Posted: 07/26/2012 | Last updated: July 26, 2012 at 09:23 AM
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh baseball’s Casey Turner and Tyler Brong have highlighted the group of Mountain Hawks playing in summer leagues around the country. Turner was selected as an All-Star for the Vienna River Dogs in the Cal Ripkin League while Brong has been the leading hitter for the Quakertown Blazers in the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League.
Lehigh is represented on over a dozen summer league teams from as close as the Lehigh Valley to as far away as Hawaii.
Turner is hitting .346 while his 44 hits are tied for second in the Cal Ripken League. He has two home runs and has driven in 20 RBIs, which ranks fourth in the league. In the All-Star Game, Turner went 1-for-2 with a run scored.
Joining Turner on the River Dogs are Alex Jacquez, Eli Facenda and Nick Stephens.
Brong has also had a breakout summer, as he leads the Quakertown Blazers in hitting with a .362 batting average. He also has four home runs and a team-leading 31 RBIs.
Joining Brong on the Blazers are Colin Gotzon (4-2, 4.15 ERA) and Nick Cassell (3-1, 4.00 ERA), both of whom are also having stellar summers.
Along with Turner, Lehigh also had a couple of other players selected as All-Stars as Joey McNamara and Harris Fanaroff earned bids in the Hawaii Collegiate League.
McNamara is pitching for the Hawaii Aliis this summer and is 3-0 with a 3.86 ERA, which ranks ninth in the Hawaii Collegiate League. His three wins are tied for second in the league. And his 11 appearances (three starts) ranks tied for fourth in the league.
Fanaroff is playing for the Oahu Paddlers and is hitting .298 with a team-leading four triples and team-leading 14 RBIs. Fanaroff’s triples are tied for second in the league.
Here is the complete list of Lehigh players competing in summer leagues.
Quakertown Blazers – Colin Gotzon, Tyler Brong, Nick Cassell
Lehigh Valley Catz – Jordan Smith, Nick Macaione
Jersey Pilots – John Elson
Allentown Railers – Joe Abeln
Limeport Dodgers – Patrick Walshe
Martinsville Mustangs – Steven Ball
Vienna River Dogs – Alex Jacquez, Casey Turner, Nick Stephens, Eli Facenda
Yousse Orioles – Justin Pacchioli
Herndon Braves – Mike Burke, Connor Faust
California Seals – Thomas O’Malley
Black Sox – Tim McKay
Pompano Beach Clippers – Lance Kirschenbaum
Hawaii Aliis – Joey McNamara
Oahu Paddlers – Harris Fanaroff
Pineville Pioneers – Brandon Wilt
Kitsap Blue Jackets – Josh Flyer, Rene Tato