SAN ANTONIO ? Fresh off their first Southland Conference Regular Season Championship, seventeen Roadrunners carried the success from the 2007 campaign into summer play. The players saw action in six leagues across the country.
"As the summer comes to a close, I am pleased with the progress a number of our players made in their summer leagues," head coach Sherman Corbett. "Almost everyone got the playing time we were expecting and they all made contributions to their respective teams. Many received honors for their outstanding play, which shows the level of talent they have. The innings each of these guys played will help mature them for this upcoming year."
Three pitchers ? sophomores Zach Calhoon, Ryan Proudfoot and Jake Sillavan ? helped lead the Lehigh Valley Cats to a 23-17 record and a berth in the Atlantic Collegiate League playoffs. Calhoon posted a 1-1 record, a pair of saves and 1.56 ERA in 13 appearances out of the bullpen. He allowed just 11 hits in 17.1 innings and fanned 23. Meanwhile, Sillavan registered a 2-0 mark with a 4.08 ERA in six games (one start), while striking out 23 in 17.2 innings of work. Proudfoot owned a 2-3 record and a 2.21 ERA in eight games (seven starts). In 40.2 innings, he struck out 48 hitters while giving up 36 hits.
Four Roadrunners played in the Northwoods League. Three players ? senior shortstop Marshal Davis, junior pitcher Kris Ruepke and senior pitcher Steven Vasquez ? saw action for the Thunder Bay Border Cats. Davis played in 53 games and hit .228 (36-158) with 16 runs scored and 18 RBIs. He was second on the squad with 30 walks and third with a .351 on-base percentage. Ruepke posted a 2-3 record and 3.27 ERA in eight games (seven starts), while Vasquez registered a perfect 4-0 mark and 3.57 ERA in 12 appearances (five starts). Junior second baseman/outfielder James Keithley played in 65 contests for the Mankato Moondogs and hit .240 (55-229) with 27 runs, 13 doubles, a home run and 18 RBIs. Keithley also stole a team-high 20 bases.
A quartet of players saw action in the Texas Collegiate League. Junior outfielder Jose Hernandez hit .297 (61-138) with 25 runs scored and 10 extra base hits in 41 games with the Denton Outlaws. A mid-season All-Star, Hernandez led the team in batting average, home runs (4), total bases (61), slugging percentage (.442), RBIs (30), walks (31) and on-base percentage (.435). Sophomore outfielder Tim Palincsar, the 2007 SLC Freshman of the Year, saw action in 26 contests for the Brazos Valley Bombers, while junior outfielder Michael Rockett played in 29 games for the McKinney Marshals. Meanwhile, sophomore infielder/catcher Ryan Rummel hit .253 (20-79) with 17 RBIs in 33 tilts for the Wichita Falls Roughnecks.
In the Valley League, senior first baseman Josh Wilson saw action in 15 games (13 starts) for the Luray Wranglers and hit .225 (9-40), slugged three homers and drove in seven base runners.
Also in action were junior infielder Lance Brown (Dallas Amateur Baseball Association), junior pitcher J.P. Holton (San Antonio Titans/Saragosa League), senior first baseman Trent Lockwood (San Antonio Titans/Saragose League), senior pitcher Mark Ruffin (San Antonio Titans/Saragosa League) and junior pitcher Michael Susaneck (Seguin Steelers/Saragosa League).
UTSA is scheduled to open its fall season on Monday, Sept. 17.
