Robbie Robinson was named a Northwoods League All-Star. (Dave Schofield)
It is just
past the midway point of the summer baseball season and several current and
incoming members of the Valparaiso
University baseball team
have been busy playing in various summer collegiate leagues around the
country. Most notably, three members of
the Crusader baseball team have been honored this summer by earning All-Star
selections in their respective summer leagues.
Rising junior outfielder Kyle Gaedele (Arlington Heights,
Ill./Rolling Meadows H.S.) and senior catcher Robbie Robinson (Brea, Calif./Olinda
H.S.) were recently
named to the Northwoods League All-Star Game.
Also, incoming junior college shortstop Bobby Martin (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie
Ridge H.S.) was named to the Chicago Suburban Baseball League (CSBL) All-Star
team.
Gaedele is
tied for second in the Northwoods League with five home runs and his .327
batting average ranks eighth. He
currently leads the Madison Mallards in five categories, including at-bats
(150), runs (28), hits (49), and triples (four), while leading the entire NWL
in total bases (78). Gaedele is off to a
fast start in July as he’s already posted a .348 average (16-for-46) with four
home runs and seven RBI through the month’s first 11 games. Earlier this season he posted a 16-game hitting
streak that is still tops in the NWL.
Robinson
is also having a productive summer season catching for the Mankato Moondogs of
the NWL. He ranks eleventh in the league
with a .323 batting average and a .403 on-base percentage. Robinson has four doubles and nine RBI.
Martin has
led the Lombard Orioles into first place in the CSBL with a record of
15-3. Martin currently is batting .340
with 10 stolen bases, 16 runs, and seven RBI.
In the All-Star game, he was the North Team’s starting shortstop going
2-for-3 for the night.
An
additional 12 Crusaders are also involved in various summer leagues around the
country and putting up some impressive numbers as well.
Senior
left-handed pitcher Jon Gulbransen (Appleton, Wis./Fox
Valley Lutheran H.S.) is pitching for the first place Licking County Settlers
of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League.
Gulbransen, who is 2-1 with a 3.25 ERA, has 20 strikeouts in 27.0
innings while giving up only seven walks.
Rising
senior right-handed pitcher and Chicago Cubs draft pick Bryce Shafer (Wabash,
Ind./Northfield H.S.) is pitching
for the Wisconsin Woodchucks of the Northwoods League. Shafer is 1-2 with a 3.74 ERA in 21.2 innings
pitched, striking out 24 batters while only walking seven.
Rising
senior right-handed pitchers Damon
McCormick (Louisville, Ky./Saint Xavier H.S.) and Steve Godawa (Buffalo
Grove, Ill./Buffalo Grove H.S.) are both pitching for the Wisconsin
Rapids
Rafters of the Northwoods League.
Godawa
has been especially impressive, leading the team with five saves and recording
a 3.27 ERA. McCormick has started for
the Rafters six times and has pitched a team-high 35 innings. He currently has a 5.91 ERA, 26 strikeouts
and has only walked nine.
Rising
juniors Steven Scoby (Delton, Mich./Kellogg
H.S.) and Tyler Deetjen (Saint Charles, Ill./East
H.S.) are both playing for the Staunton Braves of the Valley Baseball
League. Scoby ranks third on his team
with a .293 batting average with five doubles, one triple, one home run, and 18
RBI. Deetjen, who is currently pitching
in relief, has a 5.66 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 20.2 innings pitched.
Sophomore
infielder/right-handed pitcher Karch
Kowalczyk (Peru, Ill./La Salle-Peru H.S.) and junior left-handed pitcher/designated
hitter Will Hagel (Arlington Heights, Ill./Prospect H.S.) are both playing
for the Dodge City A’s of the Jayhawk Baseball League. Kowalczyk is leading his team in the field
and on the mound. He ranks eighth in the
league with a .364 batting average and leads the league in pitching with a 0.77
ERA in 12.2 innings pitched, only giving up one earned run while striking out 10
batters. Hagel is seeing limited action
in the designated hitter role posting a .260 batting average with two home runs.
Another
rising senior, Ryan O’Gara (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Buffalo Grove H.S.), is playing for
the DeKalb County Liners of the Prospect League. O’Gara has a .259 batting average with three
doubles and seven RBI.
Junior
catcher Billy Cribbs (Rochester, Mich./Rochester
H.S.) is catching for the Southern Ohio Copperheads of the Great Lakes Summer
Collegiate League. In limited action,
Cribbs is hitting .211 with four doubles and six RBI.
Rising
senior outfielder David Klein (Aurora, Ill./Oswego
East H.S.) is playing for the Oswego Cats of CSBL and is leading his team with
a .412 batting average.
Sophomore
infielder/catcher Ben Olejniczak (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso
H.S.) is playing for the Indiana Breakers of the Great Plains Baseball League. Olejniczak is batting .398 with eight
doubles, three triples and has collected 15 RBI.
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