 "Photo: David Heasley")
Despite the spring baseball season being over, many Ohio State baseball players have turned to playing in summer collegiate baseball leagues.
Several players chose to play close to home in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. The Columbus All-Americans include four OSU players - sophomores Josh Barrera and J.B. Shuck, and seniors Trey Fausnaugh and Jacob Howell - and the Delaware Cows feature three - junior Rory Meister and seniors Wes Schirtzinger and Jason Zoeller.
These collegiate summer leagues allow players to hone their skills, learn from notable college coaches and showcase their talents to scouts while playing with wood bats which will help their transition from college to professional baseball.
The All-Americans have been playing in Columbus since 1976 and currently play their games at Bill Davis Stadium. Some current MLB players who played summer ball with the All-Americans include Dustin Hermanson (White Sox), Brian Moehler (Marlins) and Chad Harville (Devil Rays). The All-Americans have finished in the top three in the standings in the past five seasons, including a first-place finish in 2005. They are led by former OSU player and coach Brian Mannino, who was named the 2005 Joe Carbone Manager of the Year.
"We get over 300 names from coach and scout referrals and try to find the 28 guys that will help us the most," Mannino said. "It's tough as a freshman to compete, so we try to get a nucleus of older guys and mix in a few freshmen."
An adjustment these players have to make is switching from the aluminum bats they use during the college season to the summer league wood bats.
"Wood is not as balanced, is heavier and has a smaller sweet spot," Mannino said. "Scouts need to see the guys hit with wood (bats) because it helps them evaluate them as players."
While the big difference between spring and summer ball is playing with a wood bat, Howell said, "There's not a huge difference when fielding, (you) may play a little shallower, but the game is still played the same. Playing in the summer league allows me the chance to work on driving the ball to left (field), and develop my arm strength."
Shuck, who was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American as an OSU pitcher and outfielder, said it helps to be able to pitch, play the outfield and hit.
"When you're hitting good, you know what they're going to throw," Shuck said. "Being a pitcher, you know what you throw and you have a better idea of what the opposing pitcher is going to throw, so it gives you an advantage as a batter."
On Sunday the All-Americans defeated the Lima Locos 7-4, improving their record to 6-2 and moving them into first place. Shuck improved to 2-0 while pitching seven scoreless innings, scattering four hits and striking out six. Howell finished 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
The All-Americans head out on the road for four games before returning home to Bill Davis Stadium on Saturday for a doubleheader against the Lake Erie Monarchs.
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