Five Wingnuts Named Postseason All-Stars
August 28, 2009 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts learned Friday that five of their players have been named to the 2009 American Association All-Star Team.
Catcher Joe Muich, shortstop Josh Horn, left fielder Greg Porter, and pitchers Derek Blacksher and Brad Davis all made the squad.
Muich, the North Division's starter in the All-Star Game in July, is hitting .265 with seven home runs, and 30 RBI. Muich has been a model of consistency on defense, ranking fourth among catchers in fielding percentage and leading the league in caught stealing percentage at 35%. Muich has 19 multi-hit games this season. Back on May 20th, Muich ended what at the time was the longest game in team history with a 13th-inning home run.
Horn, another starter in the mid-summer classic, is batting .313 with three home runs and 41 RBI. Horn leads the team with 66 runs scored and 19 stolen bases. As was the case with Kevin Hooper last season, Horn has not been thrown out by an opposing catcher at any point on a steal attempt. Horn has been an all-star in each of his first three professional seasons. After beginning the year as the team's second baseman, Horn took over as Wichita's shortstop in early June and currently ranks second at the position in fielding percentage.
Porter has had an MVP-caliber season, and currently leads the league in batting at .374. Like the previous three, Porter was another starter in the All-Star Game in Grand Prairie. Porter is second with 20 home runs, including a game-ending home run in Wednesday's win over Lincoln, and third with 82 RBIs. Porter also leads the league with 137 hits, a .454 on-base percentage, a .617 slugging percentage, and 47 extra-base hits. Porter has been named the American Association Batter of the Week a stunning four times and was also the league's Batter of the Month for June. Porter is hitting .404 over his last 75 games. Earlier in the year, Porter set a new club record with a 19-game hitting streak.
Blacksher, who earned the win in the 2009 All-Star Game, was named the 2009 American Association Right-Handed Pitcher of the Year. Blacksher leads the league with 11 wins, ranks seventh with a 3.35 ERA, and fifth with 90 strikeouts. The 24-year old carried a streak of 111.1 innings pitched from the beginning of the year through late August without allowing a single home run, the longest such streak for any pitcher this year. Blacksher has won six consecutive decisions and nine of his last 10 and has worked at least five innings in 18 consecutive starts. On May 22nd at Sioux City, Blacksher became the first Wingnuts' pitcher to strike out 10 batters in one start.
Davis has been named the 2009 American Association Left-Handed Pitcher of the Year, and currently sports an 8-6 record with a 3.28 ERA that ranks tied for fifth in the league and first among lefties. Davis, the Winguts' all-time career wins leader with 16, won four consecutive starts from July 16th through August 10th. On July 16th, the 26-year old lefty pitched the first complete game shutout of his career, allowing just two hits in a victory over Sioux Falls. In two seasons with the Wingnuts, Davis has missed just one turn through the rotation.
The Postseason All-Star Team incorporated both the North and South divisions and were voted on by the league's managers and media representatives.
The Wingnuts open their final regular season series tonight against the Grand Prairie AirHogs. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. For tickets, call the Wingnuts' office at (316) 264-4625.
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