By Stephen Hough – Team Publicist, Newport Gulls
On Saturday, July 20th, the NECBL announced the rosters for the 2019 All-Star Game that will be held by the Vermont Mountaineers on Sunday, July 28th at Montpelier Recreational Field in Montpelier, Vermont.
Scott Holzwasser and Justyn-Henry Malloy were nominated as starters for the Southern Division’s All-Star team while four more Gulls made the roster. Chris Hamilton and Isaiah Thomas will be reserves while Carson Rudd and Mike Sansone will be featured out of the bullpen. Newport’s six players is tied for the most on the South’s roster.
Scott Holzwasser (Northeastern) – Second Base
Hitting .337 with 32 hits and seven doubles, Holzwasser will be the starting second baseman for the Southern Division. The Northeastern product reached base safely in his first 22 games played for Newport and enjoyed a 13-game hit streak in the midst of it. Along with ranking in the top three in average and doubles for the Gulls, he is third on the team in home runs (3) and stolen bases (8).
Justyn-Henry Malloy (Vanderbilt) – Third Base
Batting in the middle of Newport’s lineup, Malloy’s posted a .345 batting average with 29 hits, five doubles, and a team-high five home runs, earning him the nod to start at the hot corner for the Southern Division. The Bergenfield, New Jersey native has not only shown the ability to hit for average and power but has 25 walks to 26 strikeouts, proving he has a great eye at the plate as well.
Chris Hamilton (Stony Brook) – First Base
Currently riding a 21-game on-base streak, Hamilton has been a consistent bat Newport’s been able to rely on all season and he will be a reserve for the Southern Division All-Star Team. Through 25 games, he’s hitting .309 with seven doubles and 18 walks, which ranks third on the team. For Stony Brook this spring, Hamilton hit .325 and was second on the team in home runs (8) and RBI (42).
Isaiah Thomas (Vanderbilt) – Outfield
Despite arriving to Newport late after winning the National Championship with the Commodores, Thomas earned a spot in the All-Star Game as a reserve for the Southern Division. Through 18 games, the North Palm Beach, Florida native has posted a .324 batting average while hitting three home runs, which is tied for third-most on the team, and ten steals, second-most on the team. At Vanderbilt this spring, Thomas hit .368 with three home runs.
Carson Rudd (Stanford) – Relief Pitcher
With still yet to allow a run in 8.2 innings pitched, Rudd and his 0.00 ERA will be featured out of the bullpen for the Southern Division. In his six appearances, the right-hander has given up just three hits while striking out 14 batters and walking seven. At Stanford, Rudd made 15 appearances, finishing with a 2.95 ERA over 21.1 innings pitched and 14 strikeouts. Opponents hit just .224 off of him this spring.
Mike Sansone (Fairfield) – Relief Pitcher
Tied for a team-high eleven appearances, Sansone’s posted a 2.25 ERA to earn a spot in relief for the Southern Division. In 28.0 innings pitched, the southpaw has struck out 27 while walking only three. Sansone was named NECBL Pitcher of the Week for Week 2 of the season after tossing four scoreless innings with eight strikeouts against the 12 batters he faced against the Danbury Westerners. That strong outing followed another one against in-state rival, the Ocean State Waves, in which Sansone threw 2.1 innings of relief, striking out five of the eight batters he faced. For Fairfield, the left-hander had 63 strikeouts to 15 walks through 83.1 innings pitched.
Gulls fans will also have a chance once again to vote for one more player to be selected to the Southern Division roster. Hudson Haskin from Tulane University is the Gulls candidate for the fan vote which will begin on Monday, July 22nd. Haskin is tied for second on the team in hits (32) and is also tied for the most triples in the NECBL. The star outfielder also holds an impressive .308 batting average and is leading the Gulls in steals with 17. You can #VoteHaskin by going to Vote19.NECBL.com.
Tickets for the 2019 All-Star Game can be bought either online or on the day of the All-Star Game at the gate. Gates will open at approximately 2:30 pm and the festivities will be kicked off by the Home Run Derby at 3:30 pm. The All-Star Game is set to take place at 5:30 pm with pregame ceremonies beginning at 5:10 pm.