Blazers, Barnstormers Feature Array of SLABA All-Star Players

The Stallions Baseball Club, which shared the regular-season championship in the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Association with the Jefferson County Blazers, will have the most starters and most players at the annual SLABA all-star game.

The game, featuring only varsity players, will be played on August 1 at 8 p.m. at T. R. Hughes Stadium in O’Fallon, Mo.

The Blazers and Stallions each had 13-3 records this season. The Blazers have the most players selected for the South team with eight. The South includes the Blazers, Jefferson County Barnstormers, Meramec Valley Travelers, St. Louis Tigers and Johnny Mac Thunder.

The Jefferson County Barnstormers also have the most South starters with four. The Stallions will have five starters for the North team, which also includes the American National Eagles, Eagles West and the South-West Stars.

The selections were made on Sunday at the Holiday Inn in Sunset Hills. Team most valuable players and postseason destinations were also established for all five of the age divisions in SLABA.

Shortstop and 2011 Fort Zumwalt South graduate Daniel Seddon was named the MVP of the Stallions. He will start along with first baseman Branden Sugar (Zumwalt East), second baseman Dylan Schindler (Francis Howell Central), outfielder Wade Rothermich (Zumwalt North) and DH Brad Chapman (Zumwalt East).

First baseman Trey Meier from Seckman, the Blazers’ team MVP, will start for the co-champions along with outfielder Jake Peppers.

Other team MVPs who were named Sunday include: Johnny Mac’s Sean Kennedy (Mehlville), Howell North grad Mike Wilson (Eagles); Devon Tolan (Barnstormers); Meramec Valley’s Andrew Beck (Westminster); Northwest senior-to-be Zach McKenney (Tigers); Mike Hardin (American National); and Andrew Pitts (South-West Stars).

Three SLABA varsity teams will be competing in affiliated postseason tournaments.

The Barnstormers and Eagles will play in the four-team Pony Regional Tournament, which will be held July 28-30 at the Hazelwood Sports Complex. The winner of that tournament will move on to the national tournament in California.

The Tigers will compete in the National Amateur Baseball Federation (NABF) World Series in Youngstown, Ohio in the first week of August.

The Stallions 17-and-under team will play in the NABF World Series in Knoxville starting Wednesday.

The Tigers will compete in the 16-and-under NABF World Series in Northville, Mich. while the 16-and-under Stars will play in the Pony/Colt Zone Tournament in Kankakee, Ill.

The five SLABA all-star games will be played July 31 and Aug. 1 at T.R. Hughes, also the home of the River City Rascals.

The games begin with the 14s at 1 p.m. on July 31 followed by the 15's at 4 p.m. and the 17s at 7 p.m.

The 16s will have their game on Aug 1 at 5 p.m. followed by the varsity game at 8 p.m.

SLABA Varsity All-Star Roster

North

Starters
C - Mike Wilson (Eagles)
1B - Branden Sugar (Stallions)
2B - Dylan Schindler (Stallions)
3B - Shane Hartwig (American National)
SS - Daniel Seddon (Stallions)
OF - Wade Rothermich (Stallions)
OF - Michael Hardin (American National)
OF - Danny Define (Eagles)
DH - Brad Chapman (Stallions)

Reserves
C - Oday Alyatim (American National)
1B - Duane Johnson (American National)
2B - Andrew Pitts (South-West Stars)
3B - John Sesti (Stallions)
SS - Brendan Buenger (American National)
OF - Shane Olmsted (American National)
OF - Tim Livingston (Stallions)
OF - Jamie Graeser (Stallions)
DH - Jake Beckwith (Stars)

Pitchers
Lew Caradonna (Stallions)
Joe Siegler (Stallions)
Mike Eagan (American National)
D.J. Bills (Eagles)
Brandon Callaway (Eagles)
Dustin Dalton (Eagles)
Kevin Smith (Stars)
Ryan Jones (Stars)

South

Starters
C - Matt Fisher (Barnstormers)
1B - Trey Meier (Blazers)
2B - Andrew Beck (Meramec Valley)
3B - Doug Fromm (Barnstormers)
SS - Zack McKenney (Tigers)
OF - Nathan Walsh (Barnstormers)
OF - Jake Peppers (Blazers)
OF - Cody Russell (Barnstormers)
DH - Sean Kennedy (Johnny Mac)

Reserves
C - Tyler Bilbrey (Blazers)
1B - T.J. McCoy (Meramec Valley)
2B - Chris Scoles (Tigers)
3B - Alek Ferbet (Blazers)
SS - Tyler Smreker (Barnstormers)
OF - Mitch Bartola (Johnny Mac)
OF - Will Johnson (Tigers)
OF - Jake Rethmeyer (Blazers)
DH - Mark Rodgers (Blazers)

Pitchers
Kurt McGuire (Johnny Mac)
Devon Tolan (Barnstormers)
Tyler Blankenship (Blazers)
Ryan McRaven (Meramec Valley)
Andy Finch (Tigers)
Ryan Deckard (Barnstormers)
Conner Muckler (Johnny Mac)
Brad Moore (Tigers)
Nick Carlton (Blazers)
Kevin Ludwig (Tigers)