SID Blog #26:
Former Rock baseball standout
Matt Adams was recently named as a starting first baseman for the 75th Texas League All-Star Game, which will be played June 29 in San Antonio. Texas.
Adams, who earned Division II national Player of the Year honors in 2009 as a third-year member of The Rock program, is one of five Springfield Cardinals players who have been earned spots on the North Division roster.
Quoting the team’s web site:
“Despite battling an oblique strain since late May, Adams is still among the Texas League leaders in virtually every hitting category. His batting average (.354) is good for second in the Texas League, as are his 15 home runs. Add in Adams' 47 RBIs (third in the league), and the Philipsburg, Pa. native is the obvious choice at first base. Just 21 years of age, Adams is enjoying one of his finest seasons as a professional.”
Balloting for the Texas League All-Star Game was conducted among the league's managers, broadcasters, media relations directors and selected media members.
Springfield is the Double-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, in case you were wondering.
In related news:
A former SRU teammate of Adams, Slippery Rock native
Billy Messer is the first-year Director of Baseball Operations for the top-ranked University of Virginia baseball team that opens College World Series competition Sunday in Omaha, Neb.
The Cavaliers will take a 54-10 record into their opening-round game against California (37-21) after being one out … actually one strike … away from elimination in last Monday’s super regional final game vs. visiting UC Irvine. A two-out, two-strike, two-run single to center in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Cavs a 3-2 victory and sent their second trip to Omaha in the last three seasons.
Fans can watch all the action of this year’s CWS on ESPN or ESPN2 starting Saturday.
Veteran Rock head coach
Jeff Messer will be there in person in two roles: As Billy’s proud papa and the American Baseball Coaches Association’s Division II chair and representative on the ABCA board of directors.
Coach Messer, who proudly shared the news about Adams’ all-star honor and was more restrained when talking about his youngest son’s being in the right place at the right time, was also happy to announce former Rock assistant coach
Blaine Brown has been named as head coach at King College in Bristol, Tenn.
Brown was the assistant coach at King for the previous two years. Prior to that, he served four seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Maryland. He also has experience as head coach of the New Market Rebels of the summer Valley League, assistant coach at Drexel University in Philadelphia and as a Major League Baseball International Envoy in San Paulo, Brazil.
That’s all for now. Until we talk again …
GO ROCK!!
Bob McComas
Sports Information Director
