Tyler Fries (Wilmington) pitches for the 2014 Albany Dutchmen.
Tyler Fries, Wilmington- The 2014 Dutchmen reliever led the Wildcats to their first ever NCAA Division II World Series, earning East Regional MVP honors with 4 saves over 6.1 innings. Fries closed out the game in each of Wilmington’s victories, including recording the final eight outs of the regional title game. Fries’ monumental efforts included tossing scoreless ninth innings in wins over Southern New Hampshire and Stonehill, the final five outs of a win over top-ranked Franklin Pierce, and 2.2 innings in the final against St. Thomas Aquinas. The saves gave the righty 14 on the year, and the Wildcats will open World Series play against Catawba.
Nick Jewett, Trinity University- Jewett, who played for the Dutchmen in 2014, helped the Trinity Tigers to the NCAA Division III World Series for the first time in school history, as the Tigers swept four games in the West Region. Jewett had his best game of the tournament in the biggest spot, going 2-for-3 in the regional championship. Jewett drove in the game-tying run on a sixth-inning single, and came in to score on a double that drove in the decisive two runs in the victory over Linfield, who had won the region two years in a row. Jewett’s Tigers will begin World Series action in Appleton, Wisconsin with a game against Emory University on Friday.
Also qualifying for national championship play were Brandon Nylin and Jake Shortslef of Herkimer CC, who will play in the NJCAA Division III World Series.
Grayson Lewis, Rice- Lewis finished the regular season for the Owls by reaching base eight times in eleven plate appearances as Rice locked up the regular season championship in Conference USA. Lewis went 3-for-6, but drew three walks and was hit by a pitch twice to record a .727 on-base percentage. The incoming Albany infielder drove in a run and scored twice, helping Rice to a series victory over Florida International. Rice will be the top seed in the C-USA Tournament, and is considered a likely NCAA Tournament team.
Adam Lee, Lipscomb- The 2014 Dutchmen star continued his hot hitting in the final month of the season as the infielder drove in five runs and scored five more to help the Bisons to the No. 2 seed in the Atlantic Sun tournament and a series sweep over Northern Kentucky. Lee drove in two runs in two separate Lipscomb victories, including finishing the weekend series with a two-run homer in a 7-1 win. The first baseman’s late season surge has given him a team-high eight home runs, as well as a .304 batting average and 46 runs scored.
Will Miller, UAlbany- Miller completed his first season with the Great Danes with an effective week in the leadoff spot, as the North Carolina native went 6-for-11 at the top of the UAlbany order. The 2014 Albany outfielder went 3-for-5 with a run scored in the season finale, a 6-1 victory over Maine. Miller also stole his 15th base of the season in that game, which had been preceded by a 2-for-2 effort in the previous game. In his debut season with UAlbany, Miller scored a team high 33 runs and recorded 43 hits and 61 total bases, which were also tops on the team.
Danny Hrbek, Radford- Hrbek, who wore the Dutchmen colors during the 2014 season, hit .357 during a three-game sweep of UNC Asheville that locked up the top seed and regular season championship of the Big South Conference. Hrbek drove in five runs on the series, propelled by a four-RBI performance in the middle game of the series. In that game, a 9-7 victory, Hrbek drilled a three-run homer and a game-tying single in the seventh inning. The infielder, who is one of just two players to start every game for the Highlanders, moved his average to just shy of .300.
Zach Remillard, Coastal Carolina- A two-time Albany Dutchmen player, Remillard recorded a pair of multi-hit games in the final week of the regular season, driving in three runs and scoring another three for the Chanticleers. The infielder drove in two of those runs in a 10-9 loss to Campbell, driving in runs on a triple and a single in the early innings of the game. Coastal Carolina will be the second seed in the Big South Tournament this week.
Morgan Phillips, College of Charleston- Phillips suited up for the Dutchmen in 2012 and helped power the Cougars to a 3-1 week and the regular season championship in the Colonial Athletic Conference. Phillips opened the week with a 3-for-3 performance against Charleston Southern, driving in a run and scoring another. He also added a double in the middle game against Northeastern. At the end of the regular season, Phillips boasts a .327 batting average with 39 runs batted in for the nationally ranked Cougars.
Brandon Trinkwon, Los Angeles Dodgers organization- A member of the 2011 Albany Dutchmen, Trinkwon hit .389 over five games this week, scoring four runs and driving in two for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, the high-A affiliate of the Dodgers. The UC Santa Barbara product had a pair of two-hit games, and has hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games. Through 32 appearances, Trinkwon has hit .361 with three home runs, 23 runs scored, and 20 runs batted in. The Quakes currently sit 23-13, tops in the South Division of the California League.
Justin Brantley, Cleveland Indians organization- An alumni of the 2011 Dutchmen, Brantley now plays for the Class A Lynchburg Hillcats. In two appearances this week, the righty struck out three hitters over three scoreless innings. Brantley allowed just two hits over the three innings, and has now worked five consecutive scoreless outings totaling 9.1 innings. The Siena alum has a 2.11 ERA in 21.1 innings pitched, and is holding opposing hitters below .200.
The Dutchmen also congratulate Spencer Hotaling, a 2014 Dutchmen pitcher from Susquehanna. Hotaling signed a professional baseball contract last week with the Las Vegas Train Robbers of the Pecos League. Hotaling won a team-high four games for the Dutchmen in 2014, making eight starts.
