Bucknell University Athletics
Bison Baseball Notebook: Wilson Shines for Team Canada, Brouse Wins Home Run Derby
7/24/2008 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
July 24, 2008
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- As summertime rolls along, several Bucknell baseball players and recent alums have been in the news.
WILSON STILL FIRING -- Mathew Wilson's 7-0 shutout of Florida State at the NCAA Regionals was one of the finest-pitched games in Bison annals, and Wilson's right arm has remained red hot this summer. Pitching for Team Canada against powerful Team USA on Wednesday at the World University Baseball Championships in the Czech Republic, Wilson took a shutout into the eighth inning before an error opened the door for three unearned runs. Wilson, a Toronto native, got a no-decision as the U.S. team went on to win 4-3 in 11 innings.
"Mat showed us he is a big-time pitcher when he helped Bucknell shutout Florida State, in Florida, during the NCAA Regional Tournament, " said Canadiuan manager Terry McKaig. "Tonight's game was a perfect start for Mat he showed his character, poise and proved he can pitch on the big stage."
ALL-STAR BROUSE WINS HOME RUN DERBY -- Andrew Brouse, a rising junior outfielder for the Bison, played in the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Game this week, and Brouse was the winner of the Home Run Derby. He outlasted George Washington's Gavin Swanson and Michigan State's Seth Williams in the final. As a reserve center fielder for the West All-Stars, Brouse went 0-for-1 and made one putout in the field.
Brouse, who plays for the Alexandria Aces in the Ripken Sr. League, ranks second in the league with six home runs and is tied for the league lead with 26 RBI in 33 games. For the Bison this spring, the Kreamer, Pa. native and Midd-West High School graduate hit .292 with three homers and 20 RBI in 41 games. One of those home runs came against Florida State in Bucknell's final NCAA Regional contest.
UPDATING THE PROS -- Two recent graduates are currently pitching in the New York-Penn League. Jason Buursma '08, perhaps the most decorated player in program history, is 1-1 with one save and a 2.48 ERA with the Batavia Muckdogs. Buursma, a 25th-round draft choice of the St. Louis Cardinals, has struck out nine and walked five while allowing 11 hits in 11 relief innings. He has not allowed an earned run in 10 of his 11 appearances.
Also in the New York-Penn League is 2006 graduate Kyle Walter, who in eight relief outings for the Auburn Doubledays is 3-0 with a 2.29 ERA. In 19.2 innings, the southpaw has allowed only 13 hits while fanning 22. Walter's story is all the more remarkable considering he was an All-Patriot League outfielder at Bucknell, and his collegiate pitching career was limited to seven brief appearances in his senior year. But the Toronto Blue Jays drafted him as a pitcher in the 18th round in 2006.
Matt Daley '04 has worked his way up to the AAA level in the Colorado Rockies' organization. In 41 relief appearances with the Colorado Springs SkySox, Daley is 2-4 with a 4.09 ERA, and he has averaged a strikeout per inning. On May 11, Daley was one of four pitchers to combine on the first no-hitter in Colorado Springs baseball history. He contributed an inning and a third of hitless ball in the no-hitter against Albuquerque. Daley was the winning pitcher in Tuesday night's 12-inning win over New Orleans.
LaROSA AN ALL-STAR IN HAWAII -- Catcher B.J. LaRosa, who will be a junior at Bucknell next season, is shining for the Oahu Paddlers in the Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League this summer. LaRosa has started 27 games behind the dish and is hitting .291 with 11 RBIs. He has drawn 15 walks while striking out only nine times. LaRosa was a starter in the HCBL All-Star Game on July 4.
LaRosa hit .280 in 15 games as Bucknell's backup catcher in 2008.
