PHILADELPHIA – La Salle rising senior Pat Christensen has been named to the Cape Cod League All-Star team, it was announced last week. Christensen, a reliever for the Orleans Firebirds, was named to the East All-Stars, who take on the West contingent on July 28 at Whitehouse Field in Harwich.
 
He is the only Atlantic 10 and Big 5 player named to the CCBL All-Star team.
 
The Cape Cod League is considered the top summer league for collegiate players and has been in operation since 1885. Current major leaguers Tim Lincecum (Giants), Mark Texeira (Yankees), Ryan Braun (Brewers) and Chase Utley (Phillies) are among nearly 250 CCBL alumni in the bigs.

"It's a big accomplishment since I felt lucky to even be given the opportunity to play in such a competitive league," Christensen said. "It means a lot that the coaches here thought enough of my performance to give me a chance to pitch in the all-star game."
 
Christensen is 2-0 with a 1.90 ERA in 16 appearances for the Firebirds, who are 18-13 and a game behind Harwich for the top spot in the East Division. The right-hander has struck out 25 batters in 19 innings, while walking just four.
 
He leads the league in appearances and his 1.90 ERA would rank fourth in the CCBL if he has enough innings to qualify.
 
The all-time saves leader (33) at La Salle, Christensen is a three-time All-Big 5 and two-time All-Atlantic 10 selection. He was named the Big 5 Student-Athlete of the Year for the second straight season.
 
With one season to play, Christensen is seventh with 148 career strikeouts at La Salle and second all-time in appearances. His career ERA of 2.84 is the lowest of any La Salle pitcher that has thrown at least 75 innings.
 
Christensen was 4-3 with a 2.66 ERA and nine saves in 2012 for the Explorers. He struck out 54 batters in 44 innings, while walking eight. His best season statistically was in 2011 when he was 3-2 with a 1.17 ERA and a school-record 13 saves.

In addition, Shawn O'Neill of the Harrisonburg Turks was named to the Valley League All-Star game on July 8. A transfer from Richmond, O'Neill will be elligible to compete for the Explorers in 2013. He is 1-1 with a team best 1.52 ERA with five saves for Harrisonburg. The southpaw has fanned 49 batters in 47.1 innings.