Summer Notebook: McKay on Final Team USA Roster
July 01, 2015 | Baseball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The 2015 summer baseball season continues to be a strong one for the Louisville baseball team, highlighted by standout performances with Team USA as well as the Cape Cod, New England and Northwoods leagues.
On Tuesday, lefty pitcher and first baseman Brendan McKay was officially named to the Team USA roster for the upcoming five-game series against Cuba. Invited to the team trials with a chance to earn a spot on the roster, McKay did just that with his work on the mound, at the plate and at first base.
McKay also experienced a busy but exciting three-day span starting on Sunday evening when he was 1-for-3 with one RBI and two runs scored as the starting first baseman in Team USA's 10-2 win over Chinese Taipei in Cary, North Carolina. After learning of his roster selection for the Cuba series following Sunday's game, McKay departed the following morning for Lubbock, Texas, where he was introduced as the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year during the College Baseball Hall of Fame's annual Night of Champions ceremony on Monday evening. The following morning, McKay returned to North Carolina and the USA Baseball National Training Center where he participated in a Tuesday afternoon practice with his Team USA squad.
Outfielder Corey Ray has been one of the most impressive performers for the USA Collegiate National Team ranking second on the team in hitting (.385) and leading the club in stolen bases (9-for-10), doubles (four), walks (six) and runs (nine). Righthander Zack Burdi had his strongest outing of the summer on Monday with 2.1 innings of shutout relief against Chinese Taipei.
In the Cape Cod League, Louisville's Blake Tiberi, Nick Solak, Josh Rogers, Colin Lyman and Will Smith continue to play at a high level. Lincoln Henzman, Kade McClure, Devin Hairston and Riley Jackson are setting the pace for Louisville in the New England League, while Logan Taylor and Jake Sparger have emerged in the Northwoods.
Listed below are additional highlights and information on the progress of some of the Cardinals during summer league action as well as a complete list of 2015 Louisville baseball summer assignments.
Overall, the Cardinals have 26 underclassmen assigned to five different wooden bat leagues as well as the USA Collegiate National Team this summer. Following the completion of the collegiate summer season, players will return to campus for the fall semester in late August to continue the Cardinals' preparation for 2016.
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2015 University of Louisville Summer Baseball Update -- July 1
USA Collegiate National Team
• Outfielder Corey Ray has emerged as one of the top players on Team USA through the first nine games this summer. The rising junior outfielder is hitting .385 while leading the club with nine stolen bases (in 10 attempts), four doubles, six walks and nine runs scored. Serving as the leadoff hitter for most of his starts, Ray has hit safely in all nine games, including a 4-for-4 performance with a double, triple, stolen base and three runs scored in Sunday's 10-2 win over Chinese Taipei.
• Two-way standout Brendan McKay, competing as a USA Collegiate National Team trials invitee, was officially named to the club's final roster on Tuesday in advance of this week's five-game series against the Cuban National Team. In three relief appearances, the rising sophomore lefty has one save and four strikeouts in 2.2 innings of shutout work, while also playing in five games at first base and designated hitter.
• Rising junior righty Zack Burdi had his best outing of the summer for Team USA on Monday delivering 2.1 innings of shutout relief with three strikeouts against Chinese Taipei. In four appearances out of the bullpen this summer, Burdi has a 3.86 ERA with five strikeouts in 4.2 innings.
Cape Cod League
• Infielder Blake Tiberi has five multiple hit performances in his 10 games with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks and is hitting .400 overall with four RBI and three runs scored. Although he is not listed in the Cape Cod League season stats due to few game appearances following a late start to the summer, Tiberi's average would rank No. 1 in the league entering the month of July.
• In 10 games with the Bourne Braves, Nick Solak is hitting .342 with seven RBI and three stolen bases and has hit safely in all but one game this summer. On Monday, he was 2-for-3 with a double, one RBI and scored once in a 12-3 win over Falmouth. Though not listed among the statistical leaders in the league because of his later arrival, Solak would rank in the top 10 in batting average.
• After closing the 2015 collegiate season in strong fashion, rising junior lefty Josh Rogers continued that momentum into the summer by striking out six in 5.2 innings of shutout work to lead Bourne to a 5-0 win over Cotuit on June 24. In two Cape Cod League starts, Rogers is 1-0 with a 0.93 ERA and nine strikeouts in 9.2 innings pitched.
• In nine games for the Brewster Whitecaps, outfielder Colin Lyman is hitting .333 with four RBI and five runs scored. He's hit safely in four of his last five games, including two multiple hit outings.
• Catcher Will Smith has played in eight games for Brewster and is hitting .292 with four runs scored and two RBI.
New England Collegiate League
• Making his second start of the summer for the Keene Swamp Bats, rising sophomore righty Lincoln Henzman had five strikeouts and allowed just one hit in five shutout innings against Ocean State on June 25. He suffered a no-decision in the outing as Keene dropped a 2-1 decision. Overall, he has a 2.34 ERA and seven strikeouts while allowing just two hits in two starts and 7.2 innings.
• Righthander Kade McClure made his first start of the summer for Keene on June 27 at Laconia allowing only an unearned run on five hits with two strikeouts in four solid innings. Overall, he has a 3.00 ERA and four strikeouts in three appearances and six innings pitched this summer.
• In nine games with the Vermont Mountaineers, rising sophomore shortstop Devin Hairston is hitting .273 with five RBI and six runs scored.
• Outfielder Riley Jackson has played in six games for Vermont this summer and is hitting .278 with five RBI, four runs scored, five walks and four stolen bases.
Northwoods League
• Outfielder Logan Taylor has hit safely in five straight games and is hitting .333 with 10 stolen bases and 15 runs scored in 17 games for the Green Bay Bullfrogs. On June 28, he was 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, a stolen base and scored runs in an 8-4 win over Battle Creek.
• Rising junior righty Jake Sparger has not allowed an earned run in four relief appearances this summer for the Rochester Honkers. Overall, he is 1-0 with five strikeouts in 8.2 innings of relief with all four appearances spanning at least two innings.
2015 University of Louisville Summer Baseball Assignments
USA Collegiate National Team
• RHP Zack Burdi
• OF Corey Ray
• LHP/1B Brendan McKay
Cape Cod League
• LHP Drew Harrington, Wareham Gatemen
• OF Colin Lyman, Brewster Whitecaps
• LHP Josh Rogers, Bourne Braves
• C Will Smith, Brewster Whitecaps
• OF/INF Nick Solak, Bourne Braves
• 3B/1B Blake Tiberi, Hyannis Harbor Hawks
New England Collegiate League
• C/3B Austin Clemons, Vermont Mountaineers
• SS Devin Hairston, Vermont Mountaineers
• RHP Lincoln Henzman, Keene swamp Bats
• OF/C Riley Jackson, Vermont Mountaineers
• RHP Sean Leland, Vermont Mountaineers
• RHP Kade McClure, Keene Swamp Bats
Northwoods League
• RHP Chandler Dale, Lakeshore Chinooks
• C Colby Fitch, Lakeshore Chinooks
• 1B/3B Danny Rosenbaum, Green Bay Bullfrogs
• RHP Jake Sparger, Rochester Honkers
• OF Ryan Summers, Rochester Honkers
• OF Logan Taylor, Green Bay Bullfrogs
Coastal Plain League
• LHP Butch Baird, Wilson Tobs
• 3B Drew Ellis, High Point-Thomasville HiToms
• OF Jimmy Faul, Fayetteville SwampDogs
• 1B/OF Grant Schreiver, High Point-Thomasville HiToms
Perfect Game League
• 1B Michael Bollmer, Albany Dutchmen
