July 21, 2008

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -

Listen to the Cape Cod League All-Star Game Live

Lions Ryan Wheeler and Martin Viramontes were named to the 2008 East-Division Cape Cod League All-Star team, it was announced on Friday.  LMU outfielder, and leading home run hitter from last season, Angelo Songco was also selected to participate in the home run derby.  LMU is just one of two schools to have three players participating in the All-Star festivities.  The All-Star selections cap a week that saw Xavier Esquivel earn a spot in the Northwood’s League All-Star game, Wheeler and Viramontes rank in the top-10 of the Cape Cod League in batting average and ERA, and former Lion Jeff Stevens named to the U.S. Olympic Baseball team.

The Under Armour Cape League All-Star Game is scheduled for July 26 at Veterans Field in Chatham, Mass.  Songco and his power-hitting foes will take the field at 2 p.m. in the home run derby before the All-Star game kicks-off at 4 p.m.  After playing in the All-Star game, the players will be recognized at Fenway Park on July 30.

Wheeler, who was named the starting first baseman for the East Division, earned a spot on the team after posting a .336 batting average through 30 games played for the Brewster Whitecaps.  The 2008 All-West Coast Conference selection has totaled 19 runs scored, six doubles, five home runs and 13 RBI to the tune of a .522 slugging percentage.  His batting average mark places him ninth in the Cape Cod League.

Viramontes, who will return to LMU as a sophomore this year, made five starts for the Orleans Cardinals en route to the All-Star selection.  The right-hander has amassed a 2-0 record and a 2.49 ERA over 25 and a third innings of work, striking out 16 batters along the way.  

Songco, a teammate of Viramontes on the Cardinals and a 2008 All-WCC selection, is currently batting .275 with 15 runs scored, a team-best five doubles, a triple, four home runs and 16 RBI.  The four round-trippers place him tied for first on the squad, and third overall in the Cape Cod League.  Songco is one of six participants who will partake in the home run derby on Saturday.

Summarizing a few other accolades for LMU baseball over the past week, Esquivel, who is playing for the St. Cloud River Bats of the Northwoods League, was the scheduled closer for the North All-Stars on July 14, but the South did not need to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning en route to an 8-4 victory.  As a result, Esquivel was summoned to record the final out in the bottom of the eighth, quickly striking out the only hitter he faced.  The native of Chino, Calif. was selected to the team after posting a team-best 0.44 ERA (1 er in 20.1 ip) in 17 appearances.  Esquivel currently totes a 1-0 record with 26 strikeouts and nine saves, good for second in the league.  Opponents are batting a measly .155 against the right-hander, managing only 11 hits over the 21 and a third innings of work.

In what is likely the biggest news out of LMU baseball, former Lion, and current Cleveland Indian AAA farmhand, Stevens was named to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Baseball Team early last week.  He is the first LMU baseball player to ever be named to an Olympic roster. The Davey Johnson-led squad is set to compete in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Aug. 8-24 (baseball competition Aug. 13-23). Stevens last represented USA during a gold medal-winning performance last November at the 2007 IBAF Baseball World Cup in Taiwan.  Along with Stevens, that team included All-Star Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, as well as fellow Olympian, Colby Rasmus (Columbus, Ga.).

For complete coverage of the 2008 Cape Cod League All-Star Game, please visit:
www.capecodbaseball.org