SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Looking to improve their skills and continue to learn the game, 21 Bronco baseball players will participate in summer ball all over the country. Several players will be in local leagues but there will be players in Alaska, New England and Kansas.

"Summer ball is an outstanding experience for all of our guys," said associate head coach Gabe Ribas. "They get a chance to get away from the confines of our program and see what other people are doing. From a development standpoint, they get more at-bats, more repetitions, more innings on the mound and they get to test their wares against people from all over."

Another benefit of playing summer ball is that players get the chance to focus solely on baseball for the months that they are gone. 

"It's a great time of year for them to focus on the baseball instead of having to worry about baseball and school at the same time," added Ribas. "They get a chance to go to the weight room every day, run every day and play every day. It lets them feel like their professionals for a summer. Some of the biggest growth happens at summer ball. When they come back they understand what is expected of them and the discipline of this program. Hopefully they use their time in the summer to help make Santa Clara baseball outstanding again."

The experience helps players come back more prepared for the next season after getting valuable innings and at-bats.

Santa Clara has nine players in the Far West League on different teams so players will get a chance to stand in against a teammate. Another league with multiple Broncos is the well-respected Northwoods League. In all, eight different leagues around the country will feature at least one Bronco. 

Check back to SantaClaraBroncos.com throughout the summer as we update fans on Bronco baseball players' experiences throughout their respective leagues.

Full list of Broncos playing summer ball:

Alaska Baseball League
Casey Munoz 

Far West League
Kyle Cortopassi
Max Deering
Justin Gisch
Mac Hess
C.J. Jacobe
Nick Medeiros          
Peter Summerville
Kenny Treadwell
D.J. Zapata 

Futures Collegiate Baseball League
Evan Brisentine
Kert Woods

Great Lakes League
Ben Wright    
Reece Karalus

New England Collegiate Baseball League
Zach Looney  
Jacob Steffens

Northwoods League
Greg Harisis  
Peter Hendron
Jose Vizcaino, Jr. 

Pacific West Baseball League
Chris Heckert