Aug. 19, 2010
SUMMER HONORS: Herring (June 29) | Montesions (July 12) | Steranka (July 15) | Franklin (July 30)
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - An impressive summer of baseball recently wrapped up for Nittany Lions participating in NCAA sanctioned summer leagues around the nation. Penn State players won league championships, were named to All-Star teams, named league Pitcher of the Week and more.
Sophomore Neal Herring (West Chester, Pa.) and junior Mike Franklin (Harleysville, Pa.) each capped off an impressive summer by winning their respective league's championship. Herring and his Luray Wranglers won the Valley League while Franklin and his Hamilton Joes were champions of the Great Lakes League. Sophomore Steve Snyder (West Chester, Pa.) began with the Wranglers as well.
Herring and Franklin were both named their league's pitcher of the week this summer - Herring in late June and Franklin in late July.
Another standout was junior third baseman Jordan Steranka (Pittsburgh, Pa.). Named a Northwoods League All-Star, he finished with a .290 average along with three home runs and a team-leading 33 RBI. He by far led the squad in games (68) and at-bats (262) while also racking up 17 doubles and three triples.
Junior Sean Deegan (Readington, N.J.) also competed in the Northwoods League, leading the Battle Creek Bombers with 73 runs scored and 19 doubles. He hit .299 with a home run and team-leading 15 stolen bases.
Also making his respective league's All-Star team was sophomore Luis Montesinos (Miami, Fla.). He finished the summer with a .291 average with one home run and seven RBI in 21 games.
Senior pitcher Mike Pierce (State College, Pa.) impressed with a 2.35 ERA, allowing only four earned runs in 15.1 innings for the Carolina Stingers of the Southern Collegiate League. He went 1-1 with two saves and was heavily considered for an All-Star appearance.
Other Penn State players who participated in leagues at some point this summer were Joey DeBernardis (Lake Zurich, Ill.), Mario Eramo (Houston, Texas), Michael Glantz, Bobby Jacobs (Marietta, Ga.), Heath Johnson (Alamagordo, N.M.), Elliot Searer (Lewistown, Pa.) and John Walter (Haddonfield, N.J.).
Baseball camp information is now available. Call the Sports Camp Office at (814) 865-0561 or email them at SportCampInfo@outreach.psu.edu for more information.
Follow Penn State baseball on Twitter: www.twitter.com/psubaseball.
For a complete list of those participating, please see below.
Florida Collegiate League
Luis Montesinos - Orlando Mavericks
Great Lakes League
Mike Franklin - Hamilton Joes
Elliot Searer - Lake Erie Monarchs
New England Collegiate League
Mario Eramo - Vermont Mountaineers
Northwoods League
Sean Deegan - Battle Creek Bombers
Bobby Jacobs - Mankato Moondogs
Jordan Steranka - Mankato Moondogs
Prospect League
Joey DeBernardis - DeKalb County Liners
Southern Collegiate League
Mike Pierce - Carolina Stingers
Sunbelt League
Michael Glantz - Home Plate Chukars
Texas Collegiate League
Heath Johnson - North Texas Copperheads
John Walter - East Texas Pump Jacks
Valley League
Neal Herring - Luray Wranglers
Steve Snyder - Luray Wranglers