3 DiamondDawgs Named To 2011 PGCBL RISING STARS TEAM

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Tyler Kane

Alex Lester

Alex Lester

Kane and Lester were two of Mohawk Valley’s top arms out of the bullpen. Kane, a PGCBL All-Star Game selection, made 25 appearances for the University of Washington in the spring. He began the summer season as a one-inning reliever and evolved into a starter for the DiamondDawgs. The Mill Creek, Wash., native pitched in 13 games and went 1-1 with a 1.93 earned run average. Kane struck out 33 over 28.0 innings and walked just one batter. Opponents managed a .204 batting average. The Huskies’ rising sophomore did not allow a run in his first seven summer outings. In his first two starts against Albany and Elmira in July, Kane combined to strike out 18 batters in 12.0 innings. His ERA never rose above 2.00.

Lester pitched in 18 games overall for the DiamondDawgs and came out of the bullpen 17 times. He went 2-2 with one save and a 1.83 earned run average. The University of Kentucky arm struck out 34 batters in 34.1 innings and walked only seven. He finished among the league’s top 10 in earned run average for relief pitchers. Lester pitcher did not allow a run (earned or unearned) over his final eight relief appearances which included 15.0 innings. The Nicholasville, Ky., native did not allow an earned run in 13 of his 17 bullpen outings. He turned in best performance in back-to-back appearances at Elmira and Watertown in late July. Lester combined to allow two hits over eight shutout innings (four in each game) and he struck out 10 in a pair of Mohawk Valley victories; both games were decided by two runs or less.

Gunn, a graduate of Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, Tenn., was the only non-collegian chosen for the PGCBL Rising Stars squad. He has committed to the University of Arkansas for the 2011-2012 academic year. Gunn, who led his high school team to a state championship in the spring, appeared in 42 games overall for Mohawk Valley and missed just five contests (three because of a late arrival). He batted .301 with three home runs and 24 RBI. Gunn racked up 44 hits including nine doubles, 18 runs and 20 walks. The Mohawk Valley utility man was second on his team in hits and he tied for second in RBI. He added 12 multi-hit and seven multi-RBI efforts. On the mound, the Razorback commit was limited to just eight appearances. He struck out 13 batters over 10.0 innings, posted one save and garnered a 0.90 earned run average. Gunn fanned at least three batters on three occasions and he whiffed five over a season-high three frames at Elmira on July 28.

Michael Gunn