Shining Star for Oxford’s Choccolocco Monsters

Oxford, AL –

Shortstop Cooper one of four Monsters players now going to the SBL All-Star Game Sunday at Choccolocco Park

Josh Cooper crosses the plate with an insurance run in the Monsters’ win over Gwinnett Friday night. (Photo by B.J. Franklin)

By Al Muskewitz

OXFORD – Josh Cooper came to the Choccolocco Monsters this summer to get better and evolve as a player. He’s going to leave at the end of the season as a first-year All-Star for a first-year team.

Cooper, the Monsters’ starting shortstop, is one of four players from the expansion team on the National roster for Sunday’s Sunbelt Baseball League All-Star Game at Choccolocco Park, the only non-pitcher and with only four infielders on the roster the only guaranteed starter.

“I’m just very excited to be even selected,” Cooper said. “I’m just going to try to play my best and continue to do what I’m doing.”

Cooper, a rising sophomore at Claflin University in South Carolina, is batting .290 with a .670 OPS, 20 hits, 10 RBIs and is 10-of-11 in stolen base attempts. He has gotten a hit in 10 of his last 12 games (16-of-46) and has a 10-game on-base streak. His RBI production has dropped since moving to the top of the lineup, but he continues to set the table for those hitting behind him.

“I initially came to get better, get more reps and just evolve as a player,” he said. “That was my goal and I feel like I did accomplish that. I still want to keep progressing. That’s my goal, to keep going higher, higher than this.”

Monsters right-handed Will Griffith (1-1, 4.40) also was an original selection on the team and will pitch in the game. Leading hitters Nate Shipley (.438, 11 RBIs) and Brandon Prince (.383, 15 SBs) were also selected, but will not play.

Then late Friday, Monsters pitchers Alexander McKay (0-2, 2.63) and Weston Kirk (2-1, 5.79) were added to the Nationals roster.

Monsters’ All-Star right-hander Will Griffith is comfortable as a starter or a reliever. “I just want to throw,” he said. (Photo by B.J. Franklin)

“Both those guys have been very good in their last few outings,” Monsters manager Steve Gillispie said. “When they had a couple guys drop out I mentioned those guys to (commissioner Todd Pratt) earlier and he came to me before the game and asked if I thought I could get them and I told him I know they would.

“It actually would be good work for them to get ready for next week. They both jumped at the chance and I think it’s a great time for them to shine.”

The Nationals, managed by Alpharetta’s Brandon Boggs, will be comprised of players from the Monsters, Aviators, Brookhaven Bucks, Atlanta Blues and Gwinnett Astros. The Americans, managed by Columbus’ Steve Smith, will consist of players from the Chatt-A-Hoots, league-leading Gainesville Gol’Diggers, Atlanta Crackers and Waleska Wild Things.

After initially announced otherwise, Monsters coaches DeWayne Crowder and Dalton Cobb will be in the Nationals’ dugout with their players avoiding a potentially awkward in-game situation. [*** read more]