Summer Notebook: Ray Paces Team USA Offense
July 09, 2015 | Baseball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - As the Louisville baseball team's trio of Team USA players closed their summer with the Collegiate National Team earlier this week, the Cardinals continued to make headlines in the Cape Cod, New England and Northwoods leagues.
Outfielder Corey Ray emerged as one of the most impressive players with the USA Collegiate National Team this summer leading the club in several offensive categories, including doubles (7), stolen bases (10), runs (12), walks (7) and slugging (.548). While hitting safely in 15 of his 16 starts, Ray also did not commit an error in his 14 outfield starts as Team USA closed its summer slate on Wednesday.
Additionally, Zack Burdi and Brendan McKay had good performances with Team USA and both will continue their summer baseball seasons in the Cape Cod League. Burdi had four straight scoreless appearances and finished with a 3.72 ERA in six outings overall for Team USA and the righthander will finish the summer with the Chatham Anglers. McKay, who made four scoreless relief appearances and added six starts as a hitter for Team USA, will complete his summer schedule with the Bourne Braves.
In the Cape Cod League, Blake Tiberi continues to carry a batting average above .400, while Nick Solak and Colin Lyman rank in the top five in hitting overall. In the New England League, Sean Leland was named as the Pitcher of the Week, while Ryan Summers connected for a game-winning home run in the Northwoods League.
Listed below is additional information and highlights 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 9
USA Collegiate National Team
• Rising junior outfielder Corey Ray separated himself as one of the top players for Team USA this summer ranking among the team leaders in multiple offensive categories. The Chicago native hit .355 overall to rank second on the team while hitting safely in 15 of his 16 starts. Ray led the USA Collegiate National Team with seven doubles, 10 stolen bases (in 11 attempts), 12 runs scored, seven walks and a .548 slugging percentage while playing error-free baseball in 14 starts in the outfield. He also added a home run and five RBI for Team USA.
• Though his chances were more limited, two-way standout Brendan McKay had a solid summer with Team USA. On the mound, the lefthander did not allow an earned run in his four relief appearances while striking out five in 4.1 innings. At the plate, the Darlington, Pennsylvania native made six starts (three at first base and three at DH) hitting .200 with three RBI, three walks and two runs scored. In his final start of the summer, McKay was 2-for-4 with one RBI against Cuba on July 6.
• Righthander Zack Burdi came out of the bullpen for six appearances on the mound this summer for Team USA. The rising junior from Downers Grove, Illinois had a 3.72 ERA with six strikeouts and did not register a decision or a save in his 9.2 innings of work. Burdi had four straight scoreless outings capped by two dominant innings of shutout relief against Cuba on July 3 when he needed just 12 pitches to record six outs.
Cape Cod League
• As the summer moves forward, rising sophomore infielder Blake Tiberi continues to play at a high level hitting .415 overall, which would lead the Cape Cod League had the Taylor Mill, Kentucky native registered enough appearances. Along with the impressive average, Tiberi has 10 RBI in his 16 games for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks.
• Through 18 games with the Bourne Braves, rising junior Nick Solak is tied for fourth in hitting in the Cape Cod League with a .338 average to go with 11 RBI (tied for ninth in the Cape), 11 walks (tied for eighth), six stolen bases, four doubles and eight runs scored. On July 6, he was 4-for-5 with a double against Cotuit, while on July 2, he finished 2-of-4 with two RBI against Yarmouth-Dennis.
• In 16 games for the Brewster Whitecaps this summer, outfielder Colin Lyman is tied with Solak for fourth in hitting in the Cape Cod League with a .338 average overall. A native of Algonquin, Illinois, Lyman has hit safely in 11 straight games with five of those being multiple hit performances. He has scored 11 runs while adding three doubles and five RBI overall.
• In four starts on the mound for Bourne, lefthander Josh Rogers is 2-0 with a 3.09 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 20.1 innings pitched. Twice this summer, the rising junior has pitched into the sixth inning for the Braves.
New England Collegiate League
• On July 6, rising sophomore righthander Sean Leland was named as the New England Collegiate League Pitcher of the Week after striking out eight in seven shutout innings and allowing just three hits in a dominant win over North Adams on July 3. In three starts and four appearances overall this summer, the Orland Park, Illinois native is 1-0 with a 2.41 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 18.2 innings pitched.
• In 14 games with the Vermont Mountaineers, rising sophomore shortstop Devin Hairston is hitting .265 with10 runs scored and five RBI.
• In four appearances and three starts on the mound for the Keene Swamp Bats, righthander Lincoln Henzman has a 2.70 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 13.1 innings pitched.
Northwoods League
• Rising senior infielder Danny Rosenbaum is hitting .295 with 15 RBI, 15 runs scored and 14 walks in 23 games for the Green Bay Bullfrogs this summer.
• Through 20 games for Green Bay, outfielder Logan Taylor is hitting .333 with 15 stolen bases and 18 runs scored.
• On July 2, outfielder Ryan Summers connected for a three-run homer to lift the Rochester Honkers to a 3-2 win over Battle Creek. In 18 games this summer, the rising redshirt sophomore is hitting .243 with eight RBI and nine runs scored.
• In seven relief appearances this summer for Rochester, righthander Jake Sparger is 1-0 with one save, a 2.81 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 16.0 innings pitched.
2015 University of Louisville Summer Baseball Assignments
USA Collegiate National Team
• RHP Zack Burdi (will complete summer with Chatham in Cape Cod League
• OF Corey Ray
• LHP/1B Brendan McKay (will complete summer with Bourne in Cape Cod League)
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
