Gameday Magazine July

ALL-STARS ALIGN

Three Lynchburg Hillcats represented the North Division All-Star team in the Mid-Season Classic last month. Conner Capel, and Sam Hentges received the recognition for the first time in their careers, while Dalbert Siri was named an All-Star for the third time. All three players represented well in Zebulon, N.C. as Capel went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, while Siri and Hentges each tossed a scoreless inning. The All-Star Break is the only scheduled consecutive day break in the Carolina League schedule during the season. It took place from June 18-20. Most players who are not part of the All-Star festivities travel to meet up with family, friends or spouses. For the players that make the team, their loved ones have to travel to them. “Being there with Siri and Capel, as well as the coaching staff made it that much more fun to have more familiar faces around,” Hentges said. “To compete and be on the same team of guys that we play against all season and get to know them, it was a fun experience.” Hentges found out his All-Star fate later than his other two teammates. On the

day that Manager Rougie Odor informed his players of their selections, Hentges was pitching, so the team disgreately slipped a packet of the All-Star itinerary in his locker. The left-hander said making the All-Star team was a bittersweet moment. “I actually had plans to go home [to Minnesota] to surprise my dad, but those plans ended up changing and they came out to see me,” Hentges said. “Initially, they told me it would just be my mom and dad to come out [to Zebulon], and they actually surprised me with my brother and sister coming out too, so it was nice to see the whole family.” Capel did not have any prior All-Star Break plans prior to finding out he made the team. “I was staying in Lynchburg, so it gave me something to do which was fun,” he said. The outfielder used the All-Star Game experience to get back in the swing of things, after an injury hampered him towards the end of the first half. “I was just trying to get my timing,” Capel said. “I just got off the DL, so my