Hajek, Arias picked for all-star team

Steve Guiremand

Friday, June 26, 1998 | 11:48 a.m.

Dave Hajek would just as soon forget his last appearance at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Va.

"I made an error to lose a game there in extra innings last year," Hajek, then a member of the Toledo Mud Hens, said. "That was the last time I walked off that field. That was no fun. It isn't a very pleasant memory."

But things figure to be a whole lot different when Hajek and teammate George Arias visit Harbor Park in two weeks.

Both were voted to start for the Pacific Coast League All-Star squad against the International League All-Stars in the 1998 Triple-A All-Star Game on July 8 in Norfolk. Stars manager Jerry Royster will manage the PCL squad in the contest which is to be televised by ESPN2.

Arias, the PCL leader in home runs (20), RBIs (65) and extra-base hits (42), was the top vote-getter among the managers, general managers and media who voted, placing on 29 of a possible 32 ballots.

"It's always an honor to be voted to an All-Star game," Arias said. "It put a smile on my face. I'm just trying to go out and do the best I can and whatever happens, happens."

Hajek, the PCL leader in hits (87) to go along with a .321 batting average and solid defense, also was a natural for the squad.

"This isn't what I play for, but it's a nice honor," Hajek said. "To me it shows that if you go out and play to win, these kinds of honors will happen."

"It's a real tribute to these guys that they were voted to the team," Royster said. "When you get to triple-A and the managers recognize you, you're in position to start or continue a major league career."

One glaring Stars omission from the squad was right-handed pitcher Matt Clement. Clement (7-5), who ranks second in the PCL in strikeouts (93) and sixth in ERA (3.26) and is considered a sure bet to be pitching with the San Diego Padres later this summer, surprisingly was not one of the eight pitchers selected to the squad.

"He's done a good job, but so did the pitchers that made the team," said Royster.