EVANSVILLE, Ind.—Two former University of Southern Indiana baseball standouts—Darin Mastroianni and Jeremy Kehrt—will face each other for the first time since leading the Screaming Eagles to the 2007 NCAA Division II Baseball Championship series when the New Hampshire Fisher Cats visit the Portland Sea Dogs Thursday at 6 p.m. (CDT) in Portland, Maine.
Mastroianni, a first-team All-American as well as an Academic All-American in 2007, was drafted in the 16th round of the 2007 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. He has played for the Fisher Cats, the Double-A affiliate of the Blue Jays, since 2009 when he made the move from Toronto’s Class A Advanced team, the Dunedin Blue Jays.
In 2010, Mastroianni is hitting .305 with four home runs and 34 RBIs. A converted outfielder from his second base position at USI, Mastroianni has stolen 31 bases in 36 attempts and has scored 64 runs.
His efforts have helped New Hampshire to a 51-34 record and has the Fisher Cats just 1.5 games out of first place in the Eastern League.
Kehrt, an All-GLVC and All-Region performer at USI, was selected in the 47th round of the 2008 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox, making him the fifth player in school history to be taken in the MLB ammeter draft.
The 6’2” right-handed pitcher was recently called up to the Sea Dogs, the Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, after beginning the 2010 season with its High A affiliate, the Salem Red Sox.
Throughout his first eight starts with New Hampshire, Kehrt is 1-5 with a 3.98 ERA and 21 strikeouts.
Thursday’s contest between New Hampshire and Portland will be the last of a four-game set. New Hampshire took the first two games, 5-3 and 6-5, while the third game is schedule for Wednesday at 6 p.m.