Eighteen former Lewis-Clark State College baseball players are playing at the professional level. One is in the big leagues, five are in Triple-A, three are in Double-A, and the rest are playing at various levels of Single-A.
Sean Halton, Blaine Hardy, Brian Ward, and Tyler Knigge are four Warriors who have earned recent promotions.
Halton, a 6-foot-5 first baseman, was promoted to the Nashville Sounds, the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, at the start of the season. So far in 51 games with the Sounds, Halton, who usually bats out of the clean-up spot in the order, is hitting .281 with 14 doubles, four home runs, and 23 RBI. There is a chance he could make his Major League debut later this season.
Hardy was recently promoted to the Omaha Storm Chasers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. In eight games with the Storm Chasers, the 6-foot-2 left-handed pitcher has an ERA of 4.61 with nine strikeouts in 13.2 innings pitched. He has been used solely out of the bullpen.
Other Warriors in Triple-A include right-handed pitcher Carlos Fisher, first baseman Beau Mills, and catcher Emerson Frostad.
Ward, a 5-foot-11 catcher, recently made the jump to the Double-A Bowie Baysox of the Baltimore Orioles organization. In three games with the Baysox, Ward is hitting .400 with a double and an RBI.
Knigge, a 6-foot-4 right-handed pitcher who was drafted in 2010, is now playing with the Clearwater Threshers, an A-Advanced affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. After working as a starter in his first year in the Minors, the native of Lewiston is now being used primarily as a closer, a role in which he is excelling. In 24 appearances and 33 innings pitched, he has established a stellar ERA of 0.82 and has 27 strikeouts and nine walks. Opponents are hitting just .184 against him.
The Warriors, who have had 121 players drafted in program history, have had 14 players advance to the big leagues including Brendan Ryan who is the starting shortstop for the Seattle Mariners.
For information on all of LCSC’s pro players visit: www.lcsc.edu/athletics/baseball/pro/updates.htm
