Savannah Bananas well represented in Coastal Plain League All-Star baseball game
Eight players from the defending Coastal Plain League champion Savannah Bananas have been selected for the summer collegiate baseball league's all-star game Sunday in Holly Springs, N.C.
Representing the Bananas, who this season won the West Division's first-half title at 19-5 (.792) and were 3-4 in the second half through Monday, are position players Indiana Stanley, Beau Brewer, Drew Yniesta, Armando Becerra and Ty Jackson; and pitchers Jared Donalson, Nolan Daniel and Carson Dorsey.
Voted as starters are Stanley at catcher and Yniesta and Becerra in the outfield. The eight total is the most players from any of the seven West Division ballclubs and matches the Morehead City Marlins and Wilson Tobs in the East Division.
Savannah head coach Tyler Gillum will have the same role for the West Division All-Star squad, the CPL announced Monday night.
The game is scheduled for 5:40 p.m. on Sunday at Dick Sears Field at Ting Stadium, home of the Holly Springs Salamanders. This is the 22nd year the CPL has played an All-Star Game and the first since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The players were voted upon within their division by CPL head coaches, broadcasters and local media representatives from each market.
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Stanley (Columbia College) is batting .307 in 88 at-bats over 26 games, with 16 runs scored, 27 hits, five doubles, three triples and three homers with 15 RBI.
Listed at third base, Brewer (Paris JC) was fourth in the CPL through Monday with a .352 batting average in 88 at-bats over 26 games, with 16 runs, 31 hits and 13 RBI.
Becerra (Erskine) was sixth in the league through Monday at .340 in 94 at-bats over 27 games, with 19 runs, 32 hits, four doubles, two triples and 12 RBI.
Yniesta (Lenoir-Rhyne) was leading the CPL through Monday with 13 doubles and was fifth with 20 RBI. He was hitting .298 in 104 at-bats over 27 games with 25 runs, 31 hits and two homers.
Outfielder Jackson (East Georgia) returned from the championship team and was hitting .333 (10th) in 75 at-bats over 21 games, with 13 runs, 25 hits, three doubles and 13 RBI.
Right-hander Donalson (Georgia Southwestern) was tied for second in the league with four victories and seventh in ERA (2.49) through Monday. He's 4-0 in six starts with 19 hits, seven runs (all earned) and seven walks allowed with 24 strikeouts in 25.1 innings pitched. Batters are hitting only .207 against him.
Right-handed reliever Nolan Daniel (Purdue) has a 3-1 record and 1.37 ERA in 19.2 innings over nine games, with 11 hits, five runs (three earned) and five walks yielded while fanning 24 batters.
Left-hander starter Carson Dorsey (Gulf Coast State) also has four wins (4-0) in six starts and a 1.61 ERA over 22.1 innings. He's allowed 12 hits, four runs (all earned) and three walks with 32 strikeouts (tied for sixth in the CPL). He is listed as unable to attend.
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For ticket information, go to www.salamandersbaseball.com or call the Salamanders at 919-249-7322. The game also will be streamed live on FloSports.
The Bananas have home games this week at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Friday against the Florence (S.C.) Flamingos. All remaining 2022 CPL regular-season games at Grayson Stadium are sold out.
Nathan Dominitz is the Sports Content Editor of the Savannah Morning News and savannahnow.com. Email him at ndominitz@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @NathanDominitz
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah Bananas baseball voted to Coastal Plain League All-Star Game
