Ten Locals Players Make New York-Penn League All Star Game

Staten Island, New York will play host to the 2010 New York-Penn League All Star Game which will take place on Tuesday, August 17th. Ten players from the three New England affiliates lead the local flavor heading down for the last midsummer classic of the baseball season. Since there are three divisions in the league, the All-Star game is broken up into an MLB format featuring teams from National League affiliated teams versus those affiliates of American League teams.

Vermont is the only Minor League team in all of New England who is a National League affiliate, playing under the Washington Nationals organizational umbrella. They have three players heading to Staten Island. Catcher David Freitas has been one of the best players in the whole league, batting .360 on the season with 25 runs scored and 30 RBI. Freitas also had a franchise-record 21 game hit streak earlier in the year. Much like Freitas, infielder Blake Kelso earned his way on the squad by swinging a consistent stick. He is batting .305 on the season, has reached base in 28 of 32 games and has added 15 runs and 15 RBI for the Lake Monsters. Rounding out the VT trio is relief pitcher Neil Holland who has picked up 2 saves and has a 1.77 ERA in his 12 appearances out of the pen.

The Connecticut Tigers are tied with the Hudson Valley Renegades and the host Staten Island Yankees as the teams with the most players on the American League squad (the Brooklyn Cyclones sent 6 to the N.L. squad). All five Tiger All Stars are positional players, starting behind the dish with Julio Rodriguez who has .278 average with 13 runs in 31 games played. Outfielder/DH Ryan Enos also brings a .278 average to the game, along with 20 RBI and 23 runs scored. Holy Cross alum Matt Perry makes the team as a third baseman with a .261 average and 15 RBI. His corner infield mate James Robbins is batting .274 and is the team leader with 27 RBI, earning his spot as an All Star. Lastly, outfielder P.J. Polk brings his 18 steals to the big game along with his 26 runs scored on the year.

Rounding things out are the Lowell Spinners who add two players to the A.L. mix. Center fielder Felix Sanchez is batting .308 with 26 runs scored on the season. His 23 stolen bases are one off of the league lead and have helped him punch his ticket to the game. Shortstop Jose Garcia made the squad based mainly on his defensive prowess, but he has also added 8 extra base hits, 14 runs and 6 stolen bases.

Congrats to these ten All-Stars and here's to many more to come for them all. First pitch for the New York-Penn League All Star Game is set for 7:00pm sharp. Next year's game will be held at LeLacheur Park in Lowell, Massachusetts...the same place we'll be live blogging from this Sunday afternoon!