Four Wood Ducks Play in Carolina League All-Star Classic

The Woodies found a way to fly despite the southern division falling 2-0

(From left) Chuck Moorman, Luis La O, Ricardo Rodriguez, and Josh Altmann represented the Wood Ducks in the All-Star Classic (Patrick Cavey/MILB.com)

By Dominic Cotroneo

June 20, 2017

SALEM, VA - A quartet of Wood Duck All-Stars appeared for the southern division in the Carolina League All-Star Classic on Tuesday night at Haley Toyota Field. While the team was defeated 2-0, Down East's Luis La O, Josh Altmann, Chuck Moorman, and Ricardo Rodríguez all appeared in the game.
La O started the game batting eighth and playing third base for the southerners. He played the entire game finishing two-for-three with two singles - one of only two All-Stars to have multiple hits. The Cuban infielder handled all three of the ground balls hit to him in the game with both teams finishing error-free.
Altmann and Moorman both appeared as defensive substitutions in the sixth innings at first and catcher respectively. Their nights on defense were much more relaxed as Altmann did not have a ball hit directly to him, and no one attempted to steal on Moorman.
Rodriguez pitched the seventh inning for the south, trailing 2-0. He faced Sicnarf Loopstok (Lynchburg), Josh Ockimey (Salem), and Randolph Gassaway (Frederick) while retiring the side in order with back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning. He was the only pitcher to appear in the game with multiple strikeouts for the division.
Offensively, Altmann had two at-bats with two ground outs while Moorman only had one trip to the plate with a strikeout. Chuck was left on deck in the ninth to end the game with a chance at one more at-bat.
HITTING CHALLENGE
On Monday night, Altmann also represented the Wood Ducks in the All-Star Hitting Challenge - a home run derby at Haley Toyota Field. In the end, Altmann smashed 10 home runs in the round, but he had bad luck in the draw for his head-to-head opponent. Carolina's Jake Gatewood had 13 home runs and eventually won the classic.
The second half of the season begins on Thursday in Myrtle Beach at 7:05 p.m. Down East will return to Grainger Stadium on Monday, June 26th against Winston-Salem. You can listen to every pitch of the 2017 season live on Sports/Talk 960 The Bull or streamed on the TuneIn Radio app.