Golden Flashes Shining Across Summer Leagues
7/24/2023 1:04:00 PM | Baseball
KENT- The Golden Flashes have carried its strong play from the spring into the summer as several Golden Flashes are enjoying strong summers in their respective collegiate summer leagues.
Peyton Cariaco was named an All-Star in the California Collegiate League, pitching both out of the bullpen and the rotation for the Arroyo Seco Saints. In 25 innings for the Saints, the lefty has worked to a 3.60 earned run average and has struck out 31 hitters against only six walks.
On the other side of the country, fellow left hander Eric Chalus has put together a strong summer for the Keene Swamp Bats of the New England Collegiate League. In 26.2 innings, Chalus has thrown to a 3.04 earned run average while striking out 31 while walking six. The lefty was a finalist for the fan vote for the League's annual all-star game.
In the Great Lakes Collegiate Summer League, both Connor Ashby and Jaden Varner represented Kent State League's All-Star game. ÂÂAshby serves as the starting shortstop for the Lima Locos and has delivered a near .400 on-base percentage, thanks to a team high 24 walks in 24 games. Ashby is fourth on the Locos with 26 hits and tied for second on the club with seven doubles.
Varner serves as the closer for the Richmond (IN) Jazz and has excelled in that role. Varner is 1-0 with a spotless 0.00 earned run average, locking down seven saves in his nine appearances. The righty has allowed only two hits in 13 innings of work and has a 23:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
In the Prospect League, one of the newest members of the Golden Flashes, Tim Orr, is having a strong summer for the Chillicothe Paints. Orr leads the league with a .636 slugging percentage and ranks in the top-10 in the League in several categories. Through 42 games, Orr is hitting .391 with six homers and 52 driven in. He ranks amongst the league leaders in hits, average, doubles, RBI, runs scored and total bases. Rising sophomore Brody Williams has played in 20 games for the Lafayette Aviators in the Prospect League. The catcher has hit .320 on the summer with four homers and 21 driven in and 15 runs scored.
All six of these current and future Golden Flashes are set to be back for the 2024 season and help build off the momentum of the 2023 squad that went 42-16 in 2023 and captured the Mid-American Conference regular season crown.
