MOBILE, Ala. — Former Kentucky first-team All-American centerfielder Collin Cowgill, a native of Lexington, Ky., and member of the Mobile BayBears of the double A Southern League, has been added to the South Division All-Star team and will play in the Southern League All-Star Game in Huntsville, Ala., on Monday.
Cowgill, a graduate of Lexington’s Henry Clay High School has enjoyed a breakout season at the double A level and with several spots opening up on the All-Star roster due to injuries and promotions, Cowgill was added to the roster.
A 5-foot-9, 195-pound right-handed hitter, Cowgill ranks as the BayBears’ team leader in home runs (10), RBI (58) and doubles (24) and with an above-average arm in the outfield, ranks second in all of Minor League Baseball with 16 outfield assists. On the year, Cowgill has played in 84 games, batting .292 (95-for-325) with 61 runs scored, two triples, 33 walks and just 47 strikeouts, stealing 15 bases.
During his sparkling career at Kentucky (2005-08), Cowgill earned first-team All-America honors in 2008 and helped lead UK to the Southeastern Conference Championship as a sophomore in 2006. During his career, Cowgill batted .306 (171-for-558) in 165 games, totaling 166 runs, 35 doubles, 37 homers, 140 RBI and 32 stolen bases. In 2006, Cowgill hit .298 (67-for-225) with 16 homers and 61 RBI. After missing 2007 due to a hand injury, Cowgill returned for an All-American campaign in 2008, teaming with fellow first-team All-America selection Sawyer Carroll in the outfield. A first-team Academic All-America as well, Cowgill batted .361 with 15 doubles, two triples, 19 homers, adding 60 RBI and swiping 23-of-27 bases.
Joe Devine NAMED GREAT LAKES LEAGUE ALL STAR
Kentucky junior right-handed pitcher Joe Devine has been selected to the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League All-Star team, to be played July 14, it was announced.
Devine, a native of Henderson, Ky., has had an excellent season while serving as the staff ace on the inaugural Lexington Hustlers. The Hustlers – under the director of general manager Adam Revelette, a former UK reliever – opened their first season in 2010, playing all home games at Henry Clay High School’s Chuck Stivers Field, named after the longtime great UK groundskeeper Chuck Stivers.
During the summer, Devine has started four games on the mound for the Hustlers, posting a 2-2 record and a 2.77 ERA. Devine has tossed a team-best 26 innings, allowing only 23 hits, walking nine and striking out 18, with opponents batting .232. Devine has one complete-game to his credit and ranks third in the league in innings pitched and seventh in strikeouts.
During the 2010 season with Kentucky, Devine emerged late in the season as a weapon on the mound, appearing in eight games with three midweek starts. Devine tossed 13.1 innings, totaling a 1-1 record and a 5.40 ERA, allowing 16 hits, walking just three and striking out nine. Early in the season, Devine started the season with strong outings in relief appearances, tossing a shutout inning in the March 17 game with Wright State and a March 30 win at Cincinnati. Devine was called upon in a bases-loaded situation in a win over No. 7 Florida, the eventual SEC Champs, striking out Florida All-SEC second baseman Josh Adams to get out of the jam with UK still clutching to a lead. Devine also enjoyed strong outings against South Carolina and at Georgia in SEC play, striking out two in one inning against Georgia. Devine’s best career outing came with UK wrapping up non-conference play on May 18 in a game against Murray State in Paducah, Ky. Devine tossed a career-best 5.1 innings, allowing just three runs and one run, walking one and striking out a career-high four.
