The Florida Collegiate Summer League hosted its fifth all-star game at Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium over the weekend with the West All-Stars coming out on top, 3-1. The West All-Stars got out to an early lead with a three-run homer in the first inning and finished with 11 hits in the win, while the East All-Stars managed just four hits on the night.
Players from Belleview, Clermont and Leesburg represented the West, while players from Orlando, Sanford and Winter Park made up the roster for the East. Four local baseball players, from the Orlando Suns, earned roster spots for their play so far this summer. UCF’s Josh Siebenaler was penciled in as the starter at second base after coming in tied for second in the league with a .330 batting average and .386 slugging percentage.
He also had the second most hits for his team (29), which was good for third in the league, and was tied for the most total bases among teammates with 34 in all. Siebenaler also led his team with 15 runs and 11 stolen bases (tied for fourth in the league), despite being picked off eight times. In his first 88 at-bats this season he has struck out just 10 times. Though Siebenaler boasts the most successful on-base percentage in the league, he was unable to reach base in the all-star game after finishing 0-for-3 at the plate.
Former Timber Creek baseball player William Gordon started at shortstop on Sunday after entering the game with 13 RBIs and six doubles, tied for second in the league and both tops for the Suns. He has hit just .198 and recorded 10 errors through the first 25 games of the season. Gordon ended up going 0-for-2 at the plate on Sunday. UCF pitchers Brennan Dobbins and Evan Stobbs also made the all-star cut but did not see playing time out of the bullpen. Stobbs has the fourth most strikeouts in the league (33) and an ERA of 3.24, with an 0-2 record in five overall appearances.
UCF pitcher earns FCSL honor
The Scoop: Brennan Dobbins earned
Florida Collegiate Summer League
Pitcher of the Week honors last week
after the Lake Brantley and UCF product
led the Orlando Suns to a 3-0 victory.
In game two of a doubleheader against
the Clermont Mavericks, Dobbins
pitched a six-inning shutout to lead his
team. He earned the win by allowing just
two hits and two walks while striking out
seven batters at the plate.
Dobbins, who will be entering his
sophomore year with the Knights when
classes get started this fall, has an ERA of
1.85 (fourth in the league) and a 2-1
record in six starts this summer. His 32
strikeouts register as the second best on
the team and the fifth best in the league.
UCF grad signs free agent deal
The Scoop: Former UCF outfielder
Tyson Auer became the fifth Knight to
sign a professional Major League
Baseball contract this year when he
struck a free agent deal with the Los
Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
The four-year starter at UCF joins
pitchers Mitch Herold and Mitch Houck,
catcher Robert Lara and infielder
Dwayne Bailey as a Class of 2008 signee.
Following the signing, Auer joined Bailey, who was drafted by the Angels in the 21st round, as part of the Pioneer League’s Orem Owlz rookie team roster out of Orem, Utah. During his four years as a starting centerfielder at UCF, Auer became known for his defensive play, quick speed and surprising power while at the plate. He finished his career ranked in UCF’s top- 10 in career at-bats, runs, hits, triples, sacrifice flies, sacrifice bunts, stolen bases and stolen-base percentage. As a senior he was the only Knight to start in all 58 games, hitting .273 with three home runs. As a junior he batted .356 and stole 27 bases en route to earning All-Conference USA Second Team honors.
All in the community for Preds QB
The Scoop: Orlando Predators quarterback
Shane Stafford was named to the
Arena Football League’s Al Lucas Hero
Team for his contributions as an active
member in the Orlando and Tampa communities
over the past year.
During the 2008 season, Stafford was
involved in lending a helping hand at
Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital with
the Children’s Miracle Network and at
the Children’s Cancer Center in Tampa.
Among the standout moments of community
service was the way he connected
with 15-year-old Robert O’Brien of
Winter Haven.
O’Brien was battling testicular cancer, which led to chemotherapy and the loss of his spot on the junior varsity baseball team, when Stafford came to his aid. Following Stafford’s two visits to O’Brien’s home in February, complete with autographed memorabilia such as a jersey, hat, football and a schedule poster, the eventual cancer survivor and his family were special guests at the final home game of the season at Amway Arena. Stafford was one of 11 players to be named to the team, which annually recognizes AFL players who make the most significant contribution to both their community and the game of Arena Football. The award was created in remembrance and honor of the late Los Angeles Avengers lineman Al Lucas.
AFL’s Predators host tryouts
The Scoop: Free agent tryouts will be
held by the Arena Football League’s
Orlando Predators for the 2009 season on
Saturday, Sept. 13 and Saturday, Nov. 8,
at the Florida Citrus Bowl’s Thunder
Field.
Preregistration for the camp is $60
while the tryout fee during day of camp
is $75. Registration starts at 8 a.m., with
camp beginning promptly at 9 a.m.
Orlando head coach Jay Gruden and
his staff will time players in the 40-yard
dash and 20-yard short shuttle and run
the prospective players through individual
non-contact position drills.
The tryouts will be used to fill spots on the Predators’ 37-player training camp roster and will be held on a grass surface. Players are encouraged to wear T-shirts, shorts and grass cleats. No helmets or pads will be necessary. When camp begins in February those that make the cut will have the chance to compete for one of 24 spots on the regular- season roster. Participants must be at least 18 years of age and not currently under contract with any other professional football organization. Previous college or pro experience is not required.
For preregistration by credit card, call Jeff Medevic at 407-648-4444 or visit www.orlandopredators.com for more info.
