Three Former Eagles Named to All-Star Teams

STATESBORO, Ga. – Three former Georgia Southern baseball players will represent their respective team in upcoming All-Star games. First baseman Greg Dowling and pitchers Everett Teaford and A.J. Battisto will represent their Class A minor league teams in upcoming All-Star games.

The trio were teammates at Georgia Southern from 2005-06.

Teaford moved up to Class A Advanced Wilmington Blue Rocks this season with great success. The Kansas City Royals prospect is 4-1 with a 2.73 ERA and one save in 62.2 innings. He has started eight times in his 13 appearances. Teaford has allowed 50 hits, walked 18 and struck out 47 as opponents are hitting just .213 off the former First Team All-Southern Conference left-hander.

The California/Carolina All-Star game will be held June 24th at BB&T Coastal Field in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Carolina League, Northern-Division Blue Rocks (33-32, 6.5 games back in second place) will send three representatives.

“It’s a big honor. Not many people get selected to play in an All-Star game, especially with this setup. The spots are limited so it’s an honor to earn one. Hopefully I represent the Blue Rocks and Carolina League well,” said Teaford. “The biggest key to success this year has been confidence. Last year I didn’t have the confidence that I have this year or in years past. You cannot pitch without having confidence. If you go out there and pitch defensively you are not going to pitch well. There are a lot of good players in this league and all the teams are pretty good. You can tell there is a step up in competition based on the players and how you have to pitch them. It’s definitely a step up from pitching (in the Midwest League) last year.”

Battisto is currently pitching for the Greensboro Grasshoppers, an affiliate of the Florida Marlins. He owns a 3-0 record, one save and 0.91 ERA in 39.2 innings, having allowed just five runs (four earned). Battisto also boasts an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio, 42 Ks to only four walks. Opponents are batting .175 off the Grasshoppers’ set-up man. Battisto ended his career last year earning All-Southern Conference honors and was undefeated in three years with the Eagles.

Greensboro, represented by three players, will play host to the South Atlantic League All-Star game on June 17th. The game will be played at the NewBridge Bank Park. Greensboro as of Tuesday (June 10) posted a 36-29 record and stands second in the Northern Division, just 3.5 games back.

“I was a little bit surprised (to get the All-Star call), I thought they would give it to the closers,” said Battisto, who recently earned his second ‘Pitcher of the Month’ award from the Grasshoppers’ Booster Club. “The key this year has been pitching down in the zone and getting ahead of hitters. I’ve thrown my four-seam to both sides of the plate and been throwing my two-seamer a lot. Going into this year I didn’t know what to expect, but I was shooting for high ‘A’. I am very fortunate though, there are only three pitchers left from my draft class and we are all in the bullpen here in Greensboro.”

Dowling is currently in his second year with the Kane County Cougars of the Midwest League. The Oakland As prospect is batting .265 with 19 doubles, five home runs, 23 runs scored and 35 RBI. The former two-time All-SoCon first baseman ended his Eagles career as one of two players to ever record 300 hits, 200 RBI and 180 runs scored.

Kane County will send six players to Midland, Michigan, for the June 17 All-Star game held at Dow Diamond. The Cougars are 38-26 in the Western Division, good for second place and 3.5 games back of the lead.

Category: Baseball

Published on Wednesday, 11 June 2008 00:29