Change of scenery
7/11/2011 8:17:00 AM | Baseball
With an eye on improving their skills, the Bearkat baseball have been a busy bunch this summer.
Several of them have been playing in various wooden-bat summer baseball leagues throughout the country and spilling even into Canada.
Just to have the change of pace with new teammates and against new opponents was refreshing, said pitcher Caleb Smith who is heading into his sophomore season with the Kats and is playing for the Morehead City (N.C.) Marlins of the Coastal Plain League.
"At first, I was a little homesick. It was different," said Smith, who was never too far from home playing for Huntsville High School and then in his freshman season at SHSU. "I warmed up to it, though, being there by the beach. It was an adjustment."
With a prime opportunity to get invaluable experience, Smith, among several Kats, is looking to make the most of the summer in order to help Sam Houston improve next spring.
"It's been good," Smith said. "I've been working on my offspeed stuff - my breaking ball and my changeup. I've working with the pitching coach here so that I can be as ready as I can be for next year."
The following are a few of the Bearkats involved in summer leagues and how they have performed so far.
Cody Dickson
Dickson, who started 11 games for the Kats and finished the season with a 4-1 mark, has started in all six games in which he appeared for the Kelowna Falcons of the West Coast League. Dickson has a 1-4 record with a 4.09 ERA. Dickson has allowed 10 runs in 22 innings and opposing batters are hitting a slim .163 off him.
John Hale
Hale is one of several Bearkats participating in the Texas Collegiate League. In 16 games with the Brazos Valley Bombers, based out of Bryan, Hale is batting .245 with 13 hits and has also driven in 3 RBIs. Hale is also one of the team's co-leaders in stolen bases with four swipes.
Michael Hilliard
Hilliard has been a regular in the Bombers' starting rotation, making five starts in eight appearances. Through 30 innings, Hilliard (3-2) has an earned run average of 5.40, allowing 18 earned runs, but is also tied with two of Brazos Valley's starting pitchers at three wins apiece. Hilliard has 25 strikeouts against 16 walks and has also tallied a save.
Chad Kruse
Though he didn't get much playing time during the 2011 season, Kruse is hoping to impress new head coach David Pierce. So far this summer, Kruse, who is playing for the Victoria Generals of the Texas Collegiate League, is batting .333 with 39 hits, including eight doubles, in 117 at-bats. Kruse has also driven in 12 runs and has five stolen bases.
Andrew Massey
Massey has also made a few starts for the Bombers, but has been unable to net himself a win and has an 0-4 mark. In 26 innings of work, Massey has a 5.54 ERA. Massey has also recorded 24 punchouts, while walking 12 in his six appearances.
Greg Olson
Playing in nearly every game for the Bombers, Olson has connected for 20 hits, including three extra-base hits. Olson has put together a .235 batting average and has scored 16 runs.
Michael Oros
Oros, who was a key part of Sam Houston's bullpen in the spring with three saves, is in the starter's role with the Victoria Generals. In 37 2/3 innings, Oros has managed a 3.11 ERA, allowing 13 earned runs. Oros, who has a 1-3 record, has struck out 24 batters in seven appearances.
Caleb Smith
In five appearances with the Marlins, Smith maintains a winning record (2-1) with an ERA of 4.28. In his two wins, Smith threw eight scoreless innings in early June and also scattered three hits over seven innings. Smith has allowed 13 earned runs in 27 1/3 innings with 22 strikeouts and 11 walks.
