MARTIN, Tenn. - Despite a 1-for-21 start at the plate Wes Patterson, The University of Tennessee at Martin first baseman is "just having fun" this summer in the Texas Collegiate League (TCL) playing for the Brazos Valley Bombers.

Patterson, a rising senior who is UT Martin's all-time leading home run hitter, and the Bombers tied for first place with a 16-9 won-loss record in the first half of the season which ended this past Saturday. Patterson broke out of his slump and raised his batting average to .280. His dramatic improvement landed him on the South team in the TCL All-Star game Monday in Victoria, Texas.

In the all-star game, Patterson hit the first-ever grand slam in a TCL all-star game. He also drove in a run with a double. His five RBI earned him the TCL all-star game's Most Valuable Player honor.

"I am just having fun. It was a good ballgame," Patterson said.

The game ended in a 7-7 tie. "Sure it would have been nice to win, but this was just a good game," he said.

Before the game, Patterson finished second in the home run hitting contest.

Patterson, one of three Skyhawks playing for Brazos this summer, hit .344 and drove in 64 runs this past spring. His 15 home runs were the second best for the Skyhawks.

Alec Mills, a rising sophomore, has made nine appearances for the Bombers and started three games. He has a 1-2 record with a 4.71 Earned Run Average. He has pitched 28.2 innings and recorded 23 strikeouts, the second most on the team.

Mills made 23 appearances as a true freshman and struck out 36 batters.

Cory Stooksbury, the Skyhawks' second baseman this past spring, played 13 games for the Bombers before leaving the team for personal reasons.



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