Cane Cutters News

The Cane Cutters will be sending six players to Victoria this Tuesday, as we have now passed the halfway point of the season to the long awaited all-star break. So far this season your Cane Cutters are 18-11 and have already clinched a home playoff game for the first time in their history.

Players going include Zak Kutsulis, (Notre Dame) James Ziegler (Chandler-Gilbert CC), Adam Yacek (Miami of (Ohio)), Daniel Martinez (University of New Orleans), and Scott Szush (Southeastern Louisiana).

On the season, junior, outfielder Zak Kutsulis (Notre Dame) is leading the team with a .366 batting average and has been the main catalyst of the offense in the lead off spot. His bat, in combination with his incredible base stealing ability, puts fear in opposing pitchers and has led to him scoring the second most runs on the team with 17. Some of his best games this season included a June 19^th game versus the Woodland Strykers in which he went 2-3 with a triple, a stolen base, 2 runs scored, and shot his batting average up to a season high .423. Kutsulis also had a July 1^st game versus the East Texas Pump Jacks where he went 3-5 with a double, a walk, a stolen base, and scored 3 runs. Kutsulis will be a starter for the South side.

Outfielder and sophomore, James Ziegler (Chandler-Gilbert CC) currently leads the team and is tied for second in the league with 3 homeruns. He is also posting an impressive .408 on base percentage and leading the league in RBI’s with 21. Ziegler had one of his best performances in a win versus the East Texas Pump Jacks on June 5^th in which he went 3-5 and scored 2 runs.  In the June 10 game at the Woodlands, he hit two homeruns.  Ziegler will be starting along side teammate and fellow outfielder Zak Kutsulis on Tuesday.

Infielder and sophomore, Adam Yacek (Miami of Ohio) is currently second on the team and in the league with 19 RBI’s as well as being tied for third on the team in hits with 26. Yacek had his best game of the season on June 3^rd versus the Woodland Strykers in going 2-3 with a walk, a triple a homerun, 3 RBI’s and scoring 2 runs. Yacek will be a reserve for the South.

Pitcher and freshman, Daniel Martinez (University of New Orleans) was the leading vote getter for starting pitchers for this year’s team. Martinez has been stellar this season leading the Cane Cutters staff, going 5-0 with a 1.48 ERA and is tied for second in the league with 27 strikeouts. Martinez’ best game of the season was on June 5^th versus the East Texas Pump Jacks, going 7 innings giving up only 1 run with 4 strikeouts. He will be the starting pitcher for the South.

Pitcher and junior, Scott Szush (Southeastern Louisiana) was the leading vote getter for the relief pitchers. Szush is currently second on the team in strikeouts with 17 and total wins with 3. While Szush has typically done most of his work in relief this year, he did step in on June 30^th versus the East Texas Pump Jacks with his best performance of the year, going a solid 8 and 2/3’s innings, giving up only 1 run with 4 strikeouts and had a no-hitter going through 5 innings.

The Cane Cutters, led by their six all-stars, will look to continue their winning ways on Thursday when they return from the all-star break on the road against the Brazos Valley Bombers.  The Cutters return home on July 14 against the East Texas Pump Jacks.