Florida Atlantic University Athletics
FAU Baseball Players Impress in Summer Leagues
8/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Aug. 13, 2009
BOCA RATON, FL - Playing in an MLB stadium at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Nick DelGuidice and Mike Albaladejo helped the Leesburg Lightning capture its second Florida Collegiate Summer League (FCSL) championship in three years.
Both were major contributors to Leesburg's top-ranked FCSL offense. Albaladejo, a Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament Team honoree last May, drove home a pair of runs for Leesburg in the FCSL championship game, while DelGuidice finished the summer ranking sixth among all FCSL players in hits (40).
"Going from aluminum to wood bats, I had to change a couple of things in my swing," said DelGuidice. "I was forced to focus on my quickness. I was also working on my patience at the plate."
Defensively, Albaladejo worked closely with Lightning manager and former MLB pitcher Frank Viola on the catcher's role of managing games behind the plate.
"One of the best experiences of my life," said Albaladejo. "Coach Viola is a great guy. I know him from my high school days, and it was great to be part of one of his teams. I can't tell you how much I learned from him, especially the catcher-pitcher relationship. Learning from an ex-MLB pitcher is no doubt going to help me out next year at FAU."
In the opposing dugout from DelGuidice and Albaladejo at the `Trop' was FAU teammate Joey Burkhalter. Burkhalter went 2-for-4 with a double and RBI in a do-or-die FCSL playoff game to allow his Clermont Mavericks a shot at the title.
"We have that friendly rivalry, me and Joey," said Albaladejo, who works out with Burkhalter in Orlando during the offseason. "He looked great this summer, really coming on at the end of the year offensively. His hands and his technique at second base were sharp. We'll be ready to go when we get back to Boca."
"Baseball is a high skill level game," said FAU Head Coach John McCormack. "These guys need to keep playing. After finishing out the year, we have individual meetings and send them to summer league with direction on improving in certain aspects of their game. This is being accomplished, and it has a lot to do with the high caliber of leagues we have relationships with."
McCormack sent right-handed pitchers Mike Gipson and Glen Troyanowski to play for the Harwich Mariners in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League. Not only did they compete, but they excelled. Gipson led Harwich with 50 strikeouts, which ranked third in the Cape and Troyanowski closed-out 11 games, saving four.
Also impressive was Ryan Garton's 1.95 ERA for the Maryland Redbirds of the Cal Ripken Sr. Baseball League (CRL). Hugh Adams and Ahmed Garcia played for the Bethesda Big Train, who finished 31-10 en route to winning the CRL Championship.
FAU Baseball Summer League Updates/Links:
Mike Gipson - Harwich Mariners - Cape Cod League - Stats
3.89 ERA, 39+ innings, led Mariners with 50 K's (3rd in Cape)
Glen Troyanowski - Harwich Mariners - Cape Cod League - Stats
2.51 ERA, 22 K's in 14+ innings, 4 saves
Ahmed Garcia - Bethesda Big Train - Cal Ripken Sr. League - Stats
Big Train (31-10), CRL Champions, 4.22 ERA, 10Ks in 10+ innings
Hugh Adams - Bethesda Big Train - Cal Ripken Sr. League - Stats
Big Train (31-10), CRL Champions, 4-1, 2.25 ERA, .233 OBA
Ryan Garton - Maryland Redbirds - Cal Ripken Sr. League - Stats
Redbirds (24-18), 1.95 ERA, 24 K's in 27+ innings
Mike Albaladejo - Leesburg Lightning - FCSL - Stats
Lightning FCSL Champions, 31 hits, 9 SB, 2 RBI in title game
Nick DelGuidice - Leesburg Lightning - FCSL - Stats
Lightning FCSL Champions, 40 hits, .284 BA, 19 runs, 7 SB
Joey Burkhalter - Clermont Mavericks - FCSL - Stats
Mavericks FCSL runners-up, 9 extra-base hits, 25 starts
Anthony Mesa - Staunton Braves - Valley League - Stats
Braves (27-17), .302 BA, 25 BB, led Braves with .451 OBP
Sean Bukovich - Waynesboro Generals - Valley League - Stats
.271 BA, 17 BB, .387 OBP, 27 starts
Barry Rooks - St. Cloud River Bats - Northwoods League - Stats
1-1, 3.32 ERA, 19 innings
