USF baseball players in summer leagues

Posted Jun 22, 2011 by Adam Adkins

Updated Jun 22, 2011 at 05:05 PM

The College World Series is in full swing right now in Omaha, but so too are various collegiate baseball summer leagues, where players from teams whose seasons are complete are spending time honing their skills.

Seven players with USF ties are among those playing in leagues around the country; six from the Bulls 2011 roster and one incoming recruit.

Here is a closer look at that group of players, including where they’re at and what they’re doing on the field so far:

OF Alex Mendez, Sanford River Rats (Florida Collegiate Baseball League): After hitting .287 in 38 games for the Bulls in 2011, Mendez has had a solid summer, batting .315 (17-for-54) with two doubles, triple, home run, four RBI, seven runs scored and six stolen bases in 11 games.

OF James Ramsay, Sanford River Rats (Florida Collegiate Baseball League): Ramsay struggled with the bat a bit in his first season of college baseball, hitting at a .250 clip as a regular starter in 2011. Through the early part of the summer slate Ramsay’s bat has been much more productive; he’s hitting .433 (13-for-30) with three doubles, a home run, five RBI and seven runs scored in eight games.

LHP Matt Reed, Licking County Settlers (Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League): Reed, who tied for the USF team lead with five wins in 2011, is 1-0 through his first two starts this summer. He has a 3.27 ERA over 11 innings, with five walks, five strikeouts and nine hits allowed.

RHP Andrew Loynaz, North Adams SteepleCats (New England Collegiate Baseball League): One of the most called upon arms out of the USF bullpen in 2011, Loynaz has yet to allow an earned run this summer in his first four appearances. In 4 2/3 innings, he’s allowed one hit, walked four and struck out three.

LHP Nick Gonzalez, Glens Falls Golden Eagles (Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League): Gonzalez struggled in his first college season, suffering through some control issues, eventually falling out of the starting rotation and finishing with a 2-3 record and 7.15 ERA. The summer has been better, though, as he sports a 1.80 ERA through two starts with 15 strikeouts, six walks and three hits allowed in 10 innings.

RHP Austin Adams, Staunton Braves (Valley Baseball League): Adams didn’t play a big role for the Bulls in 2011, tossing just six innings over six relief appearances. He’s made six appearances out of the bullpen already this summer and has done well with a 1-0 record, a 1.86 ERA and 10 strikeouts (with five walks) in 9 2/3 innings.

RHP Joe Lovecchio, DeLand Suns (Florida Collegiate Baseball League): After originally signing with Miami out of high school and spending last season with Seminole State College of Florida, Lovecchio will join the Bulls as a junior this fall. He’s pitched 8 2/3 innings total for the Suns and is 0-2 in with an 8.31 ERA, but he hasn’t given up a run over his last two appearances, which have covered three innings.