ApL Elizabethton River Riders

Six River Riders Named 2022 Appalachian League All-Stars

July 20, 2022 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Elizabethton River Riders News Release


ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. - Six players on the Elizabethton River Riders have been named to the 2022 Appalachian League West Division All-Star team, including two starters. The River Rider have tied the Kingsport Axmen and the Burlington Sock Puppets for the most representatives in the game with six players each. The Appalachian League All-Star Game will take place Tuesday, July 26, at 7 p.m. and streamed on MLB.com and then replayed nationally on MLB Network. All-Star weekend is hosted by Burlington, N.C. and the Sock Puppets organization.

Avery Owusu-Asiedu leads the charge for Elizabethton, and will start in the outfield. The rising junior at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville is slashing .322/.424/.609 on the season with six home runs and 28 RBI in 29 total games. He has also racked up 13 doubles and a triple, while also stealing six bases. He currently sits top 10 in the league in most major hitting categories, including having the most extra-base hits (20). The native of Waukesha, Wis., has also won the Appalachian League Hitter of the Week award once this season.

Harrison Rodgers is the other starter for the Blue and Yellow, as he will start in the middle infield. The rising junior from Colorado Mesa is having a fantastic year, slashing .339/.463/.514 with three home runs and 24 RBI. Rodgers has been a key cog in the middle of the River Rider order, walking 25 times in just 134 plate appearances as well as hitting eight doubles and stealing 13 bases. The left-handed bat by the way of San Diego also sits top 10 in the Appalachian League in several offensive categories.

Jackson Holmes found his way into the Appalachian League All-Star Game by being the most consistent pitcher on the Elizabethton pitching staff all season long. The right-hander from Saint Louis University has compiled a 4-1 record through eight starts, racking up a 2.81 ERA in 41.2 innings along the way while striking out 30 batters. Holmes has also had three starts of six-plus innings in which he picked up wins, including a no-hitter against Greeneville back on June 26. The rising sophomore from Columbia, Ill., also won Appalachian League Pitcher of the Week honors for his no-hitter.

Peyton Basler is another River Rider infielder that has made the roster. Known for his defensive ability in the middle infield, Basler has had a red-hot July at the plate, slashing .387/.608/.581 in 11 games and is slashing .298/.493/.362 with one home run and 17 RBI overall. The Charleston Southern Buccaneer and native of Lansing, Kan. Is currently first in the Appalachian League in on-base percentage and has been a staple of consistency this year up the middle.

Issac Williams Jr. forced his way into a loaded Appalachian League West Division all-star game outfield with great play through the middle of July. The rising junior at the University of New Orleans has been a big bat thrown all around the Elizabethton lineup, and has given the lineup someone to rely on. Currently tied for the team lead in RBI (28), Williams Jr. is slashing .302/.382/.396 on the season in addition to nine stolen bases and seven extra-base hits. The native of Alexandria, La., has followed up a fantastic June by driving in runs at an impressive rate in July, sporting 16 RBI in just 11 games.

The final River Rider All-Star is pitcher Colln Rothermel. The rising sophomore right-hander from Kansas State has excelled in both starting and relief roles this summer. Overall, Rothermel has a 3-3 record with a 3.72 ERA in 10 games (six starts) while also striking out 31 batters. The native of San Diego, Calif., has started to kick into high gear in July, notching a 1-0 record in three starts (15 innings) with a 3.00 ERA and 11 strikeouts.

The Appalachian League All-Star festivities kick off with Fan Fest as well as a Skills Competition on Monday, July 25, with the All-Star Game being played July 26.

Check out the Elizabethton River Riders Statistics



Appalachian League Stories from July 20, 2022


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