The NW Arkansas Naturals had six players named to the Texas League All-Star team on Thursday, four of which will start for the North Division on June 28th in Tulsa.

John Whittleman will start at first base (.257, ten homeruns, 32 RBIs, 17 doubles, 37 runs scored). Yem Prades (.278, 12 doubles, 33 runs scored) and Carlo Testa (.281, eight homeruns, 30 RBIs, 29 runs scored) will start in the outfield. Christian Colon will be the DH (.290, five homeruns, 24 RBIs, 28 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, 27 walks to 22 strikeouts).

Reliever Patrick Keating (2-1, 3.56 ERA in 22 games, seven saves, 30 strikeouts in 30.1 innings) and starter Justin Marks (3-2, 3.38 ERA in 12 starts, 49 strikeouts in 61.1 innings) round out the Naturals All-Stars.

Other Texas League All-Stars of note include the homerun and RBI leader Mike Olt of Frisco (Texas Rangers), Colorado Rockies third base prospect Nolan Arenado (he is one of eight Tulsa Drillers on the All-Star team), and former Natural Kevin Chapman, who was traded during spring training to the Houston Astros (Corpus Christi).

*All stats are as of June 15th via MiLb.com.

Out on the road, the Omaha Storm Chaser couldn’t capitalize on three Albuquerque errors or get to their bullpen (three one-hit innings), as they lost 7-4. They were just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

Sean O’Sullivan has looked bad since clearing waivers and heading back to Omaha. He lost for the second time this season, as he allowed three runs on six hits and three walks over four innings of relief.

Offensively for the Storm Chasers, Johnny Giavotella, Irving Falu, and Cody Clark each collected two hits. Falu and Clark also scored two runs each.

For the second straight night, the NW Arkansas Naturals were pounded by the visiting Corpus Christi Hooks, this time losing 12-2. It got so bad that infielder John Whittleman pitched in the final inning. He came on with the bases loaded and allowed all three runs to score.

Patrick Keating did pitch well out of the Naturals bullpen. He allowed just one hit over 2.2 innings (though he did allow an inherited runner to score). He also struck out three.

The Naturals collected just one extra-base hit (a double by Wil Myers) and Sharlon Schoop was the only hitter to collect two hits.

The Wilmington Blue Rocks, down 3-0 heading into the bottom of the 9th inning, scored four runs in the inning to celebrate their home opener in front of a record crowd. Two dropped fly balls led to two unearned runs scoring for the Blue Rocks. You can read more HERE.

Kane County used a seven-run 3rd inning and a two-run 9th inning to defeat Burlington, 11-9. The Cougars needed all of those runs because the Bees scored four runs in the bottom of the 9th inning and actually had the bases loaded. Nick Graffeo struck out the final batter to end the game.

The Cougars pounded out 15 hits, with six players collecting two hits. Michael Antonio and Edul Escobar drove in two runs each, while Orlando Calixte and Tim Ferguson scored two runs each.

Jonathan Dooley earned the victory after pitching four shutout innings in relief. He allowed three hits and no walks while striking out three.

The most recent KC Royals “Road to Omaha” connection came last year at the College World Series in the final season at Rosenblatt Stadium. Watch one of the ESPN channels and you will be quickly reminded. The following video isn’t the commercial, but it is the game-winning hit:

That’s the Wilmington Blue Rocks’ Whit Merrifeld, who drove in the game-winning run in the 11^th inning as South Carolina dramatically won the CWS.

But that wasn’t the only winning moment by a current Royal in the CWS. Another came in 2009 as LSU won the National Championship. Current Royals reliever Louis Coleman was on the mound for the final out for the Tigers.

In 2008, the Georgia Bulldogs lost to Fresno State in the biggest upset ever in college baseball. Blue Rocks first baseman Joey Lewis was a member of that Georgia team. He hit .450 with seven RBIs in the CWS.

Current Royals left fielder Alex Gordon was part of the 2005 Nebraska team that reached Omaha (with NY Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain). Royals reliever Blake Wood reached the CWS in 2006 with Georgia Tech. NW Arkansas Naturals outfielder Tim Smith was a member of ASU’s 2007 CWS team. Louisville reached the CWS in 2007 and Big East Freshman of the Year Justin Marks, who is a pitcher for the Blue Rocks, was a member of that team.

Naturals shortstop (and 2010 first round pick) Christian Colon was a member of the Cal State Fullerton 2009 CWS team. Brett Eibner, a member of the Kane County Cougars, was a big part of why the Arkansas Razorbacks reached the 2009 CWS. Eibner was a two-way player.

Austin Peay upset host Georgia Tech in this year’s regional. Blue Rocks shortstop Alex McClure’s dad is Austin Peay’s coach. The Florida Gators are considered this year’s favorite to win it all in Omaha. Naturals reliever Kevin Chapman was a member of the Gators’ 2010 CWS team and fellow Naturals reliever Patrick Keating was Chapman’s teammate in Florida in 2009. Naturals speedster Derrick Robinson was offered a football scholarship by Florida.

The Royals have quite a few players in the system that will be watching the College World Series very closely.

Rain washed out two games, as the Wilmington Blue Rocks were rained out in Winston-Salem and the Kane County Cougars were postponed at home against Clinton. Both teams will play doubleheaders on Saturday.

Clint Robinson continues to rake for Omaha and he also continues to crush balls over the outfield walls. He homered in the 3rd inning to cut the Memphis Redbirds lead to 2-1. It stayed that way until the bottom of the 6th when Johnny Giavotella singled in Mike Moustakas to tie the game at 2-2. In the bottom of the 8th, Robinson struck again with another solo homerun, which was the eventual game winner. Robinson went 3-for-4 on the night (the Storm Chasers only had six hits). Blaine Hardy pitched a perfect 9th for the save (he pitched three perfect innings on the night). Royals lefty prospect Mike Montgomery pitched six solid innings as he allowed two runs on six hits.

NW Arkansas and the visiting Arkansas Travelers played a doubleheader on Friday. In Game 1, the Travelers pounded out 13 hits and scored six runs on their way to the 6-4 victory. The Naturals scored three runs in the bottom of the 6th on Mario Lisson’s homerun to cut the lead to 5-4, but the Travelers scored a run in the top of the 7th to take a two run lead. In the bottom of the 7th with one out, Christian Colon doubled and Jeff Bianchi reached on an infield single. However Travelers reliever Ryan Brasier picked Bianchi off first base and got Jamie Romak to pop up to end the game.

In Game 2, the Travelers kicked off the scoring in the first inning with a run. The Naturals battled right back with three runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning on an Anthony Seratelli two-run homer and Kurt Mertins followed with a solo shot. Tim Smith hit a three-run bomb in the bottom of the 3rd to give the Naturals a 6-1 lead. Heath Rollins started for the Naturals and allowed one run on two hits over three innings. Blake Johnson followed with three shutout innings and Patrick Keating closed out the 7th for the 6-1 victory (he struck out two).

A day after opening Werner Park with a win, the Omaha Storm Chasers split a double-header on Sunday. In their win, Mike Montgomery allowed just two hits and an unearned run in his six innings of work. The Storm Chasers scored two runs in the 4th and two more runs in the 6th inning, as Johnny Giavotella continued his hot-hitting by collecting two hits and two RBIs. Greg Holland pitched a scoreless 7th for the save.

In their loss, starter Vin Mazzaro again struggled with his command (just 55 of his 93 pitches were strikes), though he left the game after five innings with the game tied at 3-3. Nashville scored single runs in the top of the 6th and 7th innings to win 5-3. Eric Hosmer went 3-for-3 in the game, while Clint Robinson and Gregor Blanco each collected two hits a piece for Omaha.

The NW Arkansas Naturals ended their three-game losing streak with a 12-9 victory at Corpus Christi. With the game tied at 4-4, the Naturals posted a six spot in the 7th inning. The Hooks came back to score three runs in the 8th inning off Brandon Sisk and Patrick Keating, but the Naturals scored two more runs in the 9th inning on a Ben Theriot double. Keating worked around a walk in the bottom of the 9th to record his first save of the season.

The Wilmington Blue Rocks swept the double-header against the visiting Potomac Nationals. In the first game, the Blue Rocks won 6-0 behind the great pitching of the piggy-back combination of Noel Arguelles and Michael Mariot. The two combined for 10 strikeouts and just one walk and three hits. Offensively the Blue Rocks got a solo homerun from newcomer Ryan Eigisti in the 3rd inning (which was enough for their great starters).

In Game 2, the Blue Rocks were down quickly, as starter Jake Odorizzi allowed two unearned runs in the first inning. In the second, he allowed two more runs. However the Blue Rocks struck back with a Nick Francis solo homerun in the bottom of the 2nd and a Rey Navarro RBI single in the bottom of the 3rd. In the 4th, the Blue Rocks chased Nationals starter Alex Caldera (a former Blue Rocks). John Whittleman hit a solo homerun and Jose Bonilla walked (Caldera’s day was over). In came the bullpen, who coughed up the lead as the Blue Rocks scored four runs in the inning to lead 6-5. Potomac would score a single run in the 5th to claw to within 6-5, but the Blue Rocks bullpen shut down the Nationals in the final two innings.

Kane County busted out the offense on Sunday to a tune of six runs on 15 hits. Every starter except Yowill Espinal had at least one hit, with Brian Fletcher and Murray Watts collecting three hits a piece. Cougars starter Leonel Santiago allowed just one run (a solo homerun) on three hits while striking out five over six innings. The Cougars defeated the Clinton LumberKings 6-1.

The Royals had two of their minor leagues teams with off-days on Thursday (both Omaha and Wilmington with both set for home openers on Friday), so there were just two games on the docket.

San Antonio Missions 7, NW Arkansas Naturals 4: In a rematch of last Friday night’s game, Casey Kelly of the Missions got the best of John Lamb and the Naturals. In the Missions home opener, Kelly (the team’s top prospect that was acquired from the Boston Red Sox for Adrian Gonzalez) allowed two runs (one earned) over six innings. Lamb however, had a hard time throwing strikes. In 3.2 innings, he walked five (73 pitches and just 35 for strikes). The Naturals held a 4-1 lead (with just four hits) heading into the bottom of the 8th inning, but the Missions scored six runs off Brandon Sisk and Patrick Keating, capped by a Cody Decker solo homerun and a James Darnell two-run homerun. The Naturals went down in order in the top of the 9th against Missions reliever Brad Bach, as he struck out two to end the game.

Kane County Cougars 1, Quad City River Bandits 0: It took until the 10th inning for there to be any scoring in this game. And it was in walk-off fashion. With two outs and a runner on second base, Yowill Espinal singled, driving in Gerard Hall as the winning run. Despite great pitching from Jordan Swaggerty, the St. Louis Cardinals second round pick in 2010 (7IP, 4H, 0R, 0BB, 9K), the River Bandits couldn’t muster any offense against the Cougars. Leondy Perez started at allowed just two hits over five innings. Nick Wooley followed with four one-hit innings of relief. Chase Boruff picked up the win for the Cougars, as he pitched a scoreless 10th inning.

NW Arkansas posted a preliminary roster at the end of March (so it could change before Opening Day). The Naturals roster is once again packed with prospects. There are 17 returning players from the 2010 Texas League championship team. The team opens the season at home against the San Antonio Missions, the Double-A affiliate of the SD Padres (and they should face top prospect pitcher Casey Kelly).

Prized lefties John Lamb and Chris Dwyer figure to anchor the starting rotation. Joining them in the rotation will be Edgar Osuna, Will Smith, and Heath Rollins.

Patrick Keating is expected to have the closer’s role for the second straight season. Rounding out the rest of the Naturals bullpen include right-handers Eduardo Paulino, Mario Santiago, Blake Johnson, Eric Basurto, and Harold Mozingo, along with left-handers Brandon Sisk and Buddy Baumann.

The bulk of the catching duties will go to Salvador Perez with Ryan Eigisti and Ben Theriot splitting the backup duties.

The Royals first round draft pick in 2010 out of Cal State Fullerton, shortstop Christian Colon, will begin his first full professional season with the Naturals. Jamie Romak figures to get the bulk of the playing time at first base with Kurt Mertins and Mario Lisson splitting time at third base. Second baseman Jeff Bianchi returns after missing all of 2010 due to injury. Anthony Seratelli will show off his versatility all over the infield.

Wil Myers will begin his first season in the outfield and the speedy Derrick Robinson is expected to leadoff and play center field. Tim Smith and Nick Van Stratten fill out the rest of the outfielders.