Chattanooga’s Ben Jukich was named Wednesday as the starting pitcher for the North Division at the Southern League All-Star Game.

The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Jukich is 7-3 with a 2.96 ERA through 17 starts and leads the league with 106.1 innings pitched. He was tabbed the starter over Carolina’s Chris Volstad, the No. 1 prospect in the Florida Marlins organization, and Huntsville’s David Welch, who threw a seven-inning no-hitter against the Lookouts on June 2.

“Those guys probably deserve it as much as I do.” Jukich said, “And I don’t really think other guys will view it as a slap in the face because a lot of it has to do with the day that your start falls on. I got lucky with the way the rotation fell and with the season that I’ve had, but every starting pitcher brought to that game could be the starter.”

Jukich, who was drafted by Oakland two years ago and traded to Cincinnati last year, will be playing in his first all-star game. The all-star game will be held July 14 at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, N.C.

Also named to the North’s starting lineup for the Lookouts was third baseman Eric Eymann, who will bat ninth.

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