Published: July 09, 2009 10:18 pm      

Former Rays still producing

BLUEFIELD — Former Princeton Rays’ outfielder Kyeong Kang has been selected to play for the "World" team in the 11th annual XM Radio All-Star Futures Game.

Kang, who batted .276 with 22 runs batted in and 14 doubles in 55 games with the Rays in 2007, will be part of the All-Star game activities in St. Louis.

A native of South Korea, Kang will be part of a “World” team that will play a team of minor league prospects from the United States. The contest starts at 2 p.m. and will be televised by ESPN2.

Kang is currently a member of the Bowling Green (Ohio) Hot Rods, Tampa Bay’s low Class A affiliate in the South Atlantic League. He was hitting .274 with 22 RBIs and 21 runs scored through 46 games.

Another Hot Rod: John Mollicone, who was a catcher in Princeton in 2007, has been selected as the South Atlantic League Player of the Week.

Mollicone, who plays with Kang for the Hot Rods, batted .500 (9-18) with three home runs, two doubles, five runs scored and 10 RBIs for the period of June 29-July 5. The week was highlighted by a two-home run game, which included a grand slam.

Mollicone, who batted .256 in 17 games with the Rays, is the second former P-Ray to earn an SAL award this season. Matt Moore, who pitched with Princeton last season, was the SAL Pitcher of the Week early last month.

Appy Player of Week: Daniel Rams, Elizabethton

Rams, a catcher from Miami drafted in the second round by the Twins in 2007, hit five of his six home runs last week to earn the circuit’s top award. Rams is tied for the league lead in homers, and is the leader with 22 RBIs.

Appy Pitcher of Week: Brett Oberholtzer, Danville

An eighth round selection in ‘08 by Atlanta, Oberholtzer worked twice last week, allowing just five hits and no runs in 11 innings on the mound. Despite not securing a decision, Oberholtzer has a 1.20 ERA with 15 strikesouts in three outings.

•Twins best in West: Elizabethton had the best record through Wednesday with a 13-3 record. The Twins led the league in hitting (.304), home runs (25), runs (127) and doubles (42). They last in stolen bases (6) and second to last in strikeouts (114).

•Pitching stars in Mercer: While Bluefield was 10-6 and in first place in the East, the Orioles were batting just .244 (8th in the league), with 10 home runs (5th) and 77 runs (6th). However, the Orioles are second with a 3.51 earned run average.

Meanwhile, Princeton is 8-8 and is last in average (.222) and home runs (5) and nine in runs scored (53), but a league-leading 2.86 ERA has the Rays in the race.

League Leaders (through July 8)

*Batting: Riann Spanjer-Furstenberg, Danville .459; A.Milligan, DV.439; R.Racobaldo, JC .404; J.Flagg, KP .400; T.Ladendorf, EZ .400; L.Ware, DV .394; C.Herrmann, EZ .386; M.Adams, JC .380; J.Martinez, GV .379; D.Rams, EZ .368.

Bluefield: Corey Thomas .327; Princeton: Ryan Wiegand .321.

Home Runs: Robert Hefflinger, DV 6; D.Rams, EZ 6; RS-Furstenberg, DV 4; JPinto, EZ 4; T.Ladendorf, EZ 4; 7 tied with 3.

Bluefield: Helmick 2, Ramirez 2, Thomas 2; Princeton: Rogers 2.

Runs Batted In: Daniel Rams, EZ 22; J.Martinez, GV 19; R.Hefflinger, DV 19; T. Ladendorf, EZ 17; RS-Furstensburg, DV 15; J.Pinto, EZ 15; L.Ramirez, BF 14.

Bluefield: Ramirez 14; Princeton: Ty Morrison 7

Runs: Jose Altuve, GV 20; D.Rams, EZ 19; T.Ladendorf, EZ 18; C.Herrmann, EZ 17; J.Flagg, KP 16; J.Bonfe, KP 15; J.Martinez, GV 14; Thomas, BF 14.

Bluefield: Thomas 14; Princeton: Brian Bryles 9.

Stolen Bases: L.V.Ware, DV 8; Jose Altuve, GV 8; Casamayor, BF 7; Y.Espinal, BUR 7; D.Wagner, BRS 6; T.Morrison, PR 5; R.Harris, KP 5.

Bluefield: Casamayor 7; Princeton: Morrison 5.

Doubles: J.D.Martinez, GV 9; E.Lara, JC 8; C.Herrmann, EZ 7; D.Rams, EZ 7; R.Wiegand, PR 7; T.Ladendorf, EZ 7.

Bluefield: Ramirez 3, Thomas 3; Princeton: Wiegand 7.

Triples: Jonathan Mier, GV 3; Malcolm Culver, BUR 3; L.Wave, DV 3; J.Patton, Princeton 3.

Bluefield: Flacco 2; Princeton: Patton 3.

Hits: RS-Furstenberg, DV 28, L.Ware, DV 28; J.Martinez, GV 25; J.Altuve, GV 24; T.Ladendorf, EZ 24; J.Flagg, KP 24.

Bluefield: Thomas 17, Ramirez 17; Princeton: Wiegand 18.

Bases on Balls: J.Altuve, GV 12; T.Ladendorf, EZ 11; C.Herrmann, EZ 11; J.Meyer, GV 10, J.Semel, KP 10; R.Harris, KP 10.

Bluefield: Kipp Schutz 9; Princeton: Henry 9, Bryles 9.

Wins: J.Serafin, Bristol 3; 12 tied with 2.

Bluefield: Jesse Beal 2, 8 tied with 1; Princeton: J.De La Rosa 2.

Strikeouts: T.Stuifbergen, EZ 23; J.Tome, PUL 21; V.Frabizio, BF 20; N.Diaz, PUL 20; C.Masters, DV 19; K.Carr, EZ 18.

Bluefield: Frabizio 20; Princeton: Jason McEachern 15.

Saves: D.Kington, JC 4; T.Berryhill, DV 4; N.Pettus, GV 4; T.Smink, GV 3; B.Bullock, EZ 3.

Bluefield: Dowdy 2; Princeton: James Hill 1, Deivis Mavares 1, Alex Koronis 1.

Earned Run Average: J.Serafin, BRS 0.00; A.Moss, JC 0.00; J.McEachern, PR 1.06; B.Oberholtzer, DV 1.20; T.Shull, PR 1.20; J.Almanzar, BF 1.33; L.Perez, BUR 1.72; V.Frabizio, BF 2.08; J.Moore, BF 2.20; J.Callender, PR 2.40.

Bluefield: Dowdy 0.77; Princeton: J.Hill 0.00, McEachern 1.06.

—Contact Brian Woodson

at bwoodson@bdtonline.com