FSL1 Lakeland Flying Tigers

Nine From Lakeland Tigers Named to Florida State League All-Star Team

Published on June 2, 2005 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Lakeland Flying Tigers News Release


This afternoon, nine Lakeland Tigers were selected to take part in the 44th Annual Florida State League All-Star Game on June 18th, 2005 at Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater, FL. Five position players along with four pitchers were plucked from the West Division leaders.

Leading the way for the pitchers is Justin Verlander, who has come to Lakeland and dominated Florida State League batters by going 7-2 in 10 starts. Verlander leads the league in Strikeouts (76) and ERA (1.66) and has been very impressive in his first season of professional baseball after being drafted #2 overall last summer. Joining Verlander in Clearwater this summer will be starters Jordan Tata and Nathan Bumstead as well as closer Chris Homer. Tata has picked up where he left off last season for West Michigan, posting a 4-1 record while sporting a 2.13 ERA for the Tigers. Tata has struck out 53 batters and walked only 13 in 62.2 innings of action. Bumstead has been equally impressive going 6-1 with a 2.73 ERA thus far. Rounding out the pitching staff is FSL saves leader Chris Homer. Homer has struck out 24 batters in 26.1 innings pitched.

While the Lakeland pitching staff leads the league in runs allowed, the Lakeland offense maintains the lead in runs scored. The Lakeland lineup has been mashing the ball all season long and now they have been rewarded with five position players getting named to the team. SS Scott Tousa, CF Vince Blue, C Danilo Sanchez, 2B Juan Francia, and RF Brent Clevlen will be representing the Tigers in Clearwater.

Tousa, has been slick in the field and an on-base source all year for the Tigers. Tousa is 4th in the league in batting average and 3rd in on-base percentage. He's now at .337/.406/.401 on the season. CF Vince Blue is hitting .309/.372/.357 this year with 15 stolen bases and has made several spectacular plays in the outfield. 2B Juan Francia, has been excellent all year at the top of the Tigers order. He's hitting .332/.400/.376 on the year and has stolen 20 bases, good for 2nd in the league. RF Brent Clevlen has made a remarkable turnaround this year. After struggling for most of last season at the plate and in the field, Clevlen has been one of the best hitters in the league this season and has played a steady rightfield for the Tigers. Clevlen is hitting .302/.357/.532 and leads the Tigers with 10 homeruns. Clevlen's 48 RBI lead the Florida State League. The final Tiger all-star is catcher Danilo Sanchez. Sanchez has displayed patience and power this season, hitting .245/.352/.470 while catching nearly every day for the Tigers.

Congratulations to the Lakeland Tigers All-Star Representatives!

Check out the Lakeland Flying Tigers Statistics

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Florida State League Stories from June 2, 2005


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