ThunderBolts Receive Four All-Star Nods
Published on July 5, 2009 under Frontier League (FL)
Windy City ThunderBolts News Release
The Windy City ThunderBolts had four players named to the Frontier League West Division All-Star team as Gilberto Mejia, Zach Aakhus, Ross Stout and Dylan Axelrod were selected by the league's managers, coaches and members of the media to the squad.
Two of the Bolts players were selected as starters. Gilberto Mejia will be the staring second baseman for the West, making his second straight appearance in the league's showcase game. Mejia comes into Sunday second in the league in hitting at .396 with three homers and 29 RBI. His 29 steals are tops in the league by nine over Brandon Anderson from Kalamazoo. The infielder started the season on fire, as from the fourth game on, he recorded a 25-game hitting streak.
Zach Aakhus is the starting catcher for the West Division. The Bolts second round selection in the Frontier League draft in May, Aakhus has hit .287 for Windy City with two homers and 13 RBI. He has also stolen six bases on the season and has an on-base percentage of .382.
Ross Stout is on the pitching staff for the West Division. Stout is 5-1 and is fourth in the league with a 2.17 ERA. Last season's Frontier league Championship Series MVP, Stout leads the FL this season with 56 strikeouts heading into Sunday. Stout is now 16-1 in his last 23 regular season starts dating back to last June 17.
Dylan Axelrod rounds out the All-Stars for Windy City. Axelrod has split time between the starting rotation and the bullpen, going 1-0 with five saves and a 1.67 ERA. The right-hander out of the San Diego organization has whiffed 28 batters in 28 innings of work.
Windy City's four selections were matched by Southern Illinois and Rockford in the West Division. River City had five picks with Gateway earning three and Evansville notching one.
21 players were selected by the divisional voters. The final three players will be selected by the manager of the West Division on July 9. The manager of the team will be determined by the standings at the end of play on Monday.
After an off day on Monday, Windy City returns home for the final six games before the All-Star break with three each against Kalamazoo and Traverse City. Tuesday is Church Night at the ballpark. On Wednesday, Windy City honors their heritage for the second straight week as they will have their second "Return of the Cheetahs" night. For information or tickets, call 708-489-BALL stop by the Standard Bank Stadium ticket office or go to the team's website at www.wcthunderbolts.com.
Frontier League Stories from July 5, 2009
- Grizzlies Take Finale - Gateway Grizzlies
- Gateway Scores Late to Take Series - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Penn Helps Sliders Earn Sweep - Midwest Sliders of Ypsilanti
- Two Beach Bums Selected to All-Star Game - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Crushers Take Win Over Freedom - Lake Erie Crushers
- Beach Bums Fall to Sliders - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Crushers Blank Freedom - Florence Y'alls
- Grizzlies Send Three to All-Star Game - Gateway Grizzlies
- Four RiverHawks Named to All-Star Team - Rockford RiverHawks
- ThunderBolts Receive Four All-Star Nods - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Five Crushers Named to All Star Team - Lake Erie Crushers
- Five Freedom Selected as All-Stars - Florence Y'alls
- Otters Celebrate Independence Day with Win - Evansville Otters
- Sliders Scrap Out Another One-Run Win - Midwest Sliders of Ypsilanti
- Grizzlies drop second game - Gateway Grizzlies
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