SAL1 South Atlantic League

South Atlantic League Announces Rosters For All-Star Game

Published on June 6, 2007 under South Atlantic League (SAL1) News Release


KINGS MOUNTAIN, NC-John Henry Moss, president of the South Atlantic League, has announced the rosters for the 48th Annual SAL All-Star Game, scheduled to be played on June 19, 2007, at State Mutual Stadium in Rome, Ga.

While the Asheville Tourists had a league-high seven players selected to the Southern Division team, the Columbus Catfish will be represented with three starters, including catcher Nevin Ashley, left fielder Ryan Royster and center fielder Desmond Jennings. The Tourists will be represented in the starting lineup on the right side of the infield with first baseman Michael Paulk and second baseman Daniel Mayora, and the Charleston Riverdogs will comprise the infield's starting left side with shortstop Eduardo Nunez and third baseman Mitch Hilligoss. The final scheduled starters, Reid Engel of the Greenville Drive and Chris Carter of the Kannapolis Intimidators, will man right field and designated hitter, respectively.

Asheville skipper Joe Mikulik will manage the Southern Division for the third time in his career. Currently in his eighth season at the Tourists' dugout helm, Mikulik also managed in the SAL All-Star Game in 2000 and 2001 and played in the game as a member of the Houston Astros' organization in 1985. Joining Mikiluk on the Southern Division coaching staff will be Rome manager Randy Ingle, Columbus manager Jim Morrison, Rome hitting coach Bobby Moore, and Asheville pitching coach Bryan Harvey. Rome's Greg Hall will serve as the team's trainer.

For the Northern Division, the Lake County Captains and Lakewood BlueClaws had a team-high five representatives each. The Captains feature starters Matt McBride at catcher, Matt Whitney at first base and Jared Goedert at third base, while Lakewood will have shortstop Jason Donald in the starting lineup. The other five starters represent five separate teams, including second baseman Chris Coghlan of the Greensboro Grasshoppers, right fielder Brandon Tripp of the Delmarva Shorebirds, center fielder Darren Ford of the West Virginia Power, right fielder Chris Marrero of the Hagerstown Suns and designated hitter Jonel Pacheco of the Hickory Crawdads.

West Virginia manager Mike Guerrero will skipper the Northern Division All-Stars. Guerrero is in his first season as the Power's manager and his 13th campaign overall managing in the Milwaukee Brewers' organization. Guerrero will be assisted by Lakewood manager Steve Roadcap, Greensboro pitching coach John Duffy, West Virginia hitting coach Cory Hart and Lakewood pitching coach Ed Hodge. Handling the trainer's duties will be Delmarva's Patrick Wesley.

Both all-star teams will be represented by 27 players, selected for the first time with votes from the fans as well as the 16 teams' managers and coaching staffs, local media and front office executives. Rome will be hosting the SAL All-Star Game for the first time since joining the league in 2003. The annual SAL All-Star Game dates to 1960, when the All-Stars defeated the Salisbury club, 6-2, in Newton, N.C.

"The South Atlantic League is extremely proud of the tradition and the amount of talent that has been showcased on an annual basis in its All-Star Game," said Moss, who is in his 50th season as president of the league. "General manager Mike Dunn and his staff in Rome have been working for more than a year in order to live up to that tradition and host one of the premier events on the professional baseball calendar. I'm extremely pleased with the rosters that will be representing the league and the 16 major league organizations and look forward to another great event."

A variety of events are scheduled in Rome in conjunction with the SAL All-Star Game. A golf tournament will be held on Monday at the Barnsley Gardens, followed by a parade in downtown Rome, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday's activities start with the All-Star Luncheon at the Coosa Country Club, with Atlanta Braves general manager John Schuerholz serving as the keynote speaker and the Class of 2007 being inducted into the South Atlantic League Hall of Fame. A fan fest will be held beginning at 4 p.m. at State Mutual Stadium, during which fans will be able to obtain autographs from all players on both teams. A home run derby and skills competition will precede the game, with a scheduled first pitch of 7:30 p.m.

The South Atlantic League will announce its Class of 2007 Hall of Fame inductees on Thursday, June 7.

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