RAMS EXCELLING THIS SUMMER
July 17, 2008

FORT WORTH, TX:  Coming off a 42-16 campaign, several members of the Texas Wesleyan University baseball team are having strong summers both in the professional ranks and in collegiate summer leagues.

The biggest news for the program this summer has been Hayden Lackey’s signing with the Detroit Tigers.  The reliever out of Duncanville, TX, currently holds a 4.50 ERA with a save in seven appearances in Gulf Coast League Action.

Ryan Riddle (LHP, Bedford, TX) who signed with the St. Louis Cardinals after his junior season in 2007, is 4-4 in 12 games with the Fort Worth Cats.  He has struck out 49 batters in 68.1 innings of work while posting a 4.08 ERA.

Aaron Wimpee (RHP, Bells, TX), Jayson Rachuig (RHP, Fort Worth, TX), Steven DeFratus (RHP, Oxnard, CA), and Antoine Cole (OF, Shreveport, LA) have all begun their professional careers in the Continental Baseball League.

Wimpee has signed with the Corpus Christi Beach Dawgs, while Antoine Cole has signed with the McKinney Blue Thunder.  Rachuig and DeFratus are playing for the Bay Area Toros along with former teammate Jason Diaz.  In three appearances DeFratus has recorded one save and has yet to allow a run.

Meanwhile, former Ram Josh Vander Hey (C, Cypress, TX) has begun his professional carerr with the Brocton Rox of the Canadian-American Association.  Vander Hey, a Texas Wesleyan graduate, played for the University of New Orleans while pursuing his MBA last season.  He received ABCA South Central All-Region 1st-team honors after batting .357 with 13 home runs and 76 RBI with UNO and has hit five home runs in his first 20 games with Brocton.

Several other Rams are excelling in collegiate wood bat leagues.  Blake Walker (OF, Southlake, TX) will play in the Coastal Plains League All-Star Game.  Walker is currently leading the Florence Redwolves with a .323 AVG and 43 hits.

Ryan Jacobi (OF, Mansfield, TX) and Joey Evans (RHP, Tyler, TX) are playing for the Sherwood Parks Dukes in the Canada based Western Major Baseball League.  Jacobi ranks third on the team with 34 hits and second with six stolen bases.  Evans is 2-1 with a 2.37 ERA and is currently leading the league with six saves while ranking second with 17 appearances.

The Rams went 42-16 this season, reached the RRAC title game, and finished third in a power packed NAIA Region VI tournament.