Bruce, Hillyer, Hawkins Set Sights on NECBL
May 19, 2013 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Valley Blue Sox News Release
Holyoke, MA - In 2011 a player by the name of Ronnie Freeman came to Holyoke and helped lead the Blue Sox into the playoffs with his powerful bat.
Freeman came to the Blue Sox from Kennesaw State and was then drafted in the 2012 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks and currently plays in the Class A Midwest League for the South Bend Silver Hawks.
This season, the Blue Sox are hoping for some more future major league talent as three Kennesaw State Owls are set to join the team in 2013 - pitchers Jordan Hillyer, Kendall Hawkins and outfielder Jacob Bruce
Bruce has seen the most playing time for the Owls starting in 52 of the 54 games he has played in this season while batting .306 in his sophomore campaign.
The Woodstock, Georgia native has experience playing summer ball after spending last summer in the Great Lakes league with the Lima Locos. Bruce his .294 with four doubles, two triples and 18 RBIS in 31 games.
Coming off his summer with the Locos, it was back to the Owls where he finished fourth on the team in batting average and tied for second with 11 doubles and drove in 23 runs.
Joining Bruce in Holyoke is going to be pitcher Jordan Hillyer, who has proven to be a key part to the Owls bullpen.
Hillyer has played in nine games while making four starts with a 1-2 overall record and a 3.60 ERA in 20 innings of work while striking out 27 and walking only 15.
The Dacula, Georgia native has been a highly touted player since high school where he was 12-2 overall with 139 strikeouts and a 1.83 ERA and hit .472 at the play with 22 home runs in his career at Hebron Christian High School.
Hillyer was selected in the 20th round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Miami Marlins.
Finally, Kendall Hawkins will be coming to the Blue Sox for his first summer ball experience.
Hawkins, a 6-foot-1-freshman pitcher, has not played in any games this season for Kennesaw State but was a member of the 2009 State Championship team at Cartersville High School.
The Cartersville, Georgia native hit .375 and got 28 strikeouts in 25 innings pitched and was a member of the 2011 Junior Team Georgia and a part of the 2011 East Coast Pro Top 100 Showcase.
Bruce, Hillyer and Hawkins are all set to join the Blue Sox following the conclusion of the 2013 season for the Owls.
New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from May 19, 2013
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