Former Gamecock Donovan Hand Selected for Southern League All-Star Game

7/1/2009 4:45:00 PM

Former Jacksonville State standout pitcher Donovan Hand has been named to the Southern League All-Star North Division squad, the league announced today.

Hand, who has a 6-1 record with a 2.39 earned run average, helped the Huntsville Stars claim the first-half Southern League North Championship.

The Hatton, Ala., natives is ranked third in the pitching-rich Southern League with a 2.39 ERA. He began the season in the bullpen, before moving into the starting rotation on May 26. He has a perfect 4-0 record as a starter and limited the opponents to just a .211 batting average.

The right-hander has made 21 appearances this season and has six starts to his credit and all allowed just 18 earned runs in 67 2/3 innings on the mound, while striking out 39.

Hand was a three-time All-Ohio Valley Conference selection and won 26 games pitching for the Gamecocks from 2005-07. He was a 14th-round selection by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft.

The All-Star contest will take place July 13 at Regions Park in Birmingham. The North squad will be managed by Diamond Jaxx manager Phil Plantier while Birmingham skipper Ever Magallanes will lead the South Division.