MIDDLESEX: Draftees Thomore, Downes Selected for NJ All-Star Game

Published: Wednesday, June 08, 2011, 8:42 PM
Updated: Wednesday, June 08, 2011, 9:26 PM


By Josh Rosenfeld/For The Star-Ledger The Star-Ledger

 

East Brunswick's Carl Thomore and South Plainfield's Brandon Downes, both selected in this week's Major League Baseball Draft, are among 10 Greater Middlesex Conference seniors to have been named to the Central team in next week's New Jersey State All-Star Game.

The event consists of two games played simultaneously at Diamond Nation in Flemington at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15.

The Colorado Rockies selected Thomore with the 77th overall pick in the third round on Tuesday while the Boston Red Sox selected Downes in the 43rd round on Wednesday.

Here are the 10 Greater Middlesex Conference players selected to participate:

PITCHERS                                             
Emilio Calderon, Perth Amboy

Brandon Dolan, St. Joseph
Jon Young, Old Bridge

CATCHER
Anderson Rosa, Perth Amboy

FIRST BASE
David Rondesko, South River

OUTFIELDERS
Mike Clarke, Woodbridge
Brandon Downes, South Plainfield
Dan Hansen, South Plainfield
Carl Thomore, East Brunswick

DESIGNATED HITTER
Nick Dini, Monroe
    

South Plainfield's Brandon Downes, drafted by the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, has been selected to participate in next week's State All-Star Game. (William Perlman/The Star-Ledger)

http://www.nj.com/hssports/blog/baseball/index.ssf/2011/06/middlesex_draftees_thomore_downes_selected_for_nj_all-star_game.html

                
Brandon Downes Drafted by Red Sox

Three area players bound for Atlantic Coast Conference schools were chosen in Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft. But it will take some very special offers for Hunterdon Central shortstop Josh Ake (University of North Carolina), South Plainfield center fielder Brandon Downes (University of Virginia) and Westfield catcher A.J. Murray (Georgia Tech) to turn down college.
Ake was taken by the Mets in the 29th round, while Downes was picked by the Red Sox in the 43rd round and Murray in the 48th by the Astros.
“Chances are I'll be going to UVA,’’ said Downes, whose older sister Kelly informed him of his being drafted.
Downes will get a chance to play at Fenway Park. The Red Sox will have their draft picks take part in a game prior to their June 22 contest.
Ake, a four-year varsity starter for Hunterdon Central, who helped the Red Devils win state Group IV titles as a freshman and sophomore, will soon leave for Chapel Hill to
take some summer courses.
“We'll see how it plays out over the summer,'' he said of possibly signing a pro contract. “I'm definitely considering it, and if the offer is good enough, but it'll
take a lot of money.’’
Murray is the third player in his family to be drafted.

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