LOVES PARK, Ill. – The Rockford Rivets are adding a consistent bat to the middle of their order.
The Rivets announced Wednesday that Quincy University outfielder J.C. DeMuri will join the team for the Northwoods League season, which starts in less than three weeks. DeMuri is hitting .354 with nine home runs and 49 RBI for the Hawks.
“JC transferred into Quincy this fall (from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale) with very high expectations,” Rivets manager Brian Smith. “To me, he has lived up to those expectations. (Quincy University hitting coach) Josh Keim, who was our hitting coach last summer, knows the caliber of player the league needs to continue to grow into the best college summer league in the country and recommending JC was a no brainer. He is a big, strong outfielder with a lot of gap to gap power. JC should fit in to the middle of the order nicely. We are excited to add a quality player from a quality institution.”
DeMuri has gone hitless in consecutive games just twice this season. He’s hit safely in 36 of his 47 games for the Hawks, who finished the regular season 28-20, 17-10 in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference. The junior from Manchester, Mo. was named conference Player of the Week for the week of March 27-April 2.
The Rivets’ season begins May 30 at Kalamazoo. The home opener is at 6:35 p.m. June 1 against the Wisconsin Woodchucks. The Rivets are offering a $50 four-game pack that includes a replica Rivets jersey, tickets to four select games and all-you-can-eat food (burgers, brats, hot dogs, grilled chicken, popcorn and fountain soda) for the following dates: Friday, June 2; Saturday, June 24; Friday, July 14; Friday, July 28. The four-pack can be purchased only by calling the Rivets at 815.240.4159 or in person at the Rivets Stadium box office. There are a limited number of jerseys available, so don’t wait to order this four-pack.
The Rockford Rivets are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League, which will play its 24th season of summer collegiate baseball in 2017. The Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, 160 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (Washington Nationals), two-time World Champion Ben Zobrist (Chicago Cubs) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (Boston Red Sox), Jordan Zimmermann (Detroit Tigers), Curtis Granderson (New York Mets) and Lucas Duda (Mets). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website, NorthwoodsLeague.com.