Stars sending eight to All-Star Game

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Stars sending eight to All-Star Game
06/30/2008 2:43 PM ET
By Ari Wasserman / Special to MLB.com

Although the Huntsville Stars had the same record as the Southern League North Division's first-half winner West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, they still fell short of the first-half crown.
When it comes to the 2008 Southern League All-Star Game, however, Huntsville will be the most represented on July 14 at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, NC.
The Stars will have a league-high eight players on the North's roster because they have been stellar at the plate this season. Of the league's top five batting leaders, four of the players call Huntsville home.
Stars' Angel Salome, who leads all Southern League catchers in batting average (.340) and RBIs (52), was chosen behind the plate. Salome is second in the league in batting behind only teammate third baseman Mat Gamel (.379, 15 HR, 70 RBIs), who was also selected to the All-Star Game but will not be participating because he is playing in this year's Future's Game on July 13. Also catching for the North is West Tenn's Adam Moore, who is hitting .305 with seven home runs and 45 RBIs.
Also representing Huntsville for the North is Alcides Escobar (.322, 7 HR, 51 RBIs) at shortstop. He ranks fifth in the league in batting, directly behind teammate Michael Brantley (.324, 4 HR, 34 RBIs), who will occupy one of the outfield slots on the North's roster.
Two Carolina Mudcats can be spotted in this year's outfield as Cameron Maybin (.360, 12 HR, 36 RBIs) and John Raynor (.289, 6 HR, 26 RBIs) were named to the team. West Tenn's Mike Wilson (.268, 18 HR, 54 RBIs) and Chattanooga's Shaun Cumberland (.315, 8 HR, 26 RBIs) fill out the final two slots.
The Southern League's home run leader Matt LaPorta (.294, 19 HR, 63 RBIs) was selected as an outfielder but will also be playing in this year's Futures Game.
In the infield, two more Mudcats will take the field as Gaby Sanchez (.314, 5 HR, 41 RBIs) will be the first baseman and Chris Coghlan (.302, 5 HR, 45 RBIs) will be at second. Huntsville's Chris Errecart (.289, 12 HR, 32 RBIs) was included on the roster as a utility infielder, while West Tenn's Marshall Hubbard (.355, 5 HR, 32 RBIs) will be the designated hitter.
Headlining the pitching staff is yet another member of the Stars in David Welch (8-1, 3.62 ERA), who leads the league in wins. Huntsville has three more hurlers on the roster to join Welch in Patrick Ryan (2-4, 2.82 ERA), Steve Hammond (7-4, 3.45 ERA) and Joe Bateman (2-1, 2.47 ERA).
Chattanooga sends a pair of pitchers to the North's roster in Ben Jukich (7-3, 2.78 ERA) and Robert Manuel (3-1, 1.27 ERA), while Carolina sends two in Chris Volstad (4-3, 3.28 ERA) and Chris Mobley (3-1, 2.88 ERA). Tennessee's Donnie Veal (4-5, 3.22 ERA) and West Tenn's Ryan Ketchner (6-4, 4.32 ERA) round out the North Division's pitching.
Three other West Tenn players were also selected to the All-Star Game (P Rich Dorman, P Mumba Rivera, and 2B Luis Valbuena), but will not play because they were promoted to Triple-A.
The South Division All-Star rosters will be announced Tuesday, July 1.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.