GWU Product Blake Lalli Red Hot At Plate With Daytona Cubs
June 16, 2008 | Baseball
DAYTONA, Fla. – Former Gardner-Webb slugger Blake
Lalli is tearing up the Advanced Class A Florida State
League at the plate currently, playing first base for the Daytona
Cubs.
Lalli, who was promoted from the low Class A Midwest League after
12 games early this season, is batting a strong .327 with 20
doubles, three home runs and 25 RBI in 45 games with Daytona. He
has posted a strong .361 on base percentage under manager and
former Major League catcher Jody Davis, while playing very strong
defense at first.
The Gibsonia, Pa., native has heated up of late, batting .371 with
seven doubles in his last 10 games, striking out just twice during
that stretch in a league that is known for its strong pitching.
Lalli played at Gardner-Webb from 2002-2006, setting career records
for hits (290), at bats (853) and doubles (70). He batted .340 for
his career in Boiling Springs, belting 27 home runs and driving in
154 runs.
Lalli was a two-time, first-team All-Atlantic Sun Conference
selection, earning that spot as a third baseman in 2005 and as a
catcher in 2006. Lalli led the nation at the NCAA Division I level
with a school-record 30 doubles as a junior in 2005.
Lalli signed a free agent deal with the Cubs prior to the 2006 MLB
Draft, taking advantage of a loophole for fifth-year seniors.
MINOR LEAGUE NOTES: Former Bulldog standout Zach
Ward is pitching well out of the bullpen still for
Double-A New Britain in the Minnesota Twins' farm system.
The 6-foot-3 righty is 2-2 with a 2.76 ERA in 26 relief
appearances.
The hard-throwing Ward has fanned 38 in 42.1 innings of work and
has held teams to a .234 batting average. In his most recent outing
against Binghampton (N.Y.), Ward pitched 4.0 scoreless innings and
fanned four batters.
Ward was a third-round pick (91st overall pick) of the Cincinnati
Reds in the 2005 MLB Draft. He was traded straight up to the Twins
in 2006 for major league pitcher Kyle Lohse.
