Five Crawdads Selected to 2012 SAL All-Star Team
Published on June 5, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
HICKORY, NC - The South Atlantic League on Tuesday announced the rosters for the 2012 SAL All-Star Game, and the Crawdads will be represented by five players on the Northern Division Team - INF Hanser Alberto, OF Chris Grayson, RHP Phil Klein, RHP Nick Martinez and LHP Victor Payano . The only team with more representatives on the Northern Division Team is the Greensboro Grasshoppers, who will send a league-high eight players.
Alberto, 19, will serve as the starting shortstop on the Northern Division squad. The San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic native leads all Crawdads and ranks second in the league with a .347 batting average through 50 games this season. Alberto also leads the team with 68 hits and is tied for the lead with 33 RBIs. He has added three home runs, 10 doubles and 13 stolen bases. Alberto signed with the Texas Rangers as a non-drafted free agent in 2010. Click here to view Alberto's player page.
Grayson, 22, will start the All-Star Game in left field for the Northern squad. The Monroe, Louisiana native, who was named the Rangers Minor League Hitter of the Month for April, has compiled a .314 average with three home runs and 21 RBIs through 51 games this season. Grayson has started off the month of June on fire, hitting .412 (7-for-17) with five runs scored through the month's first four games. He was selected by the Rangers in the 13th round of the 2011 June Draft out of Lee University. Click here to view Grayson's player page.
Klein, 23, leads all Crawdads with a 2.82 ERA through 15 relief outings this year. The Gahanna, Ohio native is also tied for second on the team with four wins. Through 22.1 total innings of work, Klein has struck out 19 batters, while only allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 22 hits. He has also registered two saves in as many opportunities. Klein was selected in the 30th round of the 2011 June Draft out of Youngstown State University. Click here to view Klein's player page.
Martinez, 21, has posted a 2-1 record with a 3.93 ERA through 14 outings and three starts this season. The native of Miami, Florida, began the season as a reliever before transitioning to the starting role as of late. In 34.1 total innings of work, he has struck out 40 batters while only issuing 10 walks. In his last two starts, he has surrendered just three runs with eight strikeouts through nine innings. Martinez was selected by the Rangers in the 18th round of the 2011 June Draft out of Fordham University. Click here to view Martinez's player page.
Payano, 19, leads all Crawdads starters with a 3.10 ERA and is tied for second with four wins. The San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic native has logged 58.0 innings of work through 11 starts on the season, tallying 47 strikeouts. Payano has held batters to a team-best .205 batting average, the 4th-lowest in the league. Through his last two starts, he has struck out 14 batters through 12.2 innings, allowing just three runs on seven hits. Payano signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2010. Click here to view Payano's player page.
The 2012 SAL All-Star Game will be played at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park in Charleston, South Carolina on Tuesday, June 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Crawdads Clippings:
The Crawdads kick off a three-game series in Charleston against the RiverDogs on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. Catch all the action live on The Big Dawg 92.1FM and Hickorycrawdads.com, and tune in 15 minutes early for Crawdads Countdown!
Hickory returns home for a three-game home series against the Greenville Drive starting this Friday at 7 p.m. Don't miss Friday Night Fireworks after the game, presented by Mann Travels and KICKS 103.3FM! Friday will also be Carnival Night, presented by Gold and Silver Assay Company! Gates open at 6 p.m.
Then on Saturday, the Crawdads take on the Drive at 6 p.m. Myron Noodleman, the hippest nerd in 'da biz, will entertain fans of all ages throughout the game, presented by 1290 WHKY! Saturday's game is also Shred Night, presented by Enviro-Shred - bring paper documents to the ballpark to be shredded from 4 - 6 p.m. and get a FREE ticket to the game! And don't forget to stick around after Saturday's game for Post-Game Autographs! Gates open at 5 p.m.
Get Tickets:
Individual Tickets for all Crawdads home games are available right now at Hickorycrawdads.com or by calling (828) 322-3000! Group outings, corporate partnerships, Levine Children's Hospital Claw Club memberships and Ticket Books for the 20th Anniversary Season are also available right now by calling the Front Office at (828) 322-3000 .
South Atlantic League Stories from June 5, 2012
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- Braves Homestand Opens with 5-3 Win - Rome Emperors
- 'Dogs Bite 'Dads to Open Series in Charleston - Hickory Crawdads
- Power Fall 3-2 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- RiverDogs Start Homestand with 10-3 Win - Charleston RiverDogs
- BlueClaws Snap 8-Game Skid, Win 5-4 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- BlueClaws Hold off Legends - Lexington Legends
- Blackburn's Masterpiece Paints 1-0 Augusta Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Seven Legends Named to All-Star Team - Lexington Legends
- Gnats Tuesday Game Cancelled Due to Wet Grounds - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Crawdads Weekly - 'Dads Sweep Homestand, Extend Streak to Eight - Hickory Crawdads
- Filak and Moore Head to 2012 All Star Game - Rome Emperors
- BlueClaws Welcome Olympians to June 12th Game - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Shorebirds Game Notes at West Virginia - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Kleven to Represent BlueClaws in SAL All-Star Game - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Matt Skole Leads List of Four Suns Voted as 2012 All-Stars - Hagerstown Suns
- Five Crawdads Selected to 2012 SAL All-Star Team - Hickory Crawdads
- All-Star Game Takes on a RiverDogs Twist - Charleston RiverDogs
- West Virginia puts three on SAL Northern All-Star Team - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Five Tourists Named to South Atlantic League All-Star Squad - Asheville Tourists
- Austin, Sanchez, Arcia, Guerra and Mitchell Named to 2012 SAL All-Star Team - Charleston RiverDogs
- Nicky Delmonico Named South Atlantic League All-Star - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Kannapolis Sending Four Players to SAL All-Star Game - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Cody Hall Selected to All-Star Game - Augusta GreenJackets
- Drive Sending Three to 2012 All-Star Game - Greenville Drive
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