As July nears its end, so too does the summer collegiate baseball season. Let’s check up on the Missouri baseball players who are still in action.
CJ Cepicky-Danville Otterbots
Cepicky has made two appearances in the past week, going 1-for-2 with 2 walks against Greeneville last Thursday, and posting the same statline last Saturday against Burlington.
Cepicky continues to struggle to get consistent hits, but is managing to get on base which could prove vital in clutch situations.
Brenner Maloney-Danville Otterbots
Maloney only made one appearance out of the pen over the last week, allowing 5 runs (none earned) on 1 hit and 3 walks over 2 innings. Maloney was able to strike out 3 batters and picked up the save.
Maloney continues to be a strong presence out of the bullpen, and has a knack for getting strikeouts.
The Otterbots are still a ways away from the top of the division, with an 18-19 record.
Trevor Austin-Greeneville Flyboys
Not much to report from Austin this week. He played in one game, last Thursday, where he walked twice and struck out twice.
That statline seems to be an outlier, as Austin still has one of the on-base percentages on the team, and is one of Greeneville’s best sluggers. Unfortunately, his 8 errors also lead the team and it may be the reason that he is kept out of the lineup
Austin Troesser-Greeneville Flyboys
Troesser made one appearance out of the bullpen last week and it was a gem. 3 innings pitched allowing only 1 hit and 1 walk. He may have only managed 1 strikeout, but he had a great outing overall.
Troesser has established himself as one of the best bullpen arms in the Appalachian League this season, with a 4-0 record, 35 strikeouts, and a BAA of .145.
Performances like Troesser’s have the Flyboys sitting atop the West Division with a record of 22-13-1.
Tre Morris-Princeton WhistlePigs
Morris played in every one of Princeton’s 5 games last week, and in 3 different spots. He went 2-for-5 on Thursday with 2 RBIs as a DH, 1-for-4 on Friday and caught a runner stealing twice as a catcher, went 2-for-4 with an RBI on Saturday as a first baseman, then went 1-for-4 on Sunday and 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs on Tuesday as a first baseman.
That’s the kind of utility that Missouri needs, plus serviceable hitting to boot.
The WhistlePigs are currently second the the East Division, with a 22-16 record.
Ross Lovich-Pulaski River Turtles
Lovich played in all 5 of Pulaski’s games last week, though he went 0-for in two of them. He put in a great performance at the plate last Saturday, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Lovich solid anywhere in the outfield, he just needs to make better contact.
Garrett Rice-Pulaski River Turtles
Rice was only able to grab 2 hits over 4 games last week, striking out 3 times. He was able to drive in 4 runs with his hit against Johnson City on Tuesday.
Much like Lovich, Rice needs to find a way to make better contact.
Jackson Beaman-Pulaski River Turtles
Beaman was used as a pinch hitter and DH this past week, though he did have one start at second base last Sunday. As a DH he went 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs, but those were his only hits.
I’m sounding like a broken record, but Beaman needs to make better contact too.
Pulaski have been, and still are, the best team in the Appalachian League, with a record of 24-14.