2 0 2 2  Season

The Lake County Franchise improved greatly from 2021. Drake Larriuz regained his dominant form, Kyle Risinger and Brad Callahan broke out, Connor Fitzgerald improved greatly, and the veterans, Ralph Lozano, Aaron Archibald, and Ryan Siembal looked mature beyond their years.

The pitching was questionable heading into the season but after acquiring veteran James Creek, and the return of Ralph Lozano along with Aaron Archibald who still in the mixed, the rotation looked really scary. The defense was shaky but not terrible. The offense was scary and young. The entire lineup was a hard out and a big pain.

The depth of the WHAT? Squad system supplemented any small injuries that came up. The Club even saw some flashes from rookies James Creekmore Jr., Uli Hernandez and Jake Munson towards season end.

The WHAT? Men’s Softball Club were one of the more pleasant surprises around softball this year. The Club finished the regular season with a 10-10 record which put them fifth in the Tuesday Night League. Additionally, the team clinched the eighth seed in the All City Playoff Tournament.

Summer  League  Roster

There isn’t much in the way of futures value on the WHAT? Club. They’re really good and everybody knows it, at the beginning of the year, many people around the game – fans and analysts alike – had the WHAT? Club pegged as a team that could very well surprise, but most probably didn’t expect them to be a contender. While their stay in the postseason was short (they lose to the Tampa Bay Rays in Sunday's single-elimination Series), it is still a major accomplishment for a team that has a very bright future.

Summer  League  Stats

#PossTEAMGmPAABRunsOBHitsO.B.P1H2H3H4HS.L.GX.B.RBIsKOBBA.V.GO.P.SRERFCSFDPR / GOB / GH / GBI / G
8SSARCHIBALD Aaron238774385844.66729942.9051530213.5951.57212311.72.51.91.3
9RCCALLAHANBrad259388335953.63439842.852144125.6021.48714311.32.42.11.6
69PCREEKJames2810086375237.52037000.430022114.430.95016131.31.91.30.8
17CCREEKMORE Junior2810190416452.6342980151.1672341511.5781.80016111.52.31.91.5
31BFITZGERALD Connor2810090446353.63045710.689833110.5891.31908011.62.31.91.2
34MFLARRIUZDrake249287415549.5982911091.000204005.5631.48715601.72.32.01.7
09PLOZANORalph176257193428.54824202.63241425.491.95011121.12.01.60.8
27LCMUNSONJake269285223524.38021300.318318107.282.698410210.81.30.90.7
13RFRISINGERKyle237460254329.58119730.7001029414.4831.28108201.11.91.31.3
283BSIEMBALRyan2810581387147.676321104.8641542024.5801.54003621.42.51.71.5
6OFGOULDMike41717488.4715210.7063600.4711.17602201.02.02.01.5
163BHERNANDEZUli144541132520.55613403.80572114.4881.36013020.91.81.41.5
21UPMATTHEWSEric276121.2861000.1670121.167.45200000.51.00.50.5
0POLSONChunky288155.6254100.7503300.6251.17600011.02.02.01.5
11OFRZEWNICKIDavid41412697.64341021.1673802.5831.81000101.52.31.82.0
5OFSANCHEZJason41211376.5834200.7272801.5451.31102000.81.81.52.0
0CSIEMBALDarrin62119295.4295000.2630302.263.69222000.31.50.80.5
0OFWIEMANNKyle386364.7503100.8331502.6671.58300101.02.01.31.7
22UPZAMUDIOCarlos618165108.5565102.9383712.5001.49300200.81.71.31.2
Totals281003884368591461.589333751241.77312835929119.5211.3621158291413.121.116.512.8
STARTERS28977862360575449.589325731239.76912434728115.5211.3581158261412.920.516.012.4

This team is built to win now and has a prolonged contention window with a young, controlled core group of players that rose through the county league ranks as teammates. It will be interesting to see how normalcy feels for the WHAT? Sftbll Club. The 2022 team was a deep, supremely talented ballclub that can figure it out moving forward and withstand injuries in the lineup. Not every team can say that.

Most  Valuable  Player

27 Year Old Outfielder Brad Callahan took home his first career MVP award after one of his greatest offensive season. The August Player of the Month Award winner overall, belted a .602 Avg / .634 OBP / 1.487 OPS with 41 RBI, and 53 base hits.

The left center fielder MVP offensive production streak that started on August 14th and ended on September 16th, when he batted an amazing .792 Avg, while collecting 19 base hits with 24 plate appearance, ( 5 2B’s , 3B , HR , 4 Runs and 16 RBI’s ).

Rookie of the Year

Jake Munson, 17, responses formed the basis for a historic rookie campaign. That’s why a panel of his fellow Rec League players overwhelmingly made him 2022 Rookie of the Year and Gold Glove Award. Munson received 12 of 14 votes cast. Infielder Uli Hernandez finished second with two votes.

Made his team debut on May 11th vs. Wkgn Fire Squad at SportsPark Field B’ going ( 2 for 4 , 2 RBIs ). Of course, he also gained tons of admirers during his Rookie-Of-The-Year offensive production streak that started on September 13th, and ended on October 17th , when he batted an amazing .731 Avg while collecting 19 base hits with 26 plate appearance, ( 3 2B’s , 4 HR s , BB , 10 Runs and 16 RBI’s ).

In 2022, the WHAT? Men’s Softball Club celebrated its 10th year younger squad anniversary. Many, many talented ball players participated on those younger squads throughout years. Outfielder Kyle Risinger currently holds second longest-tenured on the club behind Ralph Lozano. Aaron Archibald, Ryan Siembal, Mike Gould and Bradley Daniel all came after Risinger.

While the WHAT? Sftbll postseason hopes fell short, that doesn’t mean the team is doomed. In fact, this is just the beginning of a new window for the WHAT? Sftbll and it was a positive step in the right direction. The Club has all of the pieces that are needed to be a true contender in the Lake County Leagues next season. With a few more improvements on the defensive side, the Club will be able to bolster their chances even more.

Fall  League  Stats

#PossTEAMGmPAABRunsOBHitsO.B.P1H2H3H4HS.L.GX.B.RBIsKOBBA.V.GO.P.SRERFCSFDPR / GOB / GH / GBI / G
82BARCHIBALD Aaron125349273227.60422401.69451034.5511.29816002.32.72.30.8
9RCCALLAHANBrad114845121712.3549300.33331143.267.68825121.11.51.11.0
69PCREEKJames12473951810.38310000.2560638.256.63901130.41.50.80.5
17CCREEKMORE Junior125249183431.654177161.184143313.6331.83801131.52.82.62.8
31BFITZGERALD Connor124945132824.57121300.60031044.5331.17105111.12.32.00.8
34SSLARRIUZDrake104541153026.66719430.8787614.6341.54506001.53.02.60.6
27LCMUNSONJake124844132824.58314604.955102014.5451.53802001.12.32.01.7
13RFRISINGERKyle9382982011.5267220.5864629.3791.11302300.92.21.20.7
5OFSANCHEZJason8312761611.5168210.5563714.4071.07213110.82.01.40.9
283BSIEMBALRyan124941122618.53112501.63461218.4391.16500411.02.21.51.0
6OFGOULDMike264242.6672000.5003202.5001.17600011.02.02.01.5
0UPNORTONBrandon21010566.60032101.0003200.6001.60000102.53.03.01.0
11OFRZEWNICKIDavid7272681312.4817203.88551441.4621.36601101.11.91.72.0
0UPPlayerAdam276132.4292000.3330411.333.76201000.51.51.02.0
0UPPlayerFrank133000.0000000.0000000.000.00001000.00.00.00.0
Totals12513458145275216.53615340815.692631432655.4721.228434141212.122.918.011.9

The trading cards commemorate Outfielders Kyle Risinger and James Creekmore Jr. Risinger is the last remaining ball player from the original 2012 younger squad. Making his debut on February 18th, 2022 vs. InFamous Softball Club at Myrtle Beach S.C. going ( 1 for 3 , BB ). Creekmore Jr. becoming the first rookie ball player to hit over .600 during summer play. Player of the Month in May, Creekmore Jr. lead the squad in runs scored, RBI’s, HR’s and extra base hits.