Chattanooga Lookouts right fielder Daniel Palka plays in the game against the Jacksonville Suns Sunday, June 5, 2016 at AT&T Field.The Chattanooga Lookouts are way behind Jackson in the first-half race for the Southern League’s North Division title.
They are on the heels of the Generals in all-star selections, however.
Daniel Palka, who leads the league in home runs, and D.J. Baxendale, who ranks second in innings pitched, were among the five Chattanooga players named Tuesday to the North Division roster of the Southern League All-Star Game, which will be held June 21 at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Miss. Also representing the Lookouts are outfielder Travis Harrison, catcher Mitch Garver and relief pitcher Trevor Hildenberger.
“The way they did things when I was coming up was that they had one all-star game for all three leagues, which made it a little more accurate,” Lookouts second-year manager Doug Mientkiewicz said. “I’m not a big fan of midseason all-star games, but I’m happy that five of our guys got recognized. I’m especially happy for Travis Harrison.”
Jackson, who led Montgomery by nine games and Chattanooga by 10 entering Tuesday night’s league schedule, has six representatives on the North team.
Mientkiewicz will manage the North Division team and will be assisted by Chattanooga pitching coach Ivan Arteaga, hitting coach Tommy Watkins and athletic trainer Chris Johnson. The Lookouts won last season’s Southern League title, the first for the franchise since 1988 and the second since professional baseball returned to the city in 1976.
The most notable all-star omissions for the Lookouts were shortstop Leo Reginatto, who had a team-high .301 batting average entering Tuesday night, and second baseman Zack Granite, who through Monday had hit .395 in his last 10 games. Granite also entered Tuesday with 26 stolen bases, which ranked second in the league.
“I think Reginatto could have made it, and Zack Granite made a late push,” Mientkiewicz said. “It’s a tough team to pick, because we’re picking some guys who we haven’t seen yet.”
Palka, who plays right field for the Lookouts, was selected to the North roster as a designated hitter. The former Georgia Tech standout hit five home runs during a recent five-game series in Birmingham and entered Tuesday night with 12 homers to go along with a .261 average and 41 RBIs, which ranked second in the league.
Harrison entered Tuesday night hitting .266 with 10 doubles, two homers and 20 RBIs, while Garver was hitting .265 with 11 doubles and 20 RBIs.
Baxendale has started Chattanooga’s series openers throughout the first half and has a 5-6 record and a 3.38 earned run average. He also led last season’s championship team in starts (21) and innings pitched (118).
Hildenberger, who joined the Lookouts two weeks into the season from Fort Myers of the high Single-A Florida State League, had made 15 appearances with the Lookouts entering Tuesday night and had a 1-2 record and an 0.90 ERA. He entered Tuesday with seven saves and with 21 strikeouts in 20 innings pitched.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.