A long week for the Columbus All-Americans with eight games in five days turned into a pretty productive week, as the team went 5-3. Currently, the All-Americans are in first place with a record of 11-5, one game ahead of the Cincinnati Steam (15-7) and Lima Locos (12-6).
The All-Americans also boasted the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League Pitcher of the Week. Sophomore pitcher John Angelicchi (Ohio University) finished 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and gave up only four hits in his nine innings of work.
The week started on a good note as the Columbus team knocked off the Delaware Cows (6-9) by a score of 5-4 Monday. Ohio State freshman pitcher/outfielder J.B. Shuck was 1-for-3 with a run scored and a walk, while OSU junior outfielder Jacob Howell finished 0-for-4 with an RBI.
Tuesday was a bit of a heartbreaker as Columbus fell to the Southern Ohio Copperheads (7-8) in 13 innings by a score of 5-4. Shuck finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and two walks. OSU freshman pitcher Josh Barrera got a no-decision while pitching four innings, giving up three hits, one earned run and striking out three.
The All-Americans got back on track Thursday as they won 3-1 against the Granville Settlers (6-12). Howell went 1-for-5 with an RBI.
Columbus was then upset by the Grand Lake Mariners (9-11-1) by a score of 3-2 in the first game of a doubleheader Friday at Westview Park. The Mariners scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to earn the victory. Howell went 2-for-4 and Shuck finished 1-for-4 with a run scored in the contest.
The All-Americans came back with a 6-2 victory in the second game. They scored four runs on four hits, a walk, a hit batsman and a wild pitch in the eighth inning to come away with the win.
Shuck started the first game of a double header Saturday at Bill Davis Stadium against the Lake Erie Monarchs (4-5). He earned a no-decision after going six strong innings, giving up three hits, one run, striking out two and walking four. The All-Americans scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to win the game 3-2. They fell 8-1 in game two. OSU junior pitcher Trey Fausnaugh picked up the loss after pitching four innings while allowing three hits, five runs and walking two.
The week ended in dramatic fashion as Columbus scored one run in the eighth inning and four runs in the ninth giving them a 5-4 win against the Delaware Cows (10-11). Barrera pitched four innings, gave up seven hits, one earned run and struck out three in a no-decision. Shuck was 1-for-5 with two runs scored and Howell went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a walk.
The All-Americans have a .263 team batting average while opposing teams are hitting a mere .222 against them. The low batting averages do not come as any surprise to coach Brian Mannino.
"It's early in the season and the pitching is ahead of the hitting because of the wood bats," Mannino said. "It's an adjustment for the hitters and by the second half of the season, the guys will figure it out."
With the All-Star game only a few weeks away, Shuck has made a strong case to get an invite, but as he said "I haven't gotten the call yet (to confirm making the team)."
So far the only concern has been Shuck's high walk count.
"I haven't thrown well," he said. "It will come around."
Shuck is 2-0 with a 0.53 ERA (third best in the league), 13 strikeouts, nine walks and opponents are hitting only .180 against him (fourth best in the league). At the plate, he is batting .324 with seven runs scored and a .405 on-base percentage.
The coaches in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League pick two pitchers and two position players from their respective teams for the All-Star game and then the alternates are chosen by the league. Some leading candidates to represent the All-Americans are sophomore pitcher Mark Sorensen (Michigan State) and Shuck. A position player that might make an appearance is junior third baseman Tommy Myette (Dartmouth).
"Myette is tearing it up right now," Mannino said. "Sorensen is our best pitcher, and Shuck is a possibility."
The All-Star game will be held July 16 at Ohio University. In the meantime, the All-Americans return home to Bill Davis Stadium Thursday to take on the Granville Settlers.
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