Nov. 12, 2013
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The boys of summer were at it again in 2013. Twenty University of Notre Dame baseball players competed in some of the country’s premiere summer leagues over the course of two-plus months.
“Overall, our guys had a good summer,” said head coach Mik Aoki. “I though most of the guys got off to a little bit of a slow start, but finished well, which I hope carries over to the spring. Some of the guys that didn’t get to play a ton for us last season got an opportunity to develop, while the guys that did get plenty of playing time in the spring continued to improve and had productive summers. The summer season is such an important part of personal development.”
Solid pitching proved to be a theme for the Irish players as junior RHP Cristian Torres (1.97 ERA, 13.2 IP), sophomore RHP David Hearne (2-1, 2.19 ERA, 33 SO, 5 BB), senior RHP Sean Fitzgerald (1-0, 2.28 ERA, 19.2 IP), junior RHP Pat Connaughton (1-1, 1.00 ERA, 9.0 IP), sophomore LHP Michael Hearne (1-0, 1.77 ERA, 23 SO), sophomore RHP Connor Hale (2-1, 1.70 ERA, 26.1 IP) and senior RHP Donnie Hissa (6-3, 3.81 ERA, 56.2 IP) all had strong summers.
“It was good to see the quality pitching,” said Aoki. “The Hearnes (not familial brothers) both had a good summer especially. Michael had some ups and downs this past season, but had a good summer and then carried it over into the fall. I thought he pitched very well this fall. David, meanwhile, it was good for him to get back to having some success after starting having an up and down second part of the season last year. Hopefully they can both build on the summers they had and be consistent pitchers for us this season.”
The position players held their own as well. Junior infielder Kevin DeFilippis (.309 avg., 46H, 42R, 72B, 5HR), junior outfielder Blaise Lezynski (20H in 28 games, 11-game hitting streak from July 16-Aug. 2), sophomore outfielder Conor Biggio (26H, 13R), junior outfielder Mac Hudgins (.268 avg., 4 2B, 11H in 10 games), sophomore outfielder Ricky Sanchez (.292 avg., 21H, 12R, 5 2B) and sophomore outfielder James Nevant (32H, 27BB) all made significant improvements this summer.
Some of the highlights included:
Hissa earning the No. 22 spot on Baseball America’s top prospects list from the Northwoods Summer League after posting a 6-3 record with a 3.81 ERA in 56.2 innings pitched for the Lakeshore Chinooks. The Iron River, Wis., native struck out 52 while walking just 14 batters along the way.
D. Hearne pitched for the Redding Colt 45’s in the Far West League and earned the No. 2 slot on the same Baseball America list. He went 2-1 with a 2.19 ERA in 28.2 innings. Hearne had an impressive 33 strikeouts to just five walks during the season. The Homer Glen, Ill., native had a dominant game in a 9-0 victory over the NW Star Academy, allowing only one hit in seven innings while striking out 12 with no walks.
Sanchez earned a spot on the west division roster for the Prospect League All-Star Game as a catcher after hitting .292 with 21 hits, two triples, five doubles and 12 runs scored in 18 games from June 1 – June 29. Some of the highlights for Sanchez included a 2-for-4 performance with a triple and three RBI in a 4-3 win over Danville, a 3-for-5 day with two doubles and two runs scored in a 9-4 win over Hannibal and a 2-for-3 day with a double and four RBI in a 5-4 victory over Hannibal.
Four players were in the New England Collegiate Baseball League as Kyle Richardson and Torres played for the North Adams Steeplecats, while Lane Richards was with the New Bedford Bay Sox and Phil Mosey was with the Sanford Mariners.
DeFillipis and D. Hearne both played for the Redding Colt 45’s of the Far West League.
Four student-athletes played in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League as Lezynski, Co. Biggio and Forrest Johnson all suited up for the North Shore Navigators, while Nevant played for the Seacoast Mavericks.
In the famous Cape Cod Baseball League, pitchers’ Fitzgerald and Connaughton both hurled for the Harwich Mariners.
Finally, M. Hearne and Hale both pitched for the Lake Erie Monarchs of the Great Lakes Collegiate League and were joined by Irish teammate Jack Flaherty.
Summer Honors
Baseball America’s Top Prospects From Summer Leagues
Northwoods League
22. Donnie Hissa – RHP – Lakeshore Chinooks
Far West League
2. David Hearne – RHP – Redding Colt 45’s
Mid-Season All-Star Team – Prospects League
Ricky Sanchez – C – Terre Haute Rex – West Division
2013 Summer League Players
New England Collegiate Baseball League
Lane Richards – New Bedford Bay Sox
- Had hits in 23 of 38 games including 15 of last 16 contests
- Produced seven multi-hit games in last 16 games
2013 Summer Stats
38 G, 150 AB, 19 R, 36 H, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 11 RBI, 10 BB, 28 SO, 3 SB, .240 AVG
Kyle Richardson – North Adams Steeplecats
- Had two hits, including a double, and two RBI in 6-1 win over Holyoke (June 8) in second game of season
- Went 2-for-2 with a double and a triple in a 5-4 win over Keene (July 13)
- Went 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored in a 10-2 win over Laconia (July 24)
2013 Season Stats
38 G, 99 AB, 14 R, 20 H, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 11 BB, 36 SO, 11 SB, .202 AVG
2013 Playoff Stats
2 G, 7 AB, 0 R, 3 H, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 BB, 1 SO, 1 SB, .429 AVG
Cristian Torres – North Adams Steeplecats
- Allowed two hits or less in eight of nine appearances
- Didn’t allow a run after first two appearances
- Had three 1-2-3 innings
2013 Summer Stats
0-0, 1.97 ERA, 8 G, 0 GS, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 13.2 IP, 10 SO, 6 BB, 10 H
2013 Playoff Stats
0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 G, 0 GS, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 1 IP, 2 SO, 0 BB, 0 H
Phil Mosey – Sanford Mariners
- Went 3-for-4 with a double, a triple and four runs scored in a 14-5 win over Danbury (June 19)
- Had two doubles in a 6-4 win over New Bedford (June 22)
2013 Summer Stats
17 G, 56 AB, 6 R, 10 H, 4 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 7 RBI, 7 BB, 18 SO, 1 SB, .179 AVG
Far West League
Kevin DeFilippis – Redding Colt 45’s
- Tallied hits in 26 of 39 games, including 14 multi-hit games
- Went 4-for-5 with two homers, four RBI and two runs scored in a 17-4 win over the Redding Tigers 19U team
2013 Summer Stats
39 G, 149 AB, 42 R, 46 H, 7 2B, 0 3B, 5 HR, 17 RBI, 15 BB, 29 SO, 9 SB, .309 AVG
David Hearne – Redding Colt 45’s
- Went 7.0 innings in a 9-0 win over NW Star Academy (June 21), allowing just a single hit and striking out 12 with no walks
- Closed out summer campaign with four strikeouts and no runs (two hits) in five innings in a 6-0 win over the Humboldt Crabs (June 28)
2013 Summer Stats
2-1, 2.19 ERA, 5 G, 5 GS, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 28.2 IP, 33 SO, 5 BB, 15 H
Futures Collegiate Baseball League
James Nevant – Seacoast Mavericks
- Recorded a hit in 27 of 42 games including 10 of last 12
- Four walks, a hit and run scored against Nashua Silver Knights (Aug. 8)
2013 Summer Stats
42 G, 133 AB, 15 R, 32 H, 2 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 27 BB, 41 SO, 1 SB, .241 AVG
Blaise Lezynski – North Shore Navigators
- Went 3-for-4 with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored in an 11-3 win over the Seacoast Mavericks (July 21)
- Put together an 11-game hitting streak from July 16 – Aug. 2
2013 Summer Stats
28 G, 90 AB, 11 R, 20 H, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 8 BB, 22 SO, 1 SB, .222 AVG
2013 Playoff Stats
1 G, 1 AB, 0 R, 0 H, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 SB, .000 AVG
Conor Biggio – North Shore Navigators
- Had hits in 18 of 34 games
- Went 2-for-4 with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored in a 7-2 win over the Brockton Rox (June 20)
- Went 3-for-5 with a triple and two RBI in a 9-3 win over the Pittsfield Suns (Aug. 2)
2013 Season Stats
34 G, 120 AB, 13 R, 26 H, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 15 BB, 40 SO, 8 SB, .217 AVG
2013 Playoff Stats
1 G, 2 AB, 0 R, 0 H, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SO, 0 SB, .000 AVG
Forrest Johnson – North Shore Navigators
- Scored two runs each in wins over Torrington Titans (June 16) and Brockton Rox (June 27)
2013 Summer Stats
11 G, 36 AB, 4 R, 5 H, 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 13 SO, 0 SB, .139 AVG
Valley League
Mac Hudgins – New Market Rebels
- Exploded in an 11-8 win over the Covington Lumberjacks (June 5) … went 4-for-6 with three doubles, a homer, four RBI and a run scored
2013 Summer Stats
10 G, 41 AB, 5 R, 11 H, 4 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 1 BB, 7 SO, 5 SB, .268
Cape Cod Baseball League
Sean Fitzgerald – Harwich Mariners
- Allowed no runs in six of 10 appearances
- Gave up two hits or less in eight of 10 appearances
- Earned win after allowing only two hits and no runs in 4.0 innings of work
2013 Summer Stats
1-0, 2.28 ERA, 9 G, 0 GS, 0 SHO, 1 SV, 19.2 IP, 14 SO, 4 BB, 14 H
2013 Playoff Stats
0-0, 13.50 ERA, 1 G, 0 GS, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 0.2 IP, 0 SO, 2 BB, 1 H
Pat Connaughton – Harwich Mariners
- Allowed only one run in nine innings of work
- Had 10 strikeouts to five walks in two outings
2013 Summer Stats
1-1, 1.00 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 9.0 IP, 10 SO, 5 BB, 9 H
Coastal Plain League
Ryan Bull – Columbia Blowfish
Started 20 of 27 games … had a .967 fielding percentage
A perfect 11-of-11 in stolen bases
2013 Summer Stats
27 G, 74 AB, 9 R, 9 H, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 11 BB, 17 SO, 11 SB, .122 AVG
2013 Summer Stats
0-0, 0.00 ERA. 1 G, 0 GS, 0 CG, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 1.0 IP, 0 SO, 1 BB, 0 H
Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League
Joey Cresta – Center Moriches
- Had strong outing in 7-2 win over Westhampton … struck out seven and only gave up one run and two hits in 4.1 innings pitched
2013 Season Stats
1-2, 7.91 ERA, 8 G, 1 GS, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 19.1 IP, 12 SO, 15 BB, 22 H
2013 Playoff Stats
0-0, 11.57 ERA, 1 G, 0 GS, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 2.1 IP, 1 SO, 2 BB, 4 H
Great Lakes Collegiate League
Michael Hearne – Lake Erie Monarchs
- Went 3.0 innings in relief, allowing two hits and no runs while striking out four in 12-2 win over Lima Locos (July 25)
- Allowed two hits or less in 12 of 14 relief appearances
2013 Summer Stats
1-0, 1.77 ERA, 14 G, 0 GS, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 25.1 IP, 23 SO, 8 BB, 18 H
Connor Hale – Lake Erie Monarchs
- Went 7.0 innings, allowing only two hits and no runs in 3-0 victory over Grand Lake Mariners (July 23)
- Allowed two hits or less in four of eight appearances
2013 Summer Stats
2-1, 1.70 ERA, 8 G, 4 GS, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 26.1 IP, 13 SO, 8 BB, 22 H
Jack Flaherty – Lake Erie Monarchs
- Had hits in 19 of 36 games
- Went 5-for-9 with two doubles and three runs scored in two games against the So. Ohio Copperheads (June 8-9)
2013 Summer Stats
36 G, 131 AB, 16 R, 26 H, 7 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 7 RBI, 9 BB, 16 SO, 3 SB, .198 AVG
Prospect League
Ricky Sanchez – Terre Haute Rex
- Recorded hits in 14 of 18 games
- Scored runs in 10 of 18 games
2013 Summer Stats
18 G, 72 AB, 12 R, 21 H, 5 2B, 2 3B, 0 HR, 10 RBI, 5 BB, 19 SO, 8 SB, .292 AVG
Northwoods League
Donnie Hissa – Lakeshore Chinooks
- Went 6-3 with a 3.81 ERA in 56.2 innings pitched … struck out 52 while walking just 14
2013 Summer Stats
6-3, 3.81 ERA, 16 G, 7 GS, 1 CG, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 56.2 IP, 48 H, 26 R, 24 ER, 6 HR, 10 HBP, 14 BB, 52 SO, 1 WP, 1.11 WHIP
2013 Playoff Stats
0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 0 CG, 0 SHO, 0 SV, 6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 1 HBP, 0 BB, 4 SO, 0 WP, 0.83 WHIP
— Russell Dorn, Assistant Media Relations Director
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