Tweet

BLACKSBURG, Va. – With the school year beginning and the Hokies starting fall baseball, it’s a good time to look back on how the returning players, who played during the summer, fared in their respective leagues.

Below (in alphabetical order) is the list of Virginia Tech baseball players that saw action this summer and their numbers. And a few even reflected on their experiences, which are highlighted by six Hokies identified as "Top Prospects" and one earning All-American recognition.

Jake Atwell – Started 23 of 27 games played for the Peninsula Pilots of the Coastal Plain League … Batted .258 with 24 hits (seven doubles), 17 runs and four RBI … Drew five walks and stole four bases … Also, pitched in 15 games, all in relief … Struck out 20 batters in 17.1 innings and posted a 5.71 ERA.

Devin Burke – Appeared in 17 games, all in relief, for the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod League, who won the league championship … Struck out 27 batters in 27.1 innings pitched and posted a 5.93 ERA … In nine games, threw at least one inning and did not allow an earned run.

“Getting back on the mound was a huge step for me,” Burke, who redshirted the 2011 spring season as a transfer from Duke, said. “I got a chance to shake off the rust and begin feeling a competitive atmosphere again.

“There is nothing like the Cape. It is a culmination of the nation's best talents and provides very good competition that can only help players improve every single one of their skills.”

Eddie Campbell – Appeared in 11 regular season, with one start, and two postseason games for the Newport Gulls of the New England League … Overall, posted a 2-1 record with two saves and a 1.30 ERA … Struck out 24 batters in 27.2 innings pitched … In 10 of his games, threw at least one inning and did not allow a run.

“Playing for the Newport Gulls this summer has given me the best summer baseball experience of my life,” Campbell said. “Not only was I given a great experience on the field, but off the field as well.

“The Gulls organization prides themselves in gathering a great group of guys from all over the country to be on this team which allowed for great team chemistry. This summer allowed me to improve my skills on the baseball field as well as make new friends and form a bond with my host family that will last forever.”

Scotty Donley – Appeared in 44 games for the DeKalb County Liners of the Prospect League … Batted .301 (second on the team) with 47 hits (nine doubles, one triple, three home runs), 17 runs and 23 RBI … Also drew 13 walks and stole three bases.

Ricky Hodges – Appeared in 15 games, all in relief, for the Mystic Schooners of the New England League … Overall, posted an 0-1 record with a team-high six saves (seventh in the league) and a 3.86 ERA … Struck out 17 batters in 21.0 innings pitched … Against all teams, except Danbury, had an 1.04 ERA.

“Redshirting in the spring due to injury was hard because I love to compete and not being able to do so was very hard mentally,” Hodges said. “Getting back to health was great and it was even better to get back to facing live hitters.

“It really wasn’t hard for me to get back in the mind set of facing hitters it just came naturally. I remember my first time back on the mound this summer it felt amazing. I think what I can take from my summer ball experience to the spring is have fun and really enjoy the fact of playing baseball.

“Summer ball brought back the fun of baseball and I really want to carry that into the spring also pitching wise. I learned that attacking hitters and facing a batter with the mindset of ‘I’m getting you out’ really goes a long way.”

Tyler Horan – Appeared in 38 games, and three in the postseason, for the Danbury Westerners of the New England League … Batted .341 (sixth in the league) with 44 hits (seven doubles, 11 home runs), 26 runs and 35 RBI … Led the league in home runs – also tying the team single-season record – and RBI … Also drew seven walks and stole four bases … Drew a pair of walks, had a hit, stolen base, RBI and a run scored in the playoffs … Was named to the league’s first team as an outfielder and was also a Perfect Game USA Summer Collegiate All-American, second team … Was also was named the No. 6 prospect in the league by Perfect Game USA and No. 10 by Baseball America.

“I would have to say that getting the consistent playing time in the summer allowed me to get into a great grove instead of sporadic playing time during the season,” Horan said. “I was able to get completely locked in to playing everyday.

“And being named an All-American is easily the best honor I have received and it feels great to know that all of my hard work over the past years and over summer paid off.”

Jake Joyce – Appeared in 15 games for the Covington Lumberjacks of the Valley League, six as the starting pitcher … Threw 33.1 innings and struck out 29 batters, while posting a 2-2 record.

Clark Labitan – Appeared in nine games for the Covington Lumberjacks of the Valley League, all out of the pen … Posted a 1.68 ERA in 10.2 innings and struck out 10 batters … In seven outings, did not allow an earned run.

Zac MacAneney – Started 33 of 36 games played for the Peninsula Pilots of the Coastal Plain League … Batted .232 with 32 hits (three doubles, one triple, one home run), 18 runs and 15 RBI … Drew 15 walks and stole a team-high 16 bases … Also, pitched two innings on the mound, allowing one hit and striking out two.

Joe Mantiply – Limited to just three starts and threw a total of 12.2 innings for the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod League, who won the league championship … Had a 1-1 record and struck out 16 batters – at least four in each start – and posted a 2.84 ERA … Despite short time, was named the No. 45 prospect in the league by Perfect Game USA.

“I pitched over 80 innings during the season, so I didn't want to over extend myself this summer,” Mantiply said. “So, I just pitched in a couple games because I wanted to experience playing in the Cape. That's a great league and those are the best guys playing in the summer and it was fun to pitch against them, even it if was only three games.”

Johnny Morales – Started in all 29 games played for the OC Pioneers of the California Summer League, mostly at shortstop … Batted .222 with 26 hits (two doubles, one triple, one home run), 17 runs and eight RBI … Also drew 13 walks and stole seven bases … Was selected to play in the league’s all-star game … Also, earned a gold glove award for his performance this summer.

Chad Morgan – Appeared in 36 games, and three in the postseason, for the Danbury Westerners of the New England League … Batted .300 with 36 hits (11 doubles, one triple, one home run), 13 runs and 22 RBI … Also drew seven walks and stole four bases … Hit a home run and a double in the playoffs, while adding three runs and three RBI … After the season, was named the No. 34 prospect in the league by Perfect Game USA.

Colin O’Keefe – Appeared in seven games, all starts, for the Mystic Schooners of the New England League … Struck out 16 batters in 25.0 innings pitched.

Gabe Ortiz – Played in 37 of 42 games played for the Mystic Schooners of the New England League … Batted .242 with 32 hits (seven double, four home runs), 16 runs and 22 RBI … Drew 10 walks and stole five bases.

Chad Pinder – Played in 21 of 23 games played for the Peninsula Pilots of the Coastal Plain League … Batted .263 with 20 hits (three double, three triples, one home run), 20 runs and nine RBI … Drew 14 walks and stole four bases … Selected to play in the league’s all-star game … After the season, was named the No. 7 prospect in the league by Perfect Game USA.

Andrew Rash – Limited to just 14 games for the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod League, who won the league championship … Batted .196 with 10 hits (two doubles, one home run), two runs and six RBI and stole one base … After the season, was named the No. 65 prospect in the league by Perfect Game USA … Also, competed in the TD Ameritrade Home Run Derby.

Patrick Scoggin – Appeared in 22 games for the Peninsula Pilots of the Coastal Plain League and started three times … Notched a 1-1 record with a save … Struck out 46 batters, second-most on the team, in 38.1 innings pitched and posted a 3.76 ERA ... After the season, was named the No. 6 prospect in the league by Perfect Game USA.

“Peninsula was an unbelievable organization and I had an amazing time playing there,” Scoggin said.

Kyle Wernicki – Started 23 games (30 total) during the season and two in the postseason, mostly in right field, for the Jersey Pilots – the regular season champions – of the Atlantic League … Batted .293 with 27 hits (six doubles, two triples), 15 runs and 17 RBI … Also drew seven walks and stole six bases … In the playoffs, had two hits with an RBI, a run and two stolen bases.

For updates on Virginia Tech baseball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Baseball).