August 22, 2006

NIU's 2006 Summer League Wrapup

P Dan Atkenson (Orland Park, Ill. / Sandburg) - Posted three victories in six appearances with four starts and one complete game for the Crestwood Panthers of the Chicago Suburban Baseball League.

P Mark Badgley (McHenry, Ill. / McHenry) - Recorded eights saves and one victory in 13 appearances for the Crystal Lake Cardinals of the Chicago Suburban Baseball League ... Posted 2.33 ERA and struck out 25 in 15.0 innings of work ... Appeared in Continental Amateur Baseball Association World Series.

C Matt Behren (Elmwood Park, Ill. / Holy Cross) - Played for the Chicago Knights of the Chicago Suburban Baseball League ... Appeared in Continental Amateur Baseball Association World Series for Crystal Lake team.

2B Marc Besteman (Bradford, Ontario / North Central C.C.) - Hit .292 with 42 hits, 28 runs scored, 25 RBI and seven stolen bases for the Medicine Hat (Alberta) Mavericks of the Western Major Baseball League ... Totaled six doubles, two triples, one home run and had six sacrifice hits on the season ... Helped lead team to league's championship series and collected five RBI and had six sacrifice hits in six postseason games.

P Brandon Copp (Aurora, Ill. / West) - Became first NIU player to play in the Cape Cod League by joining the Falmouth Commodores in mid-July ... Made seven appearances on the Cape and struck out seven in 12.0 innings while posting a 2.25 ERA ... Started summer with the Crystal Lake Cardinals of the Chicago Suburban Baseball League and went 3-0 with 1.59 ERA in three starts ... Tossed a perfect game while striking out 15 on June 16.

P Andy Deain (Crystal Lake, Ill. / Prairie Ridge) - Posted 1-0 record with team-best 1.69 ERA and 16 relief appearances while recording one save for the Granville Settlers of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League ... Worked 21.1 innings, allowing 14 hits and fanning 20 against just seven walks while holding opponents to team-low .182 batting average and four earned runs.

P Trevor Feeney (Channahon, Ill. / Joliet Catholic) - Honored with Central Illinois Collegiate League Second Half Pitcher Award for champion Twin City Stars ... Totaled two wins and one save with 0.86 ERA, a full run better than second place, during second-half of season ... Pitched 21.0 innings during stretch, allowing just one extra-base hit and five walks while fanning 19 ... Posted three wins and two saves along with 3.38 ERA in 12 appearances on season and added 40 strikeouts in 40.0 innings and while yielding 31 hits ... Named CICL Player of the Week for July 30 after winning two starts and fanning 15 while allowing just one earned in 14 innings during stretch.

P Matt German (Aurora, Ill. / Marmion Academy) - Earned the Fireman of the Year award in Central Illinois Collegiate League while pitching for the Quincy Stars ... Saved nine games and had one victory with 0.73 ERA in 22 appearances ... Pitched 24.2 innings, allowing just two earned runs and fanning 28 while factoring in all 10 of team's wins ... Named to CICL All-Star Game and earned save with scoreless ninth to close out contest.

P Matt Jernstad (Oswego, Ill. / Oswego) - Pitched for the DuPage Dragons of the Central Illinois Collegiate League ... Made six appearances and had one victory while fanning 10 in 12.1 innings during CICL stint ... Started summer with the Oswego Cats of the Chicago Suburban Baseball League.

OF Daniel Jewett (West Frankfort, Ill. / Rend Lake C.C.) - Played for the Wheaton White Sox of the Metro Collegiate League.

IF Tim Kamin (Oak Lawn, Ill. / Richards) - Played for the Chicago Wildcats of the Chicago Suburban Baseball League.

OF/P Brett Kellam (Chicago, Ill. / Scottsdale C.C.) - Hit .310 with six doubles and nine RBI for the Alexandria Beetles of the Northwoods League ... Made nine appearances on the mound and earned one victory while totaling 19.2 innings with nine strikeouts.

OF Pat Minogue (Crystal Lake, Ill. / Central) - Collected 40 hits, including 10 doubles, and stole 10 bases for the Quincy Gems of the Central Illinois Collegiate League ... Named to CICL All-Star Game and had double and run scored in contest ... Named CICL's initial Player of the Week on June 18 ... Had five hits in June 13 game.

P Dave Nykiel (Tinley Park, Ill. / Andrew) - Went 2-2 with 4.02 ERA in 11 appearances, making seven starts with one save while totaling 40.1 innings and striking 31 during the season ... Earned league's Pitcher of the Week honors on June 24.

3B Jesse Seykora (Owatonna, Minn. / North Iowa Area C.C.) - Belted four home runs with 14 RBI on 38 hits for the Quincy Gems of the Central Illinois Collegiate League.

1B Scott Simon (Algonquin, Ill. / Marian Central Catholic) - Shared Mike Schmidt MVP Award as top player in Central Illinois Collegiate League while playing for the Quincy Stars ... Led CICL with .337 batting average, 63 hits and 98 total bases ... Ranked second in doubles (15), third in home runs (three), fourth in slugging (.524) and RBI (28) and fifth in runs (33) while totaling 20 multi-hit games and a 12-game hit streak ... Named to CICL All-Star team and went 2-for-4 with double and scored the game's deciding run ... Garnered league's first-half player award by standing in first-place tie in four offensive categories (RBI, hits, doubles, and total bases) at season's midpoint ... Named league's first Player of the Week on June 18.

P Dan Skelly (Elmwood Park, Ill. / St. Joseph's) - Played for the Chicago Wildcats of the Chicago Suburban League ... Had one win and 2.66 ERA while completing three starts and striking out 29 in 29 innings of work.

P/OF Brian Smith (Chicago Ridge, Ill. / Richards) - Posted three wins and 2.87 ERA in 12 games with 10 starts and one complete for the Madison Mallards of the Northwoods League ... Totaled 59.2 innings of work for the season and issued just seven walks while fanning 36 ... Named to league's midseason all-star game.

SS Bobby Stevens (Chicago, Ill. / Guerin Prep) - Named Central Illinois Collegiate League Tournament MVP after leading Twin City Stars to championship and belting the game winning home run in the title game ... Led tournament with six runs scored and was second with eight hits while hitting a team-best .381 with a .619 slugging percentage in postseason ... Paced league with 39 runs scored, ranked second with 57 hits and third with a .326 average during the season to go along with three home runs and 26 RBI ... Named to CICL All-Star game and delivered RBI single in contest.