Explorers' McCoola named All-Star
Posted: Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Shortstop Nick McCoola was the lone Sioux City player selected to play in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball All-Star Game in Sioux Falls on Tuesday, July 17.
The versatile McCoola will play for the North team. Starters and reserves for the North and South teams were announced Tuesday. Pitchers will be announced later this week.
McCoola, a standout in the collegiate ranks at Wichita State, played in 44 of Sioux City's 48 first-half games, hitting .328, with six doubles, a triple, home run, 23 RBIs and 23 runs scored.
The rookie infielder operated at both shortstop and second base, with the majority of his action at shortstop.
In the first half of the season, McCoola's .328 batting average was best among Sioux City players. The Explorers, 15-33 in the first half of the season, opened second half play Tuesday night at home against North Division first-half champion Lincoln.
McCoola shook off the rust of not playing organized baseball for two summers to earn his All-Star Game berth.
After finishing his career at Wichita State he took a job with a fitness company in Denver.
“When I didn’t get drafted out of college I decided that was the end of the line for me,’’ said McCoola before a Tuesday night game with Lincoln at Lewis and Clark Park. “I figured my time was up in this game.
“I didn’t play in the summer of 2005 or last season, but I spent some time with some old Wichita teammates and I found I still had a passion for the game.
“I’m grateful Ed (Manager Ed Nottle) gave me an opportunity to play here in Sioux City and now I’d love to play as long as I can.
“It’s an honor to be selected to play in the game.’’
McCoola said he began preparing for a return to the game last November. Then, when last year’s Sioux City shortstop, J.J. Burress, decided to not return to the club, McCoola won a roster spot in spring training.
McCoola, a native of Durango, Colo., batted .300, .305 and .288 for his three seasons as a Wichita State regular, hitting 10 home runs for teams that posted a combined record of 149-67.
The starting Association's starting lineups were determined by the league's 10 field managers and media representatives and the reserves was selected by St. Paul's George Tsamis, the North manager, and Fort Worth's Stan Hough, the South team skipper.
Four former Explorers were named to the North squad, Josh Patton and Pichi Balet of Lincoln and Marcel Longmire and Brent Krause of St. Paul.
Another former Explorer, outfielder Brian Fryer of Coastal Bend, will play for the South squad.
North All-Stars
STARTERS
Catcher: Marcel Longmire, St. Paul, .381, 72 hits, 21 doubles, .536 slugging percentage.
First base: Brett Cooley, Lincoln, .295, 7 home runs, 42 RBIs, 52 hits
Second base: Josh Patton, Lincoln, .343, 59 hits, 17 doubles, 30 runs scored
Shortstop: Nick McCoola, Sioux City, .328, 23 RBIs, 57 hits, 23 runs scored
Third base: Matt Imwalle, Sioux Falls, .290, 8 home runs, 42 RBIs, .536 slugging percentage
Designated hitter: Seth Pietsch, Lincoln, .381, 72 hits, 21 double, .582 slugging percentage
Outfield: Pichi Balet, Lincoln, .362, 63 hits, 35 runs scored, .443 on-base percentage
Outfield: Brent Krause, St. Paul, .384, 76 hits, 34 runs scored, .561 slugging percentage
Outfield: Brian Sprout, St. Pau, .358, 37 runs scored, 69 hits, .523 slugging percentage.
RESERVES
Catcher: Tim Marks, Sioux Falls, .297, 41 hits, 15 RBIs, 17 runs scored
Outfield: Paul Weichard, St. Joseph, .374, 37 hits, 19 RBIs, 18 runs scored
Utility: Will Smith, Sioux Falls, .352, 7 home runs, 24 RBIs, .565 slugging percentage
South All-Stars
STARTERS
Catcher: Mathew Kent, El Paso, .309, 56 hits, 22 doubles, .514 slugging percentage
First base: Walter Olmstead, El Paso, .348, 19 doubles, 32 RBIs, 65 hits
Second base: Juan Ventura, Shreveport, .316, 43 hits, 3 triples, 15 runs scored
Shortstop: James Lofton, Coastal Bend, .335, 63 hits, 37 RBIs, 13 doubles
Third base: Trino Aguilar, Pensacola, .287, 8 home runs, 24 RBIs, 51 hits, 12 stolen bases
Designated hitter: Jorge Alvarez, El Paso, .336, 72 hits, 24 doubles, 38 runs scored
Outfield: Brian Fryer, Coastal Bend, .340, 69 hits, 42 runs scored, 22 stolen bases
Outfield: Marcos Rodriguez, Pensacola, .341, 62 hits, 10 doubles, 27 runs scored
Outfield: J.P. Schmidt, Shreveport, .286, 53 hits, 32 runs scored, 26 stolen bases
RESERVES
Catcher: Kelley Gulledge, Fort Worth, .274, 29 hits, 10 doubles, 23 runs scored
Utility: Jordan Foster, Fort Worth, .387, 46 hits, 21 runs scored, .504 slugging percentage
The versatile McCoola will play for the North team. Starters and reserves for the North and South teams were announced Tuesday. Pitchers will be announced later this week.
McCoola, a standout in the collegiate ranks at Wichita State, played in 44 of Sioux City's 48 first-half games, hitting .328, with six doubles, a triple, home run, 23 RBIs and 23 runs scored.
The rookie infielder operated at both shortstop and second base, with the majority of his action at shortstop.
In the first half of the season, McCoola's .328 batting average was best among Sioux City players. The Explorers, 15-33 in the first half of the season, opened second half play Tuesday night at home against North Division first-half champion Lincoln.
McCoola shook off the rust of not playing organized baseball for two summers to earn his All-Star Game berth.
After finishing his career at Wichita State he took a job with a fitness company in Denver.
“When I didn’t get drafted out of college I decided that was the end of the line for me,’’ said McCoola before a Tuesday night game with Lincoln at Lewis and Clark Park. “I figured my time was up in this game.
“I didn’t play in the summer of 2005 or last season, but I spent some time with some old Wichita teammates and I found I still had a passion for the game.
“I’m grateful Ed (Manager Ed Nottle) gave me an opportunity to play here in Sioux City and now I’d love to play as long as I can.
“It’s an honor to be selected to play in the game.’’
McCoola said he began preparing for a return to the game last November. Then, when last year’s Sioux City shortstop, J.J. Burress, decided to not return to the club, McCoola won a roster spot in spring training.
McCoola, a native of Durango, Colo., batted .300, .305 and .288 for his three seasons as a Wichita State regular, hitting 10 home runs for teams that posted a combined record of 149-67.
The starting Association's starting lineups were determined by the league's 10 field managers and media representatives and the reserves was selected by St. Paul's George Tsamis, the North manager, and Fort Worth's Stan Hough, the South team skipper.
Four former Explorers were named to the North squad, Josh Patton and Pichi Balet of Lincoln and Marcel Longmire and Brent Krause of St. Paul.
Another former Explorer, outfielder Brian Fryer of Coastal Bend, will play for the South squad.
North All-Stars
STARTERS
Catcher: Marcel Longmire, St. Paul, .381, 72 hits, 21 doubles, .536 slugging percentage.
First base: Brett Cooley, Lincoln, .295, 7 home runs, 42 RBIs, 52 hits
Second base: Josh Patton, Lincoln, .343, 59 hits, 17 doubles, 30 runs scored
Shortstop: Nick McCoola, Sioux City, .328, 23 RBIs, 57 hits, 23 runs scored
Third base: Matt Imwalle, Sioux Falls, .290, 8 home runs, 42 RBIs, .536 slugging percentage
Designated hitter: Seth Pietsch, Lincoln, .381, 72 hits, 21 double, .582 slugging percentage
Outfield: Pichi Balet, Lincoln, .362, 63 hits, 35 runs scored, .443 on-base percentage
Outfield: Brent Krause, St. Paul, .384, 76 hits, 34 runs scored, .561 slugging percentage
Outfield: Brian Sprout, St. Pau, .358, 37 runs scored, 69 hits, .523 slugging percentage.
RESERVES
Catcher: Tim Marks, Sioux Falls, .297, 41 hits, 15 RBIs, 17 runs scored
Outfield: Paul Weichard, St. Joseph, .374, 37 hits, 19 RBIs, 18 runs scored
Utility: Will Smith, Sioux Falls, .352, 7 home runs, 24 RBIs, .565 slugging percentage
South All-Stars
STARTERS
Catcher: Mathew Kent, El Paso, .309, 56 hits, 22 doubles, .514 slugging percentage
First base: Walter Olmstead, El Paso, .348, 19 doubles, 32 RBIs, 65 hits
Second base: Juan Ventura, Shreveport, .316, 43 hits, 3 triples, 15 runs scored
Shortstop: James Lofton, Coastal Bend, .335, 63 hits, 37 RBIs, 13 doubles
Third base: Trino Aguilar, Pensacola, .287, 8 home runs, 24 RBIs, 51 hits, 12 stolen bases
Designated hitter: Jorge Alvarez, El Paso, .336, 72 hits, 24 doubles, 38 runs scored
Outfield: Brian Fryer, Coastal Bend, .340, 69 hits, 42 runs scored, 22 stolen bases
Outfield: Marcos Rodriguez, Pensacola, .341, 62 hits, 10 doubles, 27 runs scored
Outfield: J.P. Schmidt, Shreveport, .286, 53 hits, 32 runs scored, 26 stolen bases
RESERVES
Catcher: Kelley Gulledge, Fort Worth, .274, 29 hits, 10 doubles, 23 runs scored
Utility: Jordan Foster, Fort Worth, .387, 46 hits, 21 runs scored, .504 slugging percentage
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