Aug. 7, 2009
Click here for July update on Cape Cod and Valley League
As the summer comes to a close, much of the Vanderbilt baseball team will arrive on West End at the end of August for the beginning of the 2009-10 calendar year. Three weeks ago, VUcommodores.com gave an update on how some of the current Commodores were playing in the Cape Cod and Valley Leagues.
In this update we will highlight the Vanderbilt players who spent the summer playing in the New England Collegiate League, Prospect League, New York Collegiate and Kitty League. In addition we have posted a small summary on how Sonny Gray played an instrumental part in leading Team USA to a 19-5 record this summer.
The individual stats below are through games completed of August 4, 2009.
USA Baseball National Team
Sonny Gray made the most of his summer experience pitching for the USA National Team that finished with a 19-5 record en route to winning the World Baseball Challenge. The rising sophomore went 3-1 with a 0.75 ERA in eight appearances for Team USA. The Smryna, Tenn., native struck out 27 in 24 innings while opponents hit only .139 off him. Gray made two starts for the national team, including one in front of a roaring crowd of 9,534 in an 18-1 win over Guatemala at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on July 4. The hard throwing righthander was worth every price of admission on Independence Day as he allowed one run on two hits while striking out eight in 5.2 innings.
New England Collegiate League
Aaron Westlake – Newport
The reigning Southeastern Conference batting champion has carried his hot bat well into the summer months for the Eastern Division Champions Newport Gulls. The sweet-swinging lefty is hitting .312 with 13 extra-base hits (eight doubles, three triples and two home runs). The rising sophomore leads the team in RBI (24), hits (34), total bases (54), and triples (3). Westlake also sports a solid .495 slugging percentage and .992 fielding percentage in 31 starts. The Redding, Calif., native has been a constant staple in the lineup all summer for the Gulls and is a big reason why they have played so well down the stretch and the first part of the playoffs. Three weeks ago Westlake was honored for his play as he was selected as the starting designated hitter for the East squad in the 16th annual NECBL All-Star Game.
Will Clinard – Sanford
Clinard has been solid on the mound for the Mainers this summer, posting a 2-0, 3.46 ERA in 10 appearances (including three starts). The former East Robertson (Tenn.) High standout has 25 Ks in 26 innings of work while opponents are hitting only .167 off the tall righthander. Clinard and the Mainers are currently playing in the second round of the NECBL playoffs after finishing the regular season in second place in the Eastern Division.
Alex Hilliard – Holyoke
Hilliard hit .237 with nine RBI and four runs scored in 15 games for the Blue Sox (20-21). The Lafayette, La. native stole three bases in three attempts while sporting a .326 on base percentage.
Joey Manning – Newport
Manning is hitting .197 with 10 RBI, five doubles and a homerun in 26 games for the regular season Eastern Division Champion Gulls. Manning and the Gulls are currently playing Holyoke in the second round of the NECBL playoffs.
Matt Marquis – North Shore
Marquis hit .230 with a pair of home runs, five doubles, and 16 runs scored in 37 games for the (20-21) Navigators. The rising sophomore finished second on the team with 18 RBI.
Prospect League
Richie Goodenow – Danville
Similar to the spring season, Goodenow has seen action this summer on the mound and at the plate for the Danville Dans. Playing in his second consecutive summer with the Dans, Richie has seen more time at the plate, posting a .271 average, with two doubles, a home run and 11 RBI in 70 at-bats. On the bump, the lefthander is 1-0 with 6.75 ERA in nine relief appearances. The Nashville, Tenn. native has 17 strikeouts in 13.1 innings of work.
Mark Lamm – Danville
Lamm, a teammate of Goodenow, is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in nine relief appearances for Danville this summer. The former Loretto (Tenn.) High standout has 11 strikeouts and six walks in 10 innings of work for the 29-21 Dans.
New York Collegiate League
Drew Fann – Saratoga
Fann hit .226 with a home run and two RBI in eight games for the Saratoga Phillies this summer.
Kitty League
Andrew Harris – Marion
Harris hit .237 with five doubles, 10 RBI and 15 runs scored in 28 games for the Bobcats this summer.