BOSTON – Following his second straight trip to the NCAA Regional Tournament with the Suffolk baseball team, rising junior Kevin Higgins laced up his cleats and threw his glove on to take the field this summer, playing for the Weslleville Nitros of the New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL).

At the mid-way point of the Nitros' 46-game schedule, Higgins has helped the ball club to second-place in the Western Division standing with a 12-11 ledger. Through 20 games on the field, the infielder has put together a .257 average, connecting on 18 of his 70 appearances at the plate including six doubles, one triple and one jack. Higgins has driven in eight runs and scored 14 times himself, and stole four bases.

Higgins had a career day on July 4th. The North Attelboro, Massachusetts, native went 3-for-4 at the dish with his first homer of the summer season to go along with two doubles. Higgins ended the day with four RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases in a 16-11 victory over the Olean Oilers to be named NYCBL Player of the Day.

The NYCBL, found in 1978, is a summer wood bat development league for professional baseball. Major League Baseball funds a small portion of the leagues annual budget. The league gives college players who have not yet signed a professional contract the opportunity to develop their skills at a higher level of play, gain experience with wood bats and be evaluated by scouts. The NYCBL is located in scenic Upstate New York. The Nitros joined the ranks in 1998.