Beach Bums Add Penn State Catcher Joe Blackburn; Activate McEneaney
Published on June 14, 2008 under Frontier League (FL)
Traverse City Beach Bums News Release
TRAVERSE CITY, MI - The Frontier League East Division leading Traverse City Beach Bums have announced the signing of catcher Joe Blackburn, a Rookie-1 out of Penn State University. The Beach Bums also activated RHP Pete McEneaney from Injured Reserve.
Blackburn has been the everyday catcher for the Nittany Lions the past two seasons and was a Third Team All-Big Ten choice this year. He appeared in 56 games with 54 starts as a senior and finished second on the team with a .342 batting average. Blackburn was also second on the team in doubles (14), stolen bases (10), and RBI (43). He hit three homers and connected on a team best three triples.
Hailing from Sinking Spring, Pa., Blackburn led the Nittany Lions in on base percentage (.429) and slugging percentage (.497). Defensively he threw out 16 runners attempting to steal. Penn State finished third in the 2008 Big Ten Standings, going 17-15 in conference and 27-31 overall.
"Joe comes highly recommended out of Penn State and we are excited to have him," said Jason Wuerfel, the Beach Bums' Director of Baseball Operations. "He is a big, athletic player who can really hit. Besides providing depth behind the plate, he can also contribute at first or in the outfield if we needed."
During his junior season, Blackburn led Penn State with a .347 batting average. He also led the team with 15 doubles, five triples, 35 RBI, and 24 multi-hit games. Blackburn hit .317 with a wooden bat for the Kutztown Rockies of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League in the summer of 2007, and drove in a team best 21 runs while helping the team to a championship.
RHP Pete McEneaney was the sixth overall pick by the Beach Bums in the Frontier League draft and appeared in one game, working a 1-2-3 ninth with a strikeout on May 23. A Rookie-1 out of the University of Rochester, he suffered an injury on May 29 while warming up in the bullpen at Chillicothe and was placed on injured reserve June 1 retroactive to May 29.
To make room for Blackburn and McEneaney on the roster, the Beach Bums released catcher John Brummett and RHP Zac Cole. Brummett had appeared in six games for Traverse City, making three starts behind the plate. He was 1-for-11. Cole pitched in six games for the Beach Bums and did not record a decision. He had an ERA of 10.13 in 5.1 innings with nine walks and eight strikeouts.
Owners of the best record in the Frontier League at 16-6, the Beach Bums continue a six-game homestand tonight night against the ThunderBolts in a 7:05 pm contest. RHP David Nathanson (4-0, 1.53) goes for the Beach Bums against RHP Dallas Sims (0-0, 0.00) who will make his first professional start for Windy City. The first 500 kids aged 12 and under will receive a Beach Bums/Traverse City State Bank Jersey.
Frontier League Stories from June 14, 2008
- Beach Bums Fall in the Rain to Windy City - Traverse City Beach Bums
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- Wild Things Suffer Shutout Loss To Rascals - Washington Wild Things
- Beach Bums Add Penn State Catcher Joe Blackburn; Activate McEneaney - Traverse City Beach Bums
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