NSU Sharks News
NSU BASEBALL PLAYERS SCATTER AROUND THE NATION AND THE GLOBE FOR SUMMER BALL
In Addition to Success of Current Players, Knights Announce Initial Signings for 2004 Season Ft. Lauderdale, FL (June 20, 2003) - Several Nova Southeastern University baseball stars have taken their games to various summer leagues following their successful 2003 campaign at NSU. While current Knights continue to play elsewhere, NSU Baseball announced its initial signings for the 2004 season.
Kyle Ruwe (Jr., Sunrise, FL), Vince Vazquez (Miramar, FL), Steve Smith (Jr., Coral Springs, FL), Jason Sullivan (Coral Springs, FL) and Derek Lopez (Jr., Pembroke Pines, FL) have continued their success during the summer, as each have taken their talents to various independent leagues around the country.
Ruwe, the first-ever NSU athlete to be named an NCAA All-American during the 2003 baseball season has posted a 1-1 record with a 0.68 ERA and 21 K's in three starts for the Peninsula Pilots of the Coastal Plain League. In addition to his All-American honors, Ruwe was named 2003 American Baseball Coaches Association/RAWLINGS Division II All-South Region "Pitcher of the Year" after finishing the year with the second most victories (13-2) in NCAA Division II.
Joining Ruwe on the Peninsula Pilots squad is Knights catcher Steve Smith who has started each of the Pilots 14 games this year. The junior-to-be is batting .114 with 1 RBI and 1 run scored.
Lopez is playing his summer ball with the Lexington Blue Sox of the Intercity League in Lexington, MA. After seven games, the Knights outfielder is batting .278 (5-for-18) with 1 RBI and leads the team with 6 runs scored. Lopez has also stolen three bases for the Blue Sox.
Vazquez earned his first professional save in his first-ever appearance for the Richmond Roosters of the Frontier League, allowing just one hit and striking out one batter in 1 1/3 innings of work. Richmond is a perennial power in the Frontier League, having won back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002 and currently holds a 12-9 record in 2003.
As of June 19, Sullivan was batting .214 (3-for-14) with 2 runs scored in four games played for the Lincoln Saltdogs in the Northern League. Lincoln is currently second in the Western Division with a 14-12 mark.
In addition to Knights players continuing their successes in the United States, pitcher Joe Norrito (Sr., Pembroke Pines, FL) is playing for the second consecutive summer in Italy while recently graduated seniors Richie Gasbarro (Cooper City, FL) and Freddie Pagan (Miramar, FL) along with juniors-to-be Mike Pellerito (Coral Springs, FL) and Jeff Rodriguez (Hialeah, FL) will be playing on a select team of collegiate baseball players traveling to Italy later in the summer.
Following are the web-site links for the NSU players' summer-league teams:
NSU Baseball also announced its initial signings for the 2004 season this week, as four players were added to a Knights team that finished 2003 ranked #26 in the nation with a 30-15 record. Three of the four new players are transfers from local community colleges with one true freshman joining the Knights.
Alex Froloff
Junior, Outfielder, Bats: Switch, Throws: Right
5'10", 175, Coral Springs, FL
High School: JP Taravella High School
College: Broward Community College
Greg Burrows
Junior, Infielder, Bats: Right, Throws: Right
5'10", 180, Nassau, Bahamas
High School: American Heritage Delray
College: Palm Beach Community College
Geron Sands
Junior, Infielder, Bats: Right, Throws: Right
5'9", 175, Nassau, Bahamas
High School: American Heritage Delray
College: Palm Beach Community College
Chris Reynolds
Freshman, LHP/Outfielder, Bats: Left, Throws: Left
5'11", 175, Pembroke Pines, FL
High School: Western High School
