Charleston Summer Ball Recap
9/12/2023 11:30:00 AM | Baseball
CHARLESTON, S.C. – College of Charleston baseball student-athletes saw plenty of on-field success over the summer ranging from a quartet of Cougars winning the Coastal Plains League title to another quartet showing out in the Cape Cod.
Cape Cod
Cotuit Kettleers
Cole Mathis drew attention all summer for the Cotuit Kettleers playing both ways and fighting for the home run crown until the very end of the regular season, finishing with 11 homers and 42 RBI. Mathis hit .326 with 12 doubles, a triple, 11 homers and 47 RBI total after driving home five more in a pair of playoff games. Mathis had 10 games with multiple hits and multiple RBI, homered in back-to-back games July 13 and 14 and had a multi-homer game July 25 at Yarmouth-Dennis.
On the mound, Mathis went 1-1 in nine appearances with a pair of starts striking out 23 batters in 20.1 innings of work. The junior Cataula, Ga. native struck out multiple hitters in five outings, earned a pair of saves and tossed at least two innings in seven of his nine appearances.
Dylan Johnson saw time in 12 games for the Kettleers collecting nine hits and scoring nine runs over 34 at-bats. Johnson also had a double and four RBI while drawing six free passes including back-to-back two-walk, two-hit games July 21 and 25 versus Wareham and Yarmouth-Dennis. The Columbia, S.C. native saw action in both Cotuit playoff games going 1-for-3 with a double and run scored in a 14-8 loss to Bourne on August 4.
Trotter Harlan collected 11 hits in 15 games for Cotuit drawing five walks, four RBI and scoring 11 runs. Harlan had a pair of three game hit streaks in late July and scored a pair of runs while drawing a walk in his debut July 14 at Falmouth. The Fountain Inn, S.C. native hit .300 in the Kettleers' two playoff games scoring three times and driving in a run highlighted by a 2-for-5 day with a pair f runs against Bourne on August 4.
Aidan Hunter went 3-0 for the Cotuit Kettleers this summer recording a win almost half of his appearances and tossing 11.1 innings of work while striking out 13 batters. Hunter recorded a win in his first two appearances and three of his first four retiring pitching at least four outs in all three decisions. In his debut, Hunter struck out three in two innings against Wareham July 13 then tossed 3 innings of two-hit ball against Chatham two weeks later on July 27. In the playoffs, the Hanahan, S.C. native tossed 1.2 scoreless innings against Bourne fanning a pair of batters.
Coastal Plains League
Lexington Blowfish
The quartet of Alex Lyon, Andrew Duval, Dariyan Pendergrass and Kevin Steelman helped lead the Lexington Blowfish to the 2023 Coastal Plains League title – the second in organization history.
Alex Lyon went 1-0 in 10 appearances for the Blowfish tossing 22.1 innings and earning a pair of saves while striking out 14 hitters. Lyon started the season with a win tossing two innings of shutout ball June 5 before collecting his saves in back-to-back appearances July 8 and 16 against Florence and Boone.
Andrew Duval went 2-1 on the hill starting six of his eight appearances for the Blowfish racking up 26 strikeouts in 27 innings of work. Duval picked up his wins in back-to-back games on June 26 and 30 tossing 6 innings between the two and striking out six batters. He also pitched five innings in back-to-back appearances against the Macon Bacon July 12 and 21 allowing just three earned runs and striking out seven over those 10 frames.
Dariyan Pendergrass hit .354 for the Blowfish stealing 35 bases and scoring 41 runs to go along with 45 hits, nine doubles, three triples, two homers and 23 RBI. Pendergrass also drew more walks than strikeouts working 20 free passes and had at least one hit in 25 of the 32 games this summer. The Hartsville, S.C. native had a nine-game hit streak between July 24 and August 2 with seven coming as multi-hit efforts. Pendergrass also had five three-hit games and 14 multi-hit games for Lexington.
Kevin Steelman made an appearance for Lexington August 2 earning a win against Florence. Steelman tossed four innings striking out a pair and allowing just three runs on three hits in a 7-4 Blowfish victory.
Florence Flamingos
Drake Thames tossed 18.2 innings this summer for the Florence Flamingos making 11 appearances with a pair of starts. Thames went 1-1 with a 3.37 ERA striking out 16 batters over those 18 innings of work.
The senior Sumter, S.C. native recorded at least four outs in nine of his 11 appearances finishing with a season-high 2.1 innings and four strikeouts against Lexington in the finale August 2. Thames recorded multiple punchouts in six outings including a pair of three-strikeout outings June 21 and July 7.
Asheboro Zookeepers
Hogan Garner saw time in seven games for the Asheboro Zookeepers collecting seven hits, two doubles, a homer, 6 RBI and scoring four runs. Garner collected a hit in six of his seven contests and started the summer with a four-game hit streak highlighted by a 2-for-5 day with a double, homer and 5 RBI against High Point on June 8.
High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms
JD Suarez enjoyed a strong summer for the High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms collecting 25 hits in 28 games with four doubles, a triple and four homers. Suarez also had 12 RBI, worked 13 walks, stole seven bases and scored 20 runs. He had eight multi-hit efforts highlighted by a 3-for-4 day with a triple and two steals July 4 against Wilmington. Suarez had a season-best three steals against Boone on June 30 and a seven-game hit streak that lasted from June 29 through July 7 with a pair of hits in a doubleheader against Martinsville.
NECBL
Danbury Westerners
Hayden Miller saw 64 at-bats across 23 games for the Dansbury Westerners collecting 16 hits and scoring 16 times. The sophomore Sandy Hook, Conn. native also had five doubles, a triple and homer while driving in six, drawing 13 walks and stealing four bases.
Miller had four multi-hit efforts between July 14 and 22 including a 2-for-4 day against North Shore July 17 scoring twice and driving home three runs. Both of Miller's hits in that 5-2 win over North Shore were of the extra base variety – a triple and homer. He also had a hit and two runs in the Westerners' three-game playoff run.
Ocean State Waves
Khyree Miller collected 29 hits with a pair of doubles, a triple and four homers for the Ocean State Waves. The senior Columbia, S.C. native stole five bases and drove-in 16 runs while scoring 18 himself over the summer. He had eight multi-hit performances with a trio of three-hit games – twice against North Shore and once against Mystic. Miller collected a pair of hits, drew two free passes and scored a run in Ocean States' three playoff games.
Valley Baseball League
Front Royal Cardinals
Michael Schultz made seven starts for the Front Royal Cardinals this summer tossing 29 innings. Schultz struck out 18 batters over his seven appearances with a season-high 5 coming against the Strasburg Express – the senior Centreville, Va. native would toss 6 innings that night allowing just two runs on five hits. He struck out multiple batters in six of his seven outings for Front Royal while tossing at least four innings in five of those.
Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate League
Olney Cropdusters
Will Baumhofer hit .310 for the Olney Cropdusters in 24 games this summer helping lead the team to a 22-14 mark in the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate League. Baumhofer had 27 hits with five doubles and 13 RBI while scoring 18 times, drawing 17 walks and stealing five bases.
The senior Greenville, S.C. native also tossed a scoreless inning of relief July 6 against the S.S. Takoma Thunder Bolts and had nine multi-hit games at the plate. Baumhofer also had a summer-best five-game hit streak in which he collected 10 hits and had two-plus knocks in four those five contests.
Southern Collegiate Baseball League
Concord Athletics
Isaiah Rainge saw action in 16 games for Concord this summer collecting 7 hits, scoring 10 runs including a double and homer, and drove in 8 RBI while stealing seven bases. Rainge had three multi-RBI games including a 2-for-5 day with a double, run scored and two RBI against the Spinners on June 30. Rainge also made five pitching appearances for the Athletics posting a 3.06 ERA striking out 16 in 14.2 innings and recording a five-out save July 25 against Statesville.
Ben Hamacher hit a blazing .400 over 28 games for the Concord Athletics with 36 hits, 23 runs scored, five doubles, two triples and 14 RBI. Hamacher also reached base at a .491 mark and slugged at a .500 clip – good for a .991 OPS. The sophomore Marietta, Ga. native recorded 12 multi-hit efforts, had at least one hit in 22 of his 28 games and closed the summer on a 10 game hit streak. Hamacher also made two appearances on the mound tossing 9 innings going 1-1 striking out six batters.
Great Lakes League
Lima Locos
Peyton Nelson was nails all summer tossing a 1.83 ERA with a perfect 4-0 record starting seven of his eight appearances for the Great Lakes champion Lima Locos. The redshirt sophomore southpaw recorded a win in his final four starts including a playoff win over the Clippers where he went 5.1 innings with a pair of strikeouts and allowing just three earned runs. Nelson tossed at least 5 innings five times for the Locos and only allowed seven earned runs all summer.
He also tossed a scoreless inning in the All-Star Game with a pair of strikeouts for the South Team. Nelson's contributions helped lead the Locos to their seventh Great Lakes League title sweeping the Xenia Scouts with an 8-2 series-clinching win.
Cape Cod
Cotuit Kettleers
Cole Mathis drew attention all summer for the Cotuit Kettleers playing both ways and fighting for the home run crown until the very end of the regular season, finishing with 11 homers and 42 RBI. Mathis hit .326 with 12 doubles, a triple, 11 homers and 47 RBI total after driving home five more in a pair of playoff games. Mathis had 10 games with multiple hits and multiple RBI, homered in back-to-back games July 13 and 14 and had a multi-homer game July 25 at Yarmouth-Dennis.
On the mound, Mathis went 1-1 in nine appearances with a pair of starts striking out 23 batters in 20.1 innings of work. The junior Cataula, Ga. native struck out multiple hitters in five outings, earned a pair of saves and tossed at least two innings in seven of his nine appearances.
Dylan Johnson saw time in 12 games for the Kettleers collecting nine hits and scoring nine runs over 34 at-bats. Johnson also had a double and four RBI while drawing six free passes including back-to-back two-walk, two-hit games July 21 and 25 versus Wareham and Yarmouth-Dennis. The Columbia, S.C. native saw action in both Cotuit playoff games going 1-for-3 with a double and run scored in a 14-8 loss to Bourne on August 4.
Trotter Harlan collected 11 hits in 15 games for Cotuit drawing five walks, four RBI and scoring 11 runs. Harlan had a pair of three game hit streaks in late July and scored a pair of runs while drawing a walk in his debut July 14 at Falmouth. The Fountain Inn, S.C. native hit .300 in the Kettleers' two playoff games scoring three times and driving in a run highlighted by a 2-for-5 day with a pair f runs against Bourne on August 4.
Aidan Hunter went 3-0 for the Cotuit Kettleers this summer recording a win almost half of his appearances and tossing 11.1 innings of work while striking out 13 batters. Hunter recorded a win in his first two appearances and three of his first four retiring pitching at least four outs in all three decisions. In his debut, Hunter struck out three in two innings against Wareham July 13 then tossed 3 innings of two-hit ball against Chatham two weeks later on July 27. In the playoffs, the Hanahan, S.C. native tossed 1.2 scoreless innings against Bourne fanning a pair of batters.
Coastal Plains League
Lexington Blowfish
The quartet of Alex Lyon, Andrew Duval, Dariyan Pendergrass and Kevin Steelman helped lead the Lexington Blowfish to the 2023 Coastal Plains League title – the second in organization history.
Alex Lyon went 1-0 in 10 appearances for the Blowfish tossing 22.1 innings and earning a pair of saves while striking out 14 hitters. Lyon started the season with a win tossing two innings of shutout ball June 5 before collecting his saves in back-to-back appearances July 8 and 16 against Florence and Boone.
Andrew Duval went 2-1 on the hill starting six of his eight appearances for the Blowfish racking up 26 strikeouts in 27 innings of work. Duval picked up his wins in back-to-back games on June 26 and 30 tossing 6 innings between the two and striking out six batters. He also pitched five innings in back-to-back appearances against the Macon Bacon July 12 and 21 allowing just three earned runs and striking out seven over those 10 frames.
Dariyan Pendergrass hit .354 for the Blowfish stealing 35 bases and scoring 41 runs to go along with 45 hits, nine doubles, three triples, two homers and 23 RBI. Pendergrass also drew more walks than strikeouts working 20 free passes and had at least one hit in 25 of the 32 games this summer. The Hartsville, S.C. native had a nine-game hit streak between July 24 and August 2 with seven coming as multi-hit efforts. Pendergrass also had five three-hit games and 14 multi-hit games for Lexington.
Kevin Steelman made an appearance for Lexington August 2 earning a win against Florence. Steelman tossed four innings striking out a pair and allowing just three runs on three hits in a 7-4 Blowfish victory.
Florence Flamingos
Drake Thames tossed 18.2 innings this summer for the Florence Flamingos making 11 appearances with a pair of starts. Thames went 1-1 with a 3.37 ERA striking out 16 batters over those 18 innings of work.
The senior Sumter, S.C. native recorded at least four outs in nine of his 11 appearances finishing with a season-high 2.1 innings and four strikeouts against Lexington in the finale August 2. Thames recorded multiple punchouts in six outings including a pair of three-strikeout outings June 21 and July 7.
Asheboro Zookeepers
Hogan Garner saw time in seven games for the Asheboro Zookeepers collecting seven hits, two doubles, a homer, 6 RBI and scoring four runs. Garner collected a hit in six of his seven contests and started the summer with a four-game hit streak highlighted by a 2-for-5 day with a double, homer and 5 RBI against High Point on June 8.
High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms
JD Suarez enjoyed a strong summer for the High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms collecting 25 hits in 28 games with four doubles, a triple and four homers. Suarez also had 12 RBI, worked 13 walks, stole seven bases and scored 20 runs. He had eight multi-hit efforts highlighted by a 3-for-4 day with a triple and two steals July 4 against Wilmington. Suarez had a season-best three steals against Boone on June 30 and a seven-game hit streak that lasted from June 29 through July 7 with a pair of hits in a doubleheader against Martinsville.
NECBL
Danbury Westerners
Hayden Miller saw 64 at-bats across 23 games for the Dansbury Westerners collecting 16 hits and scoring 16 times. The sophomore Sandy Hook, Conn. native also had five doubles, a triple and homer while driving in six, drawing 13 walks and stealing four bases.
Miller had four multi-hit efforts between July 14 and 22 including a 2-for-4 day against North Shore July 17 scoring twice and driving home three runs. Both of Miller's hits in that 5-2 win over North Shore were of the extra base variety – a triple and homer. He also had a hit and two runs in the Westerners' three-game playoff run.
Ocean State Waves
Khyree Miller collected 29 hits with a pair of doubles, a triple and four homers for the Ocean State Waves. The senior Columbia, S.C. native stole five bases and drove-in 16 runs while scoring 18 himself over the summer. He had eight multi-hit performances with a trio of three-hit games – twice against North Shore and once against Mystic. Miller collected a pair of hits, drew two free passes and scored a run in Ocean States' three playoff games.
Valley Baseball League
Front Royal Cardinals
Michael Schultz made seven starts for the Front Royal Cardinals this summer tossing 29 innings. Schultz struck out 18 batters over his seven appearances with a season-high 5 coming against the Strasburg Express – the senior Centreville, Va. native would toss 6 innings that night allowing just two runs on five hits. He struck out multiple batters in six of his seven outings for Front Royal while tossing at least four innings in five of those.
Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate League
Olney Cropdusters
Will Baumhofer hit .310 for the Olney Cropdusters in 24 games this summer helping lead the team to a 22-14 mark in the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate League. Baumhofer had 27 hits with five doubles and 13 RBI while scoring 18 times, drawing 17 walks and stealing five bases.
The senior Greenville, S.C. native also tossed a scoreless inning of relief July 6 against the S.S. Takoma Thunder Bolts and had nine multi-hit games at the plate. Baumhofer also had a summer-best five-game hit streak in which he collected 10 hits and had two-plus knocks in four those five contests.
Southern Collegiate Baseball League
Concord Athletics
Isaiah Rainge saw action in 16 games for Concord this summer collecting 7 hits, scoring 10 runs including a double and homer, and drove in 8 RBI while stealing seven bases. Rainge had three multi-RBI games including a 2-for-5 day with a double, run scored and two RBI against the Spinners on June 30. Rainge also made five pitching appearances for the Athletics posting a 3.06 ERA striking out 16 in 14.2 innings and recording a five-out save July 25 against Statesville.
Ben Hamacher hit a blazing .400 over 28 games for the Concord Athletics with 36 hits, 23 runs scored, five doubles, two triples and 14 RBI. Hamacher also reached base at a .491 mark and slugged at a .500 clip – good for a .991 OPS. The sophomore Marietta, Ga. native recorded 12 multi-hit efforts, had at least one hit in 22 of his 28 games and closed the summer on a 10 game hit streak. Hamacher also made two appearances on the mound tossing 9 innings going 1-1 striking out six batters.
Great Lakes League
Lima Locos
Peyton Nelson was nails all summer tossing a 1.83 ERA with a perfect 4-0 record starting seven of his eight appearances for the Great Lakes champion Lima Locos. The redshirt sophomore southpaw recorded a win in his final four starts including a playoff win over the Clippers where he went 5.1 innings with a pair of strikeouts and allowing just three earned runs. Nelson tossed at least 5 innings five times for the Locos and only allowed seven earned runs all summer.
He also tossed a scoreless inning in the All-Star Game with a pair of strikeouts for the South Team. Nelson's contributions helped lead the Locos to their seventh Great Lakes League title sweeping the Xenia Scouts with an 8-2 series-clinching win.
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