TicketsAug. 11, 2006
CINCINNATI, Ohio---For collegiate baseball players, summer is a time to improve skills and prepare for a possible career in professional ball after college. This summer, a pair of University of Cincinnati players did just that as Josh Harrison and John Baird were named Co-Top Position and Co-Top Pitching Prospect, respectively, in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League.
Harrison (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) and Baird (Delaware, Ohio/Olentangy) were also awarded spots on the GLSCL All-League first team, as was teammate Neall French (Bay Village, Ohio/St. Ignatius). Harrison played this summer with the Cincinnati Steam, while Baird and French were both members of the Delaware Cows.
Harrison, a third team All-BIG EAST choice in the spring, enjoyed a terrific summer in the wooden bat league, being listed among the league leaders in multiple categories. His list of rankings included triples (T1st-2), total bases (4th-50), hits (4th-41), hitting (5th-.347), runs (T6th-21), slugging percentage (T7th-.424), on-base percentage (8th-.428) and stolen bases (T9th-11).
Baird, who will join the Bearcats in 2007 from Birmingham Southern, was one of the top hurlers in the league this summer. A right-hander, Baird posted a 2-0 record and a 0.97 ERA in nine appearances, including seven starts. In 37.0 innings of work, Baird yielded a .150 opponents batting average, while walking 17 and striking out 34.
French, who missed all of the 2006 season with an injury, batted .314 in 31 games for the Cows. The all-league catcher added six doubles and one home run, while driving in 13.
A pair of other Bearcats also enjoyed success during the summer of 2006. A look at their achievements:
- Brian Szarmach (Amsterdam Mohawks of the New York Collegiate League)-hit .200 with three doubles, three home runs and 13 RBI in 28 games for the Mohawks.
- Adam Yeager (Southern Ohio Copperheads of the Great Lakes League)-led the GLSCL with 27 runs scored, while tying for second with 16 stolen bases. Yeager hit .230 in 39 games with two doubles, one triple and four RBI.