Release just out from the Nationals/Senators
The Harrisburg Senators, in conjunction with the Eastern League and the All-Star game host Trenton Thunder, announce that INF/OF Leonard Davis, LHP Jack Spradlin, and RHP Josh Wilkie are 2009 Southern Division Eastern League All-Stars. The game is at 7:05pm on Wednesday, July 15 at Mercer County Waterfront Park in Trenton, NJ.
More from the release after the jump
Davis is in his first full season with the Senators, after having spent ten days with Harrisburg in 2008. Through June 30, he is batting .285 with 11 HR and 38 RBIs. He leads the team in RBIs. He batted .309 in June with 5 HR and 20 RBI’s helping the Sens to their first 20-win month in over five years.
Davis was selected in the 8th round of the 2004 draft by the Expos. He was the 2008 Nationals Minor League Player of the Year, playing at three different levels in the Nats organization. This is the second time he has been a mid-season all-star as he was a mid-season all-star for Hagerstown in 2007.
Spradlin is the reigning Eastern League pitcher of the week and has put together a fabulous season out of the bullpen for the Sens. He is 4-1 with 3 saves and a 2.22 ERA. He has not given up a run in his last 13.1 innings of work. Spradlin has allowed runs in just six of his 26 outings. Over his last 15 outings, 25.1 innings, he has a 0.64 ERA. He has pitched three innings or more in four different games this year. He has inherited 18 runners this season but none have scored.
The Washington Nationals selected Spradlin in the eighth round of the 2007 draft. He pitched for the University of Southern California before joining the Nationals. He went 6-3 with 97 strikeouts and a 4.47 ERA during his junior year with USC.
Wilkie has been outstanding out of the pen for the Sens this year. He is 5-1 with a save and a 2.68 ERA. In 40.1 innings, he has struck out 33 and walked just 12. He is currently on a 9.2 inning scoreless streak, dating back to June 14.
Wilkie was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Nationals on June 14, 2006. He played his collegiate baseball at George Washington University. He was signed by the Nats after then Nats outfielder Jose Guillen arranged a tryout. In 2007 he had the best change-up in the South Atlantic League according to Baseball America’s “Best Tools” survey.
#1 by Scooter - July 1st, 2009 at 16:09
Hey, gang. My comment is not at all on-topic, but I thought this bunch might appreciate reading it.
We’re in Cape Cod visiting my wife’s friends, so last night we took in a game, Harwich at Brewster: http://www.brewsterwhitecaps.com/gamerecap2.htm I didn’t bother keeping score, and barely glanced at the Whitecaps’ yearbook, so I can’t give names. Just tried and failed to find a box score. Oh well. So. Each team started a strong southpaw, and they both had the batters looking pretty bad in the early going — lots of swings and misses, fooled by changing speeds. (Can’t say whether the pitchers were good or the batters bad.) Both shortstops made some pretty nice plays, as smooth as anything you’ll see in the minors, maybe the majors. Most of these plays were up the middle, but a couple were in the hole. Brewster has one guy who looked like a total stooge on the basepaths — he’s the guy who got credited with a steal, if you find a box! The final was 1-0 Harwich, which pleased our host, who lives therein.
The experience of being at the game was terrific. Most important to me: Brewster is a great place to take a toddler. They don’t have lights, so games start at a kid-friendly 5:00. The bleachers are small, and many folks sat on folding beach chairs or blankets on a hill overlooking the field. Keep an eye out for foul balls: our friends’ daughter learned the hard way why you never sit facing away from a ballgame. There are playgrounds for kids of all ages behind home plate — covered by nets. Nice touch. Snacks and games are available, and the crowd is very friendly. Oh, and some dude who lives in Alexandria noticed my wife’s curly W cap and said howdy. (If it was one of y’all, c’mon, fess up.)
Basically, if you somehow find yourself on the Cape, and you’re wondering whether to go to a game, do it. If you like minor-league ball, you’ll like this too. As the locals would say, it’s wicked fun.
#2 by Berndaddy - July 1st, 2009 at 16:38
Scooter my family was staying in Chatham several years ago and I loved the game there. The kids play hard and have fun. It was a blast and frankly it beat going to the beach all the time. Although we were staying on one of the freshwater lakes there.
#3 by pahou - July 1st, 2009 at 19:04
we have been to the Cape twice now for baseball. watching the players get the field ready before the game shows love for the game and the baseball thats played there, cant wait to go back
#4 by Jane - July 2nd, 2009 at 09:59
Congratulations to Leonard Davis, Jack Spradlin, and Josh Wilkie on being named to the Eastern League All-Star Team!!!