All-Star Game returning to Washington

One of the worst-kept secrets in baseball was made official Thursday. The Frontier League is bringing its marquee event back to Washington this summer.

Frontier League and Washington Wild Things officials announced that Consol Energy Park will be the site of the 2013 all-star baseball game July 17. The announcement was made during a news conference at Consol Energy’s headquarters.
 

Washington is hosting the all-star game for the second time. The Wild Things, who first played host in 2005, beat out two other cities for hosting rights to this year’s game.
 

"This is our feature event, the mainstay of the league," Frontier League commissioner Bill Lee said. "When I joined the league as commissioner back in 1994 and we discussed the all-star game, it was like, ‘OK, who drew the short straw and has to host it?’ Now, it’s a tough battle for a team to get the game."
 

Wild Things owner Stu Williams said this is a project his organization has been working for a long time.
 

"The process started more than a year ago. Basically, as soon as last year’s all-star game was over the league has to decide where the next one is going to be held. If you want to host, then you do your lobbying and put together a program. A bonus that we have is, everyone in the Frontier League knows that when Washington does something it’s done first class."
 

In 2005, the Wild Things followed the plan of Major League Baseball and made the all-star game part of a multi-day event that included a country music concert at the ballpark. The plans are again elaborate.
 

All-star week begins July 15 with a luncheon at the DoubleTree Hotel in the Meadow Lands. Pittsburgh Pirates broadcaster and former pitcher Steve Blass will be the keynote speaker. On July 16, there will be a home run derby followed by the all-stars playing a softball game against the Akron Racers of the National Pro Fastpitch women’s professional league. The Racers also will be conducting a clinic for youth softball players.
 

"We want this to be the standard for all future Frontier League All-Star games to be measured," Williams said. "We want people to say, ‘Was it as good as Washington? No.’"
 

In 2005, the Wild Things’ Mike Arbinger won the pregame home run derby, then was named Most Valuable Player in the all-star game after helping to the East Division to a 5-4 victory. One thing I recall about that night is the wind was blowing in from right field, making it difficult for lefties to hit for power. It might be the only night in the ballpark's history when the wind blew in from right field (it usually blows out to left field).

One player from the 2005 all-star game made it to the major leagues. River City’s Joe Thatcher went on to make his debut in the majors less than two years after playing in Washington. Thatcher has appeared in 237 major-league games as a left-handed relief pitcher with the San Diego Padres.

"The talent level in the league now is better than in 2005," Lee said. "We’ll be trying to showcase everything we can. The difference in Washington from 2005 is like night and day with the ballpark having turf and the development around there."

84 Lumber will be the title sponsor for the All-Star Game.

Lee added to all-star team

Washington pitcher Gary Lee was one of three players added to the East Division all-star team today. The right-handed starter will be the lone representative from the Wild Things in the game Wednesday at The Corn Crib in Normal, Ill.

Lee (3-3) is fourth in the Frontier League in ERA at 2.27 and has allowed only 29 hits in 39.2 innings. Lee likely pitched his way onto the all-star team Tuesday night when he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against Rockford, the league's top hitting team.

No all-stars

The Frontier League announced today its preliminary rosters for the All-Star game that will be played July 11 at the Corn Crib in Normal, Ill.

The first 24 players for both the East and West teams were released and, though it's not much of a surprise, nobody from the Wild Things was selected. East Division manager Greg Langbehn will add three players to the roster Thursday, and here's guessing that one will be either pitcher Chris Smith (3-3, 2.78) or pitcher Gary Lee (3-3, 2.27). Utility player Andrew Heck (.378) also could be selected, though he has played in only 18 games.

5 Wild Things named to All-Star Game

The Frontier League announced Monday the initial rosters for its all-star game and the Wild Things will have five representatives, including three pitchers.

Selected for the game as position players were second baseman Scott Lawson and catcher Blake Ochoa. Both will be backups for the East Division team that will play the West July 13 at All Pro Freight Stadium in Avon, Ohio.

Washington pitchers Casey Barnes, Justin Hall and Jhonny Montoya will be on the East's staff.

Lawson leads the Wild Things with a .319 batting average, and his .425 on-base percentage is fifth-best in the league.

Ochoa is batting only .198 but is second on the Wild Things with 21 walks and has thrown out 22 percent of opposing base stealers.

Barnes (2-3) is second in the league in ERA at 1.91. Hall (4-2, 3.27) is tied for the league lead with two shutouts and is tops on the Washington pitching staff in wins. Montoya (1-1, 2.20) is fourth in the league in ERA and second on the team in strikeouts with 32 in 49 innings.

The final three rosters spots for each team will be chosen by the game's managers Thursday.