A league-high six Kansas City T-Bones have been named to the 2010 Northern League All-Star Team for the interleague match-up versus the Golden Baseball League, which will be played July 14, 2010 at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, AZ.

Named to the team were:  pitchers Andrew Cruse and Ryan Knippschild; infielders Jacob Blackwood and Jim Fasano; and outfielders Brian Joynt and Keanon Simon.

“We have six very deserving players getting a chance to play as all-stars,” T-Bones manager Tim Doherty said.  “It is a fantastic opportunity for both them and the organization to represent the T-Bones and the Northern League in Arizona.”

Cruse (6-2, 2.04) has been one of the league’s best pitchers this season, and is currently tied for the league lead in both wins and ERA.  He has struck out 44 batters while walking just 12 in 61 and two-thirds innings.  Knippschild (6-3, 3.81) is tied with Cruse for the league lead in wins while posting 39 strikeouts and 16 walks in 56 and two-thirds innings.  The left-hander is making his second straight Northern League All-Star appearance.

Blackwood currently paces the league in hits (60), extra-base hits (27), and total bases (111).  He is seventh in the league in average (.314), third in home runs (11), tied for second in RBI (34) and doubles (14), and sits in a tie with teammate and fellow all-star Brian Joynt for fourth in slugging (.581).  Fasano leads the league in RBI (39) while posting a line of .297/.377/.513 in 42 games.  Both Fasano and Blackwood have earned Player of the Week honors in 2010.

Joynt is eighth in the league in batting average (.313) and third in total bases (93) while posting a line of .313/.369/.581 in 41 games.  Simon, one of the best defensive players in the Northern League this season, leads the league in stolen bases (17) while sitting fifth in average (.327), second in on-base percentage (.425), fourth in hits (56), is tied for second in triples (three), and tied for third in walks (25).

The Northern League All-Star Team will be managed by Fargo-Moorhead manager Doug Simunic.  The players were selected by voting from 72 ballots (nine per franchise) from baseball personnel, players, and media.

To view the official release, and the full 2010 Northern League All-Star Team, click here

This season marks the first year of a two-year agreement for the Northern and Golden Leagues to meet for a mid-season all-star game. The Northern League will host the 2011 match-up.