July 3, 2019

By Kavan Young

Ottawa Champions

OTTAWA – Three Ottawa Champions players have been selected to the Can-Am/Frontier League joint All-Star Game in Rockland, New York.

Phillippe Aumont, Jiandido Tromp and Steve Brown were all chosen to represent the Champions at the All-Star Game that has the Can-Am League facing the Frontier League for the first time ever.

The All-Star festivities kick off at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 9 with a luncheon, followed by the home run derby later that night at 7:30 p.m. The game itself takes place the following day at 7 p.m.

Tromp was voted in by fans while Aumont and Brown, who was named Can-Am League Batter of the Month on Tuesday, were chosen by league representatives.

Tromp gets the call to the All-Star Game in his first year in the Can-Am League. He boasts a .266/.343/.370 slash line with two home runs. He is one of just three Champions batters to record a triple this season and his 27 RBI ranks second on the team behind Jordan Caillouet’s 31.

“I feel honoured,” said Tromp. “It’s great to play this game and it’s great to play in Ottawa. I want to thank all the fans for voting me in. It’s an honour to be there and represent our team.”

Brown has been the Champions most consistent threat at the plate all season long. His .339 average ranks second among all regular Can-Am League batters while his 27 hits is tied for first (with Maikol Gonzalez) among all Champions hitters. He leads all Champions batters in all major hitting categories with a slash line of .339/.427/.476.

“It feels really nice to be chosen,” said Brown. “I’ve been working hard this season, focusing on my game and I think it’s paying off now, being selected to the All-Star Game.”

While Brown has been Ottawa’s top hitter, Aumont has been the team’s best pitcher. The Gatineau, Qué. native’s 2.36 ERA leads all Can-Am League pitchers, while his four wins and 60 strikeouts each rank second league-wide. Aumont’s six walks are the fewest among all Champions pitchers and he is one of just three slingers in the league to throw two complete games.

“It’s truly an honour and a blessing to go there,” said Aumont. “I’m definitely thrilled to go out there wearing the Champions uniform at the All-Star Game and represent this organization.”

Aumont, who doubles as the Champions pitching coach, heaped praise on his teammates for their nominations.

“They definitely deserve to be there,” he said. “We didn’t know if Brown was going to come back or not, but I think he really took it upon himself to become the leader on the field for these guys.”

“Tromp, he’s not a big power guy," Aumont continued. "He’s got a couple homers, but he’s clutch at big at-bats and he gets it done. He comes to play every day, I don’t know if he’s had an off-day to be honest with you. Those kind of guys need to be rewarded when they go out there and play hard.”