SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Intimidators Top SAL Northern Division with Five All-Star Selections

Published on June 7, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS, NC - On Monday, June 7th at noon, the league office of the South Atlantic League announced the 2010 mid-season All-Stars and the Kannapolis Intimidators, with five players selected, tied for the most selected in the Northern Division. First baseman Ian Gac will start the game along side his right-side infield partner Daniel Wagner at second base. Outfielder Kyle Colligan as well as pitchers Brandon Kloess and Joe Serafin will also represent the Intimidators and the Chicago White Sox on June 22nd at Flour Field in Greenville, SC for the 2010 SAL All-Star Game.

Gac, in his first season in the Chicago White Sox organization, has put up strong numbers from the onset of the season. The first baseman is hitting .278 with a team-leading 11 home runs and 41 RBI. Gac is one behind the league leader in home runs, is fourth in the league in slugging percentage (.526) and second in extra base hits (30). He has been named an All-Star three times before in his professional career, being named to the Midwest League All-Star team at both the mid-point of the season and the post-season in 2008 as well as earning post-season All-Star honors in the Hawaiian Winter Baseball League in 2007.

Wagner, a Kannapolis, NC resident and graduate of South Rowan High School, has earned his first professional All-Star nomination as he will start the game at second base. Wagner is hitting .282 with a team-leading 16 stolen bases this season. Wagner has the top batting average among second basemen in the Northern Division and ranks second in RBI (23). He has also played an extremely strong defensive second base for Ernie Young's Intimidators this year.

Colligan will also be making his first professional All-Star game appearance, selected as a utility outfielder. The Intimidators most often used three hitter; Colligan leads the Intimidators in batting average at .299, ranking him ninth in the South Atlantic League, on-base percentage (.381) and in runs scored (31). Colligan is also the league's hottest hitter in the past week leading up to the All-Star team announcement as he is 13-for-25 with four doubles in his last seven games.

Kloess, the Intimidators closer, will make his first All-Star game appearance this season when he represents the Northern Division. Lights out so far this season, Kloess has only allowed three runs in 29.1 innings pitched for a 0.92 ERA this season. He went the entire month of May without allowing a run and has struck out 37 and walked just five on the year. Kloess leads the Intimidators with five saves this season and also pitched two scoreless innings for Hi-A Winston Salem. Kloess is fourth amongst relievers in the league in strikeouts per nine innings, has the fourth-lowest lowest walk total per nine innings and he has allowed the fifth fewest baserunners per nine innings.

Serafin is also making his first All-Star game appearance this season. The 37th round selection in the 2009 draft, Serafin has served as the top-of-the-rotation pitcher he was last season in seven starts for Kannapolis. Serafin is tied for the team-lead in wins with five and has a team-low 3.55 ERA amongst starting pitchers. Serafin has thrown the most groundball double plays in the South Atlantic League with 11 and had five in a single outing.

The 51st annual South Atlantic League All-Star Game will take place at Flour Field at the West End in Greenville, SC, home of the Greenville Drive on Tuesday, June 22nd. The Home Run Derby will begin at 6:05 pm and the first pitch of the 2010 All-Star Game is scheduled for 7:15 pm. For additional information on the SAL All-Star game and to view the entire team, visit www.SouthAtlanticLeague.com.

The Intimidators are enjoying their 16th season of play as an organization. This organization has produced such talents as Jimmy Rollins, Gordon Beckham and NFL star Ricky Williams. For more information, or for tickets, call the Intimidators front office at 704.932.FANS (3267) or visit www.IntimidatorsBaseball.com.

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 7, 2010


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