Sept. 24, 2015
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – After securing a spot at its first NCAA Regional since 2006, the University of Notre Dame baseball team carried that momentum gained into the summer ball season, as several student-athletes turned in spectacular campaigns.
Among the notables were Cape Code League All-Star Cavan Biggio, Northwoods League All-Star Ricky Sanchez and senior Zak Kutsulis, who was ranked the No. 10 prospect in the Texas League following an outstanding summer at the plate.
Here are the highlights from the summer season:
– Junior Cavan Biggiobecame the first Irish player since Eric Jagielo(Harwich Mariners) and Dan Slania(Cotuit Kettleers) in 2012 to earn a spot in the prestigious Cape Cod League All-Star game after a solid first half of the season ââ’¬¦ the Houston native was tabbed as a reserve for the East squad and picked up a pair of at-bats in the game before heading to Cooperstown, New York for his father, Craig Biggio’s, induction ceremony into the National Baseball Hall of Fame that Sunday afternoon ââ’¬¦ he finished first on the team in walks (31) and second in batting average (.263) while adding 30 hits, four doubles, one triple, 14 RBI and 16 runs scored on the year ââ’¬¦ he earned Harwich’s George Lane Sportsmanship Award and was named the No. 22 prospect in the Cape Cod League by Baseball America.
SIDE NOTE:Other Irish Cape League All-Stars since 2003 include Brian Dupra(Harwich) and A.J. Pollock(Falmouth Commodores) in 2008 and Sean Gaston(Cotuit) in 2005 and 2006.
– Elsewhere in the Cape, junior Ryan Smoyer turned in a 1.77 ERA over four starts (20.1 IP) before wrapping up for the summer ââ’¬¦ the Bowling Green, Ohio native limited batters to a .239 average.
– Junior Ryan Lidge overcame a tough start to the year to finish with 14 hits, two doubles, six RBI, eight walks and two runs scored in 25 games played.
– Fellow junior Scott Tully rounded out the Harwich trio, making eight starts and posting a 3.85 ERA in 44.1 innings of work … he struck out 38 while walking 13.
– Junior Kyle Fiala played 29 games for the Lakeshore Chinooks in the Northwoods League, batting .286 with five doubles, two triples, two homers, 20 RBI, 12 walks, three sac flies and 19 runs scored.
– Playing for the Alexandria Blue Anchors in the Northwoods League, senior Ricky Sanchez had a breakout summer in earning a spot on the midseason and postseason all-star teams ââ’¬¦ he also was one of 100 players from the league that were selected by MLB scouts to participate in the Major League Dreams Showcase ââ’¬¦ the Miami native batted .336 with 76 hits, 11 doubles, eight triples, 10 homers, 41 RBI, 15 walks, six hit by pitch and 42 runs scored ââ’¬¦ he led the team outright in triples and homers and tied for the team lead in RBI and doubles ââ’¬¦ he was second in runs and hits.
– Senior Kyle Richardson showed improvement as the summer went along with Alexandria, hitting .269 with 56 hits, six doubles, four homers, 28 RBI, 21 walks, nine stolen bases and 25 runs scored.
– Sophomore DH Jake Shepski produced at a high level for the Lake Erie Monarchs of the Great Lakes League, as he batted .317 in 21 games with 26 hits, seven doubles, one triple, one homer, nine RBI, four walks, two hit by pitch and 16 runs scored.
– Senior first baseman Zak Kutsulis was as impressive as any Irish player this summer during his stint with the Acadiana Cane Cutters of the Texas League ââ’¬¦ the Homer Glen, Illinois native batted .349 in 44 games with 59 hits, nine doubles, two triples, 21 RBI, 29 walks, 17 stolen bases and 35 runs scored ââ’¬¦ he led the team in runs and walks ââ’¬¦ Kutsulis was named the No. 10 prospect in the Texas League by Baseball America.
– Before heading to Russia on study abroad for the second half of his summer, senior Nick McCarty made four starts for the Cane Cutters and posted a 2.70 ERA in 23.1 innings of work.
– After beginning the summer playing with the New Bedford Bay Sox in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, sophomore Charlie Vorsheck wrapped up his summer with the Redding Colt 45’s ââ’¬¦ there he flourished, striking out 21 batters compared to just two walks over 21.0 innings of work ââ’¬¦ he made fours starts and tallied a 2.14 ERA.
– Sophomore Evy Ruibal put together a solid summer for the Amsterdam Mohawks of the Perfect Game League ââ’¬¦ 13 of his 20 earned runs allowed came in two outings that increased his ERA to 4.46 for the summer ââ’¬¦ overall, he surrendered one run or less in eight of his 11 appearances (8 starts, 2-1 record) ââ’¬¦ he struck out 39 in 30.1 innings of work.
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For more information on the Notre Dame baseball team, follow the Irish across social media … /NDBaseball on Facebook, @NDBaseball on Twitter and @notredamebaseball on Instagram.
HONORS & AWARDS
Cape Cod League All-Star
Cavan Biggio – Harwich
Northwoods League All-Star
Ricky Sanchez – Alexandria
Northwoods League Postseason All-Star
Ricky Sanchez – Alexandria
Major League Dreams Showcase
Ricky Sanchez – Alexandria
COMPLETE SUMMER LEAGUE ROSTER
Harwich Mariners
Cavan Biggio
Ryan Lidge
Scott Tully
Alexandria Blue Anchors
Kyle Richardson
Ricky Sanchez
New England Collegiate Baseball League
New Bedford Bay Sox
Charlie Vorsheck
Independent
Redding Colt 45’s
Charlie Vorsheck
Lake Erie Monarchs
Jake Shepski
Acadiana Cane Cutters
Joey Cresta
Zak Kutsulis
Nick McCarty
Seacoast Mavericks
James Nevant
–Russell Dorn, Athletics Communications Assistant Director
–ND–