July 21, 2008

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - A pair of current Southeast Missouri State University Redhawks baseball players, and one signee, are excelling in their respective summer ball leagues. Junior outfielder Nick Harris was earned the starting nod as the designated hitter for the North Division team in the 2008 New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) All-Star Game, and redshirt sophomore first baseman Louie Haseltine was named to the 2008 Kitty League All-Star Team. Meanwhile, right-handed pitcher and Redhawks signee out of Lamar Community College Kyle Gumieny earned all-star status in the South Division of the Northwoods League.

Harris, who made a midseason position change from shortstop to centerfield for Southeast, has played primarily as an infielder and designated hitter for the Vermont Mountaineers. Summer teammate of Redhawks southpaw Josh Syberg, Harris has been an offensive force in the middle of the lineup for the Mountaineers. The right-handed hitter is hitting .295 during summer competition, and he leads his team in doubles (9), triples (2), runs batted in (17), slugging percentage (.558), and his four home runs ties for the team high. Harris has also been successful in nine of his 10 stolen base attempts.

The North Division team fell 5-2 to the South Division in the 2008 NECBL All-Star Game on Sunday, July 20, but a box score was not immediately available on the NECBL website.

Haseltine, who saw limited action for the Redhawks this season after redshirting in 2007, has shined as the first baseman for the Fulton Railroaders of the Kentucky Illinois Tennessee (KIT or Kitty) Summer Collegiate Baseball League. In 34 games, Haseltine has posted a league-leading .317 batting average of all players with 135 or more plate appearances. He has raked eight doubles and four home runs, driving in 29 RBIs.

The KIT League all-star, lead by Haseltine, will play against the all-stars of the Central Illinois Collegiate League on Monday, July 21 at 6:30 p.m. Central Time at League Stadium in Huntingburg, Ind. Follow HAseltine and the KIT League vs. CICL League all-star match-up at kitleaguebaseball.com.

Gumieny, a right-handed pitcher who signed a National Letter of Intent for the Redhawks in April, has helped pitch the Wisconsin Woodchucks to a 26-12 overall record. They finished one-half game behind the first half winner of the South Division and currently stand in first place during the second half with an 8-4 mark. The right-hander has posted a 4-0 record in six appearances, all starts, with a 2.06 earned run average. In 35 innings pitched, including one complete game, he has allowed just 33 base hits and 10 walks while recording 13 strikeouts.

Gumieny's South Division defeated the North Division 8-4 in the 2008 Northwoods League All-Star Game on July 14, though Gumieny struggled in his one inning of work, allowing three runs on four hits. To follow the future Redhawks pitcher through the rest of the summer, visit the Wisconsin Woodchucks official website.