North Carolina State University Athletics
Pack Baseball Players Having Big Summers
6/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
RALEIGH, N.C. - As the summer weather heats up, so have the bats and arms of several former Wolfpack baseball players in the professional ranks, highlighted by a pitching matchup on Wednesday between former high school and Wolfpack teammates Andrew Brackman and Eric Surkamp.
Not to be overshadowed, the current Pack summer leaguers also have continued putting up solid numbers as their seasons get into full swing.
Jake Buchanan - Cotuit Kettlers (Cape Cod League)
Buchanan made his first start of the season on June 15 against Bourne, scattering five hits over six innings of work. He allowed two runs, none earned, striking out four without walking a hitter in a no-decision. Cotuit and Bourne played to a 2-2 tie.
John Gianis - Rochester Honkers (Northwoods League)
In a June 13 game against Alexandria, Gianis went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, two runs scored, and an RBI in a 7-2 victory.
On the year, Gianis is hitting .270 (20-for-74) with a double, seven walks, eight RBIs, 13 runs scored, and has stolen five bases.
Harold Riggins - Madison Mallards (Northwoods League)
After seeing limited action earlier this week, Riggins broke out in a big way on June 17 against Waterloo, collecting three hits, including his fourth home run of the season, in a lopsided 12-0 victory over the Bucks. Riggins drove in three runs and scored two in the win.
With the big game, Riggins upped his season batting average to .306 (19-for-62) with two doubles, a triple, four homers, and 17 RBIs.
Pratt Maynard - Forest City Owls (Coastal Plain League)
Maynard doubled in four trips to the plate on June 12 against Asheboro, scoring two of the Owls’ three runs in what was only the second Forest City loss of the season. In a June 17 game against Martinsville, Maynard was largely the deciding factor, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs in a 6-5 win in the first game of a doubleheader. Maynard went 0-for-2 in the nightcap, but the Owls won 1-0 to sweep the double dip and win for the 10th time in their last 11 games.
Maynard is hitting .358 (19-for-53), with eight doubles, a homer, and 15 RBIs on the summer. His .358 average ranks fourth in the CPL, and his eight doubles tie him for the league lead.
Vance Williams - Outer Banks Dare Devils (Coastal Plain League)
Outside of one hiccup, Williams has been lights out coming in from the bullpen. He had another solid relief outing on June 13, going two shutout innings with three strikeouts in a 7-2 win over Peninsula.
In six relief appearances, Williams is carrying a 0.93 ERA in 9 2/3 innings, striking out 17 and walking four. Opponents are hitting .091 against the righty.
Cory Mazzoni - Slippery Rock Sliders (Prospect League)
Mazzoni went seven strong innings in a June 15 game against Dupage. He allowed one run on eight hits, and struck out nine while issuing just one walk in a no-decision.
Through three starts, Mazzoni has a 3.71 ERA in 17 innings of work. He has struck out 16 and walked six.
Chris Schaeffer - Green Bay Bullfrogs (Northwoods League)
On June 13 against Wisconsin, Schaeffer went 2-for-2 with a double, a walk and two RBIs, and scored two runs in Green Bay’s 7-2 win over the Woochucks. On June 17, Shaeffer drove in both Green Bay runs in a 3-2 loss against Mankato.
Aaron Bates - Pawtucket Red Sox (International League - Red Sox, Class AAA)
In a three-game series against Syracuse on June 12-14, Bates went 6-for-10 with two homers, four walks, three RBIs, and six runs scored. Bates hit both of his homers in the June 13 game, finishing 2-for-3 with two walks and three RBIs.
Since getting called up to AAA Pawtucket, Bates is hitting .355 (11-for-31) with two doubles, two home runs, five RBIs, eight runs scored, and five walks. He is reaching base at a .444 clip and is slugging .613 (1.057 OPS).
Matt Camp - Iowa Cubs (Pacific Coast League - Cubs, Class AAA)
Camp went 7-for-14 with an RBI and two stolen bases in a series against Oklahoma City on June 15-17.
Since coming off the disabled list June 7, Camp has hit .412 (14-for-34) with a double, four RBIs, four runs scored, and three stolen bases. He has hit safely in eight of his last 10 games.
Jeremy Synan - Greensboro Grasshoppers (South Atlantic League - Marlins, Class A)
In a doubleheader against Hickory on June 15, Synan went 4-for-7 with a home run and two RBIs to help the Grasshoppers split the twin-bill with the Crawdads.
In his last 10 games, Synan is hitting .333 (13-for-39) with a double, two home runs, and five RBIs.
Drew Taylor - Cedar Rapids Kernels (Midwest League - Angels, Class A)
On June 16 against Kane County, Taylor threw two shutout innings, striking out five.
Taylor has been lights out since getting called up to the Kernels, posting a 0.61 ERA in his last 14 2/3 innings pitched with 25 strikeouts and six walks. Through 16 relief appearances since being promoted, Taylor is 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA in 20 2/3 innings. He has struck out 35 and walked just nine with hitters managing just a .130 average off the lefthander.
Andrew Brackman (Charleston Riverdogs) vs. Eric Surkamp (Augusta GreenJackets)
In a rare opportunity for the two former high school and college teammates, Surkamp and Brackman had a chance to face off against one another in a South Atlantic League game on Wednesday, June 17 in Augusta.
Surkamp got the better end of the deal, going 5 2/3 innings and allowing two runs on four hits while striking out five. Surkamp improved to 4-2 with the 7-2 August win over Charleston.
Brackman went three innings for the Dogs. He allowed six runs on six hits while striking out five. He fell to 1-5 on the season with the loss.
For the year, Surkamp is 4-2 with a 3.86 ERA in 11 starts for the GreenJackets. He has struck out 75 and walked 14 in 60 2/3 innings.
Brackman is 1-5 with a 4.55 ERA in 13 starts in 2009 for the Riverdogs. He has struck out 63 and walked 40 in 65 1/3 innings pitched.
