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Six Cyclones Headed to All-Star Game

Written by Scott Drattell

Monday, 13 August 2007

Brooklyn sends 6 players to Wappingers Falls, NY for the third annual NY-Penn League All-Star game, and its coaching staff will take the helm of the National League squad.

With just 14 teams, however, the New York-Penn Leauge’s All-Star rosters don’t fill out quite the same way, and the team with the league’s best record at the break, the Brooklyn Cyclones (35-16), won’t be sending the most players to Tuesday’s All-Star fesitivites in Wappingers Fall, N.Y., home of the Hudson Valley Renegades.

Still, it’s not as if the Cyclones won’t be well-represented, as five of their players will be headed to Dutchess Stadium to represent the team as All-Stars: C Jason Jacobs, 3B Jake Eigsti, SS Matt Bouchard, OF Brandon Kawal, and RHP Dylan Owen.

Jacobs and Owen were perhaps the two easiest selections for the NYPL. With 7 home runs on the season, Jacobs is tied with Raul Reyes for the team lead and ranks third in the NYPL. He also leads the team with 31 RBI, and with 23 games remaining, has a chance to break the club record of 46 RBI in a season, currently held by Frank Corr (2001) and Ambiorix Concepcion (2004).

Owen, meanwhile, has anchored one of the top pitching staffs in the league. He is 6-1 on the season with a 2.05 ERA and 0.93 WHIP while striking out 48 batters in 48.1 innings pitched. He is tied for the league lead in wins with four others and ranks third in ERA and WHIP.

Of course, it’s not as if the Cyclones’ three other All-Stars haven’t been impressive this season either.

Eigsti is hitting .295 on the season with 2 home runs, 2 triples, 8 doubles, and 27 RBI, good enough for second on the team. He has also proven versatile defensively, as he has jumped between third base and shortstop as necessary, while making just three errors on the season. He cited that “it was truly an honor to be selected” and is excited to be heading to the festivities with so many of his teammates, as he believes “it is going to be a lot of fun.”

Kawal is also hitting .295 this year, to go along with 10 RBI and four stolen bases. He admitted that he “wasn’t expecting [to be selected],” but was “very excited” when he found out after the team’s doubleheader in Mahoning Valley on Wednesday.

Bouchard, though, may have been the biggest surprise All-Star, as he is hitting just .231 on the season with no home runs and 16 RBI. Though he also admitted that he wasn’t expecting to be named an All-Star, he believes that being the starting shortstop on the team with the league’s best record probably influenced his selection. He went on to say that “to be honest, everyone on our team deserves it just as much as I do. Everyone on this team is an All-Star.”

Joining the Cyclones’ five All-Star players will be the team’s coaching staff. Manager Edgar Alfonzo will take the helm for the National LeagueEach year, it seems as if the rosters of Major League Baseball’s All-Star teams are dominated by players from each league’s top teams.

For instance, the Red Sox and Tigers boasted the top two records at the half this season, and each sent five players to the Midsummer Classic, while the lowly Devil Rays and Royals had just one All-Star apiece.

With just 14 teams, however, the New York-Penn League’s All-Star rosters didn't originally fill out quite the same way, and the team with the league’s best record at the break, the Brooklyn Cyclones (35-16), wasn’t be sending the most players to Tuesday’s All-Star fesitivites in Wappingers Fall, N.Y., home of the Hudson Valley Renegades - at least until a last minute roster addition was announced on Sunday.

Brooklyn will be well represented, as six of their players will be headed to Dutchess Stadium to represent the team as All-Stars: C Jason Jacobs, 3B Jake Eigsti, SS Matt Bouchard, OF Brandon Kawal, and RHP Dylan Owen and RHP Will Morgan.

Jacobs and Owen were perhaps the two easiest selections for the NYPL. With 7 home runs on the season, Jacobs is tied with Raul Reyes for the team lead and ranks third in the NYPL. He also leads the team with 31 RBI, and with 23 games remaining, has a chance to break the club record of 46 RBI in a season, currently held by Frank Corr (2001) and Ambiorix Concepcion (2004).

Owen, meanwhile, has anchored one of the top pitching staffs in the league. He is 6-1 on the season with a 2.05 ERA and 0.93 WHIP while striking out 48 batters in 48.1 innings pitched. He is tied for the league lead in wins with four others and ranks third in ERA and WHIP.

Of course, it’s not as if the Cyclones’ other All-Stars haven’t been impressive this season either.

Eigsti is hitting .295 on the season with 2 home runs, 2 triples, 8 doubles, and 27 RBI, good enough for second on the team. He has also proven versatile defensively, as he has jumped between third base and shortstop as necessary, while making just three errors on the season. He cited that “it was truly an honor to be selected” and is excited to be heading to the festivities with so many of his teammates, as he believes “it is going to be a lot of fun.”

Kawal is also hitting .295 this year, to go along with 10 RBI and four stolen bases. He admitted that he “wasn’t expecting [to be selected],” but was “very excited” when he found out after the team’s doubleheader in Mahoning Valley on Wednesday.

Bouchard, though, may have been the biggest surprise All-Star, as he is hitting just .231 on the season with no home runs and 16 RBI. But it's his steady glove and slick fielding that has merited his selection to the All-Star squad. Though he also admitted that he wasn’t expecting to be named an All-Star, he believes that being the starting shortstop on the team with the league’s best record probably influenced his selection. He went on to say that “to be honest, everyone on our team deserves it just as much as I do. Everyone on this team is an All-Star.”

One noticeable absence was the All-Star roster was reliever Will Morgan, who has been dominant in middle relief, boasting a 2-0 record with 2 saves and a 1.04 ERA, while striking out 35 and only allowing 3 runs in 26 innings. This was quickly remedied as the Cyclones announced that the Eureka, CA native was added to the squad on Sunday, as Brooklyn tied Oneonta and Mahoning Valley with the most repreentatives attending the festivities.

Joining the Cyclones’ fAll-Star players will be the team’s coaching staff. Manager Edgar Alfonzo will take the helm for the National League All-Stars for the second straight year, and the team couldn’t be happier about it. “It’s great for him, he definitely deserves it,” said Bouchard. “We’ve definitely got the best coaching staff in the league, no doubt about it.” Joining Alfonzo will be pitching coach Hector Berrios, hitting coach Guadalupe Jabalera and Trainer Matt Hunter.

The All-Star fesitivies will begin Monday night with Opening Ceremonies at the Grandview in Poughkeepsie, and the game itself is slated to begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday night. All-Stars for the second straight year, and the team couldn’t be happier about it. “It’s great for him, he definitely deserves it,” said Bouchard. “We’ve definitely got the best coaching staff in the league, no doubt about it.” Joining Alfonzo will be pitching coach Hector Berrios and hitting coach Guadalupe Jabalera.

The All-Star fesitivies will begin Monday night with Opening Ceremonies at the Grandview in Poughkeepsie, and the game itself is slated to begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday night.

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