Border Cats all-stars excited at being named to North Division team

Carter McEachern said he’d allowed a few all-star game thoughts to creep into the back of his mind in recent weeks.

But the Thunder Bay Border Cats infielder said it was still a pleasant surprise when the Northwoods League made it official and named him to the North Division squad that will do battle next Tuesday at the midsummer classic in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisc.

McEachern was one of three Cats to get the all-star call. He’ll be joined at the game by starter-turned-reliever-turned -starter-again Greg Weissert and lead-off hitter Jared James, second in the league with a .374 batting average.

“It’s a great opportunity and a privilege to get selected,” McEachern said after Tuesday’s 3-2, extra-inning loss to the visiting Rochester Honkers.

“The hard work paid off and people are noticing. It’s a great opportunity to go and showcase and represent the North Division next week.”
It’s not like McEachern, a Trinity University product, born and raised in Thunder Bay, will be out of place in Wisconsin Rapids.

He’s currently ninth in the league in hitting, batting at a .325 clip with four doubles, a home run and 19 driven in. He’s also been hit 10 times, second most in the summer college circuit and stolen 10 bases, second on the team.

“I was definitely hoping for it,” McEachern said. “I was having a good season up until our all-star selection, so it was definitely in the back of my mind. But then again, we just have to come out here every day and win and try to get ourselves to the playoffs. So that’s our biggest goal right now.”

James, the son of former major leaguer Dion James, said his goal coming into the season was just to have a little fun and learn a little about playing a game he grew up surrounded by as a youngster.

“This is just a luxury to be on the all-star team. I’m really happy to have been selected and it’s a blessing for me because I work hard. I just love being part of the all-star team.”

With numbers like his, it would have been near criminal to leave James off the North Division squad.

Hobbled by a leg injury that’s restricted him mainly to designated hitter duties of late, he’s struck out just 14 times in 131 at bats and hit three home runs, a catalyst for a Border Cats offence that’s struggled in recent weeks.

“I don’t really try to focus too much on the numbers. Obviously it’s a good indication on how the summer is going. For the summer I just focus on trying to have fun and just letting my abilities flow, without restricting myself with anxieties and stress. I just come out here every day and give everything I have for the day,” said James, a junior at Long Beach State University in California.

Weissert, who has started half his 10 appearances, tops the Cats with a 1.57 earned run average and a 0.902 WHIP.

“Obviously Greg Weissert is our guy,” said Cats manager Danny Benedetti, who plans to put him back in the starting rotation this week after a stint in the bullpen.

The Border Cats take on Rochester at Tbaytel Park at Port Arthur Stadium on Wednesday night.