Summer League Links | Panthers in the Pros

CHARLESTON, Ill. – The first Minor League Baseball victory for alumnus Josh Mueller and a complete-game shutout by returning Panther Mike Hoekstra highlighted the weekend action for players with ties to Eastern Illinois baseball.

 

Mueller worked six innings of one-run ball, limiting the Boise Hawks (Chicago Cubs affiliate) to three hits, to earn his first victory for the Tri-City Dust Devils of the Northwest League Friday (July 23). Mueller was selected in the 13th round by the Colorado Rockies of June's Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. His outing Friday was his second start and seventh appearance as a professional this summer.

 

Hoekstra has not surrendered an earned in each of his last three starts for the Lima Locos of the Great Lakes Collegiate Baseball League (of Ohio). The rising junior shutout Nick Priessman's Cincinnati Steam Sunday (July 25). He struck out six and did not issue a walk in his nine-inning complete game shutout. Hoekstra has won his last three starts to improve to 4-2 this summer for Lima. July 19, he worked seven shutout innings of one-hit ball in a victory against the Lake Erie Monarchs.

 

Hoekstra's teammate with the Lima Locos, fellow returning Panther Matt Miller, has not been charged with a run since July 1. Miller has worked seven consecutive scoreless innings of relief over his last seven appearances to lower his ERA for the summer to 2.87. He has struck out 15 in 15 2/3 innings pitched.

 

Meanwhile in the Valley League (of Virginia), Ryan Dineen enjoyed a big doubleheader Sunday (July 25) for his Covington Lumberjacks summer team. Eastern's starting second baseman in 2010 went 5-for-9, connecting for a double and a home run in the game one loss.

 

Also on the East Coast, Zach Borenstein continues to lead his Morehead City Marlins in extra-base hits (14) and RBIs (26). Morehead City is 28-17 this summer and is running away with the second half title of the Costal Plain League's South Division with a 13-4 record.

 

In the Chicago Suburban Baseball League, Dillon Roark remains the Beecher Muskies' most consistent starting pitcher. Even after a rough start in a 20-13 slugfest victory against the Crestwood Panthers July 22, Roark continues to sport a 5-0 record and 2.32 ERA.

 

Finally, back in Minor League Baseball, Tyler Kehrer earned his fourth save of the season with four innings of one-run relief. He closed out the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Los Angeles Angels affiliate) 4-1 win at the Dayton Dragons (Cincinnati Reds affiliate) July 23.

Jordan Kreke continues to start at second base for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Atlanta Braves affiliate) since his July 14 promotion to the Class A Advanced Carolina League. He has reached base safely in six of the last seven games he has played and went 3-for-5 Sunday (July 25) in a win at the Fredrick Keys (Baltimore Orioles affiliate).