Vote Chandler Murray To The All-Star Game

WEYMOUTH, Massachusetts (July 18, 2024) – The Futures Collegiate Baseball League announced its 2024 FCBL All-Star selections for the league’s All-Star Game to be held on Tuesday, July 23 at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, Connecticut. Six members of the Westfield Starfires were selected to participate in the game.

Five selections are position players, as Gianno Merlonghi, Trey Cruz, Jayden Novak, Aidan Redahan, and Jackson Haker were picked to join pitcher Jake Jachym on Team Rose City, which is comprised of the All-Stars from Westfield as well as the host Norwich Sea Unicorns, New Britain Bees, and Worcester Bravehearts.

Merlonghi, coming off of an All-Northeast Conference season at Central Connecticut State University, is currently fifth in the FCBL in batting average among qualifiers at .317 and tied for third in runs batted in at 27. The star center fielder has also swiped 11 bags this season to go with eight extra-base hits and 27 runs scored, the latter placing him fourth in the league.

Cruz, out of Washington State University, has been a devastating power hitter for Westfield, having smacked six home runs, second-most in the league. At a .327 batting average, he is capable of generating offense even without the longball, and also boasts six doubles and has scored 22 while driving in 22.

Novak, who will attend the College of Charleston this fall, has been outstanding behind the dish with a .338 batting average across 25 games, including five doubles and four home runs, scoring 18 times and driving in 16 while also seeing some time at third base.

Redahan, who also had a strong campaign at Central Connecticut, is fourth in the FCBL with 40 total hits and holds a .303 average, including six doubles, two home runs, and 23 RBI. He leads the league by far in putouts at first base with 196 through 33 games.

Haker, a two-time All-Northeast-10 Conference selection at American International College, has been a staple on the left side of the infield for the Starfires, hitting .264 in 31 games with a pair of home runs and 13 RBI. His 72 career games played in a Starfires uniform rank him fourth all-time in franchise history.

Jachym, a Keene State University starter and Westfield native, has been brilliant for his hometown team on the bump with a 4-1 record and 3.34 earned run average, having allowed just 12 to score earned in 32.1 innings of work. He has held opponents to a .228 batting average.

In addition to the players selected, the league is holding a fan vote to add one additional player to each squad. Westfield’s entrant into the fan vote is Chandler Murray, a freshman-to-be at Kansas State University who his hitting .340 with 13 RBI and 15 runs scored in 15 games so far this season.

Fans can support Murray’s candidacy by clicking here to vote.