Long Leads List of Impressive Rebird Summer Relievers

July 14, 2008

NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State pitcher Ken Long's debut with the Allegany County Nitros in the New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL) is one the redshirt-freshman won't forget - for all the wrong reasons. Long served up four hits on opening night - a triple, two singles and a home run - and walked a batter before recording his first out in a 20-9 loss to the Niagara Power June 6.

Since facing those first five batters, Long has been one of the best relievers in the NYCBL, giving up just one earned run in his last 12.1 innings (0.74 ERA) with a 13-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Long, who was diagnosed with a pinched nerve after his debut and went 23 days before his next outing, turned in his best performance of the season Sunday. In a 10-2 win over the Bolivar A's, Long struck out seven in six innings of shutout relief.

"(The opener) was my first time going against live hitting in a long time, and afterwards I found out that I had a pinched nerve," Long said. "I'm back to doing what I used to do. The only pitch I could throw strikes with was my fastball, and if I can't throw my off-speed for strikes, I'm in trouble. Lately, I've been able to do that."

Long, who has lowered his earned run average from 27.00 to 3.65 after five appearances, is one of a number of Illinois State baseball players competing in summer leagues across the country and working to improve their skills for next season.

Long's return to form has boosted the Nitros, who are 14-12 and in third place in the NYCBL West Division. He admits the layoffs, while redshirting in 2008 and while recovering from his recent injury, have been tough, but hopes to provide a similar boost to the Redbirds next season.

"I've gained my confidence back," Long said. "I know I can play with the guys at this level. I just want to get back in the game and get back throwing. I'm excited to help out the team (at Illinois State). This year is going to be great. I have a feeling we're going to be pretty good."

Long isn't the only Rebird pitcher dominating hitters in a relief role. Jake Wielebnicki has picked up three wins in seven relief appearances for the Grand Lake Mariners in the Great Lakes Collegiate League, including a win in extra innings over Lake Erie on Thursday. Wielebnicki's 3.27 ERA is fourth among Grand Lake pitchers with more than 10 innings.

Corey Maines continues to baffle hitters in the Central Illinois Collegiate Baseball League (CICBL) and has pitched 13.2 innings without surrendering an earned run. Maines is 0-1 with a save in nine appearances and is second on the Dubois County Bombers with 20 strikeouts and just three walks. Maines, who was a two-way player for the Redbirds as a freshman in 2008, has started 10 games in the field for the Bombers and is batting .154 with a pair of runs batted in.

Quinn Ewert dropped his ERA to 2.70 after pitching a scoreless inning last week for the Bethesda Big Train in the Cal Ripken Senior Collegiate Baseball League. Ewert has eight strikeouts and two walks in 10 innings as a reliever, and has contributed to two shutouts.

Redbird Baseball Players in Summer Leagues