Headlines

Stephen Alemais (BT '14) makes the Brooks Wallace Award watchlist sponsored by Mizuno for the top shortstop in college baseball.  Alemais is leading the Green Wave with a .324 batting average.  He has 10 extra base hits and has walked 12 times while recording 17 RBI.  Alemais is a threat on the base paths with eight stolen bases and also provides excellent defense at the position.  Read more about the award watchlist at http://www.collegebaseballhall.org/news/article.jsp?content_id=173629092.

On Wednesday 4/20, Florida Atlantic and a few Big Train players took down #1 Miami Hurricanes.  David McKay (BT '15) got the start and pitched six innings of two run and four hit ball.  Sean Labsan (BT '14) went 2 for 2 with a pair of walks and an RBI.  Read more at http://www.fausports.com/sports/m-basebl/recaps/042016aaa.html.

Perfect Game USA posts a weekly article called College Notes.  For their College Notes 4/19, schools with Big Train players leading the way are mentioned as teams doing well.  These schools are Creighton University -- Harrison Crawford (BT '15), Daniel Woodrow (BT '16), and Keith Oren (BT '16) -- UNC Wilmington -- Nick Feight (BT '14-15) -- Virginia Commonwealth -- Logan Farrar (BT '13-15).

Creighton

"The fact that the Creighton Blue Jays are 25-7 on the year and 5-1 in Big East play comes as little surprise as Head Coach Ed Servais returned a multitude of talent of talent on both sides of the ball. But how can a team that’s hitting a combined .260 (in fairness they play at TD Ameritrade for home games) with just one everyday player hitting over .300 perform so well? The answer is pitching and a staff ERA of 2.23 and batting average against of .196. Sophomore ace righthander Rollie Lacy has been fantastic this spring as he is currently 6-1 on the year while pounding the strike zone and issuing just eight walks in over 50 innings. The Bluejays may be following the Kansas City Royals’ blueprint as they have the ability to shorten games with their bullpen as they feature three different arms – two of whom have 17 appearances and the other has 20 – with ERAs that are south of 1.50.”

UNC Wilmington

"UNC Wilmington is knocking at the door on Perfect Game’s Top 25 thanks to a 23-9 overall record and a 5-2 mark in the Colonial. Steven Linkous is setting the tone at the top of the Seahawks batting order while Nick Feight is providing the thunder in the middle of the lineup. Linkous is hitting .404 while getting on base at a high clip and stealing bases (20 steals in 22 attempts) nearly at will. Feight seems to be a regular among the Colonial’s Player of the Week honors, and is currently hitting .382 with 26 extra-base hits which includes 11 home runs, and he’s driven in 59 which leads the nation.”

VCU

"VCU has proven this year that their postseason run last year was no fluke, as they’re currently 25-12 overall and lead the Atlantic 10 with a 9-3 conference record. While the Rams are receiving steady team-based contributions from all over the diamond, it’s their closer, Sam Donko, who is locking down numerous close contents. In 19 relief appearances Donko has recorded 14 saves with a 1.69 ERA, allowing just seven runs in 37 1/3 innings of work while holding batters to a .172 average against.”