Six DiamondDawgs Headed to 2013 PGCBL All-Star Game

By Peter Pagliaro

The Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs are pleased to announce that six players have been named Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) All-Stars and are headed to the All-Star Game in Newark, NY on July 24, 2013.

The DiamondDawgs players that have been selected All-Stars include infielders/outfielders Dalton Herrington (University of Louisiana at Monroe), Willie Shaw (William & Mary), Landon Thibodeaux (Delta State) and catcher Mike Fischer (Columbia) along with pitchers Tyler Bray (University of Louisiana at Monroe) and Keegan Long (Saint Joseph’s, Ind.).

At the halfway mark of the season Dalton Herrington (University of Louisiana at Monroe) is leading all Mohawk Valley players in several categories including batting average (.392), hits (40), runs (27) and stolen bases (26-33).  Herrington is atop the PGCBL leader board with his league leading 26 steals and second in individual batting at .392 and tied for third in the league for hits (40) and runs scored (27). Thus far at the midway mark Herrington is hitting .392, with 27 runs, 40 hits, 9 doubles, 1 triple, 1 homerun and 22 RBI and is slugging .529 and has an on-base percentage of .488.

Landon Thibodeaux (Delta State) makes his All-Star appearance as the DiamondDawgs leader in RBI with 24 and sits fifth on the PGCBL leader board in RBI.  Thibodeaux is hitting .314 on the year for the DiamondDawgs with 12 runs scored, 33 hits, 7 doubles, 2 homeruns, 24 RBI and 12 steals (12-15).  Thibodeaux is slugging a .438 bat and has an on-base percentage of .368.

Willie Shaw (William & Mary) joins the All-Star team as an infielder, however, Mohawk Valley fans have had the pleasure of seeing him pitch as well as he led the Dawgs in a victory in his first pitching performance of the season to finish the first half of the season.  In his pitching performance, Shaw pitched a 7-inning complete game shutout striking out 3 and allowing just 4 hits.  Despite, a solid pitching performance, Shaw gets the All-Star bid for his batting.  Shaw is the DiamondDawgs team leader in doubles with 10 and well as walks with 27 on the year.  Shaw is hitting .315 for Mohawk Valley with 16 runs, 23 hits, 10 doubles, 1 homerun, 10 RBI and 6 stolen bases (6-10).  Shaw is slugging .493 and has an on-base percentage of .495 for the first half of the season.

Mike Fischer (Columbia) makes the All-Star team as a catcher for his stellar defensive skills and prowess behind the plate.  Fischer has been instrumental in leading the Dawgs pitching staff and has a fielding percentage of .991.

Keegan Long (Saint Joseph’s, Ind.) and Tyler Bray (University of Louisiana at Monroe) are the DiamondDawgs representatives for the pitchers and a fine bunch they are. Keegan Long is perfect on the year with a 4-0 record and a 2.30 ERA in 31.1 innings pitched.  Long has allowed 30 hits to opponents, 10 runs (8 earned) and has fanned 39 for second best in the PGCBL.

Meanwhile, Tyler Bray, a hard-throwing side-arm specialty reliever is 1-1 on the year for Mohawk Valley and sports a 2.04 ERA in 17.2 innings pitched.  Bray has 3 saves on the year and has allowed 15 hits, 7 runs (4 earned) and has stuck out 29.

Please join us in congratulating your Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs All-Stars as they represent us in Newark at Colburn Park.