Portland names Connor Lambert as Pitching Coach
PORTLAND, Ore. — Connor Lambert, who pitched at Washington State and has spent the past seven seasons as the associate head coach/pitching coach for the Corvallis Knights, is the new pitching coach for the University of Portland baseball program, announced head coach Geoff Loomis. In addition to the position with the Knights, Lambert has been the director of baseball operations at the University of Utah since 2015.
“Connor is a bright and energetic coach who has worked with some great coaches and pitching staffs at Utah and in Corvallis,” said Loomis. “He’s a teacher first, which matches our style as a staff and makes him a great addition for our program.”
Slippery Rock’s Joe Campagna shines in Summer League
Joe Campagna is making the most of his time playing summer baseball, and those around him have taken notice.
Campagna, a Blackhawk grad and shortstop at Slippery Rock University, participated in the Southern Collegiate Prospect Showcase this weekend in Kannapolis, N.C., after being named to the Southern Collegiate Baseball League all-star team. The showcase consisted of all-star teams from five different summer leagues playing in a round-robin style event.
“It was just a great weekend with some great competition,” Campagna said. “Everyone was throwing in the 90s (mph) and everyone could hit. I’m blessed to say that I was a part of such an awesome experience. I wish I could do it all over again.”
Washington State’s Davis Baillie bouncing back from Tommy John Surgery
It happened early and all at once. Just six innings into his collegiate career, Davis Baillie felt pain in his arm.
“I was pitching in our first Pac-12 series at UCLA,” Baillie said of his 2016 season. “I went in to pitch and pitched a full inning. During the last batter it started to hurt out of nowhere. I tore my UCL. So I had to have Tommy John [surgery].”
The former Falcon turned WSU Cougar had a surgical graft procedure. The so-called Tommy John surgery meant surgeons replaced the ulnar collateral ligament in Baillie’s right elbow with a tendon from his wrist. Baillie was granted a medical redshirt, but recovery would not be complete until halfway into the following season.
