Four Lookouts selected all-stars

Tuesday, June 30, 2009


By:
David Paschall (Contact)

A little Lucas May apparently goes a long way.

May has been on the disabled list for nearly six weeks with a broken wrist, but he was among four Chattanooga Lookouts named Monday to the North Division team for the Southern League All-Star Game. The all-star game will take place July 13 at Regions Park in Hoover, Ala.

"I definitely wasn't expecting it, but it's definitely a compliment," May said. "Along with winning a championship, it's one of the goals that I set out to do every season. I knew I was playing like I should, but I didn't think I had played enough to make an all-star team. It's going to be fun."

The 24-year-old catcher has earned a third consecutive all-star invitation, having been tabbed to the California League game in 2007 and the Southern League game last year as a representative of the Jacksonville Suns. He was hitting .298 when he went on the disabled list May 21 and is expected back in several days.

Third baseman Josh Bell, left fielder Andrew Lambo and relief pitcher Matt Sartor also were selected by a vote of the league's managers, general managers, radio broadcasters and print media. Starting pitcher Scott Elbert was a fifth Chattanooga player tabbed but was promoted last week to Triple-A Albuquerque.

"Having five guys called to the all-star game is a great feather in the Dodgers organization," Lookouts manager John Valentin said. "I'm proud of them."

The 20-year-old Lambo, the top prospect in the Dodgers organization according to Baseball America, hit just .223 in May but entered Monday night's game against Carolina batting .267. His 23 doubles ranked second in the league.

Bell, the No. 8 organizational prospect, entered Monday hitting .273. The 22-year-old missed the last three months of last season after undergoing knee surgery, and the all-star selection was his first as a professional.

"It's an honor any time you're selected for an all-star team," Bell said. "I was speaking to some of our rovers, and they told me they didn't expect me to bounce back the way that I have. Knee surgery is a big deal, so hopefully I can keep it up."

Sartor entered Monday with a 1-2 record and a 3.02 earned run average in 27 appearances. The 24-year-old righty had 44 strikeouts in 41 innings pitched.

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