July 5 Update: Jackson Smeltz and Pat Clohisy were also selected for the Grand Park League All-Star Game. Smeltz pitched for the Stripes Team.
WESTFIELD, Ind. – Purdue baseball is well represented with 10 Boilermakers selected as all-stars in the College Summer League at Grand Park.
Purdue had 10 of its 13 Boilermakers playing at Grand Park this summer chosen for the league's July 4 showcase. Sunday's game is set for 6 p.m. ET with fireworks to follow as part of the Westfield Rocks the 4th show.
Firestone and Nisle were selected as all-stars in the Grand Park League for the second year in a row. The league was a late addition to the summer league landscape last spring after the coronavirus pandemic led to many leagues not being to hold their seasons. The league expanded to eight teams this year.
Incoming Boilermaker Khal Stephen – a pitcher from Williamsport, Indiana, and Seeger High School – will be in uniform for an all-star game for the second weekend in a row. He and fellow incoming freshman Carter Doorn (Lake Central HS) were part of the North team at the annual Indiana North/South All-Star Game in Evansville during the final weekend of June.
Weston Gingerich (Park Rangers), Tanner Haston (Park Rangers) and incoming Boilermaker Will Allen (Turf Monsters) were also playing in the Grand Park League at various times during the first month of summer ball.
THOMPSON, PARR BOTH GO DEEP IN 10-RUN INNING
• The Boilermakers were part of their fair share of wild innings this season and it continued for a pair of Purdue's first basemen June 27 in the Ohio Valley League. Cam Thompson and Jake Parr both homered while recording two hits and three RBI apiece in a 10-run first inning for the Hoptown Hoppers in a victory vs. the Owensboro RiverDawgs. Thompson opened the game with a home run and later delivered a two-run single in his second trip to the dish. Parr's three-run homer capped the scoring in the big inning after he had singled his first time up. Parr finished the game 4-for-5 with four RBI. The Alabama native has compiled a .311/.382/.492 slash line with eight doubles and 13 RBI through the end of June. Thompson joined the team June 22 and has been playing center field.
WADE OFF TO STRONG START WITH HOMETOWN JACKRABBITS
• Rising senior Kyle Wade has put himself in position to be an all-star in the Northwoods League. He has racked 16 strikeouts vs. three walks while surrendering only surrendering three earned runs over 23 innings in his first four starts of the summer for the Kokomo Jackrabbits. In his June 24 start vs. Traverse City, Wade retired 14 consecutive batters to begin the game and took a no-hitter into the sixth inning. Purdue alumnus Miles Simington has helped lead Traverse City to a division-best 20-11 record through the end of June. Simington (.431 OBP, 22 walks, 15 RBI) was not in the lineup when Wade started the nightcap of the June 24 doubleheader in Kokomo.
ALUMNI NEWS
• Josh Lindblom (2007-08) returned to form as he got healthy this month, enjoying a strong June at the Triple-A level with the Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers affiliate). He racked up 18 strikeouts vs. 13 hits allowed in 20 1/3 innings over five appearances and did not surrender a home run.
• Jacson McGowan (2016-18) has hit eight home runs in 98 at-bats through the end of June for the High-A Bowling Green Hot Rods (Tampa Bay Rays affiliate).
• After two seasons in the United Shore Pro Baseball League in suburban Detroit, Alec Olund (2015-18) remained closer to his home in Northwest Indiana this year, joining the Gary RailCats of the American Association. He has been a productive outfielder for Gary, batting .321 with a hit in 11 of his 14 games with the independent club.
• Zac Fascia (2019-21) and incoming Boilermaker Curtis Washington Jr., a transfer from Wabash Valley College, are both playing in the new MLB Draft League. Fascia is with the Frederick Keys and Washington is playing for the State College Spikes. Both teams were previously Minor League Baseball affiliates prior to the restructuring of MiLB during this past offseason. The MLB Draft July 11 to 13 this year and is scheduled to feature 20 rounds of selections this year.
• Ryan Bridges (2008-12) led his Hanover Central High School team to the IHSAA Class 3A state title game, falling to Southridge 2-0 on June 22 at Victory Field in Indianapolis. Hanover Central was 29-4-1 this season.
• Milo Beam (2017-20), Drew Bertram (2017, student assistant 2018-19), Andrew Bohm (2017-20) and Dalton Parker (2017-20) have launched a baseball podcast called Ducks on the Pod.
WESTFIELD, Ind. – Purdue baseball is well represented with 10 Boilermakers selected as all-stars in the College Summer League at Grand Park.
Purdue had 10 of its 13 Boilermakers playing at Grand Park this summer chosen for the league's July 4 showcase. Sunday's game is set for 6 p.m. ET with fireworks to follow as part of the Westfield Rocks the 4th show.
| PURDUE'S GRAND PARK LEAGUE ALL-STARS Player's Summer League Team also Listed |
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| STARS TEAM Ben Nisle – Park Rangers Jake Stadler – Snapping Turtles Calvin Starnes – Turf Monsters Khal Stephen – Bomb Squad Pat Clohisy – Bag Bandits |
STRIPES TEAM Jack Firestone – Local Legends Ryan Howe – Bomb Squad Griffin Lohman – Tropics Jeremy Schork – Bag Bandits Jackson Smeltz – Bomb Squad |
Firestone and Nisle were selected as all-stars in the Grand Park League for the second year in a row. The league was a late addition to the summer league landscape last spring after the coronavirus pandemic led to many leagues not being to hold their seasons. The league expanded to eight teams this year.
Incoming Boilermaker Khal Stephen – a pitcher from Williamsport, Indiana, and Seeger High School – will be in uniform for an all-star game for the second weekend in a row. He and fellow incoming freshman Carter Doorn (Lake Central HS) were part of the North team at the annual Indiana North/South All-Star Game in Evansville during the final weekend of June.
Weston Gingerich (Park Rangers), Tanner Haston (Park Rangers) and incoming Boilermaker Will Allen (Turf Monsters) were also playing in the Grand Park League at various times during the first month of summer ball.
THOMPSON, PARR BOTH GO DEEP IN 10-RUN INNING
• The Boilermakers were part of their fair share of wild innings this season and it continued for a pair of Purdue's first basemen June 27 in the Ohio Valley League. Cam Thompson and Jake Parr both homered while recording two hits and three RBI apiece in a 10-run first inning for the Hoptown Hoppers in a victory vs. the Owensboro RiverDawgs. Thompson opened the game with a home run and later delivered a two-run single in his second trip to the dish. Parr's three-run homer capped the scoring in the big inning after he had singled his first time up. Parr finished the game 4-for-5 with four RBI. The Alabama native has compiled a .311/.382/.492 slash line with eight doubles and 13 RBI through the end of June. Thompson joined the team June 22 and has been playing center field.
WADE OFF TO STRONG START WITH HOMETOWN JACKRABBITS
• Rising senior Kyle Wade has put himself in position to be an all-star in the Northwoods League. He has racked 16 strikeouts vs. three walks while surrendering only surrendering three earned runs over 23 innings in his first four starts of the summer for the Kokomo Jackrabbits. In his June 24 start vs. Traverse City, Wade retired 14 consecutive batters to begin the game and took a no-hitter into the sixth inning. Purdue alumnus Miles Simington has helped lead Traverse City to a division-best 20-11 record through the end of June. Simington (.431 OBP, 22 walks, 15 RBI) was not in the lineup when Wade started the nightcap of the June 24 doubleheader in Kokomo.
ALUMNI NEWS
• Josh Lindblom (2007-08) returned to form as he got healthy this month, enjoying a strong June at the Triple-A level with the Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers affiliate). He racked up 18 strikeouts vs. 13 hits allowed in 20 1/3 innings over five appearances and did not surrender a home run.
• Jacson McGowan (2016-18) has hit eight home runs in 98 at-bats through the end of June for the High-A Bowling Green Hot Rods (Tampa Bay Rays affiliate).
• After two seasons in the United Shore Pro Baseball League in suburban Detroit, Alec Olund (2015-18) remained closer to his home in Northwest Indiana this year, joining the Gary RailCats of the American Association. He has been a productive outfielder for Gary, batting .321 with a hit in 11 of his 14 games with the independent club.
• Zac Fascia (2019-21) and incoming Boilermaker Curtis Washington Jr., a transfer from Wabash Valley College, are both playing in the new MLB Draft League. Fascia is with the Frederick Keys and Washington is playing for the State College Spikes. Both teams were previously Minor League Baseball affiliates prior to the restructuring of MiLB during this past offseason. The MLB Draft July 11 to 13 this year and is scheduled to feature 20 rounds of selections this year.
• Ryan Bridges (2008-12) led his Hanover Central High School team to the IHSAA Class 3A state title game, falling to Southridge 2-0 on June 22 at Victory Field in Indianapolis. Hanover Central was 29-4-1 this season.
• Milo Beam (2017-20), Drew Bertram (2017, student assistant 2018-19), Andrew Bohm (2017-20) and Dalton Parker (2017-20) have launched a baseball podcast called Ducks on the Pod.