Seven Pump Jacks Are All-Stars, Including Three Starters for Tonight's Game in Victoria

July 7, 2015 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


Three pitchers and four position players make up the group that will represent East Texas in the 2015 TCL All-Star Game tonight in Victoria, and three Pump Jacks will be in the starting lineup.

The best of the best in the TCL will arrive at Riverside Stadium in Victoria on tonight, and the Pump Jacks have a sizeable contingent in the celebration.

The East Texas Pump Jacks are sending seven players to the 2015 TCL All-Star Game, including three members of the starting lineup. The Pump Jacks will join the North team, which is comprised of the Jacks, the first-half champion Brazos Valley Bombers, and the Texas Marshals.

Among the group are outfielders T.J. Friedl and James Lear, who earned starting spots in the North outfield, and starting second baseman Nick Roark. Franklin Miller was voted the North's top lefty, and he'll be joined by TCL saves leader Tyler Adams, right-hander Enrique Perez, and infielder Dylan Mecham.

Friedl collected four hits in eight at-bats during the Jacks' doubleheader on Sunday, boosting his batting average to .325, moving into the league's top-six in hitting. Friedl is tied for fourth in the TCL with a team-leading 26 hits, and both he and Lear sit third in the league with 13 steals.

Friedl kicked off his East Texas career with a six-game hitting streak in which he went 10-for-27 with a double, a triple, and five stolen bases.

Lear earned an all-star bid after enjoying a four-week surge that saw his batting average skyrocket from an early slump up to .302. He amassed 16 hits in 46 at-bats through his final 12 games up to the all-star break, bolstered by five multi-hit games and two three-hit performances.

Roark got the starting nod by posting a .378 batting average in 14 games after a late arrival from Oral Roberts University, where he earned a spot in the NCAA Regionals. He proved worthy of an all-star selection after hitting safely in 10 of his last 11 games before the break and earning a TCL Player of the Week award.

Roark heads into the All-Star Game riding a four-game hitting streak that was preceded by a five-game stretch in late June. The latter streak was highlighted by a 5-for-5 night that he capped with a solo home run to right field, the Jacks' first home run in their new Tyler home.

Adams sits atop the league leaderboard with six saves, and has yet to record a loss in ten appearances this summer. He's struck out 22 batters, and has allowed just two runs on six hits in 14.1 first-half innings. The University of Alabama freshman has only given up one extra-base hit all season, and is tied for the team low in ERA at 1.25.

Miller, the only lefty on the Jacks' staff, was voted in as the top left-handed reliever after posting a 1.66 ERA with 17 strikeouts and six runs allowed through 27 innings. He made five appearances out of the bullpen before moving into the rotation his last three games prior the break. The sophomore from Dominican College has earned the win in his last two starts, his first victories as a Pump Jack.

Perez was selected to the North staff following a first half in which he posted a 2.61 ERA in 20.2 innings. He made six appearances, including three starts, while striking out ten and posting a 1-0 record.

Perez takes the roster spot of Jacks' ace John Caskey, who was unable to participate in the game after throwing six innings in the Pump Jacks 3-2 win on Sunday. Caskey ranks among the league leaders in wins (five), strikeouts (25), and ERA (1.25).

Mecham rounds out the group of Jacks headed to Victoria as a reserve in the infield having split time between second and third base. He was named TCL Player of the Week after going 8-for-12 with two runs and two RBI in four games during the second week of the season. The freshman from Chandler-Gilbert Community College posted a .313 batting average through his first 23 games, with nine runs scored, eight RBI, a home run, a double, and 11 walks.

The TCL Home Run Derby and an autograph session will take place before the All-Star Game starts at 7:20 p.m. at Riverside Stadium in Victoria. Fans can follow the festivities on the Generals' Ustream feed or on the All-Star Game Pointstreak feed.

Following All-Star Game, the Jacks return home Thursday and Friday for a two-game series against the Woodlands Strykers.

Thursday will be the Pump Jacks' first Thirsty Thursday of the season, presented by the original lite beer, Miller Lite. All adults will receive a Pump Jacks koozies presented by Miller Lite, and soft drinks will be discounted to $2 each for the entire night. So beat the heat with the Pump Jacks and Miller Lite next Thursday for Thirsty Thursday!

Fans can also tune in to our live Ustream broadcast or follow the game with live scoring updates on our Pointstreak feed.

To follow all the news during the Jacks' inaugural season in Tyler, presented by Brookshire's, 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.



Texas Collegiate League Stories from July 7, 2015


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