University of Louisville redshirt sophomore outfielder Stewart Ijames and redshirt freshman right-handed pitcher Justin Amlung were each selected to participate in their respective summer league All-Star Games and are among 11 Cardinals currently playing summer baseball.
Ijames, a native of Owensboro, Ky., was selected to play for the National All-Stars in Tuesday's Coastal Plain League All-Star Game in Wilmington, N.C. Ijames, who also redshirted in 2009 for Louisville, leads the Coastal Plain League in home runs with nine in 40 games through Tuesday's action. He also leads his team, the Thomasville Hi-Toms, with 27 RBI and is hitting .271 overall in the wood-bat league.
Amlung, a Louisville native and a graduate of St. Xavier High School, was selected to play for the West All-Stars in tonight's Prospect League All-Star Game in Springfield, Ill. Amlung, who redshirted in 2009 with the Cardinals, is 1-0 with one save, a 2.42 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 26.0 innings for the Danville Dans entering Wedneday. He is one of 11 pitchers named to the West All-Stars.
Meanwhile, Cards' sophomore-to-be Tony Zych continues to represent Team USA at the 37th Annual USA vs. Japan Collegiate Championships in Tsuruoka, Japan. The best-of-five series is tied at 2-2 entering tomorrow's fifth and final game at 5 a.m. ET in Tokyo. Overall, Team USA is 13-3 this summer, while Zych has an ERA of just 1.64 in his five appearances on the mound with 12 strikeouts in 11.0 innings of work.
Other Cardinals playing summer baseball in wood-bat leagues around the nation include Dean Kiekhefer (Wareham Gatemen) in the Cape Cod League, Drew Haynes (Florence RedWolves) in the Coastal Plain League, Joe Stilphen (Saratoga Phillies) in the New York Collegiate Baseball League, Derek Self (Madison Mallards) in the Northwoods League, and the quartet of Adam Duvall (Sanford Mainers), Tim Hayes (Keene Swamp Bats), Neil Holland (Sanford Mainers) and Tyler Mathis (Keene Swamp Bats) in the New England Collegiate Baseball League.
