The Summit League announced its 2019 postseason awards list Tuesday (May 21), and the Western Illinois baseball team was well represented with a trio of first-team selections: CJ Schaeffer Jr., Drue Galassi, and Javin Drake.
CJ Schaeffer Jr. | Catcher | Sr. | Lake St. Louis, Mo. (Timberland)
A Second Team All-Summit selection a season ago, Schaeffer stamped his final campaign with a first team nod. The senior was listed alongside the best catchers in all of Division I baseball on the 2019 Buster Posey Award Watch List and was the lone representative from the Summit League.
He currently paces the Summit in runners caught stealing (21) and is graduating with season’s best in several categories: batting average (.282), hits (48), doubles (10), home runs (4), RBI (34) and runs (24). The Lake St. Louis, Mo., native recorded his first career grand slam, walk-off style in a 10-6 victory over South Dakota State earlier this year, and has two other game winners to his name at Southeast Missouri and Saint Louis.
Drue Galassi | Outfielder | Jr. | Peoria, Ill. (Richwoods)
So far, Galassi’s junior slate has included a few career marks and his first-ever postseason award. The Illinois native joined elite company this year, where he ranks ninth all-time in home runs (19) and eighth in RBI (102) on Western’s career lists.
Galassi has anchored the Leatherneck offense in each of the past three seasons and is currently the lone athlete on the 2019 roster hitting above .300. His .302 average sits sixth in the Summit, improving to .351 in league games, and he also ranks second in RBI (46), third in stolen bases (13), fourth in total bases (93), sixth in hits (54), and 10th in runs (33).
Javin Drake | Pitcher | Jr. | Wilton, Iowa (Wilton)
A three-time SL Player of the Week honoree in the 2019 season alone, it comes as no surprise that Drake was voted to the first team.
His 2019 highlights include back-to-back complete games, one resulting in a shutout (Omaha; May 11), and both Leatherneck wins. Drake’s ERA has steadily dropped over the last three seasons and presently sits at a career-best 3.65, which also ranks fifth in the league.
The right-handed pitcher from Wilton, Iowa, entered the WIU record books for the second most strikeouts in a single-season (105) and is ranked 26th in the nation in the category. He leads the league in Ks and innings pitched (98.2) while managing a record of 7-5.
“Our league has really good position players and pitchers, and is really competitive from top to bottom this year,” said head coach Ryan Brownlee. “Each team has guys that you can hang your hat on. Our team’s success this year has been contributed by a bunch of guys. I’m really happy for Drue, CJ, and Javin for their league recognition. All three have had career years and have carried a lot for our team this year. We wouldn’t be where we are at without those three.”
The Leathernecks begin their postseason journey in a first-round game against Omaha. The matchup will kick off the 2019 Summit League Tournament with a noon start.
***Report Courtesy of Western IL University***
