Heading into the final full week of April, we continue to keep tabs on our alums from the collegiate level to the pro level. We’re a month out from postseason play in college, and players are in clear mid-season form. We’ll see some impressive statlines and dramatic endings in this alumni roundup, so let’s get to it.
Alum of the Week
We’re tapping into the DIII ranks for our Alum of the Week. Colin Husko (Dubuque) is following up a great freshman season with a stellar sophomore campaign. This past week against Coe College and Nebraska Wesleyan, Husko went 10-for-17. That’s good for a .588 average across four games, which included a double and a triple. He stole four bases on the weekend and recorded a HBP in each game against Neb. Wesleyan. Husko is hitting .411 on the year and is among the DIII leaders in hits.
ŸšSPARTANS WINŸš
— University of Dubuque Baseball (@UD__Baseball) April 20, 2024
HUSKO - 3-3 2B BB HBP
CEKANDER - 2-4 1 RBI HBP 2 R's pic.twitter.com/diLWj7zyNm
Husko is a 2022 high school grad from Wauconda. He joined the Dubuque team in the fall of 2022 and had a standout 2023 season. He was named the conference player of the year in his freshman season. He became the first player in Dubuque’s history to earn a major award on the all-conference team. He also earned a D3baseball.com All-Region IX Second Team honor and an ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III Region IX All-Region Third Team mention.
Notable Performances
Colin Summerhill (NIU) set the single-season homerun record for the Huskies hitting his 16th homer against Kent State Friday evening. In an interview with NIU head coach Ryan Copeland, he had this to say of Summerhill, “Colin has been outstanding of late and understands who he is as a hitter. When he forces pitchers to get him out inside the strike zone, he’s on the barrel a lot. When you’re doing that you’re hitting the ball harder. It’s an outstanding accomplishment and a testament to his hard work in his career.”
Summerhill had this to say after the game, “It was something I was looking forward to all week to get an opportunity to break the record. I’m happy to get it done. I wish it could have been a little more dramatic, but we have to play better. I’ve made some adjustments and seeing the ball better, hopefully that carries over to tomorrow.”
He followed up his record-breaking evening by hitting another homer in the series finale on Sunday. As a whole, Summerhill had five hits and four RBI in the series. Despite the series loss, it will be a weekend to remember.
Colin Summerhill leads off the 7th with his 16th HR of the season! He is now the NIU Baseball single-season HR record holder! pic.twitter.com/dFYOUS7caD
— NIU Baseball (@NIU_Baseball) April 19, 2024
Daniel Pacella (Illinois State) put on quite the show this weekend for the Redbirds. On Friday, April 19, Pacella stunned the Indiana State Sycamores by belting a walk-off homer. Pacella took a 1-2 hanger to right center to seal a 4-3 final. A day after, Pacella drew more attention after a webgem he made in the outfield, which you can watch below.
Adding to his highlight reel Ÿ @danielpacella1 pic.twitter.com/RzbEnk2r5y
— Illinois State Baseball (@RedbirdBaseball) April 20, 2024
Brendan Summerhill (Arizona) capped off a nine-hit week with a trio of knocks on Sunday. In that 3-for-4 showing on Sunday, Summerhill and the Wildcats secured a sweep of Washington State. Summerhill homered twice last week bringing his season total to six. He’s upped his average to .366. He’s been instrumental in the Wildcats recent surge. Arizona has won 14 of 15 dating back to March 28.
Put a dent in the the natty banners! Ÿ’ pic.twitter.com/ooPOFj2CpP
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) April 21, 2024
Mack Whitcomb (Tennessee Tech) went 2-for-4 in a midweek game against Middle Tennessee. He homered and drove in two in the matchup. Overall, he has three homers on the year and has driven in 13 in his freshman campaign.
Peyton Olejnik (Miami (OH)) got the ball for the Redhawks in a Saturday matchup against Toledo. Earning the win, Olejnik threw six innings of one-run, three-hit ball. He K’d six in the outing and improved his record to 6-1 on the year.
Foot on the gas ŸŽ#RiseUpRedHawks | #LoveAndHonor pic.twitter.com/NlVGOVmekn
— Miami Baseball (@MiamiOHBaseball) April 20, 2024
Hunter Mink (South Florida) threw well on Friday night for the Bulls despite a loss. He threw six innings and allowed six hits and two earned. He K’d 10 in the outing which is his career-high. The Bulls dropped the game to Rice by a score of 13-4 but Mink put together another solid performance in his six innings of work.
Blake Wright (Clemson) had six knocks across four games last week, starting with a midweek against Charlotte. His most impactful game came against Pittsburgh in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday. Wright went 3-for-5 with a homer and a double. He knocked in a run in a 9-2 victory. The Tigers now sit at 32-7 overall and 13-5 in the ACC. They face Georgia and Louisville this week, both on the road.
The Tiger Trio! 3ƒ Ÿ’@BlakeWr86324186 @willtaylor_10 @jobertop_4
— Clemson Baseball (@ClemsonBaseball) April 21, 2024
With 3ƒ Jimmy Obertop home runs yesterday, it is the first time in #Clemson history that 3ƒ Tigers have hit 3ƒ homers in a game in one season. Ÿ’ Ÿ‘ pic.twitter.com/mL6MpdsD9n
Jackson Kent (Arizona) continued his Friday night dominance against Washington State. He threw six innings, allowing two runs. He struck out five in his outing. The Cats went on to win 8-7 and, as mentioned above, swept Washington State.
Seventh quality start in 10 starts from our ace Ÿ
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) April 20, 2024
Kent's line: 6.0 IP, 2 R, 5 K Ÿ‘ pic.twitter.com/Xv4xTNAEp7
Lucas Spence (SIUE) hopped on the mound against Blackburn on Wednesday, April 17 and threw an inning. He K’d two in an 11-pitch outing and a 14-1 Cougars win. At the plate, he had five hits last week and drove in four. The Cougars won three of four dropping one to Western Illinois on Sunday. Spence is hitting .397 on the season.
Pro Alums
Jack Mahoney (Fresno Grizzlies), a third round pick for the Rockies in 2023, earned himself the California League Pitcher of the Week award. Mahoney threw six innings of two-hit baseball and struck out five last Friday. He’s tossed a total of 16 innings this season and has struck out a hitter per inning – he’s only allowed three runs to cross thus far.
Congratulations to @jmahoney_17 on being named California League Pitcher of the Week! Mahoney stymied Stockton in a shutout win Friday. Read more here: https://t.co/r4kJ5KsnBI pic.twitter.com/ghLnjnLjUf
— Fresno Grizzlies (@FresnoGrizzlies) April 22, 2024
Aidan Miller (Clearwater Threshers) had four hits on Wednesday, April 17. This is his first four-hit game of his professional career. Thus far, Miller is hitting .318 with two homers and nine RBI.
Phillies 2023 first round pick Aidan Miller delivers four hits today!
— The Call Up | An MLB Prospect Podcast (@The_CallUpPod) April 17, 2024
He’s catching fire in the last weekŸ‘€ pic.twitter.com/v4qJR1O2sp