University of Minnesota Athletics
Olinger and Henkemeyer Among Top Hitters in NWL
6/30/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Minnesota players Dan Olinger and Andy Henkemeyer are off to solid starts for their respective teams in the Northwoods League this summer, with both ranking among the top hitters in the league.
Olinger, who will be a redshirt sophomore for the Gophers in 2012, is batting .327 (33-for-101) with 17 runs batted in, 15 runs scored, 10 doubles, and two home runs for the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers.
In 24 games with the Lunkers, the native of Great Falls, Mont. (CMR Russell HS) has also shown great plate discipline, drawing nine walks with just eight strikeouts. Olinger's batting average ranks third among NWL players with 100 or more at bats through games of June 29. He went 2-for-3 with two doubles, two runs scored, and three RBI in a 10-4 win versus Rochester on Wednesday.
Henkemeyer, a junior outfielder for the Gophers, is right on Olinger's tail, as he carries a .317 (32-for-101) batting average, with 16 runs batted in, 14 runs scored, six doubles, and two triples for the St. Cloud River Bats.
A native of Sauk Rapids, Minn., Henkemeyer has been good on the basepaths, tying for 10th in the NWL with eight stolen bases in eight attempts. He is one of just four players among the stolen base leaders who has yet to be caught stealing. Over his past 10 games, Henkemeyer is batting .415 (17-for-41) with 10 runs scored, six RBI, four doubles, and a triple, and he has a five-game hitting streak through games of June 29.
On the mound, redshirt sophomore right-hander Alex Tukey is 3-0 with a 3.00 earned run average as a reliever with the Battle Creek Bombers. Tukey, a native of San Diego, Calif. (Torrey Pines HS), has made 10 appearances with one save for the Bombers. In 18.0 innings pitched, he's allowed just 13 hits, while striking out 14 and walking 13.
Sophomore outfielder Bobby Juan has been doing double duty for the LaCrosse Loggers. A native of LaCrosse, Wis. (Central HS), Juan is batting .265 (13-for-49) with 10 runs scored, seven runs batted in, three home runs, and a pair of doubles, while also making six appearances as a pitcher. On the mound, Juan is 0-0 with a 3.14 ERA, allowing 11 hits, striking out 10, and walking just one in 14.1 innings pitched.
Michael Handel, a redshirt freshman shortstop from Sun Prairie, Wis., is batting .222 (14-for-63) with six runs scored, six RBI, four doubles and a triple in 19 games with the Madison Mallards.
In other summer league action, junior right-hander Billy Soule has made five appearances as a reliever for the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod League, going 0-1 with a 2.84 ERA. A native of Hamel, Minn. (Wayzata HS), Soule has allowed just four hits in 6.1 innings, striking out four and walking six.
And senior third baseman Kyle Geason is playing for the Alaska Goldpanners in Fairbanks, Alaska. Through 18 games, Geason is batting .262 (17-for-65) with 10 runs scored, 10 runs batted in, four doubles, and a pair of triples.
