Four Rattlers selected to play for the West in the 2011 Midwest League All-Star Game

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Midwest League announced the teams for the 2011 Midwest League All-Star Game on Friday afternoon. Four Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are heading to Modern Woodmen Park on June 21 to play for the Western Division. Chris Dennis will be the starting designated hitter for the West. Mike Walker was picked as a reserve infielder. Pitchers Austin Ross and Tyler Thornburg were also selected in a vote by the managers of the Western Division teams in the Midwest League.

Dennis, the 13th round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2007 draft out of St. Thomas of Villanova High School in LaSalle, Ontario, is hitting .302 with four homers and 22 RBI in just 31 games for the Rattlers. Dennis joined Wisconsin on May 1 and has added seven doubles and three triples to his numbers. Dennis, who played part of the 2009 season and all of the 2010 season with the Rattlers, is currently second on the franchise career home run list with 26.

Walker, who was picked in the 14th round of the 2010 draft out of the University of Pacific, is second in the Midwest League in home runs (10) and RBI (39). The left-handed hitter is also hitting .298 on the season.

Ross, an 8th round pick of Milwaukee in 2010 out of Louisiana State University, is 5-2 with a 2.29 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 52 innings pitched this season. Ross was named the Midwest League Pitcher of the Week on April 25 and the Milwaukee Brewers Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April.

Thornburg, Milwaukee's 3rd round pick in 2010 out of Charleston Southern, is 4-0 in nine starts for the Timber Rattlers this season. He is second in the Midwest League in ERA with a 1.31 (seven earned runs in 49 innings pitched). Thornburg has not allowed a run in three straight starts and ran his scoreless innings streak to 19-1/3 innings with a nine inning complete game shutout at Kane County on May 29. Thornburg has struck out 50 opposing batters in 2011.

The 2011 All-Star Game at Modern Woodmen Park is scheduled to start at 7:00pm. Subscribers to Time Warner Cable will be able to watch the game and the four Timber Rattlers playing in it on Sports 32.