Players stay sharp in summer league

Awards, securing starting spots and pitching regularly. Despite these three accomplishments, IU baseball players feel they can still improve their game. Seniors Jay Brant, Clint Crosier and Ryan Parker, who all had a role in IU's season last year, are now staying in shape by playing in summer baseball leagues.\nCrosier and Parker played in the Great Lakes League, while Brant played in La Crosse, Wisconsin in a local league. Parker played for the Delaware Cows in Delaware, Ohio, while Crosier played on the Lake Erie Monarchs in Toledo, Ohio. While all the players played on different teams, they agreed the experience was beneficial and there is always room for improvement.\nDespite starting at second base and earning Second Team All-Mideast Region, Brant says there is always room for improvement when it comes to playing baseball. He feels the typical way of working out and spending the summer doing drills isn't the best way, but that game experience is the best way to improve your skills. \n"You always have to get better," Brant said. "I mean I wouldn't be as good if I spent my summer in batting cages." \nLikewise Ryan Parker who started at first base agrees with Brant that this is a good way to stay in shape. \n"Summer baseball is much more relaxed," Parker said. "It is an excellent way to improve your game in a very relaxed manner." \nParker has contributed to his team batting .228 with 13 hits and 3 RBI while appearing in 28 games, while his team has gone 19-15.\nWhile Crosier was not a starter for the Hoosiers this year, he appeared 15 times in relief and contributed to the IU Baseball team during the season. Similar to his two teammates, he felt the summer league was a beneficial experience. \n"This was a great way to stay in shape," Crosier said. "It was much better then sitting around and relaxing." \nCrosier has been called upon to pitch 9 times this summer. He currently has an 0-3 record with a 6.67 ERA in 29 innings. His team is 20-16, battling for the league crown with Parker's team which they are percentage points behind currently.\nHigher attendance was the name of the game in the league, as thousands of fans showed up each night to show their support which according to Brant was good but unexpected. \n"About 4000 fans showed up each night," Brant said. "It was an awesome surprise, I mean that's more than (our stadium) even seats." \nWhile all three players played on separate teams, Crosier got an IU teammate in Kevin Leininger who had an impact hit in the most recent game the team played. Crosier feels the two of them have become closer to each other during the summer. \n"We were not close last year," Crosier said. "But we have now bonded and become close friends." \nImprovement is what most players strive for when coming to the league and all the players, especially Parker feel they have succeeded in this notion. \n"I definitely improved," Parker said. "I mean you have to improve to compete in college baseball." \nThe players will continue in the summer leagues through Aug. 5th before starting classes at the end of August and preparing for the upcoming season this spring.