Flashes Impress in Collegiate Summer Leagues
9/22/2022 3:38:00 PM | Baseball
KENT, OHIO-Â The Golden Flashes baseball team had an impressive summer across several collegiate leagues this summer.
Collegiate summer leagues are wooden bat leagues that give players a chance to showcase their skills in a professional environment while continuing to improve from the spring season.
Connor Ashby-IF-Chillicothe Paints-Prospect League
Ashby appeared in 25 games for the Paints this summer, he recorded a pair of doubles and a homer while driving in 13. Ashby has continued to show patience at the plate, walking in 10 percent of his plate appearances and is fourth on the team with eight steals. He was a key member of the Paints' Prospect League title.
Calvin Bickerstaff-RHP-Lakeshore Chinooks-Northwoods League
Bickerstaff was a stalwart out of the Chinooks' bullpen, leading the club in appearances with 17. In 32 innings, Bickerstaff went 3-3 with a sterling 3.09 earned run average. The righty also struck out 33 batters in his 32 innings against only four walks.
Peyton Cariaco-LHP-Macon (Ga.) Bacon-Coastal Plains League
Cariaco established himself in the Bacon's rotation this summer. Across 37 innings, the lefty went gone 2-2 with a 4.06 earned run average and a 1.221 WHIP (walks+hits per innings pitched). In nine appearances and seven starts, Cariaco struck out 32 batters, completed a game shutout and one save.
Jake Casey-OF-Johnstown Mill Rats-Prospect League
Casey absolutely raked this summer for the Mill Rats. In 47 games, Casey hit .273 and led the Mill Rats in homers (8), runs batted in (31), runs (34) and hits (44). Casey also added nine doubles and four triples while going 16-for-19 in stolen bases. He also worked this summer to transition from an infielder to an outfielder playing the primary centerfield role for the Mill Rats.
Eric Chalus-LHP-Lakeshore Chinooks-Northwoods League
Chalus earned a Northwoods League all-star nod after a tremendous start to his summer. In a team-best 38 innings, the lefty is 4-0 with a 1.89 earned run average. Chalus has continued to showcase swing-and-miss stuff with 44 strikeouts in his 38 innings against just eight walks.
Josh Johnson-OF-Lakeshore Chinooks-Northwoods League
Johnson has continued to impress after a strong 2022 season for the Golden Flashes. In 32 games, he finished with 28 hits and nine stolen bases. Johnson also had five doubles, a homer and 14 runs batted in.
Hunter Klotz-C-Chillicothe Paints-Prospect League
Klotz served as the Paints' primary catcher this season, appearing in 43 games. He led the club with 35 walks and added 21 rbi while hitting two doubles, a triple, and two homers. Behind the plate, he had a .995 fielding percentage and threw out nearly 20 percent of would-be base stealers. He played a big role in the Paints 2022 Prospect League Championship.
Caden Leonard-RHP-Keene Swamp Bats-New England Collegiate Summer League
Leonard worked in the Swamp Bats' rotation and bullpen this summer. Over 14.1 innings and seven appearances, Leonard had a pair of games finished to go along with a game started. He featured swing-and-miss stuff, averaging a strikeout per inning.
Aidan Longwell-IF/LHP-Lakeshore Chinooks-Northwoods League
Longwell continued to showcase his two-way skill set, seeing time in the Chinooks' infield as well as the bullpen. At the plate, Longwell finished with 26 runs batted in with three doubles, three triples and four homers in 43 games. Out of the bullpen, the lefty appeared in seven games and went 2-0 with a save and a 3.38 earned run average. In eight innings, he allowed four hits and three walks while striking out six.
Justin Miknis-C-Cotuit Kettleers-Cape Cod League
Miknis served as the team's primary catcher, playing in 18 of the Kettleers' 44 games this season. He was one of five players with multiple homers this summer, slugging two to go along with a double and seven driven in. Behind the plate, he had the best fielding percentage amongst the team's catchers, committing just one error against 12 assists. He continued to thwart the running game, cutting down a pair of base stealers in 11 chances. Miknis also helped the Cotuit staff pitch to a 3.32 team earned run average.
Jake Reifsnyder-IF-Chillicothe Paints-Prospect League
Reifsnyder joined the Paints midway through the season, playing in 17 games. In his stint with the Paints, he notched 11 hits including 1 double, 4 stolen bases, and 7 runs batted in. He was also a key piece in the Paints run to the Prospect League Championship.
The 2022-23 Golden Flashes baseball team will be in action this fall at Schoonover Stadium. Come out to see Kent State take on Malone on Wednesday, October 5th, first pitch is at 6 p.m.
