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While, the College World Series winds down this week in Omaha, the Diamond Heels are hard at work in their respective summer leagues.
Cape Cod League
Several Tar Heels find themselves spending the summer in picturesque Cape Cod, in the most prestigious of the collegiate wood bat leagues. Junior J.B. Bukauskas spent the beginning of his summer with Chatham, where he recorded a 3.72 ERA with 17 strikeouts in two appearances, prior to reporting to camp with Team USA’s Collegiate National Team.
Fellow classmate Logan Warmoth has followed up the strong finish to his sophomore campaign with an impressive summer with Brewster. Warmoth sports a .321 batting average, including nine RBI paired with two long balls. Down the Cape, for league-leading Harwich, Hunter Williams garnered attention after allowing six hits and striking out five over seven innings of one run ball in a no decision vs Brewster. Williams, for the summer, has compiled a 1-0 record with a 1.56 ERA. Williams has controlled the strike zone as well with a 15 strikeouts to five walks in his 17 innings pitched.
Cal Ripken League
Sophomores Kyle Datres and Utah Jones, both playing for the Baltimore Firebirds, have each had success at the plate so far this summer. Datres, currently ranking second in the league with a .389 batting average, had a strong 2 for 4 performance paired with three stolen bases against Vienna on June 26. Jones’ average currently sits at .300, paired with a home run and six RBI.
Coastal Plains League
Brandon Riley has been a standout for the Diamond Heel-loaded Holly Spring Salamanders. Riley has tallied two homers and eight RBI to go along with a .308 batting average becoming one of the teams most consistent hitters.
Northwoods League
Sophomore catcher Brandon Illies is the lone Tar Heel representative in the Midwest based Northwoods League. Illies, who saw limited action in 2016, has had a strong summer thus far hitting .264 while driving in 17 runs.
We’ll continue to update you throughout the summer and fall as Mike Fox and the Diamond Heels work to improve in 2017 after back-to-to disappointing campaigns.