Patriots Send Six To All-Star Game

Second baseman Matt Hagen, outfielder Wayne Lydon (pictured), catcher Jason Belcher, designated hitter Josh Pressley, closer Ryan Houston, and starting pitcher Josh Miller have all been selected to play for the Freedom Division in the 2010 Atlantic League All-Star Game.

Hagen will be making his third straight All-Star Game as a Patriot. He is batting .277 with 40 runs scored, 64 hits, 17 doubles, three home runs, and a team high 36 RBI through June 27th.

Lydon is batting .267 with 37 runs scored, 62 hits, nine doubles, three triples, two home runs, 20 RBI, and 28 stolen bases in 58 games played.

This will be Lydon’s second straight Atlantic League All-Star Game after making it last year as a Camden Rivershark.

“I’d like to be doing better than what I’m doing, but it’s still something nice to be a part of,” Lydon said.

Lydon, who unlike many Atlantic League players, possesses one standout tool — his speed — doesn’t feel any additional pressure to showcase that, despite the fact that scouts from many Major League organizations will be in attendance.

“I don’t know that I need to show that off,” he said.

“I think if they look at the track record, they pretty much know.  I just want to go out there and have fun, not worry about scouts and stuff like that.”

Belcher will be making his second All-Star appearance for Somerset. He is batting .270 with 50 hits, seven doubles, two home runs, and 24 RBI.

“I really don’t play for the off the field accolades, I’m more concentrating on what goes on on the field,” Belcher said.

“But it feels good to be rewarded for what you’ve done on the field.  It’s always good to go instead of not going, it means you’ve done something good.  It’ll be nice to represent the Patriots there.”

Pressley, despite missing much of the season with injuries, was named to his third straight All-Star Game. He currently has four home runs and 15 RBI in 22 games played.

Houston is the league leader in saves with 15 in 22 games pitched. He has a 2-1 record, a 2.57 ERA, and 26 strikeouts in 21 innings pitched.

Miller is making his second straight All-Star appearance in Somerset. He is 5-4 with a 3.64 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 84 innings over 13 games started.

There was some shock in the clubhouse that outfielder Michael Hernandez didn’t make it.  Lydon was quick to stand up for his teammate.

“We all know he deserves it, but it doesn’t really mean much,” Lydon said.

“He just got snubbed.  What else can you say?”

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Parts of a Patriots press release were used in this story…

Playoff Chances Swept Away

(PR) Bridgewater, NJ – The Camden Riversharks defeated the Somerset Patriots 4-2 in the second game of the double-header on Monday night.

The Patriots took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning after left fielder Tim Raines, Jr. singled and scored on an error after a base hit by right fielder Michael Hernandez.

Somerset added a run in the bottom of the third inning after Raines, Jr. singled and scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by third baseman Pete LaForest for the 2-0 advantage.

Camden scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning to even the score 2-2. Shortstop Kyle Haines singled, left fielder Garrett Guzman singled, and third baseman Brian Burgamy walked to load the bases. Right fielder Jorge Piedra then drove home Haines on a sacrifice fly and first baseman Chris Malec singled to bring home Guzman.

The Riversharks broke the tie in the top of the fifth inning. Second baseman Cesar Suarez reached on an error, catcher Korey Feiner walked, and Suarez came around to score on a throwing error. Feiner then came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Guzman for the 4-2 lead.

Camden starter Ryan McKeller (2-2) got the win after pitching four innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Patriots starter Tim Lavigne (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing four runs on four hits in 4.2 innings pitched. Blaine Neal picked up his second save of the season after pitching a scoreless ninth inning.

The Somerset Patriots 2010 Season presented by Ford will continue on Tuesday night when the Patriots take on the Camden Riversharks at 7:05 pm. The game includes Thomas the Tank Engine Night presented by HIT Entertainment, Carvel Ice Cream, Courier News, Home News Tribune, CentralJerseyMomsLikeMe.com, Magic 98.3 FM, and WCTC 1450 AM. Great seats are available by stopping by the Patriots Ticket Office located at TD Bank Ballpark, by calling (908) 252-0700, or on-line at http://www.somersetpatriots.com.

Game 64: Riversharks @ Patriots

Game 64 – Camden Riversharks @ Somerset Patriots
June 28, 2010
TD Bank Ballpark – Bridgewater, NJ

Pitching Matchup: CAM Eddy Camacho vs. SOM Tim Lavigne

Starting Lineups:

CAMDEN

Chris Walker, CF
Kyle Haines, SS
Garrett Guzman, LF
Brian Burgamy, 3B
Jorge Piedra, RF
Chris Malec, 1B
Brett Bonvechio, DH
Cesar Suarez, 2B
Korey Feiner, C

Eddy Camacho, P

SOMERSET

Wayne Lydon, CF
Tim Raines, Jr., LF
Michael Hernandez, RF
Pete LaForest, 3B
Noah Hall, DH
Jason Belcher, C
Elliott Ayala, SS
David Housel, 2B
Joe Burke, 1B

Tim Lavigne, P

Radio Links: Click here to listen to Adam Amin’s broadcast on WCTC

Live Box Score: The link to Pointstreak box score is here.

In-Game Updates (LIVE from the ballpark): Somerset’s out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning…Tim Raines hit a one-out single, and scored after an errant throw by Jorge Piedra on a Michael Hernandez base hit.

Hernandez, not an All-Star, drives one to the right center field gap in the 3rd…runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out.

Sac fly by Pete Laforest makes it 2-0, B3.

And Camden’s tied it, 2-2, T4…

Two in the fifth make it 4-2, Camden…it’s falling apart here for Somerset.

In-Game Photos:

In-Game YouTube Videos:

Final Score:

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Game 63: Riversharks @ Patriots

Game 63 – Camden Riversharks @ Somerset Patriots
June 28, 2010
TD Bank Ballpark – Bridgewater, NJ

Pitching Matchup: CAM Steve Hammond vs. SOM Casey Cahill

Starting Lineups:

CAMDEN

Chris Walker, CF
Teuris Olivares, 2B
Garrett Guzman, LF
Brian Burgamy, 3B
Jorge Piedra, RF
Chris Malec, DH
Brett Bonvechio, 1B
Kyle Haines, SS
Shea Harris, C

Steve Hammond, P

SOMERSET

Wayne Lydon, CF
Tim Raines, Jr., LF
Michael Hernandez, DH
Pete Laforest, 3B
Matt Hagen, 2B
Noah Hall, RF
Joe Burke, 1B
David Housel, SS
J.R. Hopf, C

Casey Cahill, P

Radio Links: Click here to listen to Adam Amin’s broadcast on WCTC

Live Box Score: The link to Pointstreak box score is here.

In-Game Updates (LIVE from the ballpark): Rain delay.  Of course.

And we’ve started…an hour and eight minutes late, but we’ve started.  First pitch at 6:13.

This Teuris Olivares character…I’ve not heard of him before, but he appears to be pretty good.  He doubles to center with one out in the first.

Brian Burgamy with a two-run double to right field in the third inning to give Camden a 2-0 lead…it was laced to right, and Noah Hall broke in a few steps, and then ran back…but it was over his head.

Joe Burke gets Somerset’s first hit, a double, to leadoff the third.

Ah yes, independent baseball…where pitch counts don’t matter.  Casey Cahill’s thrown 75 pitches through four innings…looks like he’ll get a shot at a fifth frame, too.

Well, the second game is about a half inning away from being the focus…because Somerset hasn’t really been into this one.  No idea who the hell Camden’s throwing in game two, but it’s Tim Lavigne for the Patriots.  2-0, Camden, B7 of game one…

Somerset, of course, gets their first two batters on base in the seventh off of Tracy Thorpe, who relieved Hammond…

Noah Hall singles through the middle.  Hernandez scores.  2-1, Camden, one out, B7.

That will be all for Mr. Thorpe.  Derrick Loop, just named as an Atlantic League All-Star in to pitch…

Elliott Ayala pinch hits for Burke…Josh Pressley just ran into the tunnel to hit in the cage, too.

Ayala grounds out…here comes Pressley to pinch hit for Housel.  To say the season is on the line would not be overstating it…but no, now Pressley goes back into the dugout and Housel’s hitting.

Housel works a walk.  Bases now loaded.  NOW here comes Pressley.

Pressley strikes out.  Wow.  Game over.  Camden wins it, 2-1.

In-Game Photos:

In-Game YouTube Videos:

Final Score: 2-1, Camden.

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

Game 63: Pre-Game Notes

4:10 PM — Joe Holden tweaked a groin and is day-to-day…hence his placement on the inactive list.

4:05 PM — Spoke to Jason Belcher and Wayne Lydon about making the All-Star team…I’ll probably drop that on you guys inbetween games.

3:55 PM — Game 1 of the doubleheader…

CAMDEN

Chris Walker, CF
Teuris Olivares, 2B
Garrett Guzman, LF
Brian Burgamy, 3B
Jorge Piedra, RF
Chris Malec, DH
Brett Bonvechio, 1B
Kyle Haines, SS
Shea Harris, C

Steve Hammond, P

SOMERSET

Wayne Lydon, CF
Tim Raines, Jr., LF
Michael Hernandez, DH
Pete Laforest, 3B
Matt Hagen, 2B
Noah Hall, RF
Joe Burke, 1B
David Housel, SS
J.R. Hopf, C

Casey Cahill, P

3:30 PM — Teuris Olivares is on Camden’s roster, I see.  Of course he is.

3:10 PM — Just got back from the clubhouse, which is pretty sparsely populated with guys arriving late and some being on the field, etc.  I do know that Pete LaForest will be playing third base for the time being, which will allow Matt Hagen to move back to second…

Also…how is Michael Hernandez not an All-Star?  He’s hitting .327 with eight home runs and 27 RBI in 43 games.  And you can’t say he hasn’t played enough games, because Josh Pressley made it having only played in 22.  So that seems very, very odd.

2:55 PM — There’s a lot going on in Patriots land today.  First off, C/INF Pete LaForest and 1B Joe Burke have been added to the active roster.  1B Vito Chiaravalloti and OF Joe Holden have been deactivated.  The Holden side of the move is a little surprising, as the addition of LaForest gives the team three catchers…as J.R. Hopf is also on the roster.

In addition, Somerset has announced that six players from the squad have been named to play in the 2010 Atlantic League All-Star Game, to be held in Long Island.  Second baseman Matt Hagen, outfielder Wayne Lydon, catcher Jason Belcher, designated hitter Josh Pressley, closer Ryan Houston, and starting pitcher Josh Miller are all playing in the Atlantic League’s version of the midsummer classic.

Complete rosters are as follows…

LIBERTY DIVISION

1B: Eric Crozier – Southern Maryland
2B: Casey Benjamin-Southern Maryland
SS: Travis Garcia- Southern Maryland
3B: Brian Burgamy- Camden
OF: Charlton Jimerson- Bridgeport
OF: Garrett Guzman- Camden
OF: Ray Navarrete- Long Island
OF: Steve Moss- Bridgeport
OF: Jeremy Owens- Southern Maryland
C- Luis Rodriguez- Bridgeport
C- Brendan Monaghan – Long Island
DH- John Rodriguez- Long Island
DH- Matt Craig- Southern Maryland
UTL- Erick Monzon- Long Island
PIT – Patrick Ryan, Bridgeport
PIT – Matt Pike, Bridgeport
PIT – Blaine Neal, Camden
PIT – Derrick Loop, Camden
PIT – Joe Esposito, Long Island
PIT – Randy Leek, Long Island
PIT – Dan Reichert, Southern Maryland
PIT – Ryan Speier, Southern Maryland

FREEDOM DIVISION

1B: Ian Bladergroen – York
2B: Matt Hagen – Somerset
SS: Bryant Nelson – Lancaster
3B: Aaron Herr- Lancaster
OF: James Shanks – York
OF: Jason Perry- Lancaster
OF: Kennard Jones- Newark
OF: Wayne Lydon- Somerset
OF: Scott Grimes – York
C: Jason Belcher- Somerset
C: John Pachot- York
DH: Josh Pressley- Somerset
DH: Daryle Ward- Newark
UTL- Ramon Castro – York
PIT – Ryan Houston, Somerset
PIT – Josh Miller, Somerset
PIT – Tim Hamulack, Lancaster
PIT – Bubba O’Donnell, Newark
PIT – Derrell McCall, York
PIT – Jesus Sanchez, York
PIT – Tim McNab, Lancaster
PIT – Ben Fritz, Lancaster

Stay tuned for more…

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com