Louisville Baseball Summer Leagues Update - July 3 - University of Louisville Athletic

Cole Sturgeon playing for Wareham in the Cape Cod League. (photo by Andrew Griffith)

Louisville Baseball Summer Leagues Update - July 3

July 03, 2012 | Baseball

July 3, 2012

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Here is this week's Louisville baseball summer update with highlights on the progress of the Cardinals' 25 players competing this summer.

Outfielder/left-handed pitcher Cole Sturgeon and lefty Joe Filomeno have opened the summer with hot starts to lead an impressive group of nine Louisville players in the prestigious Cape Cod League. In the Northwoods League, second baseman Nick Ratajczak, infielder Ty Young and lefty Kyle McGrath have been outstanding through the first month.

Overall, the Cardinals have 25 underclassmen assigned to six different wooden bat leagues around the nation. Following the completion of the collegiate summer leagues, players will return to campus for the fall semester in mid-August to continue Louisville's preparation for the 2013 college baseball season.

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Listed below are updates on the progress of some of the Cardinals during summer league action as well as a complete list of 2012 Louisville baseball summer assignments.

Cape Cod League
- Outfielder/left-handed pitcher Cole Sturgeon is off to a hot start this summer hitting .344, which is good for fourth in the league, with three home runs (second in the league), nine RBI and 14 runs scored in 15 games for the Wareham Gatemen. On June 30, he was 5-for-6 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored in a win over Cotuit. On the mound, Sturgeon earned his first save of the summer with one inning of scoreless relief and one strikeout in Wareham's 4-3 win over Hyannis on July 1.

- Lefty Joe Filomeno has been extremely impressive out of the bullpen for Wareham with a league-low 1.46 ERA, two saves and 12 strikeouts in seven appearances and 12.1 innings pitched. In his most recent outing, Filomeno struck out four and allowed only an unearned run in 2.2 innings of relief to earn his second save in Wareham's June 30 win over Cotuit.

- Right-hander Jared Ruxer is also among the best in the league in ERA at 2.63 to go with 15 strikeouts in three starts and 13.1 innings pitched. In his most recent outing on June 30 against Cotuit, he struck out seven and allowed only an unearned run in 4.2 innings to earn his first win of the summer. Despite a 1-2 record, Ruxer has not allowed an unearned run in his last 11.2 innings on the mound.

- In two appearances for the Bourne Braves, right-hander Chad Green has a 2.00 ERA with 13 strikeouts and just four hits allowed in 9.0 innings pitched. Most recently, he struck out eight in 5.1 innings while finishing with a no-decision in a start against Cotuit on July 1.

- With three starts this summer for Bourne, righty Jeff Thompson is 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 12.0 innings pitched. In his most recent outing, he had six strikeouts while allowing just one run on four hits in 5.0 innings in a no-decision against Orleans on June 30.

- Through 14 games for the Chatham Anglers, outfielder Adam Engel is hitting .286 with three triples, six RBI, 11 stolen bases and 12 runs scored. The speedy Engel has also hit safely in five of his last six games with six stolen bases in that stretch.

- Infielder Alex Chittenden has hit safely in four straight games and six of his last seven overall for Chatham. Overall, he is hitting .257 with five RBI in 11 games for the Anglers.

Northwoods League
- In 21 games for the Mankato MoonDogs, second baseman Nick Ratajczak is hitting .337 with 20 runs scored, nine RBI, 11 walks, four stolen bases, five doubles and a triple. He has hit safely in seven of his last eight games. During one four-game stretch from June 23-26, Ratajczak was 11-for-17 (.647 avg.) with four doubles, three RBI and six runs scored.

- In five starts on the mound for Mankato, left-hander Kyle McGrath is 3-1 with a 3.04 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 26.1 innings pitched. In his most recent start, he had a season-high nine strikeouts in 7.0 innings to earn the win in the MoonDogs' victory over Waterloo.

- Through 23 games for the Lakeshore Chinooks, infielder Ty Young is hitting .299 with two home runs, 15 RBI, five doubles, three triples, 21 runs scored and five stolen bases. In his last eight starts, he is 13-for-34 (.382 avg.) with 10 runs scored and five RBI.

New England League
- In 11 appearances for the Vermont Mountaineers, first baseman Ryan Karl is hitting .268 with two home runs, one double, one triple and four RBI. He opened the summer by hitting safely in his first 10 games for the Mountaineers.

- In five appearances on the mound, including one start, for the Keene Swamp Bats, right-hander Joe Ceja has a 3.38 ERA with four strikeouts in 8.0 innings pitched and does not have a decision.

- Right-hander Brandon Alphin has made five appearances on the mound for the Sanford Mainers, including one start. Overall, he is 0-1 with a 2.46 ERA in 7.1 innings pitched.

Coastal Plain League
- In 21 games for the Florence RedWolves, outfielder Matt Helms is hitting .289 with 16 RBI, eight runs scored, four doubles, one triple and five stolen bases.

- During his 18 games with Florence, outfielder Jeff Gardner is hitting .286 with one home run and 12 runs scored.

Perfect Game League
- In 13 games with the Oneonta Outlaws, catcher Shane Crain is hitting .375 with one home run, eight RBI and nine runs scored.

2012 University of Louisville Summer Baseball Assignments

Cape Cod League
- Nick Burdi, Chatham Anglers
- Alex Chittenden, Chatham Anglers
- Adam Engel, Chatham Anglers
- Joe Filomeno, Wareham Gatemen
- Chad Green, Bourne Braves
- Dace Kime, Chatham Anglers
- Jared Ruxer, Wareham Gatemen
- Cole Sturgeon, Wareham Gatemen
- Jeff Thompson, Bourne Braves