Pelicans Well Represented on All-Star Team – Capitol Broadcasting Company

Pelicans Well Represented on All-Star Team

Pelican Pitcher Matt Wright represented Myrtle Beach with four teammates on the All-Stars squad.

Five Myrtle Beach Pelicans were selected to play on the Carolina League All-Star team, tied only with the Potomac Cannons for the most players selected for the game. The Carolina/California League All-Stars played on Tuesday, June 20, 2004, in San Bernadino. The California League edged ahead to win 5-2 at Inland Empire’s Arrowhead Credit Union Park.

The Pelicans selections included: Outfielder Jeff Francoeur, Catcher Brian McCann, Pitcher Blaine Boyer, Pitcher Anthony Lerew and Pitcher Matt Wright.

At the time of selection, Francoeur was hitting .282 with 11 homeruns and 37 RBI for the season. McCann was hitting .254 with 9 homeruns and 36RBI. Boyer had made 12 starts for the Pelicans, with a 5-4 record and 3.72 ERA. He had posted 37 strikeouts in 67.2 innings. Lerew had a 6-2 record with 2.61 ERA. His 65 strikeouts were fifth best in the league in 72.1 innings. Wright had racked up a 2.37 ERA, the fourth best in the league, and 58 strikeouts in 57 innings.

Thanks to Steve Terry for this capcom photo.

Pelicans Make a Splash In First Half of 2004 Season

The Pelicans finished the first half of the 2004 season with a 40-28 record. They trailed only the Kinston Indians, taking second place in the Carolina League for their first half record.

Also at the end of the first half of the 2004 season, the Pelicans saw a whopping 13% increase in attendance as compared to the first 33 games in 2003. A total of 92,063 cheered on the Pelicans at Coastal Federal Field during the first half of this season.

For the first half of the season, the Pelicans led the league in pitching with the best team ERA 3.26, giving up the least amount of hits (516), allowing the least amount of homeruns (23) and striking out the most batters (547).