Former 2005 NSU Baseball Players Enjoying Success with Professional Teams

Three members of the 2005 NSU baseball team are excelling in their professional careers just months after concluding their senior season for the Knights. 2005 Rawlings/ABCA First Team All-American right-handed pitcher Derek Antelo (Miami, Fla.), along with 2003 Rawlings/ABCA Second Team All-American Kyle Ruwe (Sunrise, Fla.) and 2004 South Region Second Team catcher Steve Smith (Coral Springs, Fla.) are all enjoying success in their professional careers around North America.

Antelo became the first NSU baseball player to be chosen in the top-10 rounds and the third player in program history to be picked in MLB's First-Year Player Draft when the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him No. 301 overall in June’s draft. The 6’2”, 205-pound right-hander has posted a 5-3 record with a 2.83 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 41.1 innings of work for the Williamsport Crosscutters of the Class-A New York-Penn League.

Antelo has now gone 16-3 overall in 2005 after posting a perfect 11-0 record for NSU during his senior season for the Knights. The Crosscutters are 23-14 overall heading into this weekend, and are currently one game out of first place in the McNamara Division.

Meanwhile, Ruwe and Smith both signed for Northern League teams following their four-year NSU careers. The Northern League is acknowledged to be the pre-eminent modern era independent league. Over two million fans attended Northern League games in 2004, and the league average of 4,269 ranked as fifth highest among the 19 Minor Leagues, best among Independents.

Ruwe has made nine appearances for the Lincoln Salt Dogs, including two starts and is currently 1-0 with a 3.04 ERA. The 6’5” right-hander from Nova High School has struck out 18 batters and limited opponents to a 238 batting average in 26.2 innings on the mound for the Salt Dogs who are currently tied for first place in their division.

Smith has appeared in 11 games as the backstop for the Winnipeg Goldeyes and has four hits with six RBI, including a pair of doubles. Winnipeg is currently fourth in the North Division of the Northern League with a record of 29-31 heading into the weekend.