Dutch baseball players gaining experience in summer leagues
ROCKFORD, ILL. — Relief pitcher Ryan Riddle (junior, Omaha, Neb., Mount Michael HS), who is playing for the Rockford (Ill.) Rivets of the Northwoods League this summer, headlines a large contingent of Central College baseball players playing in summer leagues.
In addition to Riddle, 13 other Dutch players are in seven different leagues across the country.
The Northwoods League is a summer wood bat league for elite college baseball players. The 22-team league cites nearly 200 former players that have reached the Major League Baseball level. The league has teams in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Ontario.
Riddle has made nine appearances for the Rivets through July 24, striking out 14 in 15.1 innings pitched. He’s allowed nine earned runs on 16 hits. The team is 6-13 and in sixth place in the Great Lakes East Division.
“The Northwoods League has really helped me to become the best player I can be, physically and mentally,” Riddle said. “I’m very excited to see how it carries into my junior year at Central.”
Only seven of the 25 players on the Rivets roster are from Division III schools. The pitching coach for the Rivets is former Central pitcher Adam Carey, who was recently hired as the Dutch pitching coach for the 2020 season.
“I’ve learned a lot about different ways guys can develop their arms and prepare for outings,” Carey said. “With games every day and a relatively strict pitch count rule, I’ve also learned about about bullpen management.”
In the MINK League, catcher Trevor Kimm (senior, Urbandale) and Rece Martin (senior, Saydel) recently completed their seasons with the Nevada (Mo.) Griffons. Kimm hit .241 with 11 RBIs in 25 games. Martin went 2-1 in 13 appearances with an 8.24 ERA over 19.2 innings of work.
“It was so much fun competing in front of big crowds against Division I players every night,” Kimm said. “It helped me learn what I need to work on to compete at a higher level.”
“It was truly a summer I will never forget, getting to play all summer and compete against some really good players,” Martin said. “I’m really looking forward to being back on campus and getting to work for one last go round.”
Also in the MINK League, pitcher Spencer Davidson (junior, Des Moines, Lincoln HS) made six appearances for the Clairnda (Iowa) A’s, going 0-2 with a 10.55 ERA in 21.1 innings.
Four players are active in the Chicago area, outfielder Nick Strysik (junior, Crest Hill, Ill., Lockport Township HS) and infielder Lucas Farren (junior, Yorkville, Ill.) are teammates on the Oswego Cats of the Chicago Suburban Baseball League. Catcher Jack Linforth (junior, Northbrook, Ill., Glenbrook North HS) and infielder John Rugen (senior, Utica, Ill., LaSalle-Peru HS) are on the Windy City Prospects of the Metropolitan Collegiate Summer Baseball League of Illinois.
In the Iowa Valley League, infielders Kaiden Fiebelkorn (senior, Brooklyn, BGM HS) and Chris Hensley (junior, Ottumwa) are on the Williamsburg Red Sox. Outfielder David Disney (junior, Marshalltown) and pitcher A.J. Pierce (junior, Ankeny, Centennial HS) are playing in the Des Moines-based Mid-Iowa Baseball League with the Bandits and Venom, respectively. Utility player Collin Lefeber (junior, Omaha, Neb., Central HS) is with the Omaha Filthballers of the Cornbelt League.
California native Jared Zang (sophomore, Rohnert Park, Calif., Ranco Cotate HS) is playing in the Golden State Collegiate Baseball League’s California Bees.
