The 2023 Northern League All-Star teams have been announced and five members of the Southland Vikings were selected.
Jack Fitzharris (SS), Matt Merk (C), Will Moell (RHP), Jorgie Vazquez (RHP) and Nolan Vlcek (RHP) were all selected to represent the West in the All-Star Game on July 18 at Oil City Stadium.
Fitzharris (Western Michigan) has appeared in 27 of the Vikings 33 games so far this season and leads the team in plate appearances (129). He is third in the Northern League in on base percentage (.457) as he leads the league with 24 walks and has been hit by a league high 15 pitches. He is also tied for the second most stolen bases in the league with 14. On the season, Fitzharris is hitting .230 with 14 RBIs and a team high 26 runs scored.
Merk (New College of Florida) has been a workhorse for the Vikings behind the plate, catching in 23 of his 25 games played. He has shown off his strong arm on multiple occasions as he leads the league with 11 runners caught stealing. He leads the team with 16 RBIs while hitting .281 with a .394 OBP. Merk has eight extra base hits this season with five doubles and three triples to give him a .404 slugging percentage, which is ninth in the league among qualified hitters.
Moell (Johns Hopkins) was the opening day starter for the Vikings and leads the team with seven starts while tossing the second most innings on the team (34 1/3). He has struck out the second most batters in the league (37) while averaging 9.70 strikeouts per nine innings. He has a 3-1 record with three quality starts and a 4.72 ERA. Over his last two starts, Moell has allowed just two runs on eight hits in 11 innings with 16 strikeouts.
Vazquez (Triton) is a two-way player for the Vikings appearing on the mound and around the infield. He earned his All-Star nod as a pitcher where he has compiled a 2.25 ERA through 20 innings. In five games (four starts), Vazquez is 2-2 and has allowed just five earned runs (eight runs total). He also issued just six walks while striking out ten. Vazquez helped the Vikings pick up their first win of the season back on May 31 as he tossed five no hit innings against the Generals, allowing just two walks while striking out two.
Vlcek (Western Michigan) is in his third year with the Vikings and has represented the team in the All-Star team in all three seasons. The lone returning member of last year’s Vikings squad, Vlcek has been the ace on the mound for the team compiling a 4-0 record with a 1.46 ERA. He has racked up 25 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings. Vlcek was the first opposing pitcher to win a game at Oil City Stadium this season, earning wins on both June 16 and June 23 as he went a combined 12 innings allowing three runs (two earned) with 12 strikeouts.
The 2023 Northern League All-Star Game will be played at Oil City Stadium on July 18 starting at 7:10pm. The Northern League West is composed of players from the Vikings, Oilmen and Panthers while the East is made of players from the Corn Dogs, Miracle and Generals.
