Summer Baseball Update: Rave a Hit for Rivets

NORMAL, Ill. – John Rave went hitless in his first two games in the Northwoods League this summer. Since then, it's been a different story.

Rave has been red hot as a member of the Rockford Rivets, playing to a .382/.469/.491 batting line, thanks to an active 11-game hitting streak.

The Redbird rising sophomore, who earned Freshman All-America laurels from Collegiate Baseball newspaper earlier this month, has eight multi-hit games so far this summer. He homered in a 7-3 win over Fon du Lac on June 10. He has three stolen bases, six runs scored and seven RBIs. He's walked eight times, including a stretch of six-straight games with at least one walk.

An All-MVC Honorable Mention and MVC All-Defensive Team selection in 2017, Rave has also played perfect defense as an everyday outfielder.

Rave is one of several Redbirds currently playing in summer collegiate leagues. Others include (listed alphabetically):

Jeffrey Barton | Northwoods League | Rockford Rivets

• Currently 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA in two starts, spanning 10 innings.
• Picked up the win with five innings of two-run ball June 2 against Wisconsin.

Jack Bellinger | Ohio Valley League | Madisonville Miners

• Appeared in one game in a relief role to date.
• Struck out one and needed just nine pitches to retire the side in the inning of work.

Jack Butler | Midwest Collegiate League | Bloomington Bobcats

• Slashing .448/.484/.586 with 13 hits in seven games to date.
• Went 3-for-5 with a home run at Southland May 31.

Joe Butler | Prospect League | Springfield Sliders

• Hitting .255/.340/.277 in 12 games in the Prospect League.
• Went 2-for-5 with two stolen bases and a run scored vs. Terre Haute June 10.

Collin Braithwaite | Northwoods League | Fon du Lac Dock Spiders

• Hitting .308/.426/.385 with three doubles and seven runs in 11 games in the Northwoods League.
• Registered five multi-hit games in his first 11 appearances for Fon du Lac.

Jacob Gilmore | Prospect League | Bancroft Bandits

• Has made one relief appearance for Bancroft, tossing a scoreless inning.
• Threw 14 of 22 pitches for strikes in lone outing to date.

Ryan Hutchinson | Northwoods League | Rockford Rivets

• Owns a .250/.432/.344 batting line in 10 games so far in the Northwoods League.
• Leads his team in walks (9) and stolen bases (7).

Jordan Libman | Ohio Valley League | DuBois County Bombers

• Slashing .217/.250/.391 in five games in the Ohio Valley League.
• Three of five hits (in 23 at-bats) have gone for extra bases.

Jeff Lindgren | Bismarck Larks | Northwoods League

• Made five scoreless appearances, with six strikeouts and no walks, over five innings on the mound.
• Pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up a save June 8 vs. Willmar.

Anthony Sanchez | Ohio Valley League | DuBois County Bombers

• Hitting .312/.562/.560 in six games at Dubois County.
• Has tallied four doubles and driven in three runs to date in the Ohio Valley League.

Noah Sadler | Bismarck Larks | Northwoods League

• Hitting .319/.468/.468 with eight RBIs and 10 runs scored in 14 games in the Northwoods League.
• Went 2-for-3 with a double, walk and a run scored in a 4-3 win over Willmar June 8.

Jack Spicer | Prospect League | Bancroft Bandits

• Made two appearances spanning four innings on the mound in the Prospect League.
• Has posted seven strikeouts against three walks to date.

Michael Sebby | Ohio Valley League | Madisonville Miners

• Fanned nine in 3.2 innings, with a 9.82 ERA so far this summer.  
• Struck out the side and earned a save with a perfect ninth inning June 3 vs. Paducah.

Mitch Vogrin | Northwoods League | Madison Mallards

• Currently 0-1 with a 17.18 ERA in two starts, spanning 3.2 innings.
• Struck out four over three innings in his first start of the summer June 2 vs. Lakeshore.

Nick Zouras | Northwoods League | Kenosha Kingfish

• Slashing .361/.425/.389 with 13 hits in nine games in the Northwoods League.
• Went 3-for-3 with a double, stolen base and three runs scored in a 4-2 over Battle Creek June 13.

Note: Only those currently playing in summer leagues, with updated stats posted on his team's website, are included in this report. Other current Redbird players have already finished or not yet started their summer campaigns, or do not have updated stats posted, are not included.

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