Q&A: Mike Shawaryn talks about Team USA experience

MBN got a chance to catch up with Maryland ace Mike Shawaryn to talk about his experience playing against international competition with Team USA this summer. Shawaryn made four appearances (three starts) for the Stars & Stripes in North Carolina. Here’s how it went through Shawaryn’s own words:

Q: How did the competition level compare to your expectations?

Shawaryn: “I didn’t really know what to expect with the talent. I knew it was going to be good, but the talent level was the best I’ve played against on a consistent level. It was great to have that level of play from day to day because I think it helped me improve and understand what areas of the game I need to improve on.”

Q: What was it like playing alongside the best collegiate players in the country?

Shawaryn: “It was a great experience. I think a lot of us were getting to know each other before we had to leave. The talent all around us was off the charts and it was neat to play on a team like that. I really enjoyed playing with that group of guys.”

Q: What part of your game do you think you improved the most this summer?

Shawaryn: “I think consistency. Playing against all the talent I did this summer and the experience that Cuba, Chinese Tapiei and the U.S. Pan Am team provided made me focus on making every pitch count. They didn’t miss a mistake and that’s the biggest thing I got out of this summer – to minimize the mistake pitches. Every pitch has to be with intent and aggressiveness to the spot and location you want. I think it made me a better player all around, playing with talent and against talent on a day to day basis. It was an awesome experience playing with USA across my chest and representing the USA in the game I love to play and have enjoyed since I was a kid.”

Full Recap: Terps Wrap up Summer Season

August 10, 2015August 10, 2015 MBN 2015 Summer Ball Update

The Terps wrapped up their summer seasons last week, with many players performing nicely while getting valuable at bats and innings.

RHP Mike Shawaryn continued to state his case as one of the top collegiate pitchers in the country, pitching in the high-profile Team USA rotation this summer. He made three starts and one relief outing against primarily international competition, which included teams from Cuba, Canada and Chinese Tapiei.

“The talent level was the best I’ve played against on a consistent level,” Shawayn said. “I think it made me a better player all around.”

Mike Shawaryn pitched amongst college baseball's best this summer. (Photo: Alexander Jonesi) — Mike Shawaryn pitched amongst college baseball’s elite this summer. (Photo: Alexander Jonesi)

C Nick Cieri had a terrific summer in the Cape Cod League, the nation’s top collegiate summer league. Cieri batted .319 over 30 games for the Wareham Gateman, earning the starting nod at catcher in the Cape Cod League All Star Game.

You can hear more about Nick’s outstanding summer season on MBN’s August podcast, which debuts later this week.

RHP Taylor Bloom also had a breakout summer pitching for the Gaithersburg Giants of the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League. Bloom went 3-0 with a 1.76 ERA over six outings, striking out 38 batters and walking only two (READ about his 16 strikeout performance).

“I believe my success had a lot to do with the momentum I brought over from the end of our season,” Bloom said. “I think the areas I best improved were my breaking ball and maintaining a good mental state – trying to go out there and pitch my best no matter who it’s against.”

Bloom was named to the CRCBL All-Star team along with Gaithersburg teammate Ryan Selmer, who pitched 16.1 innings this summer, striking out 16. John Mazza also played for the Giants, catching 22 games this summer.

Andrew Bechtold returned from injury this summer and got back the at bats he lost this spring. (Photo: Alexander Jonesi) — Andrew Bechtold returned from injury this summer and got back the at bats he lost this spring.
(Photo: Alexander Jonesi)

C/1B Justin Morris also played in the CRCBL All-Star Game, earning a spot while playing 30 games for the Bethesda Big Train. Morris’ Big Train teammate and Terps RHP Mike Rescigno may have had the best summer of any Maryland reliever, dominating the CRCBL to the tune of a 1.80 ERA over 19 outings. Rescigno was a vital piece of Bethesda’s postseason run, allowing only one run in four playoff appearances. On the summer, Rescigno allowed only eight hits in 20 innings of work. INF Andrew Bechtold was the third Terp to don the Big Train green, returning from injury to reach base 23 times in 19 games.

Three Terps spent their summers in Baltimore, playing for the Ripken League’s Baltimore Redbirds. OF Zach Jancarski was a key part of the Redbirds’ championship run, batting .274 over 31 games. Jancarski’s summer was highlighted by his speed, as he stole 16 bases, good for top-10 in the league. Jamal Wade appeared in four games for Baltimore, while incoming freshman Marty Costes batted .259 with 14 RBI and seven stolen bases. Costes showed good power for an 18-year-old, registering 10 extra-base-hits, good for a slugging percentage of .411.

Nick Dunn had a standout season in the Ripken League (Photo courtesy of SS-TP T-Bolts) — Nick Dunn had a standout season in the Ripken League
(Photo courtesy of SS-TP T-Bolts)

Costes wasn’t the only high school graduate to impress in the Ripken League. Infielder Nick Dunn led all Maryland hitters by batting .321 for the Silver Spring/Takoma Park T-Bolts. He drove in a team-high 17 runs and struck out only six times in 31 games. Dunn reached base better than 40 percent of the time and finished top ten in the league with 36 hits. Check back in with MBN later in the week for Matt Present’s piece on Dunn’s breakout summer. Incoming commit AJ Lee teamed up with Dunn on the T-Bolts infield, drawing 11 walks, stroking 18 hits and stealing eight bases in 22 games.

Incoming JUCO transfer Brandon Smith represented Maryland on the Baltimore Dodgers. The infielder from New Jersey tallied 30 hits and scored 14 runs against Ripken League competition. Smith will join MBN on the upcoming podcast as well.

Two other Terps left the area for summer ball, enjoying the season away from home. INF Pat Hisle played 30 games for the Albany Dutchman of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, spending his time in upstate New York. RHP Andrew Green headed south, notching a 2.53 ERA in nine outings for the Wilson Tobs (NC) of the Coastal Plains League.

Summer Ball June Recap

July 1, 2015 MBN 2015 Summer Ball Update

by John Vittas

While the Terps were late to summer ball this season, most of Maryland’s players are now fully in the swing of things as the month of July begins.

Mike Shawaryn has been pitching for Team USA throughout various ballparks in North Carolina, helping the Stars & Stripes to a 5-3 start. Both of Shawaryn’s outings came against Chinese Taipei:

2 G, 6.2 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 6 K, 3 BB

ERA: 5.40 WHIP: 1.65 K/9: 8.1

Nick Cieri is Maryland’s lone representative in the Cape Cod League, the nation’s top college summer league. The Terps’ DH is off to an outstanding start with the Wareham Gateman:

8 G, 7-for-19, 3 RBI, 2 BB, SB, 4 K

AVG: .368 OBP: .429 SLG: .368

Nick Cieri is off to a hot start on summer ball's biggest stage. Photo: Alexander Jonesi — Nick Cieri is off to a hot start on summer ball’s biggest stage.
Photo: Alexander Jonesi

The Cal Ripken League is the most popular summer league for Terps’ baseball players, with its teams located in the Maryland-DC-Virginia metropolitan area. A couple of Maryland’s key pitchers in 2015 have continued their campaigns in the area:

Taylor Bloom: 4 G, 3 ST, 3-0, 20.2, 13 H, BB, 32 K

ERA: 1.74 WHIP: 0.70 opp. AVG: .178 K/9: 13.9

Ryan Selmer: 5 G, ST, 0-2, 13.2 IP, 13 H, 8 BB, 12 K

ERA: 6.58 WHIP: 1.62 opp. AVG: .241 K/9: 7.9

Mike Rescigno: 5 G, 6 IP, 2 H, 4 BB, 7 K

ERA: 3.00 WHIP: 1.00 opp. AVG: .105 K/9: 10.5

Many of Maryland’s 2015 position players are also getting reps in the Ripken League:

Zach Jancarski: 15 G, 11-for-41 (.268 AVG/ .333 OBP/ .317 SLG), 4 RBI, 8 R, 9 SB, 6 K

Justin Morris: 9 G, 6-for-32 (.188 / .333 / .188), 3 RBI, 4 R

John Mazza: 12 G, 4-for-33 (.121 / .237 / .121), R, RBI

Jamal Wade: 3 G, 2-for-7, 2B, 2 R

Andrew Bechtold: 1 G, 1-for-3, BB (returned from thumb injury on June 29)

Some of Maryland’s incoming players have performed even better than the current guys in the Ripken League:

Brandon Smith (JUCO transfer – will be a junior in 2016)

19 G, 18-for-71 (.254 / .308 / .310), HR, 3 RBI, 8 R, SB, 21 K

Martin Costes: 19 G, 20-for-63 (.317 / .377 / .540), 2 HR, 12 RBI, 14 R, 4 SB, 10 K

Nick Dunn: 12 G, 13-for-42 (.310 / .375 / .429), 5 R, 8 RBI, 2 SB

AJ Lee: 6 G, 6-for-21 (.286 / .423 / .381), RBI, 2 R, SB

A couple other current players have left the area to play this summer:

Pat Hisle (Albany Dutchman – Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League)

8 G, 3-for-18 (.167), 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB

Andrew Green (Wilson Tobs – Coastal Plains League)

4 G, 5 IP (ERA: 3.60), 6 H (opp. AVG: .300), 5 BB (WHIP: 2.20), 5 K (K/9: 9.0)

The summer season continues until the end of July before players get a few weeks off before returning to school in the fall. Be sure to return to MBN for updates on how the Terps are doing this summer.

Taylor Bloom strikes out 16 in summer league game

June 15, 2015 MBN 2015 Summer Ball Update

by John Vittas

Taylor Bloom tallied 16 strikeouts over eight innings in a 2-1 win Sunday night in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Taylor Bloom has been dominant in his two June starts. (Photo: Alexander Jonesi) — Taylor Bloom has been dominant in his two June starts.
(Photo: Alexander Jonesi)

Bloom was pitching for the Gaithersburg Giants of the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League. He held the Alexandria Aces to one run on two hits and only walked one, leading the Giants to their first win of the summer season.

BOX SCORE

Combining Sunday’s numbers with Bloom’s dominant outing at No. 1 UCLA, he’s allowed only five baserunners over his last 14 innings. Here’s the official line:

2 W, 14 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 18 K, 2 BB

12 of Bloom’s 16 strikeouts came on swings and misses, with the majority of them induced by his sharp changeup.

“It was the best performance I’ve seen from a Cal Ripken League pitcher for as long as I’ve been in the league,” Gaithersburg head coach Jeff Rabberman said. “He was remarkable. His changeup was absolutely devastating.”

Bloom worked with Maryland teammate John Mazza, who caught all nine innings for the Giants Sunday night.

“I thought John behind the plate did a great job,” Rabberman said “The Maryland familiarity really, really helps out.”

“It’s great having a familiar guy back there,” Bloom said. “We’re always on the same page all the time. We know what each of us wants to throw in each count and it ends up working out.”

Calls on the last four strikeouts:

Bloom joined the Gaithersburg broadcast after the game:

Terps Gear up for Summer Ball

June 12, 2015June 15, 2015 MBN 2015 Summer Ball Update

Maryland players have dispersed across the East Coast this week to begin their summer ball seasons. The summer season runs through the months of June and July and gives college players a chance to play in front of scouts with wood bats. Players who aren’t staying local will spend the summer living with host families.

Here’s where Maryland’s players will be spending their summer:

* Click on the links below to learn more the teams the Terps will be playing for. Team sites include stats, rosters, schedules, field directions and broadcast information:

Team USA