FROM STAFF REPORTS

As the collegiate summer leagues across the country hit their all-star break, nine University of Montevallo baseball players competing this summer have been sharpening their skills and helping lead their individual teams.

Two of the nine players were selected to their league’s respective all-star games, including Edward Brandsema and Kirk Waligora.

Brandsema plays for the Orlando Freedom of the Florida Collegiate League and heads into the break as the Pitcher of the Week for the Freedom. Brandsema has pitched 10 2/3 innings in nine games. He has 11 strikeouts with a team leading 2.53 earned run average. He has a pair of saves and an 0-1 overall record.

Waligora plays for the Spartanburg Spartans of the Southern League. He is tied for second on his team with a .333 batting average. Waligora has played in 22 games and scored 11 runs. He has a pair of doubles, one triple and 12 RBI, and is 3-for-4 in stolen base attempts.

Four Falcons are competing in the Northwoods League including Will Fulmer, Alex Guilford, Michael Shreves and Chris Ross, a Pelham graduate.

Fulmer plays for the Alexandria Beetles and has appeared in 31 games with a .300 batting average. He has scored 15 runs while knocking in three doubles, one triple and two homeruns. He has driven in 14 runs.

Guilford is also a member of the Beetles and has pitched in three games with a pair of starts. He has thrown 15.0 innings with 11 strikeouts. He has an 0-2 record with a 3.00 ERA.

Shreves has really impressed his team on and off the field. He currently competes for the Willmar Stingers where he has pitched in 13 games with 23.2 innings on the mound. He has 15 strikeouts and a 2-1 record. He also carries a 2.66 ERA. He has been helping out with a lot of community service projects which many of the players have been doing this summer. He is pictured to the left helping out at a local library.

Ross is competing for the Mankato Moondogs who currently sit at second in the North Division of the League. He has played in 29 games with a .257 batting average. He has scored 14 runs while picking up five doubles and a homerun. He has driven in 13 runs while leading the team with 17 walks. He is also 9-for-12 when stealing bases.

Austin Dubberly, a Pelham graduate, is competing for the Alfred Thunder of the New York Collegiate League.  He had played in 22 games with a .275 batting average. He has scored five runs while driving in seven. He has five doubles and a homerun. He has not made an error in 74 fielding chances this season.

Two Falcons are on the Butler Blue Sox of the Prospect League including Devon Davis and Wes Rich, a Pelham graduate.

Davis has batted as well as pitched this summer. At the plate he has a .167 batting average with an RBI. On the mound he has a 1-2 record with 27 innings pitched. He has started five games and struck out 16 batters. He currently has a 5.33 ERA.

Rich has pitched in 14 games all in relief. He has a 2-0 record with 20 strikeouts in 18.0 innings of work. He has a pair of saves and boasts a 2.00 ERA.

The summer leagues have just over a month left in the season, which leaves plenty of room for the Falcons to continue to impress players and coaches from across the country.