July 5, 2007

PRO BALL UPDATE

Former standout pitcher Kevin Mulvey is pitching for the Double-A level Binghamton Mets. Mulvey will participate in festivities during Major League Baseball's All-Star Weekend, as he has been selected to the U.S. Team for the All-Star Futures Game on Sunday in San Francisco. Mulvey was also named to the Eastern League North Division All-Star Team, one of four players that will represent Binghamton. In a team-leading 17 starts this season for Binghamton, Mulvey has logged 92 2/3 innings with 60 strikeouts, 28 walks and 94 hits allowed. He has compiled a 6-8 record and 3.40 ERA in his first full season at the professional level.

The most recent Villanova alum to join the professional ranks is pitcher Mike Loree. As the ace of the 2007 Wildcat team, Loree helped Villanova reach the BIG EAST playoffs for the first time in 10 years. A draft pick of the San Francisco Giants, he currently is pitching for the team's Arizona League affiliate at the Rookie ball level. Through games of July 4, he had made four appearances out of the bullpen and allowed just one earned run in 7 2/3 innings for a 1.17 ERA. Loree leads the time with 10 strikeouts and has not issued a walk in his four outings.

A 2006 draftee of the San Diego Padres, first baseman Jeremy Hunt is playing for the Fort Wayne Wizards in the full season A-level Midwest League. He had played in 55 games through June 30 and was batting .257 with six home runs and 24 RBI. In addition, Hunt owned a .344 on-base percentage and .403 slugging percentage thanks to 21 walks and 10 doubles. After a successful pro debut at the end of the 2006 season, Hunt got off to a strong start this year, batting .324 for the Wizards during the month of April.

The only former Villanova player with major league experience playing this season is right-handed pitcher Brian Slocum, who is on the disabled list for the Triple-A level Buffalo Bisons. Slocum was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 2002 and made eight appearances (two starts) for the parent club last season. This year he has posted a 2-2 record and 4.15 ERA through five starts with Buffalo, but has not pitched since May 4. In his 26.0 innings pitched this year, Slocum has struck out 28 batters and allowed just 21 hits. Opposing batters are hitting .208 against him.

Another right-handed pitcher, Nick Allen, is pitching in the Seattle Mariners organization for the High Desert Mavericks in the California League. In 25 appearances for the Mavericks, including two starts, Allen had compiled a 2-2 record and 4.41 ERA in 63 1/3 innings pitched. As a valuable man out of the bullpen for his team, Allen had allowed 71 hits while owning a good ratio of 32 strikeouts compared to just 13 walks issued. He is in his second full professional season and has logged nearly 200 innings pitched in the minor leagues.

SUMMER BASEBALL

The following represents available information about current Villanova players participating in summer leagues around the country.

Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League

There are six teams that make up the Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League and each team has at least one current member of the Villanova team on its roster. The league plays approximately 40 games in June and July with some games being held in the 50,000-seat Aloha Stadium. The league has reached its midpoint this summer and held Scout Day on July 3 in advance of the All-Star Game on July 4 at Central Oahu Regional Park. Below are the seven Wildcat players in the league this summer.

Bill Hoffman, RHP (Hawaii Aliis)
Matt McFolling, OF (Kauai Menehunes)
Robert Parks, 1B (Waikiki Surfers)
Tim Poydenis, 2B (Kamuela Paniolos)
Joe Rosati, DH (Hawaii Aliis)
Colin Sabean, 2B (Oahu Paddlers)
Dan Terpak, 1B (Waimea Waves) - Chosen to participate in All-Star Game

Valley League

This Virginia-based league includes 11 teams and runs from June 1 through July 29. Three Wildcat pitchers are participating in the league this summer. Right-handed pitcher Josh Eidell was named the league's Pitcher of the Week on June 12 after he pitched a three-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts and no walks in a 1-0 victory for his Woodstock team.

Josh Eidell, RHP (Woodstock River Bandits) - 3-1, 3.00 ERA (5 GS, 33.0 IP, 6 BB, 38 SO, 1 CG, 1 SHO, 1 CBO)
Kevin Crimmel, LHP (Front Royal Cardinals) - 1-1, 1.80 ERA (9 APP, 15.0 IP, 4 BB, 16 SO, 1 SV)
Brian Streilein, RHP (Front Royal Cardinals) - 1-4, 3.18 ERA (5 GS, 34.0 IP, 9 BB, 31 SO, 1 CG)

Coastal Plains League

In its 11th continuous season, the Coastal Plains League has roots that date back to 1937. The league currently features 15 teams in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. There are five Villanova players in the league this summer.

Ryan Arcadia, 2B (Peninsula Pilots) - 24 G, 22 GS, .195 avg., 1 HR, 5 RBI (.302 OB%, eight SB)
Wesley Borden, C (Peterson Generals) - 19 G, 12 GS, .286 avg., 0 HR, 6 RBI (.340 OB%, three 2B)
Jordan Ellis, RHP (Peterson Generals) - 2-2, 2.33 ERA (6 GS, 38.2 IP, 18 BB, 31 SO)
Gus Guida, RHP (Peninsula Pilots) - 0-0, 3.14 ERA (14 APP, 14.1 IP, 5 BB, 14 SO)
Ryan Wendler, RHP (Peninsula Pilots) - 2-0, 2.45 ERA (14 APP, 18.1 IP, 3 BB, 20 SO, 3 CBO)

Atlantic Baseball Confederation

There are eight teams competing in New Jersey in the Atlantic Baseball Confederation Collegiate League. The league runs from May 27 through August 4, with an All-Star Game held on July 15 and playoffs that stretch from July 25 through the championship game on August 4. Three current Villanova players are on the roster of the Middletown Monarchs.

Justin Bencsko, OF - 16 G, .220 avg., 1 HR, 6 RBI (50 AB, 11 H, 11 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 8 BB, 5 SB, .448 SLG%)
James Dolbier, OF - 12 G, .235 avg., 0 HR, 7 RBI (34 AB, 8 H, 3 2B, 3 BB, 2 SB)
Tom Ricciutti, 2B - 12 G, .233 avg., 0 HR, 5 RBI (30 AB, 7 H, 5 R, 5 BB, 1 SB)

Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League

Eight teams in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania compete in the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League, which has been in existence for over 40 years.

Joe Cotter, OF (Quakertown Blazers) - 5 G, .154 avg., 0 HR, 1 RBI (13 AB, 3 R)