SAL1 South Atlantic League

The 49th Annual SAL All-Star Game

Published on June 3, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1) News Release


SALISBURY, MD - Eric Krupa, president of the South Atlantic League, has announced the rosters for the 49th Annual SAL All-Star Game, scheduled to be played on June 17, 2008, at NewBridge Bank Park in Greensboro, NC.

Among those selected to play for the SAL North Team were Shorebirds Joe Nowicki (OF), Sean Gleason (SP), and Manager Ramon Sambo, who was selected as a coach for the squad. #18 Joe Nowicki is currently batting .316 and leads the team with 8 homeruns and 34 RBI's. #10 Sean Gleason began the year in the bullpen, however injuries pushed him into the starting rotation in early May and he has dominated opposing batters ever since, posting a 2-0 record with a 2.03 ERA, which is the lowest among all Shorebird starters. Sambo, in just his first year with the club has guided this team to a 32-24 record, just 1.5 games out of first place with 13 games remaining in the first half of the season. This is the first Shorebirds team in serious contention since there last playoff appearance in 2005 and a first half crown would ensure another playoff appearance this season.

For the rest of the Northern Division, the Lake County Captains had a team-high five representatives, including the starting pitcher, Ryan Miller. Lakewood and West Virginia have four representatives each, with both teams providing two starters. Lakewood's Michael Taylor is in left field and Michael Durant is the designated hitter while West Virginia's Jonathan Lucroy starts at catcher and Lee Haydel is in center field.

Hickory and Hagerstown have three representatives each, and both teams also provide two starters. Hickory provides the left side of the starting infield with Jose De Los Santos (SS) and Bobby Spain (3B). Hagerstown starters include Bill Rhinehart (1B) and Michael Burgess (RF). Lexington has two representatives, including starting second baseman Matthew Cusick. The host club, Greensboro, has three representatives, all of them pitchers.

Lake County manager Aaron Holbert will skipper the Northern Division All-Stars. Holbert is in his first season as a manager after being the hitting coach in Billings, Montana last year. Holbert will be assisted by Ramon Sambo, Greensboro manager Edwin Rodriguez, Lake County pitching coach Ruben Niebla, and Lake County hitting coach Jim Rickon. Greensboro's Julio Hernandez will serve as the team's trainer.

For the Southern Division, the Asheville Tourists had a league-high seven players selected to the all-star team, including five starters. Pitcher Jhoulys Chacin will be joined by Everth Cabrera (2B), Darin Holcomb (3B), Brian Rike (LF) and Michael Mitchell (CF). Greenville has four players on the roster, including starters Yamaico Navarro (SS) and Michael Jones (1B). Charleston also has four players on the squad, with Jesus Montero starting at catcher. Rome and Savannah have two players apiece, with Rome's Jason Heyward starting in right field and Savannah's Jordan Abruzzo named the designated hitter. Augusta and Columbus both have three players on the Southern team.

Asheville skipper Joe Mikulik will manage the Southern Division for the fourth time in his career. Currently in his ninth season at the Tourists' dugout helm, Mikulik also managed in the SAL All-Star Game in 2000, 2001 and 2007 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 Charleston manager Torre Tyson, Augusta manager Andy Skeels, Greenville manager Kevin Boles, and Asheville pitching coach Doug Linton. Handling the trainer's duties will be Kannapolis's Chris McKenna.

Both all-star teams will be represented by 26 players, selected by the votes of the team's managers and coaching staffs, local media and front office executives. Greensboro will be hosting the SAL All-Star Game for the fourth time. Greensboro also hosted the game in 1980, 1982, and 1990. The annual SAL All-Star Game dates to 1960, when the All-Stars defeated the Salisbury club, 6-2, in Newton, N.C.

"Under the leadership of John Moss, this event has grown into an exciting event each year," said Krupa, who is in his first season as president of the league after taking over for President Emeritus John Moss, who served for 50 years and retired at the end of 2007. "The amount of talent that is showcased each year is tremendous, and this year continues that tradition. General Manager Donald Moore and his staff in Greensboro have been working for more than a year in order to live up to that tradition and host one of the great events on the baseball calendar."

A variety of events will be scheduled in Greensboro along with the SAL All-Star Game, including a Shindig and a luncheon in which the 2008 SAL Hall of Fame members will be inducted. The South Atlantic League will announce the 2008 Hall of Fame class on Friday, June 6.

* * * * *

2008 SOUTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE ALL-STAR ROSTERS

POSITION NORTHERN DIVISION

MANAGER Aaron Holbert Lake County

COACH Edwin Rodriguez Greensboro

COACH Ruben Niebla Lake County

COACH Ramon Sambo Delmarva

COACH Jim Rickon Lake County

PITCHERS Ryan Miller Lake County

Kelvin De La Cruz Lake County

Ryan Morris Lake County

Sean Gleason Delmarva

Amaury Rivas West Virginia

Sergio Severino Lexington

Drew Naylor Lakewood

Andrew Battisto Greensboro

Corey Madden Greensboro

Vinnie Pestano Lake County

Garrett Parcell Greensboro

CATCHERS Jon Lucroy West Virginia

Joel Naughton Lakewood

Sean Rooney Hagerstown

FIRST BASEMAN Bill Rhinehart Hagerstown

SECOND BASEMAN Matthew Cusick Lexington

THIRD BASEMAN Bobby Spain Hickory

SHORTSTOP Jose De Los Santos Hickory

UTILITY INFIELDER Miles Durham Hickory

UTILITY INFIELDER Zelous Wheeler West Virginia

RIGHT FIELD Michael Burgess Hagerstown

CENTER FIELD Lee Haydel West Virginia

LEFT FIELD Michael Taylor Lakewood

UTILITY OUTFIELDER Roman Pena Lake County

UTILITY OUTFIELDER Joseph Nowicki Delmarva

DESIGNATED HITTER Michael Durant Lakewood

TRAINER Julio Hernandez Greensboro

POSITION SOUTHERN DIVISION

MANAGER Joe Mikulik Asheville

COACH Torre Tyson Charleston

Andy Skeels Augusta

Kevin Boles Greenville

Doug Linton Asheville

PITCHERS Jhoulys Chacin Asheville

Joey Williamson Asheville

Randall Taylor Asheville

Daniel Otero Augusta

Daryl Maday Augusta

Madison Bumgarner Augusta

Jason Stephens Charleston

Jonathan Ortiz Charleston

Alexander Cobb Columbus

Felix Doubront Greenville

Henry Mabee Kannapolis

CATCHERS Jesus Montero Charleston

Luis Exposito Greenville

Francisco Pena Savannah

FIRST BASEMAN Michael Jones Greenville

SECOND BASEMAN Everth Cabrera Asheville

THIRD BASEMAN Darin Holcomb Asheville

SHORTSTOP Yamaico Navarro Greenville

UTILITY INFIELDER Justin Snyder Charleston

UTILITY INFIELDER Frederick Freeman Rome

RIGHT FIELD Jason Heyward Rome

CENTER FIELD Michael Mitchell Asheville

LEFT FIELD Brian Rike Asheville

UTILITY OUTFIELDER Maiko Loyola Columbus

UTILITY OUTFIELDER Emeel Salem Columbus

DESIGNATED HITTER Jordan Abruzzo Savannah

TRAINER Chris McKenna Kannapolis

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 3, 2008


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