Barnstormers sending two starters to CBL All-Star game

The Canadian Baseball League all-star game being held in Chatham’s Fergie Jenkins Field on July 12 will have some familiar faces.

Chatham-Kent Barnstormers Austin Gurney and Yushin Ohta were both selected to the South All-Star starting lineup.

Guerney, who hails from Campbell River B.C., has a .372 batting average, six home runs and 20 RBI. The 24 year-old outfielder is in his first season in a Barnstormers uniform. Gurney played the last four summers with the Moose Jaw Miller Express of the Western Canadian Baseball League.

Ohta, who is also a 24 year-old outfield, is from Sasebo Japan, has a .338 batting average, eight home runs and 25 RBI. This is his second season in Chatham-Kent.

The Canadian Baseball League all-star weekend July 11 and 12 in Chatham will include live music, fireworks and a celebrity meet-and-greet. Tweedsmuir Avenue West near Fergie Jenkins Field at Rotary Park will be closed to traffic both days, for a free family-friendly zone with food and drinks.

All-Star Fun Zone hours are Saturday from noon until 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.

The Fergie Jenkins Field gates open Saturday at 4 p.m. for fans attending the skills competition, which begins at 5:45 p.m.

Players will compete in outfield accuracy throwing, catcher accuracy throwing, bunting accuracy and a home run derby. Fireworks follow at 9:45 p.m.

The field gates open Sunday at 12:30 p.m. for the 2 p.m. all-star game.