FL Joliet Slammers

Four Slammers Named to Frontier League All-Star Game

Published on July 4, 2011 under Frontier League (FL)
Joliet Slammers News Release


(Joliet, IL) - The Joliet Slammers are sending four players to Avon, Ohio on July 13 for the 2011 Frontier League All-Star Game.

Oak Lawn native Erik Lis and New Lenox native Josh Flores were voted in as starters in the East Division while rookie outfielder Bobby Leeper and Joliet native Ryan Quigley earned spots on the team as well.

"These four guys have really ignited our team this season," Manager Bart Zeller said. "They work hard and when things go bad, they just work harder. We are so proud of all of them for earning these well deserved spots on the All-Star team."

Up to eight representatives from each club were eligible to vote including the General Manager, the Field manager, up to three coaches, the radio broadcaster and two members of the local media.

The final three players per division will be chosen by the two field managers (the managers of the teams with the best record in each division after the games of July 6) and announced on Thursday, July 7.

Lis, 27, will start at first base in the All Star game despite spending most of his time with the Slammers as a Designated Hitter. The power hitting lefty enters the July 4th games hitting .293 with a team best 8 HR and 32 RBI. Lis was a ninth round draft pick in 2005 of the Minnesota Twins out of the University of Evansville. He would advance as high as the Triple-A level in the Twins' organization. The first baseman has hit 10 or more homers every year he's been in professional baseball. In addition, his batting average has topped .270 five out of six years, with two seasons of better than .300 hitting. Lis started 2011 with the Jacksonville Suns, the Marlins' Double-A affiliate before signing with the Slammers.

Flores, 25, will start in the outfield as he enters July 4th games hitting .309 with 3 HR and 15 RBI. He has a team best 15 stolen bases and has played spectacular right field all season.

Flores was the Slammers' first signing. He played for the old Joliet team for the second half of the 2010 season, where he went 23 for 25 in stolen bases with an OBP of .435. Flores was drafted out of Central High School in 2004 in the 24th round by the Atlanta Braves but opted to attend Triton College instead. He was a 4th round draft pick in 2005 by the Houston Astros and reached the Double A level with Corpus Christi at the age of 21. In 2007, he hit .279 with 42 runs batted in and 39 stolen bases.

Leeper, 23, has had an outstanding rookie season, hitting a team best .318 with 3 HR and 20 RBI entering the July 4th games.

The former UNC Wilmington player finished his collegiate career at Mount Olive College where he helped lead the Trojans to the Conference Carolinas Baseball Tournament championship. He was named first team All-Conference as he hit an outstanding .433 with 13 dingers.

Quigley, 26, has had an adventurous season to say the least for the Slammers. He was signed by the Washington Nationals organization earlier in the year after a hot start with Joliet. But an old lower body injury suffered in college that does not impact his ability to pitch caused him to fail his physical and return to Joliet. Affiliated ball's loss has been the Slammers' gain as Quigley has been outstanding, posting an ERA of 2.30 in 17 appearances and racking up a league-leading 12 saves entering the July 4th games.

The Joliet Catholic Academy graduate knows the Frontier League well. The right handed pitcher has played for the Southern Illinois Miners and the Windy City Thunderbolts during his professional career.

Quigley played his college ball at St. Xavier University on the south side of Chicago before debuting with the Miners in 2007. Tommy John Surgery ended his 2008 season prematurely and prevented Quigley from playing at all in 2009. But he came back with a vengeance last season for the Thunderbolts as he struck-out 77 batters in 62 2/3 innings, and this season he's put it all together as the Slammers' closer.

The Slammers look to sweep the Normal CornBelters tonight as they celebrate Independence Day with a mini-American flag giveaway and the most spectacular fireworks show of the year afterwards. For tickets call the Box Office at (815) 722-2287 or visit www.jolietslammers.com.

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