FARMVILLE, Va. – For several members of the Longwood baseball team summer 2018 means another opportunity to play live games with various collegiate summer ball teams in preparation for the 2019 baseball season. Nate Blakeney, Daniel Brandon, Eric Crain, Nick Fuchs, Jawan McAllister, and Antwaun Tucker are each competing in premier summer leagues across America and Canada.

Nate Blakeney – IF – Junior
Coastal Plain League (Asheboro Copperheads)
https://teamcopperhead.com
Summer Stats: .220 BA, 9-for-41, 2 HR, 1 2B, 8 RBI, 9 R, 11 K, 8 BB, .390 SLG%, .365 OB%, 0-0 SB
Nate Blakeney is set for his third season on campus, coming back to Longwood as the leading returner in batting average (.260), hits (53), and doubles (10) from a season ago. Blakeney has hit a pair of home runs this summer, but hasn't picked up much recent playing time, last appearing June 28.
 
Daniel Brandon – LHP – Sophomore
Valley League (Harrisonburg Turks)
http://harrisonburgturks.com  
Summer Stats: 7.26 ERA, 2-0, 10 APP, 0 GS, 0 CG, 17.1 IP, 20 H, 14 R, 14 ER, 9 BB, 20 K, 0 SV, .290 BAA
Daniel Brandon has been a strikeout machine with the Harrisonburg Turks, racking up 20 in 17.1 innings pitched. The southpaw has also racked up a pair of wins, collecting the victory in 1.0 scoreless innings on June 30 against Charlottesville. After getting off to an incredible start with no runs and one hit allowed in his first three appearances, spanning 5.0 innings, Brandon has had two more scoreless appearances, including 3.0 scoreless frames on June 27.
 
Eric Crain – OF – Redshirt Senior
Western Major Baseball League (Edmonton Prospects)
http://www.prospectsbaseballclub.com
Summer Stats: .333 BA, 14-for-42, 1 HR, 3 2B, 7 RBI, 1 R, 8 K, 3 BB, .476 SLG%, .370 OB%, 1-1 SB
Eric Crain has been on a tear as of late with a seven-game hitting streak, which started June 30 during a 1-for-3 game with a three-run home run and four RBI as a part of a 21-3 victory for Edmonton against Melville. Crain's hitting streak has helped the team to four wins in the last seven outings and Crain is hitting .384 (10-for-26) in the stretch with three extra-base hits, six RBI, and six runs scored.
 
Nick Fuchs – RHP – Redshirt Junior
Prospect League (Butler BlueSox)
https://www.butlerbluesox.net
Summer Stats: 4.56 ERA, 2-1, 5 APP, 5 GS, 0 CG, 21.2 IP, 24 H, 12 R, 11 ER, 11 BB, 16 K, 0 SV, .289 BAA
Following an incendiary start to his summer campaign, Nick Fuchs cooled off slightly in his fifth outing of the season with the Butler BlueSox, suffering his first loss of the summer. Fuchs managed 4.1 innings, but allowed 12 runners to reach in the first loss Butler has suffered when Fuchs makes the start. For the summer the redshirt junior has struck out at least one batter in each of his appearances and owned a 2.08 ERA through his first four appearances.
 
Jawan McAllister – OF – Redshirt Senior
Cal Ripken League (D.C. Grays)
http://www.dcgrays.com
Summer Stats: .247 BA, 19-for-77, 3 HR, 2 2B, 2 3B, 12 RBI, 17 R, 13 K, 12 BB, .442 SLG%, .372 OB%, 13-14 SB
A combination of power and speed has made Jawan McAllister a potentially game-changing threat. In 82 fewer at-bats than he had in the regular season with Longwood, McAllister this summer has racked up one fewer home run and is one short of his extra-base hit total. As for speed, McAllister's 13 stolen bases in 26 games with the D.C. Grays is only five shy of his 18 in 54 games with Longwood, which was good for ninth in the Big South. A legitimate speed threat, McAllister has racked up 11 of his stolen bases in the last 13 games with the D.C. His 13 stolen bases has McAllister seventh in the Cal Ripken League.
 
Antwaun Tucker – SS – Junior
Coastal Plain League (Wilson Tobs)
https://www.wilsontobs.com/landing/index
Summer Stats: .359 BA, 14-for-39, 0 HR, 3 2B, 1 3B, 9 RBI, 9 R, 9 K, 7 BB, .487 SLG%, .468 OB%, 2-3 SB
A great start to the season for Antwaun Tucker earned a spot on the CPL Select Team, a unique opportunity for Coastal Plain League players to compete in an exhibition against the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team on Wednesday June 27. Teams are selected by Coastal Plain League coaches, league officials, and Major League scouts. Tucker has not played since June 21 and is not expected to play in Wednesday's contest for the CPL Select Team.
 
#GoWood