North Carolina State University Athletics
Riggins, Maynard Having Big Summer Seasons
6/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
RALEIGH, N.C. - The past week has been a big one for Wolfpack baseball with pitchers Jimmy Gillheeney, Sam Brown, John Lambert and Kyle Rutter all getting selected in the 2009 Major League Baseball amateur draft; Pratt Maynard and his Forest City Owls remaining hot; and former Wolfpack first baseman Aaron Bates receiving a promotion by the Boston Red Sox.
Following is an update on current NC State baseball players involved in summer baseball leagues, plus two former Wolfpackers having success in minor league ball:
John Gianis - Rochester Honkers (Northwoods League)
Gianis was the deciding factor in in Rochester’s 7-6 victory over Mankato on June 4, going 2-for-5 at the plate with a run scored and a stolen base. Gianis slid to the second spot in the lineup for the first time the next night and responded by going 3-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored as Rochester defeated Wisconsin 14-1.
With the help of his solid back-to-back performances, Gianis upped his season batting average to .273 (15-for-55) with six walks and seven RBIs.
Russell Wilson - Gastonia Grizzlies (Coastal Plain League)
Despite some struggles at the plate in the past few days, Wilson started off the week on a roll. On June 4 in Asheboro, he went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored in Gastonia’s 9-6 win over the Copperheads. In a June 6 doubleheader at Forest City, Wilson went 2-for-6 overall with a double, a run scored, and two stolen bases. The Grizzlies, however, dropped both ends of the double-dip to the Owls.
On the season, Wilson is hitting .250 (10-for-40) with three doubles and an RBI. Wilson is 8-for-10 in steals, good enough for second overall on the Coastal Plain League stolden-base leaderboard.
Harold Riggins - Madison Mallards (Northwoods League)
Riggins has kept up the pace offensively for the Mallards. On June 4 against Waterloo, Riggins turned in a 3-for-4 night with a walk, two runs scored and four RBIs in an 11-4 victory. Two days later, Riggins was the difference maker, hitting his third homer of the season and driving in three runs in a 6-4 win over St. Cloud. Riggins kept his bat hot on June 9, getting two hits in four at-bats with two RBIs in an 8-0 win at Battle Creek.
Riggins is batting .288 (15-for-52) with two doubles, three home runs, and 14 RBIs in 13 games for the Mallards.
Pratt Maynard - Forest City Owls (Coastal Plain League)
Maynard picked up where he left off last week with the streaking Owls, who are 11-1. In the first game of a doubleheader on June 6 against Gastonia, Maynard doubled in three at-bats and scored a run in Forest City’s 4-1 win. In the nightcap, Maynard went 1-for-2 with a run scored and two RBIs to lead the Owls to a 4-3 win over the Grizzlies, sweeping the doubleheader. Against Martinsville on June 9, Maynard had his biggest game at the plate yet, going 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, two runs scored, and three RBIs in a 4-1 win. The very next night, Maynard went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs to lead the Owls to a 7-4 victory over Gastonia in the first game of a doubleheader.
On the season, Maynard is leading the Owls with a .359 batting average (14-for-39) with five doubles, a home run, and 13 RBIs. Maynard’s .359 average is tied for seventh in the CPL and is tied for second in RBIs and doubles.
Vance Williams - Outer Banks Dare Devils (Coastal Plain League)
Through five appearances out of the bullpen, Williams has allowed just three hits while striking out 14 and walking four in 7 2/3 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting just .115 off the righty.
Outer Banks ranks first in the CPL in pitching, posting a 1.62 ERA in 111 innings.
Cory Mazzoni - Slippery Rock Sliders (Prospect League)
Mazzoni started the second game of the season for the Sliders, going six strong innings to pick up his first victory. Mazzoni allowed one run on four hits, struck out six and walked two in Slippery Rock’s 2-1 win over Butler.
Aaron Bates - Pawtucket Red Sox (International League - Red Sox, Class AAA)
Bates was promoted to Class AAA Pawtucket earlier in the week by the Boston Red Sox, shortly after he was awarded with the Eastern League’s Player of the Month honors. Through two games with his new club, Bates has two hits in eight at-bats with a double and an RBI.
On the year, Bates is hitting .332 with 14 doubles, seven home runs, and 40 RBIs between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket.
Wolfpack fans will get a chance to see Bates on the field for Pawtucket when the Pawsox visit the Durham Bulls for a three-game series June 19-21 at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. For more on Bates’ season and promotion, check GoPack.com.
Matt Camp - Iowa Cubs (Pacific Coast League - Cubs, Class AAA)
After spending nearly three weeks on the disabled list, Camp came back and gave Iowa some offensive punch in a four-game set against the Round Rock Express. Camp went 7-for-13 in the series with a double, two RBIs, and two runs scored as the Cubs went 3-1 against the Express.
Camp is hitting .308 overall with six doubles, two homers, and 23 RBIs, splitting time between Double-A Tennessee Smokies of the Southern League and Triple-A Iowa.
Following is an update on current NC State baseball players involved in summer baseball leagues, plus two former Wolfpackers having success in minor league ball:
John Gianis - Rochester Honkers (Northwoods League)
Gianis was the deciding factor in in Rochester’s 7-6 victory over Mankato on June 4, going 2-for-5 at the plate with a run scored and a stolen base. Gianis slid to the second spot in the lineup for the first time the next night and responded by going 3-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored as Rochester defeated Wisconsin 14-1.
With the help of his solid back-to-back performances, Gianis upped his season batting average to .273 (15-for-55) with six walks and seven RBIs.
Russell Wilson - Gastonia Grizzlies (Coastal Plain League)
Despite some struggles at the plate in the past few days, Wilson started off the week on a roll. On June 4 in Asheboro, he went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored in Gastonia’s 9-6 win over the Copperheads. In a June 6 doubleheader at Forest City, Wilson went 2-for-6 overall with a double, a run scored, and two stolen bases. The Grizzlies, however, dropped both ends of the double-dip to the Owls.
On the season, Wilson is hitting .250 (10-for-40) with three doubles and an RBI. Wilson is 8-for-10 in steals, good enough for second overall on the Coastal Plain League stolden-base leaderboard.
Harold Riggins - Madison Mallards (Northwoods League)
Riggins has kept up the pace offensively for the Mallards. On June 4 against Waterloo, Riggins turned in a 3-for-4 night with a walk, two runs scored and four RBIs in an 11-4 victory. Two days later, Riggins was the difference maker, hitting his third homer of the season and driving in three runs in a 6-4 win over St. Cloud. Riggins kept his bat hot on June 9, getting two hits in four at-bats with two RBIs in an 8-0 win at Battle Creek.
Riggins is batting .288 (15-for-52) with two doubles, three home runs, and 14 RBIs in 13 games for the Mallards.
Pratt Maynard - Forest City Owls (Coastal Plain League)
Maynard picked up where he left off last week with the streaking Owls, who are 11-1. In the first game of a doubleheader on June 6 against Gastonia, Maynard doubled in three at-bats and scored a run in Forest City’s 4-1 win. In the nightcap, Maynard went 1-for-2 with a run scored and two RBIs to lead the Owls to a 4-3 win over the Grizzlies, sweeping the doubleheader. Against Martinsville on June 9, Maynard had his biggest game at the plate yet, going 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, two runs scored, and three RBIs in a 4-1 win. The very next night, Maynard went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs to lead the Owls to a 7-4 victory over Gastonia in the first game of a doubleheader.
On the season, Maynard is leading the Owls with a .359 batting average (14-for-39) with five doubles, a home run, and 13 RBIs. Maynard’s .359 average is tied for seventh in the CPL and is tied for second in RBIs and doubles.
Vance Williams - Outer Banks Dare Devils (Coastal Plain League)
Through five appearances out of the bullpen, Williams has allowed just three hits while striking out 14 and walking four in 7 2/3 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting just .115 off the righty.
Outer Banks ranks first in the CPL in pitching, posting a 1.62 ERA in 111 innings.
Cory Mazzoni - Slippery Rock Sliders (Prospect League)
Mazzoni started the second game of the season for the Sliders, going six strong innings to pick up his first victory. Mazzoni allowed one run on four hits, struck out six and walked two in Slippery Rock’s 2-1 win over Butler.
Aaron Bates - Pawtucket Red Sox (International League - Red Sox, Class AAA)
Bates was promoted to Class AAA Pawtucket earlier in the week by the Boston Red Sox, shortly after he was awarded with the Eastern League’s Player of the Month honors. Through two games with his new club, Bates has two hits in eight at-bats with a double and an RBI.
On the year, Bates is hitting .332 with 14 doubles, seven home runs, and 40 RBIs between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket.
Wolfpack fans will get a chance to see Bates on the field for Pawtucket when the Pawsox visit the Durham Bulls for a three-game series June 19-21 at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. For more on Bates’ season and promotion, check GoPack.com.
Matt Camp - Iowa Cubs (Pacific Coast League - Cubs, Class AAA)
After spending nearly three weeks on the disabled list, Camp came back and gave Iowa some offensive punch in a four-game set against the Round Rock Express. Camp went 7-for-13 in the series with a double, two RBIs, and two runs scored as the Cubs went 3-1 against the Express.
Camp is hitting .308 overall with six doubles, two homers, and 23 RBIs, splitting time between Double-A Tennessee Smokies of the Southern League and Triple-A Iowa.
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