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Post by Raider Alumni on May 31, 2009 21:07:03 GMT -5
I hope we can keep Coach Cooper happy here in the green and gold. I'd hate it if a program with deeper pockets stole him away from us.
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Post by Jazzfan on Jun 1, 2009 7:03:27 GMT -5
Raiders should be proud, even losingBy Marc Katz May 31, 2009 FAIRBORN — Those were two pretty tough losses for the Raiders in the NCAA baseball tournament over the weekend. They lost 6-3 to TCU, then 6-4 to Texas A&M in 11 innings. Tournament over. You have to look at the larger view. Wright State made the tournament by virtue of winning the Horizon League tournament. That’s the second time in four years the Raiders have done that, and the third time they played in the championship game. It elevates an entire athletics program when any team qualifies for an NCAA, and it alerts recruits this is a place where serious teams play. Wright State’s fate is sealed in where it plays, a cold-weather state that normally can not keep up with warm-weather teams. Take a look at the Top 25 lists from year to year. Most of the teams play where it’s warm all year; where they can practice outdoors and not in stuffy gyms. Sure, the Oklahoma’s and Kansas States and Missouris break through, but in any given Top 25, 20 of the teams are from warm-weather climes, dominated by Florida, Texas and California. So salute the Raiders for being there, and figure they will return. The more you participate, the more you learn how good you have to be to beat the best teams. www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/wrightstatesports/entries/2009/05/31/raiders_should_be_proud_even_l.html
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Post by Jazzfan on Jun 1, 2009 13:05:59 GMT -5
Wright State’s McGrew Named to the Fort Worth Regional All-Tournament Team
FORT WORTH, Texas – The Wright State baseball team received their first postseason honor on Sunday as junior Casey McGrew was named to the Fort Worth Regional All-Tournament Team. McGrew is the fourth WSU player to earn Regional All-Tournament honors and was the lone Raider honored on the 2009 Fort Worth squad.
McGrew smacked his seventh home run of the season on Friday night against host TCU, a three-run shot that gave WSU an early 3-1 lead. Then, on Saturday, McGrew was three-for-five with another RBI against Texas A&M, also reaching on an error in the tenth inning.
McGrew collected four RBI’s, scored a run and was four-for-nine at the plate in two starts at the Fort Worth Regional. The outfielder was also one-for-one in stolen bases and recorded 11 putouts versus the Horned Frogs and Aggies in a pair of starts.
All-Time All-Tournament Team Selections 2009: Casey McGrew, OF – Fort Worth Regional 2006: Aaron Garcia, C – Corvallis Regional 1994: Tom Beam, SS – Mideast Regional 1994: Kris Jarosz, 3B – Mideast Regional
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Post by Raider Grad on Jun 3, 2009 18:35:29 GMT -5
Wright State’s Mercer Tabbed Third Team All-American By Collegiate Baseball Newspaper TUCSON, Ariz. – Senior first baseman Jeff Mercer was tabbed as a Third Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper on Thursday, May 28. The selection is one of only two Horizon League players on the team and gives WSU their second All-American since the 2007 season. Mercer was one of only four players that attended a university in the state of Ohio to be named to the All-American squad.
Mercer had a solid senior season for the Raiders as he has compiled 74 RBI’s, 91 hits, 55 runs scored and 145 total bases after starting a school record 63 games. Mercer is one of only three players in WSU history to collect 90+ hits in a season, joining Chris Tuttle (97; 2001) and Ross Oeder (93; 2007) in that club. He tied Mark Frankenberg for the single season record with 74 RBI’s and his 26 doubles are tied for the most in a season with former teammate Justin Parker.
Mercer collected Horizon League Player of the Year honors this season and was a First Team All-League selection as well as being named to the Horizon League All-Tournament team. He becomes only the third WSU player to garner All-American Honors in Division I and is the eight player overall in program history to earn the accolade.
He ended the season ranking among the single season leaders in hits (91, 3rd), RBI’s (74, T-1st), Doubles (26, T-1st), Putouts (406, 7th), Fielding Percentage (.995, 8th), Games Started (63, T-1st) and Games Played (63, T-1st). He is also only the second player in school history to post back-to-back seasons of 50+ RBI’s and his 127 RBI’s over the two year span are the most by any WSU player.
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Post by Raider Grad on Jun 4, 2009 18:15:21 GMT -5
Wright State’s Schum Garners Freshman All-America Honors from Collegiate Baseball
TUSCON, Ariz. – The Wright State baseball team received its second postseason honor from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper as redshirt freshman Michael Schum was named to the Freshman All-American Team. Schum is the first WSU player in the past ten years of the award to earn a selection to the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Freshman All-American Team.
The redshirt freshman reliever for the Raiders appeared in a school record 34 games this season – all out of the bullpen – and collected 13 saves in 16 opportunities. He held opposing batters to a .225 batting average against and allowed only 14 extra base hits in 74 innings of work. He walked only ten batters and struck out 57 to go along with a 5-7 record and 1.95 ERA.
The right-hander ranked among the national leaders in saves, earned run average and walks allowed. The rookie entered this week ranked 4th nationally in ERA at 1.95, 13th in saves with 13 and his 1.22 walks per nine innings was the 11th best in the country.
Schum was the third WSU player recognized by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper as an outstanding rookie, but the first selected to the Freshman All-American Team. In 2001, freshman pitcher Aaron Braden and shortstop Trent Matthews were each named honorable mention by the publication.
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Post by theleewmowen on Jun 6, 2009 13:02:45 GMT -5
www.daytondailynews.com/dayton-sports/dayton-dragons/former-wright-state-infielder-starring-for-silver-hawks-145449.htmlFormer Wright State infielder starring for Silver HawksBy Marc Katz Staff Writer Updated 7:42 AM Wednesday, June 3, 2009 DAYTON — Some who have played at this level before told Justin Parker what to expect. “Joe Smith and Ross Oeder got me prepared,” said Parker, who played with Smith and Oeder at Wright State. “I talk with them all the time.” Smith, on the disabled list with the Cleveland Indians, is in his third big-league season, while Oeder played the previous two years in the St. Louis Cardinals chain. Next year, Oeder will be back at WSU as a volunteer coach. Parker is with the South Bend Silver Hawks, who beat the Dayton Dragons 3-1 on Tuesday, June 2, to begin a four-game series at Fifth Third Field. When Parker was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the sixth round last summer, Smith and Oeder told him to get ready to play a lot of baseball. “Mentally and physically, it’s more challenging,” said Parker, who hit just .210 in 51 games at rookie Yakima, Wash., last year. “You have to prepare yourself for it in the offseason. Joe and Ross got me prepared.” In college, a team may play three or four games a week, usually on the weekends and maybe once during the rest of the week. In the pros, games are almost every day. “We didn’t have a game on Monday, and I rejuvenated myself,” Parker said. “It had been 25 days or so since our last day off.” Now, the infielder is one of South Bend’s leading hitters, with a .313 batting average entering Tuesday’s game. He also hit his first pro homer Sunday, and has 19 RBIs and 13 doubles. “He can swing the bat,” Silver Hawks manager Mark Haley said. “And he’s a leader. We ask him to do a lot off the field, too. He expresses a standard of how we want to present ourselves. He reminds guys of how to do things.” Parker considers himself lucky. He said he loved playing for Rob Cooper at WSU and has the same feeling for Haley at South Bend. Parker also likes the fact he can play in front of people who know him in a variety of cities. Not only are former teammates and coaches able to see him play here, he is from Bluffton, Ind., near Fort Wayne, which also has a team in this league. “I’m getting better every day,” Parker said. “If you do the right things, good things will happen.”
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Post by Raider Fanatic on Jun 16, 2009 18:53:43 GMT -5
McGrew Selected to USA National Team Trials in Cary, N.C. June 16, 2009 CARY, N.C. – The USA National Team has extended an invitation to Casey McGrew to become a part of the USA Collegiate National Team for this coming summer. McGrew is one of 44 invitees that will compete for 22 roster spots over the coming weeks to join Team USA for the 2009 summer season. McGrew is the third player in Wright State history to garner an invitation to the USA Collegiate National Team tryout, joining Jeremy Hamilton (2007) and Brian Anderson (1992) as the only other WSU players to be invited to the tryouts. Each of the three players that have been invited to the tryouts from Wright State have been left-handed at their skill. Hamilton and McGrew each hit from the left side and Anderson was a southpaw pitcher for the Raiders. “This is a great opportunity for a great kid,” said head coach Rob Cooper. “Casey has a been a big part of what we have been able to accomplish at Wright State and I think if he plays to his potential he will have a good chance of being a part of something special with Team USA. Casey has worked hard and that this selection is not only an amazing opportunity, but a testament to him as an individual.” McGrew helped the Raiders to the 2009 Horizon League Championship and a berth in the NCAA Fort Worth Regional. The junior was a First Team All-Horizon League selection and was named to the 2009 Fort Worth Regional All-Tournament Team. McGrew drove in 52 RBI’s, posted a .340 batting average and scored 61 runs during the 2009 slate, while leading the team with 31 walks. The Delaware, Ohio native ranks fifth in single season runs scored (61, 2009) and his 83 hits are tied for fifth on the single season charts. McGrew’s 52 RBI’s this season, coupled with 74 from Jeff Mercer and 57 from Quentin Cate, make them only the second trio of WSU players to each record 50+ RBI’s in a season. Of the 44 players invited to the tryout, McGrew is one of only seven players that plays on a team not ranked among the Top-25 in the nation or one that competes in a BCS conference. www.wsuraiders.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/061609aaa.html
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Post by Raider4Life on Jun 21, 2009 5:58:50 GMT -5
Big-league success hasn’t spoiled former WSU starBy Andy Sedlak Saturday, June 20, 2009 Cleveland Indians reliever and former Wright State University standout Joe Smith isn’t afraid to admit how he keeps in touch with his college buddies. “It’s video games, mostly,” said Smith. “It’s easy.” Their games of choice spring from the Call of Duty franchise, a series of military action games that, depending on which disc is playing, pit players in contests that range from famous World War II battles to modern scenarios. “I’ve got the headset and everything,” Smith said with a laugh by phone from the clubhouse last week. “I’m pretty good.” Such distractions might come in handy these days, if only to escape the storm of blame surrounding the Indians’ bullpen, which has blown eight saves this season in 15 opportunities. Smith, who has no record and a 5.27 earned-run average in 14 appearances, called the bullpen’s struggles a “blip on the radar.” “In middle-to-late May and early June, it was going pretty well,” he said. “As anyone who’s watching knows, it gets pretty rough, but hopefully everyone gets that out of their system and puts it behind them.” Smith, a graduate of Amelia High School in Batavia, was cut from Wright State’s roster his freshman year. As a redshirt sophomore, he developed a side-arm delivery. That led to Horizon League Pitcher of the Year honors his junior season. He was drafted by the Mets in 2006 and traded to the Indians this past offseason. He recently spent some time on the disabled list because of a rotator cuff problem that he now says is fine: “All of the pain is out of there. It’s good.” While sidelined, the one-time Raider tracked down his old team at this year’s HL tournament, which was played in Lorain, about 30 miles west of Cleveland. “After the games, he was telling guys, ‘Hey, great job, great job,’ ” Wright State coach Rob Cooper said. “When you talk to him, that’s exactly how it is. Nothing’s changed. He likes to go fish, he likes to be with his friends. It’s really cool to see.” Fishing kept Smith busy at WSU. Back then it was the Mad River. These days, he’s set his sights on Lake Erie. “I’ve got a couple friends who are actually going to come up here and they’ve got a couple boats,” Smith said. “We’re going to do some bass fishing. I can’t wait. It’s finally getting warm enough.” Smith has returned to Dayton for golf tournaments and alumni breakfasts, but he admits it’s becoming more and more difficult. Still, Cooper says Smith likes to give back when he can. “After his first year in the big leagues, he came back and worked out,” Cooper said. “Every morning that we lifted — I mean 6 in the morning — he was there pushing our guys.” After the tournament, Smith, Cooper and WSU assistant coach Greg Lovelady went out for dinner. At the end of the night, Smith made a big-league move. “I offered to pick up the check,” Cooper said with a laugh. “He wasn’t having anything of it.” www.daytondailynews.com/dayton-sports/wright-state-university-raiders/big-league-success-hasnt-spoiled-former-wsu-star-171525.html
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Post by Nutt House on Jun 25, 2009 18:18:12 GMT -5
McGrew Named to USA Collegiate National Team Roster June 25, 2009 CARY, N.C. – It took ten days at the USA Collegiate National Team Trials, but on Thursday, June 25 Wright State baseball junior outfielder Casey McGrew learned that he would be a member of the 22-man roster to compete this summer for Team USA. McGrew is one of 22 players on the roster for the upcoming summer tour, which starts tonight with a game versus Canada at the National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. “It was unexpected,” said McGrew. “We had our meetings with the coaches last night and they asked me how I felt. I told them that I would be ready for the season and coach Jones just said, welcome to the team. It probably won’t truly sink in until I am standing on the field tonight and hear that National Anthem and am wearing USA across my chest.” McGrew is only the third WSU player to be invited to the trials and is the second player ever to be named to Team USA (Jeremy Hamilton, 2007). As a school, WSU becomes the 53rd program with two or more players selected to compete for the Collegiate National Team, with Stanford’s 24 leading the way. Wright State is also one of only 11 schools in a cold weather state to have more than one representative on the USA Collegiate National Team roster. “Casey was invited to the trial as an option in the outfield and as a left-handed bat,” Wright State head coach Rob Cooper said. “With the type of player that Casey is, he really made a spot for himself on this team with the things he is able to do. The coaching staff was impressed with his ability to run the bases, play all three outfield positions and the way he handled the bat.” McGrew had a solid season for the Raiders, helping them to the 2009 Horizon League Championship and an appearance at the NCAA Fort Worth Regional. The junior was named to the All-Fort Worth Regional squad after collecting four RBI’s, one home run and a run scored. The outfielder was four-for-nine at the plate in two starts at the Fort Worth Regional and was one-for-one in stolen bases. “This has been an unbelievable experience to this point and I can’t wait for the opportunity to represent Team USA,” McGrew said. “All of the players here have been focused on making this the best team possible. It is great to get to bond with a team this quickly and for everyone to be focused on one goal.” The junior is coming off of a season that included First Team All-Horizon League honors, All-Region honors and a slew of career-highs. He hit .340 in 2009, with a career-best 61 runs scored 83 hits, 22 doubles, 52 RBI’s and 31 walks. He owned a .418 on-base percentage and his 136 total bases rank seventh in a single season at Wright State. McGrew is tied atop the single season list with 63 games started, joining teammate Jeff Mercer, while his 61 runs scored are fifth and his 83 hits sit sixth on the single season list. McGrew will wear the number 17 while with Team USA, different from his usual 22 he wears with the Raiders. The Delaware, Ohio native is excited for the change in numerals, with the #17 being his number during his high school days. “My dad wore the number 17 when he played and I wore that number during my early years of playing baseball,” McGrew told us. “When Team USA said they did not have the number 22, there was no second thought, it was the number 17 and I will wear it proudly.” Team USA will open their competition schedule with a five-game set against Canada starting June 25, before hosting Guatemala for four games in North Carolina. After a three-game swing through the New England Collegiate Baseball League, Team USA will head to Japan for the 37th Annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Championships. The Championships will be contested at multiple sites, including the Tokyo Dome. Team USA will finish their summer with a trip to Prince George, British Columbia for the World Baseball Challenge. www.wsuraiders.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/062509aaa.html
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Post by Jazzfan on Jun 25, 2009 23:29:37 GMT -5
WSU's McGrew ready for time of his life By Marc Katz Friday, June 26, 2009 Although he didn’t bunt much during Wright State’s baseball season, junior outfielder Casey McGrew thought he had to show USA Team officials every thing he could do on the field at the collegiate team trials that ended Thursday, June 25. “I wanted to show them something not everybody could do,” said McGrew, who not only laid down a perfect bunt, but made the team announced today. He is the second WSU player to be selected for the national team, joining first baseman Jeremy Hamilton from 2007. McGrew, who hit .340 with 7 homers and 52 RBIs during the regular season for the 33-30 Raiders, who won the Horizon League tournament and played in the NCAA, was one of 44 players invited to the 10-day USA tryout camp in Cary, N.C. Wright State coach Rob Cooper is an assistant coach for the team, but he said he didn’t influence McGrew’s being chosen. “I get only one of four votes,” said Cooper, who was getting ready for Thursday night’s game against Canada. “Casey is an outfielder and a left-handed bat we felt we needed for our series in Japan this summer.” McGrew said he laid down five sacrifice bunts this year for the Raiders, and bunted once for a base hit. At the trials, Cooper suggested he bunt during a game. “I had the fastest time from home to first on that bunt,” McGrew said. “It was 3.82 (seconds). I put one down to third, too, and made it in 3.9. You have to show every tool you have. If I have to do that for my nation, that’s okay with me.” McGrew also played every outfield position during the trials, but when he was called in for his final interview with head coach Rick Jones of Tulane, he wasn’t sure he made the team. “The night before, I was worried like everybody else,” McGrew said. “When they called me in, they asked how I was, and if I was ready to play for the National team. It’s an honor just to be invited. I’m pretty sure it’s going to be the experience of my life.” The USA team will play 25 games through July 26, including in Japan, July 10-16. www.daytondailynews.com/dayton-sports/wright-state-university-raiders/wsus-mcgrew-ready-for-time-of-his-life-178851.html
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Post by Raider Fanatic on Jul 3, 2009 21:53:52 GMT -5
McGrew proud to be on Team USAFriday, July 3, 2009 By BRAD EMERINE Casey McGrew is performing well in his Plan B. McGrew, a 2006 graduate of Delaware Hayes and who will be a senior at Wright State, would have preferred Plan A - to be selected in the Major League Baseball draft that concluded June 11. But when he was not one of the 1,521 players selected, he hoped an unofficial offer to be one of 44 invitees to compete in a 10-day tryout for the USA Collegiate National Team would become official. He received the official invitation a day later, made the trip to the National Team Complex in Carey, N.C., and made the 22-man roster when tryouts wrapped up June 25. "I had a sore arm and it was a little unexpected when they called me in and told me I had made it," said McGrew, who throws right-handed and bats left-handed. "They liked my versatility on offense and defense. I can play any outfield position, and they might tinker with me some at first base. "Offensively, I can shoot the gaps and I had the fastest bunt-hit running time on the team. They were impressed with my speed." College players who are eligible for the draft cannot be invited to join Team USA until the draft is completed, so that is why McGrew had to wait to be officially invited. Because of his sore arm, McGrew got just one start in the opening five-game series against Canada. Team USA won all five games, with McGrew going 1-for-4 with a sacrifice, one run and one RBI. He had an RBI-single in a 15-1 win over Guatemala last Wednesday in the first of a four-game series and was 2-for-6 overall before last Thursday. "This has already been an unbelievable experience," said McGrew, who batted .340 with 61 runs, 83 hits, 22 doubles, 31 walks and 52 RBI last spring for Wright State, which finished 33-30 after losing to Texas A&M 6-4 in the Fort Worth Regional of the NCAA Division I tournament. "The national anthem sounds completely different when you have USA across your chest. Anytime you're representing your country, that's quite an honor." McGrew is representing more than just his country. "I'm the only one here from Ohio and only one of three players who are from what people call the 'cold-weather states,'" he said. "I was a little down after the draft, but this is just the greatest experience for me. We're going to play in Japan (July 11-16 in the Japan Collegiate All-Star Championships), and I've always wanted to visit Japan." The experience will also prepare him for the possibility of playing professionally, as Team USA uses wood bats. "It's a big difference," said McGrew, who was 4-for-9 with a home run, four RBI and a stolen base for the Raiders in the Forth Worth Regional and was named to the all-regional team. "During the tryouts, when you're facing our pitchers and none of them throw under 94 mph, that's hard enough. But I think I'm adjusting well. Against Canada the other night, I drove a pitch to left field that I thought was gone, but it was caught up against the wall. With an aluminum bat, it would've been way gone." McGrew plans to return to Wright State for his senior season after helping the Raiders win the Horizon League Championship. He had 136 total bases, which ranks seventh in a single season at Wright State. His 61 runs were fifth-best in a season and his 83 hits were sixth-best. He had a .418 on-base percentage. "Casey was invited to the trial as an option in the outfield and as a left-handed bat," Wright State coach Rob Cooper said on the school's Web site. "With the type of player that Casey is, he really made a spot for himself on this team with the things he is able to do. The coaching staff was impressed with his ability to run the bases, play all three outfield positions and the way he handled the bat." Although Plan B is going well and McGrew expects to return to school, he said he can't ignore a possible Plan C. "If I play up to my potential, there are scouts and cross-checkers here watching us daily," McGrew said. "I can still sign as a free agent and get a signing bonus. So there is a little pull there and a lot of pressure as well. Even if I don't (sign as a free agent), I want to make a name for myself for next year's draft. "But we all know that those guys are here and they're watching our every move. They're here to watch us from stretching to batting practice and all the way through the end of the games. No one would slack off any way, even if they weren't here, because you have the USA across the chest. You're playing to get noticed among the most prestigious college players." McGrew was excited to be able to share some time with his family recently, as his mother, Cheryl, his father, Chris, and his sister, Christa, were arriving to watch him play in Durham Bulls Athletic Park, which was one of two other home sites in addition to the National Team Complex. "They will flip out when they see our facilities, and they'll get to see me play in the Durham Bulls Park which is really neat," McGrew said. "This is just an awesome thing where we eat, drink and sleep baseball." In addition to the trip to Japan, Team USA will also travel to play a three-game series against teams in the New England Collegiate League beginning today. The team will close the season by competing in the World Baseball Challenge in Prince Georgia, British Columbia from July 18-26. "I went from being disappointed and confused that I wasn't selected in the draft after scouts had said that I would be to now getting another chance to show them my skills here with this team," McGrew said. "If I can do anything to prove them wrong and make them notice me again, that's what I'm going to do." www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/delaware/stories/2009/07/03/0705debaseball_sp.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=104
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Post by theleewmowen on Jul 7, 2009 14:58:00 GMT -5
www.wsuraiders.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/070709aab.htmlKaminsky Becomes Two-Time Jewish Sports Review All-American
July 7, 2009 NEW YORK CITY – The Jewish Sports Review has honored Wright State starting pitcher Alex Kaminsky as an All-American in their July/August publication, marking the second-straight season that the JSR has honored the right-handed pitcher. Kaminsky is one of only four players to earn the JSR All-American honor in 2008 and 2009 and is the only pitcher to earn the accolade in each season. Kaminsky touted a 6-2 record this year in 13 appearances for Wright State, not losing a decision in his last seven outings. The right-hander started 12 games, with his only relief appearances coming at Tulane on February 27 with 6.2 innings of work. He threw 5+ innings in every appearance and walked more than one batter only once. Throughout the season, the Fostoria, Ohio native tossed two complete games – the only two CG’s for the WSU pitching staff – and he fanned a career-high nine batters on March 27 versus Butler at Nischwitz Stadium. He didn’t throw a wild pitch all season and hit only 12 batters in 84.2 innings of work. He tossed into the eighth inning in four times this season and came through on the biggest stages for WSU. Kaminsky tossed a complete game against Butler to open the Horizon League Tournament, before coming back on three day’s rest to throw 5.2 scoreless innings against UIC in the Championship Game. In that contest, Kaminsky allowed only four hits and struck out three to help WSU to the Horizon League crown. He then allowed only one earned run in 6.2 innings of work against #18 Texas A&M in the NCAA Forth Worth Regional with three strikeouts and seven hits allowed. In his career, Kaminsky owns a 16-4 overall record with 21 starts and 41 total appearances. He has struck out 100 batters in 165 innings, while issuing only 32 walks over that span. In 731 batters faced, he has allowed only seven home runs and opponents are hitting only .283 off the right-hander. Complete Jewish Sports Review All-American Team C – Jeremy Schaffer, Tulane (Fr.) 1B – Nate Freiman, Duke (Sr.) 2B – Mike Brownstein, New Mexico State (Sr.) SS – Ben Orloff, UC-Irvine (Sr.) 3B – Bryan Resnick, UNLV (Sr.) OF – Jason Kipins, Arizona State (Jr.) OF – Zach Borenstein, Eastern Illinois (Fr.) OF – Steve Daniels, Brown (Sr.) DH – Justin Milo, Vermont (Jr.) UT – Jeremy Gould, Duke (Jr.) SP – Alex Kaminsky, WRIGHT STATE (Jr.)SP – Sam Katzman, Michigan (Jr.) SP – Josh Zeid, Tulane (Sr.) RP – Jonathan Abramson, South Florida (So.) RP – Michael Rudman, Miami, Fla. (Jr.)
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Post by theleewmowen on Jul 7, 2009 15:00:50 GMT -5
www.wsuraiders.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/070709aaa.htmlMcGrew Helping Team USA Continue Winning Streak CARY, N.C. – Wearing the Red, White and Blue is something that few athletes get the chance to do, but Wright State baseball player Casey McGrew is taking full advantage of his opportunity with the USA Collegiate National Team this summer. The squad has rolled to an 11-0 record and McGrew has been a major part of that with a .360 batting average and 11 RBI’s. McGrew didn’t appear in the first few contests for Team USA, ailing from a 63-game season with the Raiders that ended in the NCAA Fort Worth Regional. McGrew was named to the All-Region Team and survived the ten-day trial to earn his spot on the 22-man Collegiate Team roster. The left-handed hitter made his first appearance for Team USA on June 28th against Canada as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. With runners on second and third, McGrew singled into the left center field to plate one run and advanced to second on the throw home. He later scored on a Rob Segedin single to cap his National Team debut. After going 0-for-3 with a walk and a sacrifice hit in his first start against Canada on June 29th, McGrew started a five-game hitting streak with a 1-for-2 pinch hit appearance in the team’s opening game versus Guatemala on July 1. He drove in an RBI in that contest and collected at least an RBI in each of his next three contests. The junior started the next three games versus the Guatemalan National Team, kicking things off with a 3-for-5 showing and two RBI’s. On July 3, McGrew plated four RBI’s, scored three runs and had a pair of hits before capping his torrid stretch with a 1-for-4 showing and three RBI’s on July 4. His hitting streak reached five games with a pinch hit single on July 5th against the New England Collegiate Baseball League All-Stars, but ended as he was 0-for-4 versus Holyoke on Monday (July 6). Overall, McGrew is batting .360 with nine hits, two doubles and 11 RBI’s through 11 contests for Team USA. He has scored six runs, is a perfect 4-for-4 in stolen bases and has struck out only twice in 25 at-bats. With an 11-0 record this season, Team USA has extended its winning streak to 35 consecutive games.
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Post by Raider Fanatic on Jul 17, 2009 6:07:24 GMT -5
Three SwampDogs out for seasonBy Andrew Johnson The Fayetteville SwampDogs will play the remainder of the season without three of their players. Starting pitcher Ben Graham, infielder-outfielder Jared Humphreys and second basemen Aaron Fields have left the team because of injuries. Graham, who was arguably the SwampDogs' best pitcher, suffered a strained right shoulder July 3 against the Wilson Tobs. The junior from Emporia State posted exceptional numbers. He was 2-0 with a 1.61 ERA, allowed just 15 hits and five runs, and he struck out 29 batters in 28 innings. Manager Darell Handelsman said Graham wanted to stay, but was sent home as a precautionary measure after Handelsman talked to his college coach, Bob Fornelli. The SwampDogs will miss Graham on the mound and in the clubhouse, Handeslman said. "I mean, he was one of our leaders," he said. "It was a big blow to us, but it means more opportunities for some other guys." Humphreys, a red-shirt senior out of Kent State University, suffered a fracture in his left hand when he was hit by a pitch in the same game. Not only did he play three positions - shortstop, second base and center field - but he was also one of the team's top hitters. In 14 games, Humphreys led the Dogs with a .375 batting average. He also stole 10 bases. Fields, a junior from Wright State University, suffered a hairline fracture on his skull Sunday against the U.S. Military All-Stars when he was hit by a pitch that smacked him in the left side of his helmet.He batted only .125, but he had a .973 fielding percentage on a team that is second in the Coastal Plain League in errors. With those three players, the SwampDogs (6-5 in the second half, 22-15 overall) clinched the South Division first-half crown and earned a playoff berth. "We hate to see any of these guys get hurt," Handelsman said. "It's just one of those things that we will have to deal with. We have plenty of guys here to carry the load the rest of the way." www.fayobserver.com/Articles/2009/07/17/917849
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Post by Raider4Life on Aug 26, 2009 6:23:56 GMT -5
Raider baseball player lives dream with Team USA By Marc Katz, Staff Writer Wednesday, August 26, 2009 By all accounts, Wright State outfielder Casey McGrew had quite a summer. While playing for Team USA, he was able to visit Canada and Japan ... and take batting practice in Boston’s Fenway Park, a secret WSU coach and USA assistant Rob Cooper hinted at a few days before. “It was an unbelievable experience,” said McGrew, speaking mostly of Fenway. “We were going up to New England to play Massachusetts. Coach Cooper said we’d really be excited to play UMass, but he wouldn’t say why. “They finally told us we’d get to take batting practice at Fenway and said they didn’t have it on the schedule because we’d have trouble getting to sleep the day before. Well, they told us, and we didn’t get any sleep.” The team almost didn’t get any batting practice, either. It was a rainy day, so the Raiders first took a tour of Fenway, then ate lunch in a room near the press box. Finally, it was dry enough to hit. “Terry Francona (the Red Sox manager) came down to see us and he was really nice,” McGrew, a senior, said. “I didn’t hit any out — that’s a big park for a left-hander — but I short-hopped the wall once. I didn’t try to hit one the other way (over the Green Monster).” McGrew also was able to play in the Tokyo Dome. He says it’s Japan’s equivalent to Fenway. On the trip, McGrew hit .341 with 11 RBIs. Team USA was 19-5 for the summer. www.daytondailynews.com/dayton-sports/wright-state-university-raiders/raider-baseball-player-lives-dream-with-team-usa-266318.html
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