STATE COLLEGE — They call it “short season” for a reason.
With just 76 games in the New York Penn League schedule, the State College Spikes breeze into town in June, only to leave with the summer in September.
With the team near the season’s halfway point, who would we choose as the Spikes’ all-stars at this point?
Let’s start the conversation with Tommy Edman. The infielder has played second base and shortstop this season, and quickly found himself serving as manager Johnny Rodriguez’s preferred leadoff option. He has responded by leading the team in several categories through July 17. These include batting average (.303), runs scored (22) and stolen bases (seven). He also ranks third on the team in RBIs, with 14 as of this writing.
Edman provides solid defense and a quality approach to the plate. Equally adept at hunting fastballs and working counts, he has a bright future.
If Edman gets the Spikes’ offense going, it is first baseman Ryan McCarvel who serves as the straw that stirs their drink. McCarvel leads the team in home runs (five) and RBIs (20), and provided one of the season’s most memorable moments when he hit for the cycle on June 30. McCarvel started slowly this year, but has quickly developed into the team’s chief RBI threat.
Second baseman Dylan Tice deserves a special mention as the team’s Swiss army knife. The 36th-round 2015 draft pick has a solid-if-not-spectacular batting line of .281/.347/.416, with two home runs and 10 RBIs. Rodriguez used Tice in a variety of ways. Tice is an excellent contact hitter — his strikeout rate on the year is just 15.7 percent – and can be counted on for hit-and-runs and bunts to go along with slap singles and his six doubles. He slots naturally between Edman and the rest of the offense, and is a natural cog that many managers desire.
On the mound, Ronnie Williams continues to progress this year, showing his second-round pick promise. In 34.1 innings, Williams carries a 2.62 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP (walks and hits divided by innings pitched). He is striking out nearly seven batters per game, and has given up just 10 earned runs. He keeps the ball in the ballpark (no home runs on the year) and has only walked five batters. He is exactly what you want in your staff ace.
Bryan Dobzanski has matched Williams in production, with a 2.25 ERA in five starts. He lacks the strikeout ability of Williams — Dobzanski has but 17 strikeouts in 32 innings — and can give up the long ball on occasion. His is a game of maximizing effectiveness at the right times.
Other names could have made this list. Vince Jackson is a player who can impact a game with his speed, even if his bat isn’t lively. Dewin Perez has pitched well enough out of the bullpen to earn a starting position.
The State College Spikes are full of quality players and interesting stories. With the season already halfway gone, fans should make a note to head to Medlar Field to catch a game before the boys of summer give way to the legends of the fall across the street.
