Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Baseball Players Participate in Amateur Leagues During School Break
6/25/2004 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 25, 2004
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Several returning Bucknell baseball players are enjoying their pastimes this summer with amateur squads away from home before returning to school and their Bison teammates in the fall. Meanwhile, their former teammate, pitcher Matt Daley, has made his professional debut with the Casper Rockies, the rookie level team of the Colorado Major League club.
The Bison athlete flung farthest from Pennsylvania is junior Phil Futrick, who is suiting up for the Mat-Su Miners of the Alaska Baseball League. The team is based in Palmer, Alaska, near Anchorage. Through Thursday, Futrick had faced 41 batters and given up 11 hits with three walks and a hit batter. He also had seven strikeouts and allowed just three runs. The 2003 Patriot League Rookie of the Year shifted between a starting role and relief role for the Bison this year, compiling a 4-4 record and a 6.20 ERA in 40 2/3 innings. To keep tabs on Futrick this summer, visit http://www.matsuminers.org.
Sophomore pitcher Nathan Mittag is playing for the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod League in Massachusetts. Through Thursday, Mittag had an 0-1 record and 1.59 ERA in 5 1/3 innings over two appearances. Of the 25 batters he had faced, he allowed hits to six, walked and struck out four apiece while allowing just one run. During the school year, he led Bucknell with five saves and 16 appearances while compiling a 1-1 record and 2.87 ERA in 37 2/3 innings. Information on Mittag and the Braves can be found at http://www.bournebraves.org.
Junior pitcher Jon Black is playing for the team for which Daley played last summer, the Danville Dans of the Central Illinois Collegiate League. Through Thursday, Black appeared in five games, throwing 4 2/3 innings and earning a 1.93 ERA with no decisions. While facing 22 batters, Black walked five and allowed one hit and one earned run with three strikeouts. For the Bison, Black threw 4 1/3 innings over three games and earned a 6.23 ERA with no decisions. Bison fans can follow Black via the CICL's Web site at http://www.ciclbaseball.com.
Kyle Walter, the junior outfielder who led Bucknell in nearly every offensive category this season, is playing for the Winchester Royals of the Valley Baseball League in Virginia. The team's Web site is located at http://www.winchesterroyals.com.
In his first professional outing, Daley threw one inning against the Provo Angels on Tuesday and retired all three batters he faced. Fans can follow Daley at the team's Web site, http://www.casperrockies.com, or the Pioneer League's site at http://www.pioneerleague.com. The only other 2004 Bison to play professionally this summer, Kevin Miller, is with the rookie-level Bradenton Pirates of the Gulf Coast League.
Two recent Bucknell graduates, pitchers Kevin McDowell '01 and Eric Junge '99, are also continuing their professional careers. McDowell is playing for the Lakeland Tigers, Detroit's entry in the Class-A Florida State League. After returning from arm troubles, McDowell has thrown two innings in two games through Thursday, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out two. The Lakeland squad's Web site is located at http://www.lakelandtigers.net. Junge is playing for the Philadelphia Phillies' AAA team, the Scranton-Wilkes Barre Red Barons. In five innings over two games, Junge allowed seven hits and six runs, accruing an 0-1 record and 10.80 ERA after battling his own arm problems. More Red Barons information can be found at http://www.redbarons.com.
