July 16, 2009

ERIE, Penn. — Former Kentucky All-American first baseman Ryan Strieby, playing for the Detroit Tigers Double-A affiliate Erie SeaWolves, was chosen as a 2009 Eastern League Southern Division All-Star game on July 14 and Player of the Week for the week ending July 12.

The native of Brier, Wash., splintered the ball all week for the SeaWolves posting a .455 (10-for-22) batting average and a slugging percentage of .773 in just six games, claiming EL Player of the Week accolades. The first baseman also added one double, two home runs, eight runs scored, five RBI and five walks for the week. Overall, Strieby’s season stats jumped to 17 homers, 14 doubles, 53 RBI and a .310 average, with 48 walks on the year.  

Strieby is leading all Double-A players (Southern League, Eastern League and Texas League), who have played 75 or more games, in on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) with a .997 mark. Strieby is also in the top five in several other statistical categories among Eastern League players. The 2006 Southeastern Player of the Year is tied for second in homers (17), second in on-base percentage (.427), second in slugging percentage (.570) and fifth in walks (48). Strieby’s .310 batting average is seventh-best in the Eastern League.

Currently, the 6-foot-5, 235-pound first baseman is on an eight-game hitting streak and pounding the ball at home. At home this season, Strieby is hitting .324 with seven doubles, one triple, 13 homers and a remarkable slugging percentage of .662.

In his last season for Kentucky, Strieby led the Wildcats in doubles, home runs, RBI, total bases, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, helping lead UK to its first SEC Championship in program history during the 2006 campaign. In UK baseball single-season annuals, Strieby ranks tied for sixth in doubles (22), tied for third in triples (20) and second in RBI (77).

KAPTEYN, BOUTHILETTE, JOHNSON NAMED NYCBL ALL-STARS

AMSTERDAM, N.Y. — Freshmen Braden Kapteyn and Sean Bouthilette and sophomore Neiko Johnson were selected to play in the New York Collegiate Baseball League All-Star game hosted by the Amsterdam Mohawks in Amsterdam, N.Y.

Kapteyn, a dynamic two-way player for Kentucky last season, is hitting .305 and started all 25 games this summer for Amsterdam, the only player to hold that distinction. The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder has two doubles, two homers and 13 RBI on the season, including a .383 on-base percentage on the season.

Kapteyn has posted even more impressive numbers on the mound this summer, holding a 2.43 ERA and a 3-1 record. In six starts on the mound, Kapteyn has piled 33.1 innings of work allowing only 15 hits, nine earned runs, while striking out 54 and having an opponent batting average of .135. Kapteyn was named the starting pitcher for the All-Star game.
 
Bouthilette, who was used as a mid-week starter last season for Kentucky, has a 2-3 record this summer with the Mohawks along with a 1.66 ERA in seven games started. In 38 innings pitched, Bouthilette has allowed 27 hits, seven earned runs, while striking out 33 and posting an opponent batting average of .199.

Johnson, who plays for the Watertown Wizards, was also voted as an All-Star this season. Johnson has a .333 batting average and has started all 29 games for the Wizards. Johnson has hit five doubles, two homers with 19 RBI on the year. Johnson has also stolen 15-of-16 bases on the summer. Johnson also has an on-base percentage of .477 on the year.   

Kentucky freshmen Chase Greene and Cory Farris are also having a good summer with the Mohawks. Greene has a team-low ERA, posting a 0.63 mark in 11 appearances and 14.1 innings pitched. Greene has allowed only one earned run on the year while striking out 11 and allowing no extra base hits and only seven singles. 

Farris, who showed impact ability late in his freshman collegiate season, has played in 24 games for the Mohawks this year, starting 24 games. On the season, Farris has a .286 batting average with 13 runs scored, five doubles, one triple and one round tripper. Farris is slugging .405 with an on-base percentage of .362.

BISSON RUNNING AWAY WITH CAPE COD LEAGUE STOLEN BASE CROWN

MARSTON MILLS, Maine — Sophomore Chris Bisson, playing for the Cotuit Kettleers in Marstons Mills, Maine, is leading all players in the Cape Cod League in stolen bases with 21.
  
Bisson is hitting .221 for the Kettleers this season with nine RBI. Last season for the Wildcats, Bisson led the team in batting with a .360 average and an on-base percentage of .414. The native of Orleans, Ontario, scored 49 runs with nine doubles, three triples and two homers for UK in 2009. He gathered in 52 RBI with 13 stolen bases and a .455 slugging percentage while serving as UK’s everyday second baseman.