FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COLUMBUS STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Friday, July 8, 2005
FORMER AND CURRENT CSU PLAYERS FARING WELL IN SUMMER ACTION
Groce, Baker Notch Professional Firsts; 3 Players Earn All-Star Honors
Columbus, GA...July has been a good month for a group of former and current Columbus State baseball players. Garrett Groce and Brian Baker each notched professional "firsts" this month, while Billy Howard, David Brown, and Brad Linton were named to the New York Collegiate Summer League All-Star team.
Groce, a member of the Hudson Valley Renegades (Tampa Bay) of the New York-Penn League, hit his first professional home run on July 7 against Aberdeen in a 4-2 win. The Columbus native is hitting .277 with three doubles, one homer, four RBI and is 2-3 in stolen bases.
Baker, a member of the Princeton (WV) Devil Rays, earned his first professional win on July 4 against the Bluefield Orioles. He pitched a perfect eighth and ninth innings in relief and his squad tallied a pair of runs in the 10th frame to give him the win. He is currently 1-1 on the season with a 4.91 ERA. He has allowed six hits in 7.1 innings with eight strikeouts. He has four appearances, all in relief.
In the New York Collegiate Summer League, Howard has posted a .326 average so far this season with a home run and 16 RBI for the Allagany County Nitros. His play earned an All-Star nod. David Brown, playing for the Alfred A's, was also named to the All-Star squad. Brown's official stats were unavailable. Brad Linton, a CSU signee out of Gordon College, was named to the team after posting a .408 average with 10 RBI. Linton plays for the Wayne County Raptors. All three players are on the West Division All-Star team and will play on Sunday against the East Division All-Stars.
Two other players, Trent Bianco and Brad Shea, are also playing in the league and are enjoying successful summer action. Both players are teammates of Linton with the Wayne County Raptors. Bianco is hitting .328 with 10 RBI, while Shea is at .346 with a home run and 8 RBI.