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The Fayetteville SwampDogs announce the addition of three talented sophomores from Wright State. Pitchers Travis Hissong and Jack Van Horn along with infielder Michael Timm will be joining the Dogs this summer.
“We’re excited to have these three guys in Fayetteville this summer. They come from an outstanding program and I expect Michael Timm to provide us depth in the infield and be a quality middle of the lineup hitter. Travis Hissong and Jack Van Horn should help bolster our bullpen. They both have a lot of experience at the end of ballgames and I expect them to be leaders of the staff,” head coach Darrell Handelsman said.
Hissong, a hard throwing right hander, is 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA. In his 21 appearances, he has five saves. One of his best assets is that he has 43 strikeouts in 30 innings pitched and holds batters to a batting average nearly 20 points below the Mendoza line.
“My pitching coach Greg Lovelady asked me if I would like to play for the SwampDogs and I thought it sounded like a great team in a great league and gladly accepted,” Hissong said.
The 6-foot, 188-pound sophomore has a four-pitch arsenal and he can throw all of them for strikes. He said he learned a lot from coach Lovelady this past year at Wright State.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned playing at Wright State is the mental game side of baseball. Learning to play one pitch at a time and be mentally strong has helped me to be successful,” Hissong said.
Van Horn has yet to appear in a game this season, but he had a dominant 2012. He appeared in 23 games out of the pen and posted a 2.65 ERA in 34 innings as a true freshman. The Sidney, Ohio native had an impressive 30-4 strikeout to walk ratio and he won three games without suffering a loss.
The Raiders starting first baseman, Michael Timm, is having a successful second year with Wright State hitting .264 on the season in 45 games. He hit six doubles, tied for third on the team with three home runs to go along with a team-leading 30 RBIs.
“It is a great opportunity for me to continue to get better in all aspects of the game. The atmosphere of the SwampDogs games are incredible and that only adds to the excitement I have about coming to play,” Timm said.
He said one of things he learned in college was to get in a routine to clear his mind and stay focused. He was honored as the Horizon League All-Newcomer team after he proved that he could hit the gaps and he scored 26 runs with 24 RBIs.
The 6-4 infielder said he is excited to be able to play with his teammates this summer.
“I am very excited I get to continue to play with Jack and Travis this summer. Those guys are two of our better arms in the bullpens and will work hard and continue to push each other in the summer. I couldn't ask for a better group of guys to represent Wright State,” Timm said.
To add to an already impressive list of accomplishments, Timm was the Horizon League Batter of the Week the first week of May. He hit .417 in the span with six RBIs and has his first triple of the year.
The Fayetteville SwampDogs are a proud member of the Coastal Plain League, entering their 13th season in the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 17th season in 2013, the CPL features 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. Furthermore, the CPL has had over 1,000 alumni drafted and 62 alums – including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander – make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to friend us on Facebook (at www.facebook.com/coastalplainleague) and follow us via Twitter (as cpleague). |
