Chester's Bat Leads to All-Star History
7/26/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
July 26, 2010
Chester Photo Gallery
PITTSBURGH — University of Pittsburgh first baseman David Chester capped off a stellar first half of the summer league season by earning a selection to the Coastal Plain League All-Star Team earlier this week.
The senior infielder kept his hot play rolling during the CPL Home Run Derby when he belted 11 long balls over three rounds, claiming the 2010 CPL Rawlings All-Star Home Run Derby Championship.
Chester’s All-Star week was just getting started as he blasted a two-run homer in the first inning of the CPL All-Star Game one day later, keeping the National team within a run after the first inning. Three innings later, Chester struck again, this time with an RBI single, giving the National team a 5-4 lead.
He finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBI, including the game-winner in the fourth inning, and was voted the Rawlings Offensive Player of the Game. Chester became the first player to win both the Home Run Derby and Offensive Player of the Game honors in the 12-year history of the all-star festivities.
Chester has been an integral part to the Gastonia Grizzlies’ best season in team history. His bat led the Grizzles to their 28th win late last week, a team record for season wins. He belted a three-run home run and added another RBI to keep the Grizzlies in first place in the CPL West.
Chester will return to Pitt for his senior season after a standout junior year with the Panthers. Last year, he started all 53 games at first base for the Panthers, batting .332 with 65 RBI and belting a team-high 15 home runs. He was also rock solid in the field, posting a .996 fielding percentage, committing just two errors all year.