P-Rays Lose Possible Pitcher & Player of the Year

With just a handful of games remaining on their schedule, the Princeton Rays have lost their two most consistent performers. Both pitcher Jeremy Hall and infielder Omar Luna were promoted by the Devil Rays organization after Friday night's contest.

Hall is headed to Columbus, Georgia to join Tampa Bay's low-A minor league affiliate, the Columbus Catfish. For Princeton this season, Hall was spectacular on the mound compiling a 4-1 record in 69 1/3 innings. He led the team and the Appalachian League with his 1.56 ERA and allowed three earned runs in only one of his starts. In total, he only allowed 12 earned runs in 12 games started. Over the last month, Hall had a 1.13 ERA in six starts but only managed a 1-0 record due to poor run support and a couple of blown leads by the bullpen. The likely candidate for Princeton's Pitcher of the Year award also led the team in strikeouts and innings pitched this season.

The P-Rays' also said adios to Luna, the team's frontrunner for the Player of the Year award. Luna batted .289 for Princeton and even had his own cheering section at each home game. He led the team in hits (67), doubles (13), RBI (26), and total bases(92) and also knocked two home runs. Luna is destined for the New York-Penn League to play with the Hudson Valley Renegades. He will meet the team in Oneonta, New York where the Renegades are scheduled to take on the division-leading Oneonta Tigers.

The only other player to be promoted from Princeton this season was pitcher Kevin Boggan. After throwing 7 2/3 scoreless innings for the P-Rays, Boggan was sent to Hudson Valley where he has appeared in 10 games. In 22 innings with the Renegades, he has struck out 23 batters and accumulated a 1.23 ERA.