Omaha, NE – The Express had multiple players put their skills on display at the 2022 College World Series. Six Express alumni and one current player made appearances on the biggest stage in college baseball.
Two of Notre Dame’s everyday players were familiar faces for Express fans: catcher David LaManna (2018-19) and outfielder Spencer Myers (2018-19). LaManna saved his best for last, posting his best college season in his five years at Notre Dame. He had an impressive .346 batting average with nine doubles, three home runs, and 28 RBIs. David continued his dominant hitting in the CWS, picking up four hits in three games including a two-run homer against Oklahoma. Myers was the everyday center fielder for the Irish this year and had a solid year, getting on base at a .333 clip and driving in a career-high 22 runs. The 2018 Express MVP got on base all three games and had a clutch two-out two-RBI single in Notre Dame’s win over #9 Texas.
The #2 ranked Stanford Cardinals’ CWS appearance did not go as planned, losing both games in the double elimination bracket. They did receive some great contributions from former Express players though, particularly first baseman Carter Graham (2021) and Eddie Park (2021). As a sophomore, Graham was one of the best players in the country, leading the Pac-12 in home runs (22) and placing second in RBIs (79). Carter had a hit in both of Stanford’s games, highlighted by an RBI double against Arkansas. Park, MVP of the 2021 Express team, was an on-base machine for the Cardinals this year, finishing with a .318 batting average and .412 on-base percentage. The San Jose native hit .333 in his two CWS games with a run scored.
Vincent Martinez (2019), Brandt Pancer (2021), and Charlie Saum (2022) also got their cup of coffee in the CWS. Saum and Martinez both made appearances as pinch hitters against Arkansas while Pancer threw a scoreless inning in the Cardinals’ elimination game against Auburn.
The Express continue to build an impressive resume of former players in both college and professional baseball. They’ll look to add to that as the 2022 MLB Draft gets underway on July 17th.
The Eau Claire Express is a member of the Northwoods League, the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players. The Northwoods League is the largest organized collegiate baseball league in the world, with 22 teams. With its friendly ballpark settings and high level of competition, it draws significantly more fans than any other league of its kind. All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.eauclaireexpress.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. You can also download the Northwoods League Mobile App and set the Express as your favorite team.