Just a year removed from playing host to the 2011 Atlantic League All-Star game and home run derby, Sovereign Bank Stadium is set to hold another derby this week.

No, it won’t include any pro ballplayers. (OK, throw me under the bus for a misleading headline). Rather, the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition’s 5th annual Take a Swing Against Breast Cancer home run derby will be making a stop in York.

Sovereign Bank Stadium is one of eight locations the coalition will travel to in the state this July. Teams of four can enter the competition and will be given 15 swings to knock the ball out of the park. Teams make a $500 donation to the coalition to participate. Individuals without a team can enter for $125.

The event at Sovereign Bank Stadium will take place this Thursday. For more on the event, check out the full story from York Dispatch health reporter Chelsea Shank.

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Fans can now vote for the position players they want selected for the 2012 Atlantic League All-Star game, which will be played at Camden’s Campbell’s Field on July 11.

The pitching for both teams will be selected by the respective managers. A combination of fan, media and team voting will determine the starters and remaining roster  for position players.

The voting ends on July 3. Click here to submit your votes.

York Revolution skipper Andy Etchebarren will manage the Freedom Division All-Stars while Long Island Ducks manager will handle similar duties for the Liberty Division squad.

Looking back: York played host to last year’s All-Star game, with Etchebarren coaching the Freedom Division squad. Revs’ right-hander Corey Thurman got the start for the Freedom Division squad. He and six other pitchers combined to shout out the Liberty Division squad, 7-0. York’s Val Majewski smacked a solo homer to right field in the bottom of the fourth to get the game’s first run.

Majewski finished 2-for-4 on the night, with two runs scored and an RBI. He likely would’ve taken home the game’s Most Valuable Player award had it not been for his Freedom Division teammate, Michael Hernandez (now with York, then playing for Somerset). Hernandez had a homer of his own in the fifth inning and added an RBI triple in the seventh for his second hit of the night, which earned him the MVP award.

Then Revs’ catcher Octavio Martinez (now with Sugar Land), outfielder James Shanks and infielders Eric Eymann and Vince Harrison (now retired) started alongside Majewski. Shanks finished 1-for-3 while Harrison, Eymann and Martinez went a collective 0-for-6. Then Revolution pitcher Matt DeSalvo (now pitching in Taiwan), who was selected to the game, did not see action.

Sovereign Bank Stadium had a sold-out record crowd of 8,053 fans at the game. The attendance mark is the second-largest in Atlantic League All-Star game history, finishing just behind Somerset, which had 8,290 fans at the 2008 All-Star game.

Derby: The team of Val Majewski, Alex Tucci and Jason Seitz won the Atlantic League All-Star Home Run Derby, which was held before the All-Star game. Majewski had one home run to right field, York Catholic High School graduate Alex Tucci had two homers to right field and Seitz, of Susquehanna League’s Hallam team, had two homers over the left-field wall.

Former Revs’ player Matt Esquivel won the individual home run derby with four homers.

As a result of Majewski’s team winning the team derby competition, the York Revolution will donate $500 to Seitz’s preferred charity (Crispus Attucks) and give Tucci a college savings bond.

Kuhn: And who could forget the special guest appearance of former Dover High School football standout and current Green Bay Packers’ fullback John Kuhn when he threw out the game’s ceremonial first pitch?

“This is my first real big public appearance this offseason,” Kuhn had said afterwards. “After winning the Super Bowl you’re gonna be pretty popular. I’m just happy to get all the support that I have. The fans here in York are really spectacular and I’m appreciative of it.”

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Corey Thurman has been on some big stages in his baseball career.

But the butterflies were still fluttering inside the right-hander in the Atlantic League All-Star Game at Sovereign Bank Stadium on Wednesday night.

The fans greeted the York Revolution starting pitcher with cheers when he took the mound to start for the Freedom Division team. But things didn’t start off as well as Thurman would’ve liked. The former major leaguer fired three straight balls to begin the game.

“It was just something I had to figure out in my head. I just said ‘Forget it, just go with it. Quit letting the nerves get to you,’” Thurman said after the game.

Thurman fired his next pitch over the plate for a strike, and once he got that, he didn’t look back, tossing scoreless first and second innings for the Freedom Division team, striking out one and giving up just one hit.

“Once I got the strike I was like ‘OK, now I’m ready, let’s go to work,’” Thurman said.

Thurman set the pace for the rest of the Freedom Division pitchers, as he and six other pitchers combined to shut out the Liberty Division squad, 7-0.

The game seemed like it would be a pitching duel through the first three innings until York’s Val Majewski smacked a solo homer to right field in the bottom of the fourth off Liberty Division pitcher Nic Green (Southern Maryland).

The homer marked the first run of the game and it brought Sovereign Bank Stadium’s sold-out record crowd of 8,053 fans to their feet to cheer for their hometown star.

The attendance is the second-largest in Atlantic League All-Star Game history, finishing just behind Somerset, which set the mark in 2008 with 8,290 fans.

Majewski finished 2-for-4 on the night, with two runs and an RBI. He likely would’ve taken home the game’s Most Valuable Player award had it not been for his Freedom Division teammate, Michael Hernandez (Somerset).

Hernandez had a solo homer of his own in the bottom of the fifth and added an RBI triple in the seventh for his second hit of the night, which helped him earn the MVP award.

For some reason, Hernandez seems to have no problem in York. In his two seasons in the Atlantic League, Hernandez is batting .429 with five homers and 15 RBIs in 13 games at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

“I couldn’t tell you why,” Hernandez said. “I know I feel comfortable in the box here. I see the ball pretty good. It’s a real nice place.”

Revs’ manager Andy Etchebarren, who managed the Freedom Division team, said he wasn’t surprised by Hernandez’s performance.

“He really hits well here. I told him that I tried to trade for him but they wouldn’t let me bring him here,” Etchebarren said.

Revs’ catcher Octavio Martinez, outfielder James Shanks and infielders Eric Eymann and Vince Harrison started the game alongside Majewski.

Shanks finished 1-for-3 while Harrison, Eymann and Martinez went a collective 0-for-6.

Revolution starting pitcher Matt DeSalvo, who was selected to the game, did not see action. Etchebarren said he wanted to rest DeSalvo because his throwing arm is a bit sore, which is understandable considering the right-hander has tossed a league-leading 962/3 innings.

Though Majewski didn’t take home the MVP award, it still proved to be a good night for the Revs’ outfielder. Competing in the Atlantic League All-Star Home Run Derby before the game, Majewski was part of the winning derby team despite only hitting one homer to right field.

“I’ve been in all-star games before. I’ve been in (derby contests) before. I wanted to put on a good show. Unfortunately, the home run derby, I disappointed myself and the fans,” Majewski said. “But as far as the game, we put on a good show and having the home team win was awesome.”

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The team of Val Majewski, Alex Tucci and Jason Seitz won the Atlantic League All-Star Home Run Derby, which was held before Wednesday’s game.

Majewski had one home run to right field, York Catholic High School graduate Alex Tucci had two homers to right field and Seitz, of Susquehanna League’s Hallam team, had two homers over the left-field wall.

Former Revs’ player Matt Esquivel won the individual home run derby with four homers.

As a result of Majewski’s team winning the team derby competition, the York Revolution will donate $500 to Seitz’s preferred charity (Crispus Attucks) and give Tucci a college savings bond.

“To get two is pretty cool, man,” Seitz said afterwards. “(Windsor’s) Rick (Thompson) had three (homers) and he’s one of our big home run hitters. It was cool to be the only righty to get them out over the wall.”

Grimes, Kuhn honored: Fans gave a standing ovation to York City resident Voni Grimes when he was honored before the game for his contributions to the York community.

Fans also gave a standing ovation to former Dover High School football standout and current National Football League fullback John Kuhn when he threw out the game’s ceremonial first pitch.

Kuhn, who won Super Bowl XLV with the Green Bay Packers last season, said he appreciated the support when he spoke with the media about his appearance during the game.

“This is my first real big public appearance this offseason,” he said. “After winning the Super Bowl you’re gonna be pretty popular. I’m just happy to get all the support that I have. The fans here in York are really spectacular and I’m appreciative of it.”

Big money raised: An auction of the game jerseys, which were sponsored by Orthopaedic Spine Specialists, raised $13,000, which was donated to the United Way of York County.

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During an interview with a York Revolution front office official back in early June, I was informed that the team was working on getting a “big name celebrity” to throw out the first pitch at the Atlantic League All-Star game on Wednesday night at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

In particular, the team wanted John Kuhn, the former Dover High School football standout and current Green Bay Packers fullback.

But with the National Football League being locked out, the Revs were having difficulties lining up Kuhn for the event.

“With the NFL lockout he’s not allowed to come,” the Revs official said at the time. “Any appearance he does is controlled by the Packers. We know his agent. We’re talking to his agent and we’ve been told that he is dying to come do this. It would be perfect. He’d be the perfect guy to throw out the first pitch.”

And now, it appears that Revolution officials have gotten their wish granted. A team official confirmed Tuesday night that the 6-foot, 250-pound Super Bowl XLV winner Kuhn is set to throw out the first pitch on Wednesday night.

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To decide on how to split up the teams for the Atlantic League All-Star Home Run Derby on Wednesday night at Sovereign Bank Stadium, York Revolution officials have been holding “try outs” for high school players over the past month or so.

Officials devised a point system where players got points for hitting balls to the warning track, off the wall, and over the wall. Of those who tried out, York Catholic High School graduate Alex Tucci accumulated the most points. Tucci, who will be playing at Division III Virginia-Wesleyan College next spring, was also the only high school player to hit one over the wall.

That should give up hope to the York fans rooting for Revolution outfielder Val Majewski in the derby, as Tucci will team with Majewski in the event.

The derby will feature six teams, each consisting of an Atlantic League player, a local high school player and a player from the Susquehanna or Central baseball leagues. High school players will use aluminum bats, while Atlantic League and adult league players will use wooden bats.

Each team will be playing for a designated charity of their choice, with the winning team getting a monetary prize from the Revolution that will go to the charity. And the high school player on that winning team will receive a savings bond for college.

Here are those teams, along with information on their charities each will be playing for, and the home run counts for Atlantic League players.

Atlantic League player, adult league player, high school player, charity:

—Val Majewski (York. 11 HR), Jason Seitz (Hallam), Alex Tucci (York Catholic), Charity: Crispus Attucks.

—Josh Pressley (Somerset, 11 HR), Todd Meyer (Pleasureville), Matt Petersen (York Suburban), Charity: Central PA Food Bank.

—Tommy Everidge (Lancaster, 13 HR), Rick Thompson (Windsor), Anthony Goldhammer (New Oxford) Charity: Olivia’s House.

—Matt Esquivel (Long Island, 9 HR), Austin Rickode (Dover), Ryan Leader (Dallastown), Charity: Bring on Play.

—Ben Harrison (Southern Maryland, 10 HR), Nate Neumann (Windsor), Zeke Ottemiller (York Suburban), Charity: Special Olympics.

—Wes Bankston (Bridgeport, 13 HR), Eric McNeil (Red Lion), Luke Rohrbaugh (Spring Grove), Charity: YMCA Strong Kids.

The derby will kick off at 5:15 p.m.

 

All-Star game sold out: The York Revolution announced Tuesday that there are no tickets remaining to the Atlantic League All-Star Game. In recent days, only lawn tickets remained, and even that allotment of tickets has run out.

The largest crowd in Sovereign Bank Stadium history was recorded on July 4 of last year, when 7,412 fans passed through the turnstiles as the Revolution took on the Bridgeport Bluefish. According to the team’s ticketing office, that number is within reach as the All-Star Game comes to York for the first time.

Fans holding tickets are reminded that the stadium gates open at 5 p.m., and the AAA Home Run Derby begins at 5:15. First pitch of the game is slated for roughly 7 p.m., with York’s Corey Thurman likely getting the nod as the starting pitcher. The Freedom Division All-Stars, which include seven members of the Revolution, will take on the Liberty Division All-Stars. Should the game remain tied after nine innings, a home run derby between the two teams will break the tie.

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