NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE

Spikes earn spots in All-Star contest

Guy Cipriano

UNIVERSITY PARK —Rumors even exist in short-season baseball.

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On Wednesday, a few, but none of the nasty variety, reached the State College Spikes.

As Zach Foster completed his pregame afternoon throwing, a buzz started developing among the team’s relievers — one of their own received a spot in next week’s New York-Penn League All-Star Game.

Foster was one of the last to learn.

“Some friends told me the good news,” Foster said. “I was pretty excited. I was hearing some rumors, but I was outside doing our throwing program.”

Foster will have company during next Tuesday’s game at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park as second baseman Brock Holt and pitcher Phil Irwin also made the team comprised of players from National League affiliates.

All-star talk dominated Medlar Field chatter, especially considering rain postponed Wednesday’s game against Oneonta. The Spikes (27-25) and Tigers (27-22) will play a doubleheader beginning at 5:05 p.m. today.

Not even heavy rain could dampen Foster’s mood.

Foster is 2-0 with a 1.10 ERA in 13 appearances, numbers that certainly merited all-star consideration. But all-star selection processes often overlook relievers, regardless of their value to a team.

“I’m very happy and very proud for him because guys that have his role usually don’t get that opportunity,” manager Gary Robinson said. “I’m glad somebody recognized what he does for this ball club.”

The selection continues a surprising 15 months for the Bradford native. The Pittsburgh Pirates made the former Pitt-Bradford star the first player drafted in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference when they selected him in the 49th round of last year’s draft.

Foster, 22, spent last year in the rookie Gulf Coast League before beginning his second professional season in the NY-PL. With the Spikes, Foster has held a variety of roles, from bridge man between stages of a piggyback to long reliever. He has allowed two runs and seven hits while striking out 13 in 161/ 3 innings.

“It caught me by surprise,” Foster said of the selection. “From what I have heard, it’s tough for relievers to make it there. But I knew it was possible, and I’m glad it happened.”

Holt and Irwin are taking conventional routes to next week’s game.

The Pirates drafted Holt in the ninth round of this year’s draft out of Division I power Rice. Holt immediately started his career as the Spikes’ leadoff hitter, a role he has held the entire season.

Holt leads the Spikes with six homers, which ranks tied for fourth in the 14-team league. He’s hitting .256 with a team-high 23 RBIs. He’s also one of the league’s top defensive players, committing just five errors in 47 games at second base and shortstop.

Teammates started ribbing Holt about a possible all-star selection after Tuesday’s 9-4 victory over Oneonta. Robinson broke the official news Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s a good feeling to be a part of that team,” Holt said. “Two off days would have been nice, too, but I’m excited to be selected and hopefully I can do well.”

Irwin possessed all the necessary credentials to make the team. The 21st-round draft pick out of Ole Miss has allowed just one earned run in 22 professional innings. Irwin has 24 strikeouts and four walks, and entered the NY-PL after starting for an Ole Miss team that advanced an NCAA Super Regional.

“There were a lot of rumors,” Irwin said. “A lot of guys were joking around saying I was on the all-star team. It’s a good thing. It’s an honor.”

The presence of only three Spikes on the roster puzzled many around the team.

The Spikes are trailing Williamsport by three games in the race for the league’s one wild card spot. Players bypassed in the selection process, which relies heavily on statistics, included pitchers Maurice Bankston and Tyler Cox, outfielder David Rubinstein and first baseman Aaron Baker.

Bankston is 2-4 with a 2.34 ERA in 50 innings, Cox earned his sixth win Tuesday, Rubinstein leads the team with a .270 batting average and Baker has 14 extra-base hits and a .356 on-base percentage.

“There are at least three, possibly four other guys on our ball club I feel that deserve to be on the squad,” Robinson said. “I guess numbers don’t permit it. But I know in my heart there are that many.”

The Brooklyn Cyclones lead the league with six selections: first baseman Sam Honeck, outfielder Luis Rivera, catcher Dock Doyle and pitchers Michael Powers, James Fuller and Mark Cohoon. Brooklyn’s Pedro Lopez, whose team entered Wednesday tied with a league-best 33-19 ranking, will manage the team of players from the NL affiliates.

The NL team also includes five players from the nearby Williamsport Crosscutters: catcher Sebastian Valle, first baseman Francisco Murillo, shortstop Jeremy Barnes, center fielder Leandro Castro and pitcher Austin Hyatt.

Staten Island led American League affiliates with six selections. Mahoning Valley’s Travis Fryman, a former major-league all-star whose team entered Wednesday 33-19, will manage the AL team. The Pinckney Division-leading Scrappers had five selections.

Spikes general manager Jason Dambach said tickets are still available for next week’s game. Festivities begin at 1 p.m. Sunday with a fan fest in downtown State College.