Drew Tolson fires a pitch against the Amsterdam Mohawks. (Photo credit: Corey Mansfield)
The Albany Dutchmen are proud to announce that five Albany players have been selected to the 2014 PGCBL All-Star Game in Elmira, and another player will participate in the PGCBL Home Run Derby.
The Dutchmen will send pitchers Drew Tolson (Baylor) and Kyle Zurak (Radford), infielder Cameron Miller (Baylor), outfielder Sean Aspinall (Azusa Pacific) and catcher Demetrius Webb (Indiana) to Elmira. Nick Jewett (Trinity University) will also make the trip as the Dutchmen representative in the Home Run Derby.
Tolson’s Albany season has been stellar, as the Baylor product has thrived on throwing strikes. In 32 innings — a team-high — Tolson has struck out 20 hitters and walked just three. He has earned two victories, and has one complete game to his name. He has been nearly unhittable against left-handed hitters, allowing just a .128 batting average against.
Zurak has been a stalwart out of the bullpen for Albany, making a team-high nine appearances. He sports a 1-0 record with three saves, and is averaging a strikeout an inning with 12 punchouts in as many innings. He has been the final pitcher in the game seven of the nine times he has stepped on the mound, earning his win in the Dutchmen walk off victory over Utica. Zurak has been at his best when runners are on base, as opposing hitters are just 3-for-21 when a base is occupied.
Miller has displayed the knack for getting on base for the Dutchmen. His .427 on base percentage is tops on the team, 29 points better than any other teammate. He is hitting .282, the second best mark for Albany. He has scored 13 runs and driven in 11, both in the top four in the Dutchmen lineup. He also has two of the four Albany home runs on the season.
Aspinall leads the Dutchmen with a .330 batting average and 31 hits on the season. His 16 runs scored are also a team-high, and he has driven in 17 runs, good for first on the team. He has been a vital asset in the middle of the Dutchmen order, and was the first Spotlight Player of the Week primarily due to his clutch hitting.
Webb has proven to be one of, if not the, best defensive catcher in the league, catching four runners stealing and picking off four runners. He has scored five runs and driven in four for Albany, and has stolen four bases. He was one of two catchers selected for the game, the other being Amsterdam’s Blake Logan (Auburn).
Jewett will look to extend the Dutchmen reign as Home Run Derby champions, after Matt Dacey (Richmond) won the event a year ago and went on to star in the College Home Run Derby last week. Jewett has driven in 12 runs on the season and has four extra base hits. He will face representatives from each of the other eight teams in the PGCBL.
The All-Star Game takes place July 15 in Elmira, with the Home Run Derby proceeding the game.
