Minot’s Sara Simon was one of five Honeybees selected to participate in this year’s inaugural All-Star Game at Warner Park in Madison, Wisc., on Saturday, July 11. Simon leads the team in both home runs (4) and RBIs (23), and is batting .368. Mike Kraft/MDN

There is plenty of talent up and down the roster for the Minot Honeybees this season, and the Northwoods League agrees, selecting five players to represent the West at the inaugural All-Star Game on Saturday, July 11, at Warner Park in Madison, Wisc.

Catcher Olivia Hernandez, center second baseman Bridget Chapman, shortstop Sara Simon, center fielder Clare Rettler and pitcher Parker Rowden all received the nod for their performance on the field during the first half of the season. This year’s all-stars were determined by a statistical model built by the Northwoods League, in addition to input from the league office.

“The players selected are great players,” Minot coach Kendall Winn said. “They are very talented and hard-working. It was awesome to see them get recognized and it’s a true testament to the hard work they put into this team.”

Hernandez is in her second and final season with the Honeybees and is the only all-star selection from Minot not in their first year with the team. Last season, she hit .295, with 18 total hits, three doubles, two home runs, 11 RBIs and nine runs scored. Already this season, Hernandez is batting .286 with 16 hits, 2 doubles, a triple, three home runs, 20 RBIs and six runs scored. Her 20 RBIs is second on the team. She twice has registered four RBIs in a game this season.

“This is her last year playing softball, so to see her play very freely and fearlessly has been great,” Winn said. “Hitting-wise, I think she always worked great at-bats, but this year she has been putting the ball in play and she’s been a really big part of our run production.”

Minot’s top hitter this year has been Rettler, sporting a .429 average with 33 total hits, which also leads the team. She has three doubles, two home runs, 17 RBIs and 20 runs scored. She has logged a hit in 18 of 21 games so far this season and has 13 multi-hit games.

“She can do anything,” Winn said. “She’s very fast, so if the defense is back, she’s going to drop a bunt right in front of them, and if they are playing up, she’s going to put it up over their heads and she can even put it over the fence. She is a very versatile player and one of the more underrated players. She’s sneaky fast and finds a way on.”

Right behind Rettler in batting average is Chapman with her .382 mark, compiling 26 hits. She leads the Honeybees with seven doubles, which ranks tied for fourth across the Northwoods League. She’s also strung together a triple, three home runs, 19 RBIs and a team-leading 21 runs scored. Chapman has recorded a hit in 15 games this season and put together a 4-for-4 performance against Wausau on June 20 in which she homered and drove in three runs.

Simon is Minot’s home run leader so far this season with four. She has also driven in the most runs with 23. Simon homered in her second game with the Honeybees and rattled off three consecutive games with a home run later in the season. She has two five-RBI games.

“We recruited (Chapman and Simon) definitely expecting them to help defensively and I was almost taken by surprise by their batting,” Winn said. “I knew they could work some good at-bats and were good contact hitters, but they really came in in a power role and now they’re kind of the meat of our lineup.”

Simon will also be one of eight players participating in the Home Run Challenge at 5:30 p.m. leading up to the All-Star Game.

On the mound, Rowden has been the go-to option for Winn and the Honeybees. She has tossed a league-most 51 1/3 innings and has struck out 45 batters, ranking her second in the Northwoods League. She also leads the Honeybees with nine starts, four wins and a 6.27 ERA and is tied for the team lead with 15 total appearances.

“We have been working with a three-pitcher rotation and Parker is our No. 1 go-to,” Winn said. “In times where we need her to come in and clean some stuff up or take the lead, she does a really good job of knowing her role and stepping into it.”

The inaugural All-Star Game will feature the East All-Stars against the West All-Stars. The East is represented by La Crosse, Madison and Wausau, while the West is made up of Minot, Grand Forks and Mankato. The game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.