WICHITA, KS- The Wichita Wingnuts are proud to announce that shortstop Kevin Hooper and second baseman Brenan Herrera were named to the 2008 American Association Postseason All-Star Team.

Hooper's .373 batting average led the league and ranked 40 points better than Sioux Falls' Will Smith who finished second.  The Lawrence, KS native earned mid-season honors when he was named the starting shortstop for the North in the All-Star Game.  Hooper stole 34 bases, second in the league, and was never thrown out by an opposing catcher.  He tied for the league lead in hits (133), finished third in on-base percentage (.431), and tied for third in runs scored (73).  Hooper also led all shortstops with a .973 fielding percentage.  Hooper was named the team's MVP prior to Wichita's final game of the season on August 23rd.  He ended the year on a nine-game hitting streak, going 21 for his last 39 (.538) to break away from the pack in the batting race.  On May 28th vs. Sioux Falls, Hooper notched his 1,000th career base hit with an infield single.

Herrera finished tied for ninth in the league in batting with a .317 average.  Like Kevin Hooper, Herrera was the North Division's starter at second base in the All-Star Game.  Herrera hit safely in 80 of 93 games, and tallied 33 multi-hit contests.  The Lawton, OK native reached base in 20 consecutive games with a hit or walk to start the season.  Herrera led the Wingnuts, hitting .348 with runners in scoring position.  He had four hitting streaks of eight or more games, including a 10-game streak from July 9th-July 19th.  Herrera finished second in fielding percentage among second basemen at .973, one point behind the league-best .974.

The double play combination anchored an infield defense that committed the fewest errors and turned the most double plays.  Both Hooper and Herrera went hitless in back-to-back games just three times the entire season.

The Wingnuts will resume play sometime in early May of 2009, with the American Association schedule due for release in November.  Meanwhile, the Wichita Thunder drop the puck on their 17th season October 17th at Mississippi.  Wichita returns to the Kansas Coliseum the following night on the 18th to host the Oklahoma City Blazers.  For tickets, call the Thunder office at (316) 264-4625.

-WINGNUTS-