Highest Postseason Honors Given to Seven Pheasants
Published on August 28, 2010 under American Association (AA)
Sioux Falls Canaries News Release
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - What has been apparent all season is now being officially recognized: the Sioux Falls Pheasants are incredibly talented.
A league record seven Pheasants were named to the 2010 American Association Postseason All-Star Team, more than any other team in the league. No team in league history has had more than five players nominated.
Four position players are all-stars: Reggie Abercrombie (OF), Trevor Lawhorn (3B), Brandon Sing (1B) and Beau Torbert (OF).
Three Pheasants' arms swept the pitching awards. Ben Moore was named the right-handed all-star, and Chris Salberg grabbed the left-handed nomination. Aaron Cotter earned the relief pitcher spot.
Abercrombie is batting .330 and is tied for second in the league in home runs (22), second in RBI (89) and third in stolen bases (34). The Pheasants' speedy centerfielder leads the league in runs scored (88), and is one run away from setting a new league record. Abercrombie is the only Pheasants player with major league experience.
Lawhorn was a mid-season all-star for the North Division. He is a batting .292 with 16 home runs and 65 RBI. Lawhorn has amassed 100 hits or more this in a season for the second consecutive year.
Sing is the leading power hitter in the league with 27 home runs and a .707 slugging percentage. He eclipsed his own league record for home runs set in 2008, and he is tied for the most home runs in franchise history. Sing is second in the league in extra-base hits (60) and is tied for the best on-base percentage (.488).
Torbert has posted eye-popping numbers this year. His stratospheric .396 average leads the league. He is second in home runs (24), and first in RBI. He earlier broke a franchise record for RBI in a season. In addition, Torbert has broken the single-season hits record for both the franchise and the league. Torbert also earned this postseason honor in 2008 along with the 2008 Player of the Year.
Cotter leads the league in saves (24) with a stingy 3.25 ERA. From July 13 to August 17, the right-handed hurler made 12 consecutive appearances without allowing a run. He has converted his last 14 save opportunities, dating back to July 7.
Moore came within one win of the pitching Triple Crown, finishing the year with 11 wins. He leads the league with 126 strikeouts and has a league-best 3.10 ERA. Earlier this month, Moore broke the single-season strikeout record for both the Sioux Falls franchise and the league.
Salberg finished the regular season 11-1, by far the best record for any left-handed starter in the league. His 3.26 ERA is second to Moore's. Earlier this year Salberg recorded his first career complete-game victory, capping off a string of six consecutive victories in six starts.
Players were voted to the team by the American Association managers and media. Additional postseason honors, including Player of the Year and Manager of the Year, will be announced on Monday.
Below is the complete list of 2010 American Association Postseason All-Stars:
Catcher - Lou Palmisano, Pensacola Pelicans
First Base - Brandon Sing, Sioux Falls Pheasants
Second Base - Hector Bernal, El Paso Diablos/St. Paul Saints
Third Base - Trevor Lawhorn, Sioux Falls Pheasants
Shortstop - David Espinosa, Grand Prairie Airhogs
Outfield - Reggie Abercrombie, Sioux Falls Pheasants
Outfield - Greg Porter, Grand Prairie Airhogs
Outfield - Beau Torbert, Sioux Falls Pheasants
Designated Hitter - Christopher Garcia, Shreveport/Bossier Captains
Left-Handed Pitcher - Chris Salberg, Sioux Falls Pheasants
Right-Handed Pitcher - Ben Moore, Sioux Falls Pheasants
Relief Pitcher - Aaron Cotter, Sioux Falls Pheasants
The Sioux Falls Pheasants captured the first-half North Division title earlier this year, securing a spot in the playoffs. The Pheasants will open postseason play at home at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday, August 31 against an opponent yet to be determined.
The Pheasants continue their four-game series against St. Paul tonight at 7:05 PM at Sioux Falls Stadium. A win tonight would give the Pheasants the second-half North Division Championship, making them just the third team to win both halves in the American Association. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the Sioux Falls Stadium box office.
American Association Stories from August 28, 2010
- Lincoln Nips Sioux City For Wild Card Lead - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Pheasants silenced by St. Paul - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Saints Four-Hit for Second Consecutive Night, but Win 3-2 - St. Paul Saints
- Garcia Named to Postseason All-Star Team - Shreveport-Bossier Captains
- Saints Second Baseman Bernal Named to Post-Season All-Star Team - St. Paul Saints
- Highest Postseason Honors Given to Seven Pheasants - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Saltdogs, Explorers in de facto best-of-three - Lincoln Saltdogs
- American Association Recap - AA
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