Six Ducks will represent Liberty Division in Southern Maryland
(Central Islip, N.Y., July 3, 2013) – Atlantic League officials today announced the 2013 Atlantic League All-Star Game rosters, and six members of the Long Island Ducks have been selected to participate in the league’s 16th midsummer classic. Infielders Bryant Nelson and Ben Broussard, outfielder Joash Brodin and pitchers Dontrelle Willis, Jared Lansford and Leo Rosales were each selected by fan, media, league official and coaching staff voting.
Nelson’s hot month of June helped him secure his first All-Star berth as a member of the Ducks. The fourth-year Duck is batting .267 on the year with 10 home runs, 36 RBI and 15 doubles in 59 games. He batted .303 during the month of June while also posting a .350 on-base percentage.
Broussard has been a force in the middle of the Ducks lineup all season long, batting .302 with eight homers, 20 RBI and 11 doubles. After missing time due to a calf injury, the former Major Leaguer returned to the lineup on May 31 and went 5-for-5 with two homers, five RBI and two runs scored, reaching base all seven times he came up to bat.
Brodin has been the Ducks top hitter this season. The second-year Duck leads the team and ranks fourth in the Atlantic League with a .336 batting average while leading the league in hits with 90. The switch hitter is also the team leader in runs (46), doubles (16), walks (25) and stolen bases (6).
Willis, a nine-year big league veteran, has been dominant on the mound this year. He holds the league’s second best ERA at 2.92 while also posting a 4-3 record. In 58 and two-thirds innings, the southpaw has struck out 40 batters while allowing only 19 earned runs. He has allowed three runs or less in each of his last four starts, compiling a 1.33 ERA in that span.
Lansford has been outstanding as the Ducks set-up man this season. In 30 games out of the bullpen, the right-hander has a record of 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA and four saves. Over 29 and one-third innings, the second-year Duck has surrendered just nine walks while striking out 29 batters. He also went 18 consecutive appearances from May 5 through June 17 without allowing an earned run.
Rosales, the closer for Long Island, has shined in his second year with the Flock. The right-hander has a 2-2 record in the season with a team-best 2.18 ERA and 12 saves in 25 games. A native of Los Angeles, he has struck out 27 batters in 24 and two-thirds innings while yielding just 12 walks. Rosales went 10 consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run from May 5 to May 29.
Ducks skipper Kevin Baez will manage the Liberty Division All-Star team for a second consecutive season after leading Long Island to the Atlantic League championship in 2012. Pitching coach Steve Foucault and team trainer Dorothy Pitchford will also be a part of Kevin’s staff for the All-Star Game. Butch Hobson, skipper of the 2012 Freedom Division champion Lancaster Barnstormers, will handle managing duties for the Freedom Division. To view the All-Star Game rosters for both divisions, please CLICK HERE.
The 2013 Atlantic League All-Star 48-Hours of Fun will begin on Tuesday, July 9 as Turkey Hill Dairy presents the Atlantic League All-Star Celebration featuring Cirque-tacular Entertainment’s “Circurious.” The 2013 Atlantic League All-Star game presented by The Communities of St. Charles will take place on Wednesday, July 10th at 7:05 p.m. at Regency Furniture Stadium, home of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. The Freedom Division will take on the Liberty Division in the league’s 16th All-Star Game. For more information visit www.somdbluecrabs.com or call 301-638-9788.
The Long Island Ducks are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Bethpage Ballpark. For further information, call (631) 940-DUCK or visit www.liducks.com.
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