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NYPL State College Spikes

Trio of Spikes Players Named to NYPL All-Star Game Roster

August 8, 2012 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


(STATE COLLEGE, PA) - Three State College Spikes players were named to the National League affliates' roster for the 2012 New York-Penn League All-Star Game, to be held on Tuesday, August 14 at Eastwood Field in Niles, OH. Outfielders Barrett Barnes and Tyler Gaffney join infielder D.J. Crumlich in earning All-Star berths, although Barnes will be unable to play in the game due to injury.

The rosters were announced on Tuesday by the league and the host Mahoning Valley Scrappers. Mahoning Valley, the NYPL affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, is serving as the host for the first time, becoming the second straight American League affiliate to host the Midsummer Classic. Gaffney and Crumlich will join their NL teammates in facing the All-Stars from the league's AL affilates in the eighth annual showcase of baseball's future stars.

The Pirates drafted all three of the Spikes' All-Stars this year. Barnes, the supplemental first-round draft choice, still leads the Spikes in home runs (five) and runs batted in (24) this season. The Texas Tech product hit .288 with a .401 on-base percentage in his first 38 professional games before going on the shelf with a leg injury August 1.

Gaffney, the 24th-round draft choice of the Pirates, has been an on-base machine since joining the Spikes in the first week of July. The Stanford product has hit .299 with a .500 on-base percentage, including a team-record 16 times hit by pitch. Gaffney has also collected five doubles and three triples over his first 27 pro games since starring in both baseball and football for the Cardinal.

Crumlich made his Spikes debut on June 21, and solidified the club's infield defense. The 2012 ninth-round draft choice has made 31 starts at third base, five at second base and four as an emergency left fielder. Crumlich is hitting .263 with one home run and 11 runs batted in over 42 games as a professional. The UC-Irvine product was the 2012 Big West Defensive Player of the Year before joining the Spikes.

Spikes pitchers Luis Heredia and Clay Holmes were also under consideration for All-Star Game berths. However, with Heredia slated to start on Saturday and Holmes on Sunday, neither would have been able to pitch in the game.

Complete rosters are below, with injured players in italics:

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Catchers: Tyler Heineman (Tri-City), Jobduan Morales (Tri-City), Jesus Montero (Batavia)

First Basemen: Shawn Pleffner (Auburn), Viosergy Rosa (Jamestown)

Second Basemen: Austin Elkins (Tri-City), Breyvic Valera (Batavia)

Shortstops: Roman Quinn (Williamsport), Wes Schill (Auburn)

Third Basemen: D.J. Crumlich (State College), Patrick Wisdom (Williamsport)

Outfielders: Andrew Aplin (Tri-City), Barrett Barnes (State College), Tyler Gaffney (State College), Estarlin Martinez (Auburn), Juancito Martinez (Jamestown), Wander Ramos (Auburn), Jesus Solorzano (Jamestown)

Designated Hitters: Craig Manuel (Auburn), Chris Serritella (Williamsport)

Pitchers: Blake Ford (Tri-City), Brian Holmes (Tri-City), Luis Mateo (Brooklyn), Tyler Melling (Batavia), John Mincone (Brooklyn), Lee Stoppelman (Batavia), Aaron West (Tri-City), Nick Wittgren (Jamestown), Gabriel Ynoa (Brooklyn)

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Catchers: Sam Kimmel (Aberdeen), Charlie Valerio (Mahoning Valley)

First Basemen: Matt Snyder (Staten Island), Christian Walker (Aberdeen)

Second Basemen: Chris Bostwick (Vermont), Tommy Coyle (Hudson Valley)

Shortstops: Joel Hutter (Aberdeen), Jared Reaves (Connecticut), Leonardo Reginatto (Hudson Valley)

Third Basemen: Tyler Hanover (Connecticut), Joseph Wendle (Mahoning Valley)

Outfielders: Austin Booker (Vermont), Taylor Dugas (Staten Island), Lucas Herbst (Aberdeen), Joey Rickard (Hudson Valley), Danry Vasquez (Connecticut), John Wooten (Staten Island)

Designated Hitters: Dreily Guerrero (Lowell), Joe Sever (Mahoning Valley)

Pitchers: Jeff Ames (Hudson Valley), Luis DeJesus (Mahoning Valley), Taylor Guerrieri (Hudson Valley), Kristopher Hall (Vermont), Marcus Jensen (Hudson Valley), Jacob Lee (Mahoning Valley), James Pazos (Staten Island), Francisco Taveras (Lowell), Josh Turley (Connecticut)

Last year, Spikes then-catcher and current infielder Samuel Gonzalez took home the MiLB.com Top Star Award as the NYPL All-Star Game's most valuable player when his two hits helped the National Leaguers down their American League opponents, 4-2, at LeLacheur Park in Lowell.

The 2012 NYPL All-Star Game will mark the second straight edition that a Spike has missed the game due to injury. Outfielder Carlos Mesa earned a spot on the NL roster but missed last year's Midsummer Classic before returning to the Spikes for the final three weeks of the season.

After the All-Star break, he Spikes will head back home to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for a four-game homestand beginning on Wednesday, August 15. Great seats are available for Monday night's game and can be purchased by visiting the Medlar Field at Lubrano Park Box Office, by calling toll-free (877) 99-SPIKES, or by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com to buy and print tickets from your home computer.

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