SAVANNAH, GA. June 30, 2017 – The Savannah Bananas are excited to announce that for the second year in a row, five players have been selected to play in the Coastal Plain League All Star game. LJ Talley, Christian Hollie, John Cassala, Elliot Forde, and Logan Mattix were all voted onto the CPL West squad by coaches, broadcasters, and media representatives. This year’s game will take place in Holly Springs, NC.
Christian Hollie (So. 2B UTA) was named as a starter for the All Star team. He is currently batting .333 for the Bananas. He has two home runs and 13 RBIs since rejoining the Bananas for the 2017 season. Hollie’s 16 runs scored puts him at second for the team as well. Hollie played for the 2016 Savannah Bananas, CPL Champions.
Logan Mattix (Jr. OF GA College) is one of the Bananas’ leading hitters with a batting average of .324. Mattix is also the team leader in runs scored with 19 and boasts 12 RBIs and two home runs. In the field, he has accumulated three outfield assists.
LJ Talley (Fr. 1B Georgia) is batting .266 this summer. He has a team-leading 14 RBIs in 79 at-bats and is a mainstay in the the Bananas’ lineup. Talley is also a key defensive player, fielding .994 on the season.
John Cassala (So. OF Jacksonville U) owns the top slugging percentage for the Bananas with a .508. In his 65 at bats, he has 21 hits. Cassala also has a home run and 11 RBIs.
Elliot Forde (Jr. RHP Misericordia) boasts a 1.46 ERA, the sixth best in the league, with 24 strikeouts over 24.2 innings pitched. He has started two games and provided relief in six. He currently holds a 2-1 record on the season. Forde was also a part of the 2016 CPL Championship-winning Bananas.
“Our coaching staff and entire organization are proud of our five All Stars. Each one deserves this recognition and will undoubtedly represent us well in Holly Springs for the All Star game,” says head coach Sean West.
54 players were selected for the All-Star game, with 27 from the CPL East and 27 from the CPL West. All 16 head coaches and two media representatives for each team participated in voting. All players were eligible to participate, and votes were separated by position.
The Holly Springs Salamanders are hosting the CPL 2017 All-Star Fan Fest and All-Star Game at the North Main Athletic Complex July 9th and 10th. The event will also feature a mascot kickball game, a home run derby, and opportunities for fans to meet the players. The All Star game will begin at 7:00 PM on the 10th. Tickets are available at www.salamandersbaseball.com.
This year, fans can also watch the game at home. It will be broadcast live in over 25 million homes as well as be streamed on MLB.com via the CPL’s partnership with 7 Communications.
The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 20th season in 2016, the CPL features 16 teams playing in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL has had nearly 1,300 alumni drafted and 81 of those – including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander – make their Major League debut; while another notable alum – Russell Wilson – won Super Bowl XLVIII. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com and follow us via Twitter @CPLBaseball.