Hillcats Place Five On All-Star Team

Lynchburg placed five players on the Northern Division roster for the 2017 Carolina League All-Star Classic, as announced Monday morning.
Argenis Angulo, Shao-Ching Chiang, and Triston McKenzie earned spots on the 10-man pitching staff, while Sam Haggerty and Sicnarf Loopstok received recognition as position players for the game to be held in Salem on Tuesday, June 20.

Leading the league with 84 strikeouts and an opponents' batting average of .153, McKenzie made the Carolina League All-Star team after only having 18 professional starts prior to this season. The right-hander also ranks second on the circuit with his 2.51 ERA and 0.90 WHIP. The 19-year-old who was drafted 42nd overall in 2015 has allowed a mere 8.07 baserunners per nine innings pitched to lead all Advanced-A starters in that category.
Chiang also owns the top spot in multiple statistics in the Carolina League. The 23-year-old from Taiwan has pitched a league-high 73 2/3 innings while surrendering the fewest walks per nine innings of any Carolina League starter at 1.22. Chiang's 2.57 ERA and 1.03 WHIP both rank fourth, as does his 10.02 baserunners per nine frames.
Angulo ranks second in the league with nine saves, which represents the most for any Northern Division pitcher. He has held opponents to a .159 average while pitching in 20 games, both of which are the second-best totals in the Carolina League. The 23-year-old native of Venezuela has converted eight straight save opportunities, including Friday against the Frederick Keys in which he struck out all three batters he faced in a 4-3 game.
Haggerty has been the catalyst for Lynchburg's offense much of the year. The team has a 29-15 record when he bats leadoff compared to a 7-10 mark when someone else does. The 24th-round selection out of New Mexico in 2015 paces the circuit with 10 triples while checking in fourth with 27 extra-base hits. The switch-hitting middle infielder has a slugging percentage of .508 from the right side of the plate and a .461 mark when batting left-handed.
Loopstok earned the nod to the All-Star team as a utility player and back-up catcher after a strong first half of the season. The 13th-round pick in 2013 is tied for the team lead with six home runs while his 30 RBIs are the most by any Hillcat this year. Loopstok also ranks second on the squad with 14 doubles and two triples. His .480 slugging percentage leads all Lynchburg players in 2017.
The Hillcats are currently battling for a first-half title with one week remaining before the All-Star Break. Lynchburg trails Salem by two games in the standings. The Hillcats will try to extend their winning streak to five when they begin a four-game, three-day series against Wilmington Monday at 6:30 p.m. Aaron Civale (1-1, 2.61) will make his home debut in the contest. Gates open at 5:30, and the game can be heard live at www.lynchburg-hillcats.com.