University of Richmond Athletics
Photo by: University of Richmond Athletics
Six Spiders Named All Stars During The Summer Campaign
07/10/2019 | Baseball
RICHMOND, Va. – The summer is already almost halfway over and we've had several Spiders out playing across the country in different collegiate summer leagues. Here's a quick recap of how our guys have played this summer, highlighted by six All Stars, denoted in bold.
Returning Spiders
Tim Miller – Orleans Firebirds – Cape Cod Baseball League
If you've followed Spider Baseball on Twitter, you've seen that the last few weeks Miller has taken a cultural immersion trip to Cuba. Prior to going to Cuba, Miller appeared in three games with the Firebirds, tossing 5.1 innings. He struck out nine hitters during the summer, including a summer-high of four in his first two appearances. He went one or more inning in each appearance, including a 2.0 inning hitless appearance in his first outing against the Bourne Braves.
Lowell Schipper – Madison Mallards – Northwoods League
Schipper earned Northwoods League All Star honors having turned in several stellar performances on the mound in Madison. Schipper has started seven games, logging a 36.0 innings, racking up 38 strikeouts, both of which lead the Mallard pitching staff. Schipper has gone 4.0 innings in all seven starts, going 5.0 innings in four games and 6.0 in two others. He hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any start this season, earning a 4-1 record and a 2.00 ERA this summer. The Mallards clinched a spot in the Northwoods League Playoffs after winning the first half of the Great Lakes Division.
James Hulbert – Lakeshore Chinooks – Northwoods League
Hulbert is making his first appearances on the hill since recovering from an injury. Hulbert appeared in two games, going a total of 2.1 innings and striking out three hitters. In his last outing, Hulbert went 2.0 innings with three strikeouts, helping the Chinooks earn a win over the Kenosha Kingfish.
Jordan Schulefand – Morehead City Marlins – Coastal Plain League
Schulefand earned All Star honors in Morehead City this summer, playing the outfield in the Tar Heel State. Schulefand is hitting at a .321 average with six extra-base hits. He's driven in 12 runs and scored 19 times consistently hitter near the top of the Marlins lineup. He's shown pop with the bat and speed on the bases, hitting three home runs and stealing 22 bases this summer.
Daniel Little – Morehead City Marlins – Coastal Plain League
Little is hitting at a .277 average, manning both middle infield positions for the Marlins. He's tallied six extra-base hits, connecting on four doubles, a triple and one long ball. He's driven in 15 runs and scored 14 times and is tied for third on the team with 11 stolen bases. With Little and Schulefand, the Marlins have accumulated a 22-9 overall record including winning a Coastal Plain League record 14 games.
Anthony Forte – Arroyo-Seco Saints – California Collegiate League
Forte is another Spider who will be playing in an all-star game of sorts. Forte was selected to play in the California Collegiate League's Prospect Game. In 15 games with the Saints, Forte is hitting for a .321 average with a team-high six doubles, along with a triple and a home run. He's driven in eight runs and scored 13 times. His role for summer ball has changed from the spring. Forte was the Spiders cleanup hitter in the majority of games this spring, but has moved to the top of the lineup card this summer. He's earned a .400 on-base percentage and is slugging at .518, the second-highest total on the team.
Antonio Balducci – Charlottesville TomSox – Valley Baseball League
Balducci was another Spider All-Star, putting together a solid summer just a short drive away in Charlottesville. Balducci made nine appearances for the TomSox, throwing 16.2 innings. During his time on the hill, he racked up the strikeouts, punching out 25 opposing hitters and allowed just three earned runs. He limited opposing hitters to 11 hits, earning a win and a save.
Justin Cook – Anchorage Bucs – Alaska Baseball League
In the Alaska League, Cook has hit for a .213 average in 19 games this summer. He's gone for extra bases five times and hit a team-leading three triples. He's driven in nine runs and scored 12 times as the Bucs are currently in first place in the ABL with a 21-9 overall record.
Garrett Aylor – North Fork Ospreys – Hamptons League
Aylor made three appearances for the Ospreys this summer, going a total of 4.0 innings. He struck out a hitter before ending his summer season, his first in the collegiate ranks.
Justin Meyer – North Fork Ospreys – Hamptons League
Meyer has played in 22 games this summer, connecting on 10 hits, with two for extra bases. He's driven in six runs and scored eight. His knowledge of the strike zone has been evident all year as he leads the team with 19 walks drawn and added a stolen base.
Brian Craven – Riverhead Tomcats – Hamptons League
Craven has logged time both on the infield and on the mound for the Tomcats. The infielder has had five base hits in 12 games, going for a double and a triple with five RBI and two stolen bases. On the hill, he's appeared in four games, earning a save and striking out three hitters.
Mason Majors – Southampton Breakers – Hamptons League
After an injury limited his time on the hill this spring, Majors has taken advantage of his playing time this summer. The freshman has appeared in eight games, logging 13.0 innings. He's earned a 3.46 ERA with nine strikeouts and picked up a save for the Breakers.
Johnny Hipsman – Southampton Breakers – Hamptons League
Hipsman was named a Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League All Star for his efforts this season. The outfielder is hitting at a .319 average and is tied for the team-lead with home runs. His 10 extra-base hits are the top in the Breakers lineup as he's accounted for half of the team's four triples. He's driven in 15 runs and scored 17 times to go with three stolen bases.
Jarrad DeLarso – Alexandria Aces – Ripken League
DeLarso made three appearances for the Aces before hanging it up this summer. The right-hander tossed a total of 6.0 innings, striking out nine hitters. He was good for a 3.00 ERA, logging a season-high 3.0 innings with five strikeouts against the Gaithersburg Giants on June 8th.
Robby Wacker – DC Grays – Ripken League
Wacker has played in 29 of the Grays 31 games, playing around the infield at second base and shortstop. He's hitting for a .218 average, but has found his power stroke in the last week, hitting a pair of home runs and a triple. He's driven in 15 runs and scored 15 times while showing a patient approach. His 22 walks ranks second on the team. He's flashed the leather as well, recording just one error on 92 chances in the field.
Brian Schaub – FCA Braves – Ripken League
With the FCA Braves, Schaub is hitting for a .250 average in 24 games. He's connected on five extra-base hits, including a team-high three home runs. With seven RBI, he's tied for the third-most runs driven in on the team and he's scored 10 runs of his own. He's swiped a base this summer while playing first base and doing some catching.
Sammy Senders – Gaithersburg Giants – Ripken League
Senders has made eight appearances on the hill with the Giants. The southpaw has worked in 10.0 innings, striking out 16 hitters and scattering just six hits. He's earned a 3.60 ERA without allowing an extra-base hit and holding opponents to a .182 average against him.
Davis Payne – Delray Beach Lightning – South Florida League
Payne is another Spider All Star during the summer as his play with the Delray Beach Lightning has earned him those honors. Payne is third on the team with a .288 average this summer. He's connected for extra bases eight times, with six doubles, a triple and a home run. He's been the Lightning's primary run producer as his 16 RBI are the most on the team and his 15 runs scored are the second-most. He's played a little small ball in the sunshine state, earning a sacrifice hit and stealing a base.
Incoming Spiders
Drew Blakeley – Kalamazoo Growlers – Northwoods League
The incoming catcher has found his groove in the Northwoods League this summer, hitting for a .348 average. In 19 games, he's racked up 23 hits with three doubles. He's put together quality at bat after quality at bat, drawing nine walks compared to nine strikeouts in 66 total at bats. He's driven in nine runs and scored nine times. He's proven to handle the bat well as he's second on the team in sacrifice bunts. Defensively, he has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage behind the plate.
Eli Larson – DuPage Pistol Shrimp – Prospect League
Larson played 15 games in the inaugural season for the Pistol Shrimp. He's hit at a .258 average in 31 at bats, with a pair of doubles. He's driven in two runs, drawn nine walks and swiped two bases. He's helped DuPage earn a 19-14 mark, good for second place in the Prospect League's West Division.
Daniel Leckie – Holly Springs Salamanders – Coastal Plain League
Joining Schulefand and Little in the Coastal Plain League is a transfer outfielder. Leckie has played in 15 games, earning eight hits, three for extra bases during his time in Holly Springs. Leckie has driven in seven runs and scored three times, as well as hitting a home run.
Dominic Toso – Brewster Whitecaps – Cape Cod Baseball League
Toso competed in the Cape Cod League with the Whitecaps for four games. During that time, Toso was swinging a hot bat, hitting for a .571 average, going 4-for-7 and driving in three runs. He worked some quality at bats, drawing four walks to go with just one strikeout and scored twice.
-- UR --
Returning Spiders
Tim Miller – Orleans Firebirds – Cape Cod Baseball League
If you've followed Spider Baseball on Twitter, you've seen that the last few weeks Miller has taken a cultural immersion trip to Cuba. Prior to going to Cuba, Miller appeared in three games with the Firebirds, tossing 5.1 innings. He struck out nine hitters during the summer, including a summer-high of four in his first two appearances. He went one or more inning in each appearance, including a 2.0 inning hitless appearance in his first outing against the Bourne Braves.
Lowell Schipper – Madison Mallards – Northwoods League
Schipper earned Northwoods League All Star honors having turned in several stellar performances on the mound in Madison. Schipper has started seven games, logging a 36.0 innings, racking up 38 strikeouts, both of which lead the Mallard pitching staff. Schipper has gone 4.0 innings in all seven starts, going 5.0 innings in four games and 6.0 in two others. He hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any start this season, earning a 4-1 record and a 2.00 ERA this summer. The Mallards clinched a spot in the Northwoods League Playoffs after winning the first half of the Great Lakes Division.
James Hulbert – Lakeshore Chinooks – Northwoods League
Hulbert is making his first appearances on the hill since recovering from an injury. Hulbert appeared in two games, going a total of 2.1 innings and striking out three hitters. In his last outing, Hulbert went 2.0 innings with three strikeouts, helping the Chinooks earn a win over the Kenosha Kingfish.
Jordan Schulefand – Morehead City Marlins – Coastal Plain League
Schulefand earned All Star honors in Morehead City this summer, playing the outfield in the Tar Heel State. Schulefand is hitting at a .321 average with six extra-base hits. He's driven in 12 runs and scored 19 times consistently hitter near the top of the Marlins lineup. He's shown pop with the bat and speed on the bases, hitting three home runs and stealing 22 bases this summer.
Daniel Little – Morehead City Marlins – Coastal Plain League
Little is hitting at a .277 average, manning both middle infield positions for the Marlins. He's tallied six extra-base hits, connecting on four doubles, a triple and one long ball. He's driven in 15 runs and scored 14 times and is tied for third on the team with 11 stolen bases. With Little and Schulefand, the Marlins have accumulated a 22-9 overall record including winning a Coastal Plain League record 14 games.
Anthony Forte – Arroyo-Seco Saints – California Collegiate League
Forte is another Spider who will be playing in an all-star game of sorts. Forte was selected to play in the California Collegiate League's Prospect Game. In 15 games with the Saints, Forte is hitting for a .321 average with a team-high six doubles, along with a triple and a home run. He's driven in eight runs and scored 13 times. His role for summer ball has changed from the spring. Forte was the Spiders cleanup hitter in the majority of games this spring, but has moved to the top of the lineup card this summer. He's earned a .400 on-base percentage and is slugging at .518, the second-highest total on the team.
Antonio Balducci – Charlottesville TomSox – Valley Baseball League
Balducci was another Spider All-Star, putting together a solid summer just a short drive away in Charlottesville. Balducci made nine appearances for the TomSox, throwing 16.2 innings. During his time on the hill, he racked up the strikeouts, punching out 25 opposing hitters and allowed just three earned runs. He limited opposing hitters to 11 hits, earning a win and a save.
Justin Cook – Anchorage Bucs – Alaska Baseball League
In the Alaska League, Cook has hit for a .213 average in 19 games this summer. He's gone for extra bases five times and hit a team-leading three triples. He's driven in nine runs and scored 12 times as the Bucs are currently in first place in the ABL with a 21-9 overall record.
Garrett Aylor – North Fork Ospreys – Hamptons League
Aylor made three appearances for the Ospreys this summer, going a total of 4.0 innings. He struck out a hitter before ending his summer season, his first in the collegiate ranks.
Justin Meyer – North Fork Ospreys – Hamptons League
Meyer has played in 22 games this summer, connecting on 10 hits, with two for extra bases. He's driven in six runs and scored eight. His knowledge of the strike zone has been evident all year as he leads the team with 19 walks drawn and added a stolen base.
Brian Craven – Riverhead Tomcats – Hamptons League
Craven has logged time both on the infield and on the mound for the Tomcats. The infielder has had five base hits in 12 games, going for a double and a triple with five RBI and two stolen bases. On the hill, he's appeared in four games, earning a save and striking out three hitters.
Mason Majors – Southampton Breakers – Hamptons League
After an injury limited his time on the hill this spring, Majors has taken advantage of his playing time this summer. The freshman has appeared in eight games, logging 13.0 innings. He's earned a 3.46 ERA with nine strikeouts and picked up a save for the Breakers.
Johnny Hipsman – Southampton Breakers – Hamptons League
Hipsman was named a Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League All Star for his efforts this season. The outfielder is hitting at a .319 average and is tied for the team-lead with home runs. His 10 extra-base hits are the top in the Breakers lineup as he's accounted for half of the team's four triples. He's driven in 15 runs and scored 17 times to go with three stolen bases.
Jarrad DeLarso – Alexandria Aces – Ripken League
DeLarso made three appearances for the Aces before hanging it up this summer. The right-hander tossed a total of 6.0 innings, striking out nine hitters. He was good for a 3.00 ERA, logging a season-high 3.0 innings with five strikeouts against the Gaithersburg Giants on June 8th.
Robby Wacker – DC Grays – Ripken League
Wacker has played in 29 of the Grays 31 games, playing around the infield at second base and shortstop. He's hitting for a .218 average, but has found his power stroke in the last week, hitting a pair of home runs and a triple. He's driven in 15 runs and scored 15 times while showing a patient approach. His 22 walks ranks second on the team. He's flashed the leather as well, recording just one error on 92 chances in the field.
Brian Schaub – FCA Braves – Ripken League
With the FCA Braves, Schaub is hitting for a .250 average in 24 games. He's connected on five extra-base hits, including a team-high three home runs. With seven RBI, he's tied for the third-most runs driven in on the team and he's scored 10 runs of his own. He's swiped a base this summer while playing first base and doing some catching.
Sammy Senders – Gaithersburg Giants – Ripken League
Senders has made eight appearances on the hill with the Giants. The southpaw has worked in 10.0 innings, striking out 16 hitters and scattering just six hits. He's earned a 3.60 ERA without allowing an extra-base hit and holding opponents to a .182 average against him.
Davis Payne – Delray Beach Lightning – South Florida League
Payne is another Spider All Star during the summer as his play with the Delray Beach Lightning has earned him those honors. Payne is third on the team with a .288 average this summer. He's connected for extra bases eight times, with six doubles, a triple and a home run. He's been the Lightning's primary run producer as his 16 RBI are the most on the team and his 15 runs scored are the second-most. He's played a little small ball in the sunshine state, earning a sacrifice hit and stealing a base.
Incoming Spiders
Drew Blakeley – Kalamazoo Growlers – Northwoods League
The incoming catcher has found his groove in the Northwoods League this summer, hitting for a .348 average. In 19 games, he's racked up 23 hits with three doubles. He's put together quality at bat after quality at bat, drawing nine walks compared to nine strikeouts in 66 total at bats. He's driven in nine runs and scored nine times. He's proven to handle the bat well as he's second on the team in sacrifice bunts. Defensively, he has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage behind the plate.
Eli Larson – DuPage Pistol Shrimp – Prospect League
Larson played 15 games in the inaugural season for the Pistol Shrimp. He's hit at a .258 average in 31 at bats, with a pair of doubles. He's driven in two runs, drawn nine walks and swiped two bases. He's helped DuPage earn a 19-14 mark, good for second place in the Prospect League's West Division.
Daniel Leckie – Holly Springs Salamanders – Coastal Plain League
Joining Schulefand and Little in the Coastal Plain League is a transfer outfielder. Leckie has played in 15 games, earning eight hits, three for extra bases during his time in Holly Springs. Leckie has driven in seven runs and scored three times, as well as hitting a home run.
Dominic Toso – Brewster Whitecaps – Cape Cod Baseball League
Toso competed in the Cape Cod League with the Whitecaps for four games. During that time, Toso was swinging a hot bat, hitting for a .571 average, going 4-for-7 and driving in three runs. He worked some quality at bats, drawing four walks to go with just one strikeout and scored twice.
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