VMI summer baseball update

VMI baseball players continue to compete around the country in summer leagues. Below are updates from several of their exploits so far this season. All statistics are current according to summer league websites as of July 13.

 

Matt Dunlevy, Westhampton Aviators (Hamptons League)

Dunlevy has had perhaps the best summer of any Keydet so far, as he is leading the Hamptons League with a robust .367 average, 14 points better than any other player. He was named to the league’s all-star game as well, and homered in that contest.

 

Jacob Jaye, Westhampton Aviators (Hamptons Collegiate League)

Jaye and Dunlevy have been teammates this summer in the Hamptons, and Jaye has been productive as well. He is hitting .324 and ranks second on his team in RBI. He also earned an all-star nod.

 

Brandon Barbery, Brazos Valley Bombers (Texas Collegiate League)

Barbery has been used mostly out of the bullpen for the red-hot Brazos Valley team, which had won 11 straight at press time and was 27-5 on the year. He has pitched 13 2/3 innings in six appearances (one start), and gone 1-0 with a 3.95 ERA.

 

Liam Roden, Woodlands Strykers (Texas Collegiate League)

Roden, who redshirted the 2016 season for the Keydets, is tied for his team’s lead in appearances with 10. He has pitched 17 2/3 innings and saved two of his team’s eight wins on the year, while posting an ERA of 3.63.

 

Collin Fleischer, Martinsville Mustangs (Coastal Plain League)

Fleischer, VMI’s All-SoCon first baseman, has hit .274 through the first 29 games of the year for Martinsville in the CPL. He was named to the West’s All-Star team in early July and also participated in the league’s home run derby, as he leads his team with six long balls so far this season.

 

Josh Winder, Peninsula Pilots (Coastal Plain League)

Winder, pitching for last year’s CPL champions, has been limited to just five outings (four starts) this summer. He has been excellent when on the mound, however, as he is 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA. Opponents are hitting just .240 against the big right-hander in his 20 innings of work.

 

Jack Gomersall, Asheboro Copperheads (Coastal Plain League)

Gomersall sits at 2-1 through eight appearances, having made four starts over that time. His ERA is a seemingly high 5.56, but in 22 2/3 innings, he has been hurt by six wild pitches and three home runs. He is holding opponents to a solid .267 batting average.

 

Tyler Tharp, Fayetteville Swampdogs (Coastal Plain League)

Tharp is hitting a robust .320 through 28 games, and has made 23 starts for Fayetteville. He has three homers and 19 RBI, and nearly a third of his 31 hits have gone for extra bases.

 

Kyle Staats, Holly Springs Salamanders (Coastal Plain League)

Staats is one shy of tying for his team’s lead in appearances, as he has pitched 14 innings over his 10 outings. He has a 2.57 ERA for Holly Springs and has fanned 18 hitters so far this summer.

 

Peyton Maddox, Staunton Braves (Valley League)

Serving as Staunton’s regular catcher, Maddox is hitting .235 with one home run in 23 games so far this summer.

 

Jared Silva, Strasburg Express (Valley League)

Silva has been in the Strasburg rotation virtually all summer, and has gone 2-2 in six outings. He has posted a 5.09 ERA in 17 2/3 innings.

 

Matt Pita, Gaithersburg Giants (Cal Ripken League)

Pita has been among the league leaders in homers in the Cal Ripken League, and was rewarded for that effort with a berth in the all-star game. He is hitting .309 with six home runs and 29 RBI.

 

Blaine Lafin, Bethesda Big Train (Cal Ripken League)

Lafin has been good in six relief appearances for Bethesda, as he has posted a 2.25 ERA in 12 innings so far this summer. Lafin has allowed just three earned runs over that time.

 

Will Malbon, Vienna Riverdogs (Cal Ripken League)

Malbon is the only Vienna player to take part in all 29 games for the team so far this season. He is hitting .216 with four doubles and two triples over that time.

 

Garrett St. Laurent, Vienna Riverdogs (Cal Ripken League)

St. Laurent has seen action in a reserve role for Vienna. He has gone 3 for 26 in 10 games.

 

Ryan Smoot, Haysville Aviators (Jayhawk League)

Smoot, playing in the heartland of the country for the Haysville (KS) Aviators, has seen action in 23 of the 28 games his squad has played. He is hitting .225, but with a robust .345 on-base percentage.