NOTEBOOK

Injury keeps Holt out of the field

Guy Cipriano

UNIVERSITY PARK — The only State College Spikes position player selected to the New York-Penn League All-Star Game didn’t receive an opportunity to display his steady defense.

Craig Houtz

Former Pittsburgh Pirate Kent Tekulve, a member of the 1979 World Series winners, autographs a small statue of himself before the New York Penn League All-Star Game on Tuesday, August 18, 2009. Al Bumbry, left, is a former Baltimore Orioles standout.

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Infielder Brock Holt aggravated a groin injury Sunday against Vermont, limiting him to designated hitter duties during Tuesday’s game at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

Holt was expected to play second base for the National League team. He also plays shortstop for the Spikes.

“It’s kind of disappointing,” Holt said. “But it’s fun to be with all the guys and get to know them. They are good players from different areas. I would have liked to play more, but it’s fun being a part of the all-star thing.”

Holt, a ninth-round draft pick out of Rice, tweaked his groin trying to make a defensive play in the fifth inning of Sunday’s victory, the Spikes’ final game before the two-day all-star break. Manager Gary Robinson removed Holt from the game for precautionary reasons. Holt said he’s been playing with an ailing hip and groin for the past two weeks.

“I want to be in a lineup any way possible,” Holt said. “I want to be out there. When I run and stuff, it bothered me. I don’t think I hurt it bad. It’s a day-to-day thing.”

The injury didn’t prevent Holt from participating in Tuesday’s pregame home run derby.

“I didn’t hurt it bad,” he said. “But I might need a couple of days to rest it.”

Holt is a vital cog in the Spikes’ offense and defense. He leads the team with six homers and he’s helped the Spikes turn 55 double plays through 57 games.

Back on down

Tri-City’s Russell Dixon took a voluntary demotion to participate in the game.

Dixon learned of his selection to the NL team shortly before the Valley-Cats played Batavia last Wednesday. After the game, Dixon was promoted to full-season Lexington, which needed another outfielder because of an injury.

Dixon immediately reported to Lexington, but received clearance from Houston Astros farm director Ricky Bennett and president Tal Smith to play in the all-star game. He appeared in four games with the Legends before reporting to State College. He rejoins the Legends today in Kannapolis, N.C.

“I think it’s an honor for anybody,” Dixon said of his all-star selection. “I was born and raised in Houston, and it’s been a dream come true to be in the Astros organization and be able to represent them at something like this. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Dixon, a seventh-round pick in 2007 out of Auburn University, started this season at Lexington. He also played for the Legends last season.

NL wins derby

A stacked lineup helped the NL defeat the AL in the celebrity home run derby.

Former Pittsburgh Pirates Sid Bream and John Wehner, and Penn State baseball coach Robbie Wine joined Holt on the NL team. Bream, Wehner and Wine appeared in a combined 1,572 major-league games.

The AL’s roster included former Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres outfielder Al Bumbry, former NFL kicker Chris Bahr, former Penn State defensive lineman Justin Kurpeikis, Penn State wide receivers coach Mike McQueary and Staten Island’s Neil Medchill.

Medchill cracked the only homer, sending a pitch over the right-center field wall. Medchill leads the NY-PL with 12 homers.

The derby used a modified scoring system, with the NL prevailing 37-23. Penn State pitching coach Jason Bell and Spikes coach Steven Suarez threw to participants.

Big-leaguers everywhere

Bream, Wehner and Wine were among the 10 former major-leaguers involved in the game.

Mahoning Valley’s Travis Fyman managed the AL team, whose staff also included Scrapper hitting coach Phil Clark and Aberdeen pitching coach Scott McGregor. The NL’s staff included Brooklyn hitting coach Jack Voigt.

Kent Tekulve and Bumbry served as honorary managers. NY-PL president Ben Hayes, who pitched for the Cincinnati Reds, also attended the game.

Two-timer

Spikes athletic trainer Mike Zalno made his second NY-PL appearance Tuesday.

Zalno worked for the Williamsport Crosscutters when their coaching staff led the 2005 NL team. Zalno received a chance to work Tuesday’s game because of his affiliation with the host team. Zalno assisted Brooklyn’s Deb Iwanow, who arrived in State College with the Cylcones’ coaching staff.

“I was asked to be here,” Zalno said, “I wasn’t going to miss it.”

Zalno, who received NYPL Athletic Trainer of the Year honors earlier this month, was assisted by Spikes intern Katy Poole. Zalno lives in State College with his wife, Heather, while Poole is a 2007 State College High School graduate who attends Penn State.

Preparing the field

The grounds crew received a major test when a pestering storm reached Medlar Field during batting practice. The storm

knocked out the ballpark’s main power source for an hour and forced the AL team to take batting practice indoors.

The grounds crew started preparing the field for the game last Friday by mowing a star into center field. Stars were also painted behind home plate. The Spikes received game-day help from the Hudson Valley Renegades grounds crew.

Starting his own

NL manager Pedro Lopez didn’t look beyond his own Brooklyn rotation to find a starting pitcher.

Lopez started Cyclones left-hander Mark Cohoon, who’s 7-2 with a 2.59 ERA through 73 innings. Cohoon is tied with State College’s Tyler Cox for the league lead in wins.

“He earned a chance to start,” Lopez said. “If we had another guy on the roster who is 7-2 and he wasn’t from my team, I think I would start that kid. He deserves a chance to be the No. 1 guy out there. When you are 7-2, you earn it. That’s the reason why he’s out there.”

Lowell’s Jose Alvarez started for the AL. Alvarez is 6-3 with a 1.55 ERA through 64 innings.

Staying here

The four coaches and six players who represented Brooklyn have an extended stay in State College.

The Cyclones, who lead the McNamara Division, begin a three-game series tonight against the Spikes. Brooklyn (36-21) is tied with Mahoning Valley for the league’s best record.

“It’s beautiful,” Lopez said. “It will be nice. We check out of one hotel and check into the other and move out of one clubhouse and into the other. I’m looking forward to this series.”

The Spikes enter tonight 29-28. They trail Mahoning Valley by seven games in the Pinckney Division standings and State Island by 41/ 2 games in the race for the league’s lone wildcard spot.

Pointers

Next year’s game will be played at Staten Island’s Richmond County Bank Ballpark. ... Williamsport, Lowell and Mahoning Valley tied for a league-high with three starters each. … The league used six umpires instead of the customary two. … The teams hit with green bats as part of the game’s eco-friendly theme.