July 18, 2011
MALIBU, Calif. - Wave of the present, Brian McIlhenny, and Wave of the future, Aaron Brown, were both engaged in all-star games this past week for their summer respective leagues. McIlhenny was a pitcher Sunday for the Gold Team during Alaska Baseball League's inaugural All-Star Game, while Brown on Wednesday was lauded by Baseball America for his performance at the third annual California Collegiate League All-Star Game.
According to Aaron Fitt's recap, Brown, a left-handed outfielder, first banged a home run off the right-field scoreboard in batting practice. Then, in his first at-bat of the game in the second inning, he laced an RBI double down the right-field line on a 77 mph slider from right-hander Stephen Johnson.
In the fifth inning, Brown went the other way on a Christian Coronado fastball, lining a solo home run over the left-field fence.
Brown is hitting .351 this summer for the Glendale Angelenos with five homers, 19 RBIs and 11 stolen bases in 12 attempts.
"This summer I've really been working on hitting the ball to all fields," Brown said to Baseball America. "Early on in the count I was looking for something out over the plate to drive. I was looking for a fastball middle-away and it was there."
Brown (West Hills, Calif./Chatsworth HS) also made a dazzling play in center field, making a leaping catch against the wall in left center with two outs and the bases loaded in the second inning.
"The ball carried quite a bit," Brown added. "I wasn't expecting to have to get to the fence, but I got there and just jumped for it. I didn't really feel it until I came down with it. When I hit the ground, I felt it in my hand, not my glove, so I just held it up and got the out."
As for McIlhenny (Scottsdale, Ariz./Brophy College Preparatory), his first-half stats not only merited him a spot in the all-star game but also garnered the attention of league rival Kenai Peninsula Oilers who plan to add the junior to their roster for the start of the NBC (National Baseball Congress) World Series.
The two-week tournament, which takes place in Wichita, Kan., begins July 30 at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium; however, the Oilers won't play their first game until Aug. 3.
For now though, McIlhenny is pitching well for the Anchorage Bucs and his stats as of Saturday include a 2-1 record with a 1.93 ERA and 17 strikeouts. Overall, he's made 10 appearances out of the bullpen, earning two saves and combining on two shutouts, while tossing 18.2 innings. Opposing batters are hitting just .217 against him.
