summer. He’s hitting an impressive .341 at the NECBL with 26 runs scored, 44 hits, seven doubles, 11 home runs and 35 RBIs. It’s also worth noting he has struck out 24 times and walked on seven occasions.
Top performers
OF Dario Pizzano, Columbia: Pizzano is yet another slugger that is making a name for himself this summer. He’s hitting an impressive .365 with 29 runs scored, 54 hits, 12 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 27 RBIs. It’s also worth noting Pizzano has walked on 21 occasions and struck out just 13 times.
1B Tim Kiene, Maryland Kiene only hit .279 for the Terrapins last season, but he might be primed for a much more productive campaign in 2012. Kiene is having a fantastic summer at the NECBL. He’s hitting an impressive .325 with 16 runs scored, 41 hits, four doubles, nine home runs and 30 RBIs. He also has struck out 25 times and walked on eight occasions.
RHP Jacob Lee, Arkansas State: Lee put together an impressive 2011 campaign for the Red Wolves and continues to have an exceptional summer. He has started seven games and has a 4-0 record and a fabulous 0.66 ERA in 40 2/3 innings. He also has struck out 39 and walked 10 and has allowed just 30 hits. His stock is increasing with a solid summer.
RHP Brandon Sinnery, Michigan: The talented right-handed pitcher hopes to make a huge statement in his final season with the Wolverines. He has been pitching on a mission thus far this summer. He has started five games and appeared in 10 and has a fantastic 1.00 ERA in 45 innings. He has struck out 34 and walked six and has allowed 35 hits.
RHP Ben Mount, USC: The Trojans have to like what the talented right-handed pitcher is doing this summer. He continues to compile impressive numbers. He has started seven games and appeared in eight and has a fantastic 1.36 ERA in 46 1/3 innings. He also has struck out 45 and walked 12 and has allowed 34 hits. It’s also worth noting Mount is 5-1.
Northwoods League
Spotlight player: OF Shaun Cooper, Utah
What an incredible summer Cooper is putting together at the Northwoods. He’s having a mammoth summer at the plate. He’s hitting .327 with 45 runs scored, 64 hits, nine doubles, four triples, 16 home runs and 52 RBIs. He also has struck out on 41 occasions and walked 16 times. Cooper is solidifying himself as one of the premier summer players.
Top performers
INF Cameron Perkins, Purdue: Perkins has been one of the most consistent hitters at the NWL this summer. He’s hitting an impressive .329 with 41 runs scored, 68 hits, 14 doubles, a triple, nine home runs and 37 RBIs. He also has struck out on 26 occasions and walked 18 times.
INF Ty Forney, New Mexico State: Forney is a guy we haven’t talked a lot about this summer, but he’s having a solid summer at the plate. He’s hitting an impressive .341 with 27 runs scored, 63 hits, 10 doubles, five home runs and 27 RBIs. It’s also worth noting he has struck out 33 times and walked on 19 occasions. Forney has played in 48 games this summer.
RHP Joey Novak, Harvard: The talented right-handed pitcher is continuing to put together an impressive summer at the Northwoods League. He has started nine games and appeared in 11 and has a 1.39 ERA in 65 innings. He also has struck out 50 and walked 12 and allowed 47 hits. It’s also worth noting Novak is 4-3 this summer.
RHP Jason Forjet, Florida Gulf Coast: We’ve been talking about the talented right-handed pitcher the entire summer. He continues to impressive at the NWL. He has started eight games and appeared in nine and has a fantastic 1.95 ERA in 55 1/3 innings. He also has struck out 64 and walked 12 and allowed 43 hits. Forjet has a 2-1 record so far this summer.
RHP Brando Tessar, Oregon: We’ve talked about Tessar’s success at the NWL at one point earlier this summer. The righty continues to experience success. He has started nine games, has a 6-1 record and has a fabulous 2.18 ERA in 62 innings. He also has struck out 40 and walked 14 and has allowed 48 hits.
Perfect Game Collegiate League
Spotlight player: RHP Derek Mazzio, Saint Louis
We’ve talked a lot about Mazzio this summer for a good reason. He continues to have an impressive summer for Glens Falls. He has appeared in 10 games and has a fantastic 1.99 ERA in 54 1/3 innings. He also has struck out 58 and walked 13 and allowed 56 hits. It’s also worth noting Mazzio has allowed 21 total runs, 13 of them earned.
Top performers
RHP Mark Leiter, New Jersey Tech: Despite his last name, Leiter entered this summer as somewhat of an unknown in college baseball after compiling just a 4.76 ERA at NJIT this past season. This summer, though, he has taken a step forward. Leiter is 4-3 with a 2.67 ERA in 54 innings. He also has struck out 74 and walked 16 and allowed 43 hits. Leiter also has allowed 19 runs, 16 of them earned so far this summer.
RHP Brett Houseal, Marist: Houseal is making a name for himself this summer with some strong showings at the PGCBL. He has appeared in 10 games and is 5-1 with a solid 3.06 ERA in 47 innings. He also has struck out 41 and walked seven and allowed 51 hits. It’s also worth noting Houseal has allowed 18 runs, 16 of them earned.
OF Erick Gaylord, Campbell: Gaylord earned several headlines a few weeks ago when he went on a home run tear. He has continued to experience success at the plate. He’s hitting an impressive .357 in 157 at bats with 56 hits, 37 runs scored, eight doubles, two triples and 10 home runs. He also has walked on nine occasions.
OF Jude Vidrine, Lamar: Vidrine continues to be a consistent offensive producer this summer. He’s hitting an impressive .348 in 43 games and 158 at bats. He also has recorded 55 hits, 34 runs scored, seven doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 29 RBIs. It’s impressive how consistent the talented outfielder has been this summer.
INF Kyle Ruchim, Northwestern: There’s a reason we’ve talked about Ruchim a few times this summer. He continues to have an impressive summer at the PGCBL. He’s hitting a solid .331 in 44 games and 160 at bats. He also has recorded 53 hits, scored 35 runs, 16 doubles, six home runs and 27 RBIs. He also has walked on 17 occasions.
Kendall Rogers is the college baseball editor for Perfect Game USA and has covered the sport for over 10 seasons. He can be reached at kendall@perfectgame.org