Two Dodgers voted to NDBL All-Star game

July 6, 2015 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte
Two of the Bolton Dodgers’ best arms and bats have been handed a spot in Saturday’s North Dufferin Baseball League All-Star game in Midland.
Pitcher Shawn English and heavy-hitter Colin McKeen will be representing the East Division All-Stars, along with the best of the best from Aurora, Barrie, Creemore, Midland, Nobleton and Orangeville.
English has rebounded from a slow start to the season, recently picking up challenging victories over the defending champion Ivy Leafs, as well as some old faces on the ex-NDBL Bolton Brewers in tournament action. He leads the team in wins with three, having seen the brunt of the action two-thirds of the way through the regular season. Only three pitchers in the league have put in more work than English.
Although he can’t make the game Saturday, his fourth All-Star nod in five seasons doesn’t go unappreciated.
“I’m feeling great this year,” said English. “Aside from a couple bad innings or starts, this is the best I’ve felt in a real long time. I’m working on keeping the ball down, and I’ve been able to string together good pitches.”
The Dodgers earned their second win in a row, and fifth in the last six games, in a 12-3 road win over the Nobleton Cornhuskers Saturday. Tysen Hansen was solid on the mound, earning his first win of the season.
Sunday’s game in Angus against the Black Sox was postponed due to weather.
The recent success has vaulted the Dodgers back into the playoff picture, now in sixth place with a .500 record. Over their current six game run, the offence has scored just less than 50 runs, thanks in large part to the addition of McKeen to the roster this year.
“He’s unbelievable, he’s a powerhouse,” said English, who referenced perennial Dodger power-hitter Michael Gemmiti in saying “it’s like having two Gemmitis.”
McKeen’s stats are among the best in the league in hitting, adding two home runs on the season to his .391 batting average. Interestingly, Gemmiti’s stat line is almost an exact replica, with the two sharing the same number of at-bats, runs, and hits on the season.
Hitting one after the other in the lineup, the two have combined for quite an offensive force around the league.
“They’re like Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion,” said English. “Pitchers have to face them in the same inning, and usually one’s on base. It’s made our offence better than it’s ever been before.”
In tough against the league-leading New Lowell Knights on the road tonight (Thursday), the Bolton squad will be looking to pad their stats in a double-header in Lisle Sunday. The Astros have managed only one win all season.
For stats, schedules, and more information, visit www.ndbl.ca