Hicksville residents Brendan McCrea, a center fielder for Chaminade High School, and T.J. Thomas, a first baseman for St. Dominick's High School, have been named to the Nassau County roster for the third annual HIP Grand Slam Challenge high school baseball all-star game, which will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 9 at Citibank Park.

McCrea has played on the LI Tigers and as a CHSAA Batting Champion (.508 average), he is also an All-League player. Thomas, a three-year varsity player, has received a scholarship to San Diego State University.

The two teams comprise some 40 players chosen by the sports staff of Newsday. Players are all seniors in good academic standing and were outstanding contributors to their high school programs. The Suffolk County team will be coached by Bob Salomone of Eastport/South Manor High School. From 1986-1994, his teams won nine consecutive Suffolk titles and ESM has claimed 12 league championships and 12 county class championships with Salomone at the helm. In 1986, he led his squad to the Class B state championship.

Holy Trinity Diocesan High School's Bob Malandro will serve as skipper for Nassau County. Malandro has been head coach at Trinity since 1987 and has led the Titans to Catholic High School Athletic Association championships in 1997, 1998 and 2003. He was named CHSAA Coach of the Year in 1997, 1998 and 2000.

The Grand Slam Challenge is sponsored by HIP Health Plan of New York, with proceeds benefiting the QuackerJack Foundation, the charitable arm of the Ducks.

Tickets to the event are $5 and can be purchased by visiting the Citibank Park box office or by phone at 631-940-TIXX. For further information, visit www.liducks.com.