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Seminole graduate gets a chance at last minute

DUNEDIN -- The road to the majors often is long and filled with many turns.

Ben Kozlowski knows.

The former Seminole High pitcher had quite a week. A starter for the Charlotte Rangers, Kozlowski went from being left off the Florida State League All-Star roster to being named a starter for the Western Division within days.

"I showed up to the field on Monday and Yankees pitching coach (Joe Breeden) told me that I was going to be a starter," Kozlowski said. "I was like, 'Yeah, all right.' It was pretty amazing the past couple of days."

After he was scheduled to start, rain threatened to ruin Kozlowski's homecoming.

If the game had moved to today, Kozlowski would not have appeared because he is scheduled to start for the Rangers on Thursday.

"I kept a real close eye on the weather reports all day," said Kozlowski, who was playing in his first All-Star Game.

The rain stopped long enough for Kozlowski to start. He gave up two hits and a run in one inning in the Western Division's 3-2 victory.

"I gave up a couple of runs and a hit, but I don't have any complaints," Kozlowski said. "I'm just glad I was able to get out there and start."

A 12th-round pick of the Braves in 1999, Kozlowski was traded to the Rangers in April.

At Charlotte, Kozlowski was the league leader in ERA (1.98) in the first half but was left off the roster partly because he didn't have enough innings pitched at the time of the selection two weeks ago.

He was added Friday because a number of All-Stars were not able to participate because of injuries or being promoted, and because he had pitched the required number of innings, 57.

"It was just great to get out there and pitch in front of family and friends," he said.

HOME RUN KING: Will Smith, an outfielder with the Jupiter Hammerheads, won the home run derby with one swing.

Tied with Charlotte infielder Laynce Nix after six rounds, the two went through a sudden-death round to determine the winner.

Smith, up first, hit the first pitch over the rightfield fence. Nix conceded the title with a grounder that rolled past the first-base line.

CHANGES: Dunedin Stadium has gone through major alterations since its last FSL All-Star Game in 1990.

As part of a $13.5-million facelift funded by the parent club and the city, the Blue Jays replaced the batting cages and scoreboard, added a clubhouse and paved the parking lot in the past year.

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