SYRACUSE, N.Y. — On June 21, the New York Collegiate Baseball League announced Spartans Adam Sullivan, Joe Wike and Noah Wieczorek as members of its 28-man roster for the NACSB Prospect Games on June 26 in Lynchburg, Virginia. Spartans President J.J. Potrikus will manage the NYCBL team, comprised of players from all 10 squads. The league will compete against other premier summer baseball organizations in front of numerous Major League Baseball scouts on the Liberty University campus.
Founded in 2013, the Prospect Showcase originally featured one game between the Florida and Sunbelt leagues. Now up to eight teams, each league’s top players will participate in multiple games over the three-day event. The NYCBL is making its first appearance at the showcase this year, along with the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League.
“I’m excited. I got a look at the roster, there’s a bunch of studs on it. There’s a bunch of guys who can really play this game,” Potrikus said.
Sullivan finished batting .306 with five home runs and 33 RBIs in his freshman season at Le Moyne College and was named the Northeast-10 Conference Rookie of the Week for April 24. The 6’1 Marcellus native has been the Spartans’ most dangerous hitter in the early season. In 13 games, the left-hander posted a .327 average with 9 RBIs and 8 runs scored. Sullivan has also showcased his versatility defensively, playing both the infield and outfield for Syracuse this year.
“I’m gonna try and go out there and hit some line drives. Try to just play my game, play the way I like to play, and hopefully that will get some good looks,” Sullivan said.
Wike slashed .260/.323/.296 in 48 games at Eckerd College this season, playing primarily second base. Despite his 5’7 frame, the Liverpool native has blasted two of the three Spartan home runs this season. Batting .318 for Syracuse, Wike has drawn more walks (7) than strikeouts (6) in his 56 at-bats for the Spartans and is tied for second on the team in steals. Wike also excels defensively at second base, where he has turned a handful of double plays – three of which came in the Spartans’ season opener against Cortland. The Eckerd senior routinely turns hard groundballs into outs with a strong first step and excellent range.
“I’ve been coming in every day and putting work in with the fellas,” Wike said. “It’s gonna be fun, playing in front of a lot of scouts.”
With a fastball velocity currently in the low 90s, the 20-year-old Wieczorek still has a lot left in the tank. The Siena College sophomore pitched for the 2022 NYCBL champion Cortland Crush, earning 2 wins with 19 punchouts over 25.1 innings. The Liverpool native complements his heater with a knee-buckling curveball as an added weapon.
“I’m looking forward to playing with a couple of my past teammates from last year. Just enjoying the experience,” Wieczorek said.
In addition to its three players, Spartans President J.J. Potrikus will also be making the trip to coach the NYCBL team. He will be assisted by James Williamson, former Spartans coach and 2017 Eastern Division champion, who is currently the head assistant coach of the Cortland Crush.
The NYCBL team will play two games in this year’s showcase. It first faces off against the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League on June 26 at 10:00 a.m. Later that same day, the NYCBL will play the Valley League at 2:00 p.m.
“The NYCBL is over 40 years old. [The Spartans] have been in it since 2017 and I played in it back in the day. I’m excited to represent the NYCBL on a national level,” Potrikus said.