University of Richmond Athletics
Leonards Signs Baseball Contract
07/13/2001 | Baseball
July 13, 2001
University of Richmond, Virginia - University of Richmond senior righthander Bake Leonards has signed a professional contract with the Allentown Ambassadors of the Northern League.
Leonards is a native of Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania and a 1997 graduate of The Hill School. The righthander appeared in nine games this past season with one start and two saves. He recorded 13 strikeouts in 18.0 innings of work. Leonards pitched four scoreless innings in his first appearance of the year against nationally-ranked South Carolina with one hit, one walk and four strikeouts. He hurled a scoreless ninth to earn his first collegiate save in a 4-1 win over James Madison. In his next outing, he struck out two of three Flames he faced in the ninth to preserve Richmond's 3-2 win over Liberty.
Leonards registered a 5-6 career record with a 5.05 ERA. He struck out 61 batters in 76.2 innings.
Richmond had two members of its 2001 team selected in the major league baseball draft. Junior righthander Bobby Basham was chosen in the seventh round by the Cincinnati Reds. Senior righthander Brian Lane was taken in the 18th round by the Boston Red Sox. Lane signed with Boston and is pitching for the Lowell Spinners, in Lowell, Massachusetts, in the New York-Penn League. Senior catcher John Nathans signed a free agent contract with the Boston Red Sox and is playing for the Lowell Spinners as well.
The Spiders, under 17-year head coach Ron Atkins, were 27-26 this past spring, Richmond's 11th winning season in the past 12 years.
