BOONE, N.C. — Here's a closer look at how some current Appalachian State baseball players and App State alums in professional baseball are faring this summer:
CURRENT PLAYERS
By going 4-for-4 and 1-for-2 at the plate in a doubleheader on the final day of the Coastal Plain League regular season,
Kendall McGowan of the Forest City Owls won the league's regular-season batting title with a .392 average.
McGowan posted MVP-level numbers during the regular season based on where he ranked within the CPL in average, on-base percentage (first at .480), doubles (first with 20), stolen bases (third with 22), slugging percentage (third at .642), hits (third with 58) and RBIs (fifth with 36).
Forest City's roster included two more App State players, as
Bobby Hampton went 3-3 in a team-high 10 starts on the mound and
Joel McDaniel had 11 hits, 10 runs, nine RBIs and three doubles in 23 games.
The Owls faced the High Point-Thomasville HiToms in the West Division Championship round of the Petitt Cup Playoffs on Sunday, and the HiToms prolonged their season with a 16-0 win. They'll face the Savannah Bananas on Tuesday in the semifinal round.
The HiToms' roster features
Bailey Welch, who went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and one RBI in the victory Sunday. In 38 games, he's batting .291 with 41 hits, 33 runs, 10 doubles, 11 RBIs and eight steals.
Jason Cornatzer made five pitching appearances for the Wilson Tobs.
After pitching for the Lenoir Oilers and performing well at the Southern Collegiate Prospect Showcase in mid-July, App State walk-on
Joseph Lowder made the improbable jump to the prestigious Cape Cod League. He had a scoreless debut and has appeared in three games for the Chatham Anglers, who are currently participating in the playoffs. Stay tuned for more on his memorable summer.
APP STATE ALUMS
Left-handed relief pitcher Jeffrey Springs, who was recently called up by the Texas Rangers, lowered his ERA to 2.25 as he recorded one strikeout and allowed one hit in two scoreless innings Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles. He had three strikeouts in his MLB debut on July 31.
Rookie pitcher
Colin Schmid, who is with the Johnson City Cardinals of the Appalachian League, received a no-decision as he struck out six batters and gave up three runs in a professional-best seven innings Sunday. Since his debut, he has a 3.09 ERA in nine games, including five consecutive starts.
Jaylin Davis, who was a High A All-Star before getting called up to the Double A Chattanooga Lookouts of the Minnesota Twins' organization, is batting .310 with four homers, 25 RBIs, 19 runs, 10 doubles and two triples through 38 games. Through the first three games of August, he's 8-for-15 with six RBIs, as he homered twice during a 3-for-4 night Saturday.
Second-year pro
Matt Brill, who was an All-Star before getting called up to the High A Visalia Rawhide in the Arizona Diamondbacks' organization, has one win and 26 strikeouts in 17.0 innings spread over 13 appearances.
Dillon Dobson is batting .231 with two homers and 13 RBIs through 21 games with the High A San Jose Giants, as he homered on Saturday, and catcher
Chandler Seagle is hitting .214 through 14 games with the Tri-City Dust Devils of the San Diego Padres' organization. He's thrown out seven base stealers in 15 attempts.
First-year pro
Luke Watts has a 5.50 ERA with seven scoreless appearances through 12 games as a reliever for the Lake Erie Crushers of the independent Frontier League.
