Five Zags Named Summer Ball All-Stars
7/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
SPOKANE, Wash.--With several summer ball all-star games in the last 10 days, it's time to take a look at the numerous current and future Zags playing in leagues all across the North American continent.
Five Bulldogs were named to their league's respective all-star games: Nick Brooks, Wyatt Mills, Nick Nyquist, Justin Vernia, and Jake Vieth. Brooks played in the California Collegiate League's showcase, which took place July 13. As of July 19, the rising redshirt-junior is hitting .406 for the Menlo Park Legends and is tied for third in the league with five home runs. He also has a 1.285 on base plus slugging mark.
Meanwhile, Mills and Vernia each earned All-Star designations in the Alaska Baseball League. Mills has pitched 12.1 scoreless innings in eight appearances for the Anchorage Bucs, fanning 12 and posting two wins and two saves. Vernia, meanwhile, leads all ABL starting pitchers with a 0.84 ERA as of July 19, allowing only three earned runs in 32.1 innings pitched. The senior-to-be has struck out 23 batters and only allowed two hits for extra bases, both of which were just doubles.
In the West Coast League, Nyquist and future Zag Jake Vieth earned a spot on the WCL North team. Nyquist is hitting .260 for Walla Walla this summer while adding a .367
Joining Brooks with Menlo Park, Justin Jacobs has put up solid numbers in the Golden State, hitting .287 with 27 hits, 18 walks, and 14 RBIs. He's reaching base at a .405 clip. Meanwhile, in Alaska, Daniel Bies has a 1-0 record with a 2.45 ERA. The rising sophomore has fanned 14 batters in nine innings of work. Hunter Wells also joined Bies and Mills on the Anchorage Bucs, starting four games before signing a pro contract with the Miami Marlins.
A majority of Bulldogs are playing in the WCL with eight current and eight future Zags staying in the Northwest for the summer. Jace VanDeBrake's .292 batting average tops all GU players in the league, but Jordan Rathbone leads the way with 34 hits. Incoming freshman Gunnar Schubert has also had a solid summer, hitting .260 with 25 hits, seven extra-base hits, and 13 RBIs for the Bellingham Bells. On the mound, Justin Blatner has a 3-1 record in starts, posting a 2.78 ERA while Sam Hellinger has a 0.00 ERA through 17.2 innings. The Seattle native allowed just two unearned runs in 12 appearances, saving six games in the process in Bellingham.
As the only Zag playing summer ball out of the country, Daniel Fredrickson is hitting .319 with 29 hits and 26 runs scored for the Okotoks Dawgs of Canada's Western Major Baseball League. The Dawgs call Okotoks, Alberta, home and are currently a half-game back of the WMBL's Western Conference lead.
For the most up-to-date information on Gonzaga baseball, visit www.GoZags.com or follow the team on Twitter at @GonzagaBaseball.
| Alaska Baseball League | |
| Daniel Bies | Anchorage Bucs | Stats |
| Wyatt Mills | Anchorage Bucs | Stats |
| Justin Vernia | Mat-Su Miners | Stats |
| California Collegiate League | |
| Nick Brooks | Menlo Park Legends | Stats |
| Justin Jacobs | Menlo Park Legends | Stats |
| Cape Cod League | |
| Calvin LeBrun | Orleans Firebirds | Stats |
| Eli Morgan | Orleans Firebirds | Stats |
| Northwest Collegiate Baseball League - Portland | |
| Jack Krauel | Portland Stars |
| Northwoods League | |
| Jake Roberts | Mankato MoonDogs | Stats |
| Western Major Baseball League | |
| Daniel Fredrickson | Okotoks Dawgs | Stats |
