July 5, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. -
While most college students spend their summers working part time jobs and taking summer classes, members of the Illinois State baseball team have been hard at work improving their games by competing in various summer leagues across the country. Senior Kyle Cherney and juniors Kevin Dubler, Jim Sajewich and Dan Sorce have all shown signs of improvement and hope to carry the momentum gained into a successful 2008 campaign.
Cherney, a member of the Liberal (Kan.) Beejays of the Jayhawk Baseball League, has hit .280 in a team-high 25 at-bats this summer with seven hits and five RBI. The Crystal Lake, Ill., native has shown an ability to thrive in clutch situations, as he drove home the winning run in the first game of the Beejays' doubleheader sweep of the Joplin Slashers on June 17. The Beejays rallied to win the first game, 9-8, on Cherney's RBI single after trailing the Slashers, 5-2 and 8-6. Spurred from the momentum gained from by the first game's come-from-behind victory, Liberal crushed the Slashers, 15-0.
The Beejays currently sit in fifth place (11-9) in the Jayhawk League, which is comprised of teams based out of Kansas and Missouri.
Playing for the Falmouth (Mass.) Commodores of the highly-regarded Cape Cod League, Dubler has been one of the most consistent batters in the Commodores' lineup. The Downers Grove, Ill., native, along with Washington's Matt Hague, have produced clutch hits and have combined for 13 RBI. In 59 at-bats, Dubler is hitting .203 with 12 hits, one double, one home run and four RBI. The junior-to-be has also drawn 10 walks and swiped two bases.
While Dubler, who has seen time behind the plate and in the outfield, has been a key part to Falmouth's offense, the Commodores have struggled to drive in runs as a team and are currently in fifth place in the West Division (6-11).
Sajewich and Sorce, both relief pitchers, are both members of the Madison (Wis.) Mallards of the Northwoods League. Sajewich, a native of Wheaton, Ill., is 0-2 with a 3.97 ERA in 10 games (one start). Sajewich has struck out 18 batters, the fourth-best on the team, while giving up 10 earned runs in 22.2 innings pitched.
A product of Lyons Township High School, Sorce is also 0-2 with one save and a 5.06 ERA in 12 games. In 16.0 innings, Sorce has struck out 14 batters while giving up 14 runs (nine earned). He has also rose to the occasion this season as he pitched one inning of scoreless relief while striking out two during the Mallards' 3-2 loss to Green Bay on June 14, which was televised nationally on ESPNU.
Through 32 games, the Mallards are currently 15-17 and are in fourth place in the South Division.
Stay tuned to GoRedbirds.com, as it will continue to follow Illinois State baseball players competing in the various collegiate summer leagues throughout the summer months.
