Our Town vs. Our Team
Published on April 9, 2009 under Atlantic League (AtL)
York Revolution News Release
(York, PA): The York Revolution, in conjunction with the Susquehanna and Central Baseball Leagues, have announced the Susquehanna & Central League All-Star roster for the greatly anticipated exhibition game between the two clubs, scheduled for Saturday, April 18 at Sovereign Bank Stadium. The All-Star roster was announced by Susquehanna & Central League All-Star manager Curly Holtzapple.
Holtzapple formed a double play combination with Brooks Robinson in the York White Roses infield in 1955, and is the long-time manager of the Central League's Stoverstown Tigers. He'll be joined on his coaching staff by Stoverstown's Bernie Wolfe, fellow Central League skippers Kim McCullough (Glen Rock), Dave Miller (Manchester), and Rex Meyer (Pleasureville), and by Susquehanna League bench-bosses Clint Workinger (Red Lion), Nate Neff (Windsor), and Terry Golden (Jacobus).
Eight pitchers will be available to Holtzapple, with four toeing the rubber from the Susquehanna League, and four from the Central League. Arguably the greatest local pitcher of his generation, Shawn Hedrick headlines the staff, joining the All-Star team from the Susquehanna League's Red Lion squad. Formerly of Dover in the Central League, the right-hander is renowned for his pinpoint control, while also possessing a good fastball. York Township's Casey Markey and Drew Kelley have also made the All-Star roster. Markey tied for the Susquehanna League-lead with eight wins last season. Former York College and Susquehannock High School fireballers Brad McCullough and Matt Gonzalez join the group, along with Red Lion's Jason Enoch, a former Hempfield High School and Juniata College standout. Holtzapple also boasts two of his own on the pitching staff from Stoverstown, with Chris Powl and former San Diego Padres first-round draft pick Mark Phillips. Phillips, the Hanover native, pitched at Single-A in the Padres and Yankees organizations. After pitching locally with Stoverstown, Phillips returned to the pro ranks with the Atlantic League's Newark Bears in 2007. Phillips made six starts for the Bears, including an outing against the Revolution on August 25, 2007 at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium.
On the other end of the battery, three catchers are set to sport the tools of ignorance for the All-Star team. Jacobus' Nate Kopp and Hallam's Justin Seitz from the Susquehanna League dot the roster, along with Glen Rock's Dan Rhodes from the Central League.
At first base is Glen Rock's Tim Hare, along with Windsor's Nate Neumann, last year's Susquehanna League batting champion with a .462 batting average.
Continuing around the infield, Jacobus' Anthony Ferrell is at second base, along with Mount Wolf's Dan Weigle.
Former Florida Marlins farmhand Fritz Allison (Glen Rock) mans the hot corner. The York native signed with the Fish in 1994, and collected 26 professional hits, including two homeruns with their then-New York-Penn League affiliate in Elmira, New York. Dover's Dustin Kuhn is also slated for third base, along with Windsor's Shaun Wilson, a former York College Spartan.
Reigning Susquehanna League MVP Jason Seitz (Hallam) is at shortstop, along with Glen Rock's Tim Frisch and Mount Wolf's Eric Bonds.
In the outfield are Dover's Chris Bubb and Austin Rickrode, along with fellow Central Leaguers Kyle Wildasin (Stoverstown) and Todd Meyer of Pleasureville. Meyer advanced to the national finals of the NCAA homerun derby, and took his cuts in Omaha on national television while playing at Alvernia College. In 2002, the York Suburban product went 9-0 on the mound for Alvernia while batting a robust .511 with 25 homeruns and 107 RBI, good for Division III National Player of the Year honors before signing with the Montreal Expos. Meyer spent two seasons in the Expos organization as a pitcher, reaching High-A Brevard County in the Florida State League, and also spent one season in the independent Frontier League.
The All-Star outfield is also comprised of four Susquehanna Leaguers. Jimi Nomikos of Conrads is a former Kennard Dale high school star who played two seasons of outfield for the Towson University Tigers. He batted .350 in 40 at-bats in 2005, and stole 10 bases for the Tigers in his two seasons. His power-hitting teammate from Conrads, Rick Thompson will also patrol the outfield for the All-Stars, along with Hallam's Shawn McCleary and York Township's Mike Wokulich.
A designated hitter will be used by both teams, as it is during all Atlantic League games. Red Lion's Kirk Reichard and Pleasureville's Jasyn Kitner will fill those roles for the All-Stars.
The contest will be the second of five spring training exhibitions played by the Revolution in preparation for their 140-game Atlantic League season. The All-Star game promises to be a must for any baseball fan, as it may be the most-hyped baseball exhibition in the history of York. With over 3,000 tickets sold already, the game has already broken the attendance mark for an Atlantic League exhibition game.
Tickets are still available and may be purchased at YorkRevolution.com, or in person by visiting the Apple Chevrolet Ticket office at Sovereign Bank Stadium between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Any remaining tickets will be sold at the box office the day of the game, but due to high demand, fans are encouraged to buy their tickets in advance. Members of the Founders Club, Heritage Box, and Skybox holders received free tickets to this special event.
The game is part of the Revolution's Fan Fest at Sovereign Bank Stadium, a party that will officially blow the lid off the 2009 season. Details of Fan Fest are to be announced soon.
All tickets for the 2009 season are on sale now. Opening Day is May 1 against the Lancaster Barnstormers.
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