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Pump Jacks Land Five on All-Star Squad

July 7, 2014 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


The Jacks will send five players, including one starter, to the 2014 TCL All-Star Game in Bryan on Tuesday.

As the Texas Collegiate League enters the three-day all-star break, there are five East Texas Pump Jacks who will deservedly not be getting a rest. Joe Moroney, Andrew Grifol, Matthew Dickey, Anthony Gonsolin, and Jeremy Hallonquist were named to the North all-star team when the TCL announced rosters over the holiday weekend.

Moroney was the lone starter of the bunch, selected by the coaches as one of the top three outfielders on the North. Grifol was selected as a reserve infielder, and Dickey is the sole backup outfielder for the team. Gonsolin and Hallonquist were chosen for the North pitching staff.

In a break from last year, when the Pump Jacks hosted the affair, this summer the league has been broken into North and South. Joining the Pump Jacks on the North side will be the Texas Marshals and the host Brazos Valley Bombers. The South team will consist of players from the Acadiana Cane Cutters, Victoria Generals, and the Woodlands Strykers.

The 2014 TCL All-Star game will be hosted by the Bombers tomorrow, Tuesday, July 8, at Cellucor Field in Bryan.

The Pump Jacks leading hitter, Moroney made an easy case to start for the North. Moroney is 13th in the league with a .292 batting average, and he ranks in the top-ten in both walks (22, third) and stolen bases (13, tied for eighth).

Perhaps the only question when it came to Moroney was where he would play in the All-Star Game. An outfielder by trade, the Kansas junior took over at shortstop midway through the first half. He has since returned to center field, where he's flashed both outstanding range and a solid arm.

Dickey is one of six TCL players returning to the All-Star Game this year, and the only repeat Pump Jacks all-star. The Kilgore native is batting .231 and leads the Jacks with three triples, earning a tie for second in the league.

Like last year, Dickey's most notable tool is his speed. After setting the TCL single-season record last year with 40 stolen bases, Dickey leads the team with 17 steals, good for fourth in the TCL.

A two-way star from Texas-Permian Basin, Grifol earned a spot on the team by way of his bat. He leads the Pump Jacks and is tied for third in the league with two home runs, and he's second on the team with five doubles. Grifol has displayed a keen eye at the plate like Moroney, earning 20 free passes this season, tied for fourth in the league.

Although he isn't expected to pitch in the All-Star Game, Grifol has a 2.07 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 8.2 innings this season.

Another two-way player, Gonsolin was selected by virtue of his performance on the mound. Usually a late-inning reliever who made his first start of the season over the weekend, Gonsolin is 2-1 with a 2.20 ERA and two saves. He has struck out 14 in 16.2 innings, and he's allowed just seven hits, holding opponents to a .130 average.

Hallonquist has been perhaps the Pump Jacks most dependable starter, going 2-0 in five starts with a 2.96 ERA. In 27.1 innings pitched, the Hallsville native has a team-leading 28 strikeouts, tied for 10th in the TCL.

The festivities will kick off with a Home Run Derby at 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, and the All-Star Game will begin at 7:35 p.m. Fans can catch all the action on the Bombers web stream by clicking here.

After the break, the Pump Jacks return to action on Thursday with Thirsty Thursday at Historic Driller Park. Fans can keep cool with 50-cent soft drinks and one-dollar draft beers while the Jacks host the Generals.

Friday continues the Pump Jacks 2014 giveaway schedule with Seat Cushion Giveaway Night, presented by Texas Spine & Joint Hospital and CBS 19. The first 500 fans through the gate will receive a free Pump Jacks stadium seat cushion featuring the popular "Boomer eyes" logo.

To follow all the news during the 2014 season, visit the Pump Jacks official web site at www.pumpjacksbaseball.com. Join the conversation with other members of Pump Jacks Nation by visiting the Pump Jacks on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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