On Monday, July 27, Pioneer Baseball League President Jim McCurdy released the Pioneer League’s roster for the inaugural interleague All-Star Game featuring the best players from both the Pioneer Baseball League and the Northwest League. The game is to be played on August 4th at the home of the Spokane Indians of the Northwest League.

Along with announcing the Pioneer League All-Star roster, McCurdy indicated how pleased he is with the game that is an added feature to the Pioneer League.

“We are excited to announce this quality PBL All-Star roster of players to compete in the first inaugural All-Star Game against the Northwest League,” said McCurdy. “I congratulate all of our players for their selection. We had a great pool of players from which to choose our roster and these have been the best of the best this season. I am sure they will represent the Pioneer Baseball League well and provide an entertaining product for the fans next week.”

Billings manager Dick Schofield will be in charge of the Pioneer League All-Stars after having led his Mustangs to the 2014 championship in his second season in Billings. Spokane’s Tim Hulett will manage the Northwest League stars.

Each of the eight teams in the rookie level Pioneer League is represented on the 25-man roster with Tanner Banks of the Great Falls Voyagers selected as the starting pitcher.

Three members of the Ogden Raptors named to the team are Willie Calhoun, Nick Sell, and Matt Jones. Calhoun and Sell will both start for the Pioneer League All-Stars.

Brett Hein of the Standard-Examiner spoke with Raptors manager, the ageless John Shoemaker, regarding the game.

“You have to really be excited for these guys to make the all-star game,” Shoemaker said. “I think it’s going to be a really exciting event. We’re happy for them, and I’m sure they’re happy to be representing Ogden and the Los Angeles Dodgers.”

Willie Calhoun

Twenty-year-old second baseman Willie Calhoun was selected by the Dodgers in the fourth round of the 2015 First Year Player Draft out of Yavapai Community College in Prescott, Arizona where he finished off his college career by hitting 31 home runs along with 85 RBI in 63 games. The 31 homers is correct and not a typo.

On the season with the Raptors the 5’ 9” 177 lb Calhoun is hitting .278 with an OBP of .371. He has hit seven home runs while driving in 26 runs and scoring 28 runs in 38 games. His seven home runs are the third most in the league. Calhoun has struck out 18 times while walking 23 times and has eight hits in his last three games.

“I feel honored to be able to represent my family and the Ogden Raptors,” Calhoun said. “I expected to do well, but I definitely feel it’s a blessing from God to be in the all-star game.”

Nick Sell

Along with Calhoun, outfielder Nick Sell has been selected as a starter in the All-Star Game. Sell went unsigned in the 2015 Draft even though he was awarded the Tino Martinez Award as the NCAA Division II Player of the Year out of Seton Hill University. He was subsequently signed by Dodgers as an undrafted free agent immediately following the draft.

In 27 games with the Raptors Sell is hitting .337 with an OBP of .397. He has hit four home runs while scoring 24 runs and driving in 24 runs. Eighteen of his 35 hits have been for extra bases. Although he was signed as a third baseman he has played primarily left field with the Raptors.

“I just tried to keep the game simple and stay as consistent as possible,” Sell said of his success. “I’m just finding a groove and treating every game as a gift, because it’s a blessing to come out and play professional baseball every day.”

Calhoun and Jones will also represent the Raptors in the Home Run Derby preceding the All-Star Game.

Matt Jones

Matt Jones was selected by the Dodgers in the 25th round of the 2014 First Year Player Draft out of Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas. He struggled with the AZL Dodgers during the 2014 season batting only .182. However, his second season of professional baseball has been all he might have hoped for after signing with the Dodgers. The 21-year-old has displayed his versatility by playing first base as well as all three outfield positions. On the season he is batting .308 with an OBP of .358 while hitting six home runs, scoring 29 runs and driving in 23. On July 4th in a game against against the Grand Junction Rockies Jones hit a towering 475-foot home run.

“It’s a first-time thing for me, coming from a junior college and going through a rough year last year,” Jones said about recognition as one of the league’s a top players.

Nick Dean

It should also be noted that shortstop Nick Dean has also been selected as a Pioneer League All-Star in fan voting but will not appear in the game, having been called up to Single-A Great Lakes on July 15. At the time of his promotion he was hitting an .390 in the Pioneer League.