NORFOLK, VA-- Former Monarch pitcher Brandon Smith (Chesapeake, VA.) is now pitching for Lake Erie Crushers of the Frontier League. In two outings thus far, he has allowed no runs in three innings of work and three strikeouts.
The Frontier League is an Independent profession league consisting of 14 teams split up into two seven-team divisions. The teams include the Evansville Otters, Southern Illinois Miners, Florence Freedom, Lake Erie Crushers, Traverse City Beach Bums, Frontier Greys and the Washington Wild Things. The West division is comprised of the Gateway Grizzlies, Rockford Aviators, Joliet Slammers, Normal CornBelters, River City Rascals, Schaumburg Boomers and the Windy City ThunderBolts.
Former Monarch pitcher Joe Haumacher is now playing for the Camden Riversharks in the Atlantic Professional League. The independent pro league consists of eight teams which include the Sugar Land Skeeters, Somerset Patriots, Lancaster Barnstormers, York Revolution, Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, The Long Island Ducks, the Bridgeport Blue Fish and the Camden Riversharks. Haumacher pitched for the Las Cruces in 2011 and Newark last year.
BEN VERLANDER UPDATE: The Monarchs 2013 third team All-American and All-CAA outfielder is currently hitting .275 for the Connecticut Tigers in the New York-Penn League. In 36 games, he has scored 17 runs with eight doubles, three homers and 18 RBI with five steals and a .420 slugging percentage. He belted his third homer of the season on July 26th against Lowell.