Five Pelicans among postseason All-Stars

On the verge of sweeping both halves in the Southern Division, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on Tuesday placed five players on the Carolina League Postseason All-Star team.

Myrtle Beach coasted to the first-half title, has a three-game lead with a week to go in the second half and boasts the league's top overall record at 85-48. Not surprisingly, Rocket Wheeler was named Manager of the Year.

Five of Wheeler's players earned All-Star honors: catcher Tyler Flowers (.286, 16 homers, 82 RBIs), second baseman Travis Jones (.250, 16, 75), shortstop Brandon Hicks (.232, 19, 55), outfielder Willie Cabrera (.290, 16, 78) and designated hitter Ernesto Mejia (.274, 20, 88).

Kinston Indians first baseman Beau Mills was named Most Valuable Player. The 2007 first-round Draft pick leads the league with 21 homers and 90 RBIs while hitting .293.

Mills is one of three Indians' All-Stars. The others are Niuman Romero (.303, 6, 53), who shared second base honors with Jones, and relief pitcher Luis Perdomo, who went 3-1 with 18 saves and a 0.92 ERA in 31 games before a promotion to Double-A and an eventual trade to the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

The Winston-Salem Warthogs also boast three All-Stars in utility infielder C.J. Retherford (.292, 16, 68), outfielder John Shelby III (.297, 15, 76) and reliever Kenekoa Texeira (3-1, 20, 0.93).

The Salem Avalanche placed two players on the team -- utility infielder Mark Ori (.309, 11, 88) and outfielder Jordan Parraz (.289, 6, 42).

Pitcher of the Year Jake Arrieta, who won a bronze medal with Team USA at the Beijing Olympics, is the lone All-Star from the Frederick Keys. He was 6-5 with a league-leading 2.87 ERA in 20 starts before leaving for China.

Rounding out the team are Lynchburg Hillcats third baseman and league batting leader Jim Negrych (.370, 5, 62) and Wilmington Blue Rocks outfielder Joe Dickerson (.297, 5, 45).

While league managers, general managers and media members voted for the All-Stars, Kinston trainer Chad Wolfe was selected by the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society.