| Starting shortstop Garrett Copeland. /Stefan Hard, Times Argus |
Starting pitcher Casey Brown, reliever Teddy Rodliff, catcher Ridge Smith and shortstop Garrett Copeland all were named to the Northern Division roster, with Copeland and Roulis both in the starting lineup. Roulis is starting at second base for the second consecutive year, coming off of an All-NECBL Second Team season with Plymouth in 2014.
“It’s an honor,” Roulis said. “I don’t think about it going into the season, I just play the way I know I can play and let the game just take care of itself. It’s an awesome feeling.”
There was no doubt about Roulis, who leads the NECBL with a .467 batting average. He piled up 35 hits in 20 games during the first half of the season, and the switch-hitting infielder ranks first with a .500 on-base percentage and fourth in slugging (.613).
“I don’t really look at my stats,” Roulis said. “Looking at that stuff can hurt you because you can get too concerned by the numbers. I just try to do the little things.”
He is joined in the starting lineup by Copeland at shortstop, marking the first time since Torrington in 2007 that one team has had both middle infielders start the All-Star game. The duo has lots of experience together, something both players were excited about.
“It’s perfect because we have plenty of games under our belt together,” Copeland said. “If it’s someone else, you have to ask what do you do at your school or team.But we just get to do our thing and know we’re on the same page.”
Copeland is in the top 10 in batting average (.324) and is 16-for-17 on stolen base attempts, second only to Laconia’s James Davison. He has also drawn 16 walks and scored 20 runs, ranking in the top five of the league in both categories.
After learning of his selection along with Smith, his classmate at Austin Peay State, Copeland turned his attention toward the upcoming college season.
“We’ve struggled for two years back at school, but hopefully we can take this back and be leaders for the rest of the team,” said Copeland, a rising junior.
Smith, who’s played three different positions for the Mountaineers this summer, is a reserve catcher for the North. He is hitting .273 with 11 RBIs and 20 runs scored to go along with five doubles and five stolen bases.
“It’s an honor to be able to do this,” Smith said. “It’s going to be great to be around all that great talent and in that atmosphere.”
Smith was also glad to see Copeland make the team as well.
“It’s great for us to be playing this well up to this point,” Smith said. “I think it’ll give us a lot of momentum going into the season.”
Brown, who is 3-1 with a 1.10 ERA, was a candidate to start as the Northern pitcher. Laconia’s Tim Viehoff (4-1, 1.80 ERA) was selected as the starter, but Brown ranks near the top of the league in many categories.
“There are so many great players in this league, so it’s an honor to be chosen,” Brown said. “I know we’re only getting one inning each, so I’m going to pitch my heart out.”
It’s been an impressive improvement for Brown, who was hit at a .301 clip two years ago as a member of the North Adams SteepleCats. Brown finished with a 3.75 ERA over eight starts but has evolved into an elite starting pitcher.
“Nothing really changed in my game, but I got more confident and had a better approach,” Brown said.
He is joined on the Northern Division pitching staff by Rodliff, a reliever who’s unconventional delivery has baffled opposing batters, limiting them to a .109 batting average. With 17 strikeouts over 17-plus innings, Rodliff has established himself as an effective set-up man in the Mountaineers talented bullpen.
The lefty is naturally deceptive, but his pitching motion and delivery is easily the most unique in the NECBL this summer. He fires the ball sidearm and pairs it with an unorthodox follow-through that creates an advantage against hitters on either side of the plate.
Shortstop Devin Hariston could be selected as one of the 12 players in the NECBL’s Final Vote for the final spot in the All-Star game. If Hairston is elected in fan voting this week, the Mountaineers would have at least six All-Stars for the third time in four years.
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