AtL Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

Five All-Stars for Southern Maryland

Published on July 8, 2011 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs News Release


Camden, NJ - The Atlantic League announced today that the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs will be represented by five members of its team at next Wednesday's All-Star Game in York, PA. Right fielder Ben Harrison, second baseman Brandon Pinckney, shortstop Yunesky Sanchez, and starting pitchers Nick Green and Michael Schlact were all named to the Liberty Division team. It is the first Atlantic League All-Star Game selection for each player.

Ben Harrison, from Key West, FL, has become the Blue Crabs most consistent slugger while batting .271 with a team-high 10 homers along with 38 RBI in 59 games this season heading into July 8th. Harrison played primarily in right field, but has also spent time as a leftfielder, designated hitter, and first baseman in Southern Maryland's ever changing roster. He has bounced back nicely after an injury-plagued 2010 season kept him to only 27 games.

In his first season with the Blue Crabs, Brandon Pinckney has become one of the ball club's most consistent players. He is hitting .313 with three homers and 18 RBI while serving, primarily, as the team's leadoff hitter. Pinckney has played mostly second base, but has also seen time in leftfield, third base, and designated hitter. The Sacramento, CA native came to Southern Maryland after splitting time with the A's and Phillies organizations in 2010.

If the season ended today, Yunesky Sanchez might very well win the league's Most Valuable Player Award. Sanchez is hitting an amazing .402, which is tops in the league. He was also most recently named the Atlantic League's Player of the Month for June after he hit .450 in 27 games.

Over his last 29 contests, Sanchez is hitting .487 (57-117) with four homers and 29 RBI. The native Cuban also has seven homers and a team-high 39 RBI for the season. He currently leads the league in hits (90) and total bases (131). Last season, Sanchez was with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization where he played with their triple-A affiliate in Reno, NV.

Nick Green has dramatically turned his season around after a difficult start to it. The right-hander from Tifton, GA has been stellar since moving from the bullpen to the starting rotation in early May. Green's overall numbers are 5-2 with a 4.61 ERA, but has gone 4-1 with a 3.95 ERA since moving into the rotation. His five wins are a team lead among starters. Furthermore, Green also leads the team in starts (11) and inning pitched (70.1). Last season, Green pitched for the Huntsville Stars of the Southern League, the double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Michael Schlact's return to baseball has been a successful one after shoulder surgery kept him out for most of last season while pitching double-A ball with the Frisco Roughriders (Texas League) of the Texas Rangers organization. After starting the season in the rotation, Schlact was moved to the bullpen for a brief time before returning the rotation again on June 17th. Since then, the lanky right-hander has gone 1-0 with a 3.71 ERA in four starts. His overall numbers are just as impressive as the Marietta, GA native has gone 3-0 with a 3.86 ERA in 12 appearances, nine as a starter.

The selections for the All-Star Game were made based on fan voting, as well as media votes and manager votes from each of the league's eight teams. The 2011 Atlantic League All-Star Game will be played this Wednesday, July 13, at Sovereign Bank Stadium in York, Pa., home of the defending Atlantic League champion York Revolution. Only scattered single tickets and lawn seating remain for the 2011 Atlantic League All-Star Game, and are available online, by phone at (717) 801-HITS, or in-person at the Apple Chevrolet Ticket Office.

The Blue Crabs take on the Riversharks in a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 4pm. Both games will be seven innings long. Game one will feature righty Virgil Vasquez (3-5, 5.07 ERA) for Southern Maryland going to the hill against southpaw J.R. Mathes (3-4, 5.35 ERA) of the Riversharks. Game two will see right-hander Nick Green (5-2, 4.61 ERA) go for the Blue Crabs versus lefty Carlos Vasquez (3-3, 4.55 ERA) for Camden. Both games can be heard on www.somdbluecrabs.com.

Check out the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Statistics

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Atlantic League Stories from July 8, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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