Sand Gnats Gant, Mazzilli, and Peterson Added to All-Star Team
June 15, 2014 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
Savannah, Ga.- Three Savannah Sand Gnats players have been added late to the South Atlantic League All-Star team, joining the Gnats manager Luis Rojas and his seven players already selected to the Southern Division team.
Savannah, Ga., native John Michael Gant will head to his second career all-star game after a stellar first half with the Gnats. The 21-year-old now leads SAL starters with a 2.21 ERA and a 7-2 record. Gant topped off his first-half resume with a complete game shutout during Thursday's doubleheader against the GreenJackets. Gant was drafted by the New York Mets in the 21st round back in 2011 out of Wiregrass Ranch High School in Florida.
"We are very fortunate to have Gant on our staff and fortunate having the league acknowledge his accomplishments," said Sand Gnats pitching coach Marc Valdes. "He's put in the practice, and the effort has paid off," he continued.
Second baseman L.J. Mazzilli will also join his teammates in Hickory thanks to a dominant first half at the plate. The 23-year-old leads the Gnats in RBIs (45) and HRs (7), and boasts a .294 batting average through 65 games. Mazzilli was drafted by the Mets in the 4th round in 2013 out of the University of Connecticut. This is his second career all-star selection. L.J. is the son of former Mets big leaguer Lee Mazzilli.
First year hitting coach Valentino Pascucci has worked with Mazzilli to refine his approach at the plate, helping the second baseman become the best run producer on the First-Half Champion Sand Gnats.
"This guy's put in hard work. He comes to the ballpark ready to practice all day," Valdes said. He admits that Mazzilli was a "no-brainer," for the all-star nod.
Reliever Tim Peterson will also join the all-star squad after a successful first-half on the mound. The 2012 20th round pick out of the University of Kentucky has racked up a 3-0 record with a 2.05 ERA and 44 strikeouts over 19 appearances. Opponents are batting just .151 against the righty.
His ability to throw strikes, placing the ball exactly where he needs to has led to his success thus far. "He's been Picasso out there- just painting," Valdes said. "He's keeping the ball below the knees and he's throwing to both sides of the plate," the pitching coach continued.
The South Atlantic League All-Star Game will be held on Tuesday, June 17, at L.P. Frans Stadium in Hickory, N.C., the home of the Hickory Crawdads.
• Discuss this story on the South Atlantic League message board...
South Atlantic League Stories from June 15, 2014
- Hoppers Playing for Pennant Sunday - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Charleston Pulls Away Late for 10-3 Win over Legends - Lexington Legends
- Crawdads End 1st Half with 14-4 Victory - Hickory Crawdads
- Fowler Slams Legends in First-Half Finale - Charleston RiverDogs
- Suns Close out Half with Win, But Not Division Title - Hagerstown Suns
- Drive End First Half with 8-5 Loss to Suns - Greenville Drive
- Delmarva Finishes First Half with Win - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Gnats Drop Steamy Father's Day Matinee - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Tourists Win Father's Day Matinee 5-3 - Asheville Tourists
- Hickory Bests BlueClaws in First-Half Finale - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Hoppers Homer Their Way to First Half Title - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Rally, Grand Slam not Enough to Keep Power from 14th Straight Loss - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Gnats and Jackets Doubleheader Cancelled Saturday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Sand Gnats Gant, Mazzilli, and Peterson Added to All-Star Team - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Abramson Named to SAL All-Star Game - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Suns Notes - Hagerstown Suns
- WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Game Notes: Kannapolis Intimidators (White Sox) vs. Greensboro Grasshoppers (Marlins) - June 15, 201 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Shorebirds Game Notes at West Virginia - Delmarva Shorebirds
- 9th Inning Surge Leads 'Dads to 5-2 Win - Hickory Crawdads
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
