Four More Metro League Alumni drafted last week in MLB Amateur Draft

By Sophie Ozier

As the 2015 MLB Player Draft concluded, four additional Metro League Alums were taken in the MLB amateur draft.   Geoff Hartlieb, Orlando Oliveria, Matt Meier and Josh Lester all played for St. Louis Metro Collegiate teams during the 2013 season. Tate Matheny was selected on day one of the draft, so this brings the total to 5 in 2015.   “We fully expect a few more of our guys to sign as free agents, so all in all, we’re very pleased with the 2015 Draft class from Metro Collegiate Baseball,” said Marty Stein, League President.

Read more: Four More Metro League Alumni drafted last week in MLB Amateur Draft

Branneky Earns SLIAC Player of the Year

By Sophie Ozier

Tyler Branneky, a junior from Westminster College and four-year Metro Collegiate Player, was named the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Baseball Player of the Year for 2015.

“I was really excited about it. I hadn’t really thought I was going to get it, so I was pretty surprised,” said Branneky upon hearing about the award. “I think this was just a confirmation that what I’ve been doing is working.”

Branneky led the Westminster Blue Jays with a .413 batting average and broke the school’s RBI single-season record with 45. He also tied the school’s career triple record with eight, six of which came during the 2015 season. Westminster finished the year with a 24-12 record, going 16-6 in SLIAC conference play.

Read more: Branneky Earns SLIAC Player of the Year

Bilbrey, Estes Join Metro League to Coach Green Sox

By Sophie Ozier

For the past two summers, C.J. Bilbrey served as the head coach for the Explorers, which played in another college-age league.  There he led his team to an overall 47-22 record, winning the league championship in 2013.

This season Bilbrey has joined forces with Harris-Stowe State University colleague (and Metro Alumnus) Dave Estes, to serve as co-coaches for the Metro Collegiate Green Sox.  Although the two didn’t start coaching together until 2014, they played together on Harris-Stowe’s team for two seasons. Estes has just concluded his seventh season as the head coach and Bilbrey his second season as assistant coach for the Hornets, prior to making their coaching debut with the Metro League on June 1.

“The wooden bats are a huge difference in this league.  There’s absolutely no question that a wood bat is the real tool of the hitting game.  College players who use wooden bats during the summer months really step up their game."    Is it harder to hit with a wooden bat?   "Oh, you bet!    That's why so many “rec” players and leagues stay with metal.  They think it gives them an edge when it's actually holding them back."

Read more: Bilbrey, Estes Join Metro League to Coach Green Sox

Matheny Drafted by Red Sox

By: Sophie Ozier

St. Louis Metro Collegiate League alum, Tate Matheny was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the fourth round (111^th overall) of the 2015 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Matheny joined the Metro Collegiate Knights during the 2012 season following his senior year at Westminster Christian Academy.  The Knights were coached that summer by two former MLB players, Lonnie Maclin and Kenny Reitz. The outfielder finished the season with a .423 average (11-26) and later went on to Missouri State University.   There he was voted MSU's Team MVP and Freshman All-American by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball. Matheny was named All-Missouri Valley Conference all three seasons with the Bears and was First-Team All-MVC the last two.

“He’s close to a five tool player. He’s got good speed, good arm, good power…he’s got it all,” said former Knights coach and Major Leaguer Lonnie Maclin.

Matheny is the son of St. Louis Cardinal’s Manager, Mike Matheny. Mike Matheny played Major League Baseball for 13 seasons (five with the Cardinals) before becoming the Cardinals Manager in 2012.

“He knows what to do and he knows how to work hard” says Maclin, a trait he credits Mike Matheny instilled in him. “He has all the tools and all the skills to play in the major leagues.”

2014 Championship Series - Game 5 - July 24, 2014

The St. Louis Metro League Bandits and Dodgers Represented The Metro League Proudly in the 2014 NABF World Series

2014 Metro All Star Game

2014 League MVP, Dalton Hewitt with Baseball Commissioner, Bob Totterer

Home Run Derby Champion, Case Munson, left and Runner-up Larry Schimsa, right with League President, Marty Stein

Harvard Connection helps Metro Bandits take game #1 in Playoffs over Saints

The Harvard University connection to StL Metro Collegiate Baseball played pivotal roles in the Bandits game #1 comeback win over the Metro Saints in the first round of the playoffs Tuesday evening at Ballwin Athletic Assoc.   Matt Hink, left and Mitch Klug, on right both play for Harvard during the regular college baseball season.   The Bandits were down 6-0 after an inning and a half of play.   Coach Rick Fiala made a call to the bullpen and brought in 6’5” 215lb Matt Hink.   Hink answered the call with 6 innings of shutout baseball over a very potent Saints offense.   In addition, Matt posted a couple of key RBI’s in the comeback victory.   Mitch Klug wasn’t to be denied as he also contributed both at the plate and with some very solid defensive play in the field.   “Both HInk, from Marquette High School and Klug, from SLUH have been a pleasure to coach and solid contributors all season.” Coach Rick Fiala.

Kevin Moulder Accepts Head Coaching Position at Murray State University

July 8, 2014

Metro Alum and current head coach of the St. Louis Metro Rebels has accepted the head coaching position at Murray State University in Murray, KY.   Kevin is yet another St. Louis Metro Collegiate Baseball success story as both a player and a coach.

As a player, Moulder was a League Leading pitcher and Metro Collegiate All Star. He started his coaching career with Metro Collegiate and as expected has been extremely successful at all of his coaching positions.

“We are very proud that Kevin has been such a large part of our organization on and off for the last 10+ years.   He is an outstanding young man and an excellent baseball coach. There’s no doubt he’ll be successful as he moves to the head coaching role at his alma matter, Murray State. We wish him the very best.”   - Marty Stein, Metro League President.

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Two More STL Metro Players DRAFTED from Coach Maclin’s Knights

The St. Louis Metro Collegiate Instructional Baseball League continues to be the platform that gets college players both seen and drafted by professional baseball.

Gerrion Grimm and Anthony Herran, Jr. have been selected in the June draft of amateur players. Gerrion was picked up by the Baltimore Orioles in the 13th round and Anthony was drafted by our St. Louis Cardinals.

According to their coach, Metro Alumni and former Major Leaguer, Lonnie Maclin, “There’s no surprise on either of these players. There’s a reason the best local players participate in the Metro League. I chose the Metro League when playing college baseball and its level of great competition sure helped me get to the Bigs.”

CONGRATS to both Anthony and Gerrion!