9 Schaumburg Flyers picked for All-Star Game
One year removed from a 66-loss season, the Schaumburg Flyers sit near the top of the Northern League standings.
And now a Northern League-best nine Flyers players have been named to the Great Lakes all-star team for the 2009 Northern League All-Star Game, set to take place July 9 at Silver Cross Field in Joliet.
Five of the Flyers' nine regulars, two starting pitchers, and two pen-mates make up the nine selected, and both rookies named to the Great Lakes roster are Flyers.
Designated hitter Felix Jose highlights the list of Flyers. Eighteen years ago, the 43-year-old switch hitter from the Dominican represented the St. Louis Cardinals on the National League squad in the 1991 MLB All-Star Game. Jose has dominated Northern League pitching this season, leading the Northern League in on-base percentage (.446) and tied for third in batting average (.344).
Third baseman Vince Harrison is batting .299 with 10 doubles, and has been voted an all-star for the second straight year. He'll be joined in the Great Lakes infield by Flyers second baseman Jose Valdez, who has a .343 average in June, and leads the Flyers in doubles (12) and runs scored (25).
Both Flyers corner outfielders have been named all-stars, with rookie left fielder Jeff Dunbar boasting a Northern League fourth-best batting average (.340) and a team second-best 21 RBI. Right fielder Victor Ferrante has been the Flyers' best all-around player, hitting .322 (seventh in the NL) and leading the Flyers in home runs (6), RBI (27), extra-base hits (19), hits (46), and slugging (.559).
Starting pitchers Dustin Glant and Ed Almonte earned spots on the Great Lakes roster. Glant is a team-best 4-2, and is ninth in the league with a 3.64 ERA. Almonte has posted a 3.53 ERA while going 3-3. Joining them on the team will be Flyers relievers Cephas Howard and Craig James, who have propelled the Flyers to a 16-0 record when leading after seven innings.
As a setup man in his rookie season, Howard has allowed just three earned runs in 19.1 innings of work, giving him a team-best 1.40 ERA. James has posted a 2.25 ERA and recorded seven saves as the team's closer.
The Great Lakes All-Star Team will be managed by Joliet's Wally Backman, and is comprised of players from the Flyers, Joliet JackHammers, and Gary RailCats. They'll take on the Great Plains All-Star Team, made up of the All-Stars from the Kansas City T-Bones, Winnipeg Goldeyes, and Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, and managed by Kansas City's Andy McCauley.