Michigan Baseball Summer Wrap Up
8/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Aug. 11, 2016
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- With the summer months coming to an end, so too have all of the baseball summer leagues. The Wolverines ended their respective summer seasons with four all-star selections as well as one home run derby selection, though each player excelled individually. Here is the breakdown of their collective successes:
Pitching
» Though reliever Bryan Pall was the only Wolverine pitcher to receive a selection to a league all-star team -- in the prestigious Cape Cod Summer League, no less -- teammate Oliver Jaskie has also seen much success on the mound for the Yarmouth Dennis Red Sox so far. Pall finished the season with an impressive 0.69 earned-run average through 13.0 innings pitched, striking out 15 batters and allowing just one run on the season. Jaskie, who has appeared in six games as mostly a starting pitcher, finished the regular season with 27.1 innings pitched and a 0.98 ERA with 27 strikeouts and two victories. The YD-Red Sox are now looking to clinch a third-consecutive Cape Cod League Championship as post-season play continues.
» Leading Michigan pitchers in innings tossed is Jayce Vancena, who threw 47.2 innings in 12 appearances, garnering a 5.09 ERA and striking out 30 batters for the Wilmar Stingers. His team-leading five wins guided the Stingers to the Northwoods League postseason. Ricky Karcher of the Danville Dans was equally as impressive, tossing 29 complete innings in 14 appearances and striking out 36 batters. Karcher started five contests, posting a 4.03 ERA.
» Teammates William Tribucher and Troy Miller were also rock solid for the Sanford Mariners, combining to start 10 of the team's 43 contests. Miller, who made 16 total appearances, finished the season with 26.1 innings pitched and 27 strikeouts, allowing just 11 earned runs. Tribucher made seven starts for the summer season, totaling 34.1 innings pitched with 37 strikeouts and three victories. Teammate Johnny Slater also came in from the outfield on three occasions for the Mariner pitching staff, tossing 2.1 innings and allowing no runs on just two hits.
» For the Lake Erie Monarchs, teammates Jack Bredeson and Grant Reuss combined for 13 relief appearances, tossing a total of 14.2 innings. Bredeson struck out an impressive 10 batters on the season, while Reuss picked up three K's and allowed no extra-base hits.
Hitting
» Ako Thomas led all Wolverines in hitting this summer, posting a team-leading .313 batting average in 22 games played for the Sanford Mariners on the season. The upcoming sophomore recorded 25 hits, including six for extra bases, while also knocking in 10 runs and walking 17 times. Teammate Johnny Slater also contributed offensively, earning a .224 batting average with 17 hits, 12 RBI, and six walks in 25 games played.
» One of the most clutch hitters of the summer was Jimmy Kerr, who knocked in 19 runs and totaled 10 extra-base hits on the season. His .283 batting average was the result of 39 hits through 37 games, including a career-first collegiate league home run.
» Another Cape Cod League standout was Drew Lugbauer, who posted a .269 batting average in the prestigious wood-bat league with two homers and 10 RBI. In 25 games played, he totaled 21 hits and scored nine times with five walks.
» For the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod League, Jonathan Engelmann and Harrison Wenson both finished the wood-bat summer season with batting averages better than .200. In 26 games played, Engelmann scored six runs on 15 hits and two walks, while Wenson played 15 contests and recorded eight hits, three of which were doubles.
All-Star Selections
» Jimmy Kerr, Great Lakes League (North Team)
» Bryan Pall, Cape Cod League (East Team)
» Ako Thomas, New England Collegiate Baseball League (North Team)
» William Tribucher, New England Collegiate Baseball League (South Team)
» Drew Lugbauer, Cape Cod League Home Run Derby selection
Communications Contact: Katie Gwinn Hewitt
