June 27, 2003

CHARLOTTE, NC - Former Charlotte 49ers two-time All-Conference USA pitcher Jason Stanford (1998-99) was selected to represent the International League in the Triple A All-Star game in Memphis, Tennessee, July 16.

Stanford currently stars for the Cleveland Indians' top minor league team, the Buffalo Bisons. Stanford ranks among the league leaders with seven wins, a 3.24 ERA and 74 strikeouts. Stanford is one of the main reasons while Buffalo has a league leading 3.45 team ERA.

Stanford, who signed with Cleveland as a free agent at the conclusion of his Charlotte career, was an integral part of the 49ers pitching staff for two seasons after transferring from Barton County Community College. In 1998, he was named first-team All-Conference USA after posting a 10-3 record on a 49ers team that reached the NCAA Tournament with a school-record 43 wins. He is one of only seven Charlotte pitchers to collect double figure wins in a season. In 1999, as a senior, he was named second-team All-Conference USA after leading the team with eight wins. The Tucson, Arizona native still ranks among the program's career leaders with 18 wins and 194 strikeouts.

This will be Stanford's second trip to a minor league All-Star game as he played in the South Atlantic League All-Star game in 2000. After the 2000 season, he was named the minor league pitcher of the year in the Cleveland Indians Organization. In the fall of 2001, he starred in the baseball World Cup for the silver medal winning Team USA. He went 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA in three starts to be named the best lefthanded pitcher in the tournament.