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ROCHESTER, Minn. – The middle of the Express lineup has been one of the most productive ones in the Northwoods League to this point in the season.
Two players in that spot of the order will get to showcase just how productive it’s been, as the league announced Friday power hitters Tyler Hermann and Daniel Salters will represent the Eau Claire Express in the 2014 Northwoods League All-Star Game on July 22 at Kapco Park in Mequon, home of the Lakeshore Chinooks.
Hermann, a former Eau Claire North standout who earned second team all-Horizon League honors this spring for UW-Milwaukee, has statistically been near the top of the Northwoods League in hitting all summer.
As of Friday afternoon, he is sixth in the league in batting with a .342 average, second in hits at 53 and tied for first in doubles with 14. He has 17 multi-hit games in 40 total, and he has had three or more hits in six contests, including a five-hit outburst on June 22. He is tied for the team lead with three home runs, as well.
Salters didn’t arrive to Eau Claire until June 13, but his presence was quickly felt. In his sixth game with the team, he belted a walk-off, two-run home run to beat the St. Cloud Rox on June 20. A recent hot stretch propelled him to one of the league’s best hitters, as the Dallas Baptist catcher has hit safely in 13 of his last 14 contests. He’s raised his average from .222 on June 22 all the way up to .310, where it is right now. His 18 RBI are tied for third on the team despite him playing in just 24 games.
All-Star festivities kick off with a banquet Monday night Ozaukee County Fair Grounds in the Columbia St. Mary’s Center at 5:00 p.m. The featured speaker will be the Commissioner of Baseball, Allan H. “Bud” Selig. In addition to Commissioner Selig, honorary managers, Jim Gantner and Robin Yount will introduce the players. Live entertainment will follow the program. Tickets for the All-Star Banquet are $60 per person and can be purchased by calling the Lakeshore Chinooks offices at 262-618-4659.
On game day, Tuesday, July 22, the gates will open at Kapco Park at 3:30 p.m. Players will rotate through the VIP Photography Autograph Zone until 5:30 p.m. The Home Run Challenge will begin at 4:45 p.m. and feature a unique format. Nine players from each division will represent the North and South teams. Each player will receive six outs in their half of the inning and a nine inning competition will take place. The team with the most home runs hit after the nine-inning exhibition will be declared the winner.
The Eau Claire Express are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.eauclaireexpress.com.
