Summer of Swat: Where do Missouri baseball stars stand as the season reaches July?

Summer is in full swing, and so is baseball season for America’s various summer collegiate leagues. This week’s Summer of Swat takes a look at how Missouri baseball players are faring as the month of June wraps up.

Appalachian League 

CJ Cepicky-Danville Otterbots

Cepicky continues to struggle with making contact. Through 47 at-bats he’s batting .170, with 10 strikeouts.

A bright spot that Tiger fans can latch onto is that Cepicky has drawn 12 walks, tied for second best on the team.

Brenner Maloney-Danville Otterbots

Maloney has taken up a bullpen role since earning a start earlier this season. He has put in 10 innings of work so far, and is a strikeout machine.

Maloney’s 20 Ks are tied for second best on the team. Unfortunately, he is still performing ERA rehab after a rough outing earlier this month.

The Otterbots sit at 10-12, good for third place in the East Division.

Trevor Austin-Greeneville Flyboys

Austin continues to be a consistent asset for Greeneville, with an on-base percentage of .392.

He recently passed the 15 hit threshold, and is slugging .397. If he can continue to make good contact and maintain his plate discipline, this summer will be looked at as a success.

Austin Troesser-Greeneville Flyboys

A go-to guy out of the bullpen, Troesser is having a stellar summer. Through 12 innings pitched, he has allowed only 2 runs on 7 hits.

Much like Maloney, Troesser has become a strikeout machine, with 24 Ks so far. Whatever you’re doing, Austin, keep doing it.

The Flyboys lead the West Division by a game-and-a-half, with a strong 14-8 record.

Tre Morris-Princeton WhistlePigs

With 18 hits in 63 at-bats, Morris has been one of the more reliable hitters for Princeton so far this season. His most appealing statistic, however, is his on-base percentage.

At .427, Morris has established himself as a player who can perform when it matters. He has kept his strikeout number relatively low, and even stole a base.

With the WhistlePigs leading the East Division, Morris is setting up to have a great summer.

Ross Lovich-Pulaski River Turtles

Lovich’s stat line is self-contradictory. His 21 hits put him in second on the team, his 14 walks are a team best, but those figures are overshadowed by 19 strikeouts.

To make matters worse, Lovich leads the team with 4 errors. Slugging .419, it’s clear that when he gets a hit it’s great contact, but Missouri baseball fans will be praying that those strikeouts don’t follow Lovich back to Columbia in the Spring.

Garrett Rice-Pulaski River Turtles

Rice is in a similar situation to Lovich. His .275 batting average is one of the best on the team, and he has 11 RBIs so far, but 28 strikeouts are enough to make you doubt him.

Much like Lovich, he needs to settle his nerve and get bat on ball, even if it’s just a pop out.

Jackson Beaman-Pulaski River Turtles

Another Missouri batter with 20-plus strikeouts, Beaman has been sat down 22 times so far this season. He’s still batting .250, with 9 RBIs, but those strikeouts are scarily high.

The week’s Summer of Swat is starting to sound like a broken record, but Beaman needs to start making better contact.

Zach Hise-Pulaski River Turtles

Hise has established himself as a member of Pulaski’s rotation, but he is far from being call an ace.

Through 8.1 innings pitched, he has been hammered for 11 hits and 10 runs, bring his ERA to an ugly 7.56. Opposing batters have feasted on Hise this summer, and he is starting to become a liability on the mound.

Despite poor performances by Missouri baseball players, the River Turtles still sit at second in the East Division, a game-and-a-half behind Princeton.

California Collegiate League

Torin Montgomery-Healdsburg Prune Packers

A consistent starter for a team who has been as hot as the California summer, Montgomery is a break from the trend. He leads the team with 13 strikeouts, and has only managed 7 hits.

His 10 walks, second best on the team, are a bright spot, but he joins a long list of Missouri baseball batters who just can’t seem to hit the ball.

Cape Cod League

Luke Mann-Hyannis Harbor Hawks

In his 6 games played, Mann has had a middle-of-the-road start. Hitting .211 after 19 at-bats, he has struck out 8 times.

Hopefully, with more opportunities Mann can find more success, but right now he’s trending in the wrong direction.

Trae Robertson-Hyannis Harbor Hawks

This summer has been a struggle for Trae Robertson. He has only pitched 3.1 innings, despite appearing in 3 games, and those 3.1 innings have been horrible.

He has allowed 5 runs on 6 hits with only 2 strikeouts. His ERA sits at 13.50, a scary sight for Hyannis and Missouri baseball fans.

The Harbor Hawks sit at a dismal 1-7, last in the West Division.

Spencer Miles-Wareham Gatemen

Miles hasn’t seen too much action for Wareham so far, but his 2 innings pitched have been solid. He has surrendered one run on one hit, but has thrown 4 strikeouts.

The Gatemen sit second-to-last in the West, at 3-4. Maybe turning to Miles could change their fortune.

Coastal Plain League

Jacob Kush-Holly Springs Salamanders

A powerhouse as a starter and out of the bullpen, Kush has been the top arm for the Salamanders so far. While he has allowed 20 hits, he has only surrendered 5 earned runs through 23.2 innings pitched.

Kush leads the team with 22 strikeouts and has a stellar 1.90 ERA. Unfortunately for him, his offense hasn’t given him any support and he has an 0-2 record. He’s doing great, his batters need to reward him.

Ty Wilmsmeyer-High Point-Thomasville HiToms

Wilmsmeyer is putting balls in play, he’s just not getting hits. He has 5 hits in 25 at-bats, but only 8 strikeouts.

If Wilmsmeyer can start getting more quality contact, he’ll be well set for the rest of the summer and beyond.

MLB Draft League

Drew Garrett- State College Spikes

A strong arm out of the bullpen, Garret has been a key part of the Spikes’ pitching battery. With 11 appearances he has posted a strong 1.6 WHIP.

His 17 strikeouts are also impressive, and batters have only been able to hit .139 against him.

Northwoods League

Ben Pedersen-Duluth Huskies

Part of Duluth’s starting rotation, Pedersen has had trouble making guys miss. Through 24 innings he as allowed 17 runs on 27 hits.

While Pedersen has managed to grab 16 strikeouts, he has also issued 10 walks and has a 6.00 ERA.

His 6.00 K/9 is one of the top six on the team however, a potential sign of good things to come.

Prospect League

Kyle Potthoff-Cape Catfish

Potthoff’s been shelled through his first 5 starts. With 29.2 innings pitched, he has given up 14 earned runs on 32 hits.

Potthoff has posted 22 strikeouts, but that figured seems overshadowed by his 17 walks.

Potthoff needs to start finding ways to make guys miss, or it’s going to be a long summer.