Four Lugnuts make MWL All-Star team

Lansing -- Four Lansing Lugnuts will play one extra one game this season. Cory Patton, David Hicks, Billy Carnline, and Russ Savickas were all selected to participate in the Midwest League All-Star Game on June 20 at John O'Donnell Stadium in Davenport, Iowa.

Patton was named as an outfield starter for the Eastern Division. Patton, a sixth round selection in the 2004 draft, is hitting .304 with eight homers and 41 RBI. He ranks near the top of the league in several categories, including batting average (7th), RBI (4th), doubles (4th), and extra-base hits (5th). Patton is in his second year of professional baseball after attending Texas A&M University.

First baseman David Hicks got the nod as a reserve player for the Eastern Division. Hicks, a 36th round selection in 2004, attended North Carolina State University where he played both first base and pitcher. He is currently batting .274 with one homer and 18 RBI for Lansing. Hicks is in his second tour of duty with the Lugnuts after hitting .242 last season.

Two pitchers were also named to the team from Lansing. Billy Carnline will make his first All-Star appearance after posting a 5-2 record with a 1.75 ERA. Carnline began the season in the bullpen for the Lugnuts before becoming a full-time starter. Carnline has a 5:1 strikeout to walk ratio and 0.76 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched). He was a 12th round selection in 2005 for Toronto out of Texas Tech University.

Russ Savickas will join Carnline as the only other hurler to make the squad from the Lugnuts. Savickas spent last season in Lansing and has returned to post a 2-0 record with a 2.20 ERA for the Lugnuts. He has had nine no-decisions in 11 starts. Savickas leads the Lugnuts pitching staff with 60 strikeouts, fanning nearly one batter per inning. He and Carnline each rank in the Top 6 in the Midwest League for ERA.

The Midwest League All-Star Game is scheduled for June 20 at John O'Donnell Stadium, the home of the Swing of the Quad Cities. The All-Star Break marks the end of the first half for the league. Lansing currently leads the Eastern Division by one-half game over West Michigan.