Wildcats Shine on the Diamond During Summer League Play

8/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Aug. 24, 2009

EVANSTON, Ill. - When the academic year and Northwestern playing season end and summer begins, it doesn't mean the members of the Wildcat baseball team are through with their time on the diamond until practice resumes in the fall. Nearly every returning member of NU's squad was busy honing his skills during the summer months.

From Hawaii to Cape Cod, Northwestern saw a number of individuals shine this off-season. Left-handed pitcher Eric Jokisch played in the summer league with the highest profile, competing for the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League. The rising junior didn't disappoint, posting a sparkling 1.36 ERA to go along with a 1-2 record in 33 innings pitched. In eight appearances and five starts, Jokisch surrendered only five earned runs while striking out 26. For his efforts, he was named to the league's all-star game which was played at Boston's Fenway Park.

All the way across the country, and beyond, the Wildcats had a total of six sophomores-to-be participate in the Hawaii College Baseball League. Native Hawaiians Paul Snieder and Michael Jahns along with Trevor Stevens and Geoff Rowan all played for the Kauai Menehunes. In addition, Zach Morton competed for the Waimea Waves and Hamilton Wise was a member of the Oahu Paddlers.

Morton, Snieder and Stevens were all named to the all-star game. Stevens overcame a slow start to the season to hit .258 with eight stolen bases. Rowan was close behind with a .256 average, while Snieder batted .246 with team highs of five triples and 22 runs batted in. Snieder was also stellar on the mound. In 14.1 innings of work, he didn't allow a run while striking out 17. Jahns also posted solid numbers on the bump, going 3-1 with a 2.93 ERA and 26 Ks over 27.2 innings.

Morton notched four wins against just one loss with a 3.89 ERA for the Waves, mainly as a starter. He fanned 42 batters in 41.2 innings pitched. Illness limited Wise to 21 appearances in the field as he wrapped up the summer with a .237 batting average.

Perhaps no Wildcat put up more impressive numbers than rising senior David Jensen. The southpaw hurler had a microscopic 0.30 ERA while playing for the Southern Ohio Copperheads of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. Jensen went 2-0 and in 30.1 innings pitched and limited opponents to a .138 average. He allowed only one run the entire season.

Senior-to-be Joe Muraski put together a solid season in the same league while hurling for the Licking County Settlers. He went 2-2 with a 3.82 ERA in 30.2 innings of work, striking out 22.

Third baseman Chris Lashmet and right-handed pitcher Francis Brooke teamed up as members of the Glen Falls Golden Eagles of the New York College Baseball League. Lashmet ranked among the team's leaders with five home runs and 20 RBI. Brooke followed up a solid freshman season with a 2-0 record and a 1.15 ERA in six appearances. Over 15.2 innings, he surrendered just one extra-base hit.

Brant Cavagnaro played in 33 games, starting 32, for the Riverhead Tomcats of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League. The outfielder hit .263 with five doubles, 18 RBI and six stolen bases.

Additionally, Cole Livermore, Quentin Williams, Chad Noble and Chris Kontos all teamed up to play for the local Lombard Orioles of the Chicago Suburban Baseball League. The quartet helped lead the Orioles to a league-best mark of 26-6.

Last but not least, Matt Gailey played a key role in helping Team Impact capture the local Skyscraper Baseball League title. The rising junior made a team-high seven starts on the mound with the lefty notching a 1.32 ERA in 41 innings pitched. He also pitched in at the plate with a grand slam and 11 driven in.