Recently cut pitcher Deeg solid in debut win

Getting cut from a big-league team can dent a pitcher’s confidence. For Lake Erie Crushers starter Nick Deeg, his confidence never wavered as he made his debut on July 28 in a 5-2 win

over Normal at Sprenger Stadium. It was the third win in a row for Lake Erie.

Deeg was released from the San Francisco Giants organization on July 26, and the Lake Orion, Mich. native made a solid first impression, going five innings and giving up one run on four hits. He struck out five with no walks.

“I felt comfortable and everything worked, so I’m really happy with what I did,” Deeg said. “I was down (getting cut from the Giants) and it’s obviously not something you expect. I have a good attitude and I’m still young. I can’t give up on this game. We’ve got really good guys and everyone introduced themselves and made me feel at home. I’m just happy to be on a team with such great guys.”

Deeg pitched for the Salem-

Keizer Volcanoes and made all 10 of his appearances out of the pen. He made three starts total in two years of affiliated ball and was a starter for Central Michigan, posting a 3.71 ERA over three years. He pitched at Sprenger Stadium previously in his final collegiate start at the Mid-American Conference tournament, so the start with the Crushers brought back memories.

“I’m familiar with everything and it’s nice,” he added. “It’s nice to be back and it’s nice to do what I did tonight.”

The left-hander has already ingrained himself with his teammates and hopes to put forth a strong run for Lake Erie to open up eyes.

“I just need to take it one day at a time,” he said. “I’m not really worried about anything and I’m just having fun playing the game.”

In windy conditions, the Crushers’ bats came alive, scoring four runs out of the gate.

After an RBI sacrifice fly from Sean Hurley, center fielder Connor Oliver drove in Conner Simonetti and DH Brandon Murray drove in two more runs for a 4-0 lead.

CornBelters third baseman Miguel Torres hit a solo home run in the second, but that was the only blip on the radar for Deegs.

The Crushers later tacked on an RBI single from Jordan Dean in the fifth. Re- liever Connor Reed pitched the final four innings, giving up a hit and picking up his first save.

The game was the first meeting between Lake Erie and Normal since the CornBelters swept them in late May.

“Dee threw the ball pretty well today,” Crush- ers manager Cam Roth said. “I heard some good reports of him from people in the Giants’ organization. He’s a 6-foot-5, 240-pound left- hander. I mean you really can’t beat that. He commanded his three pitches in the zone and kept the ball down.”

The Crushers had eight hits, one each from eight different players. Normal had five. Normal’s starter Charlie Gillies’ (4-7) final line was six innings, seven hits and four earned runs.

“Pitching and defense is what’s going to do it for us,” Roth said. “Connor pitched well too. He’s a guy that will have more hits than innings pitched and will have some strikeouts and do some funky things. He’s had some tough luck but came out there today and threw the ball really well.”