Talk about an emotional roller coaster.

The week of the Northeast League-Central Baseball League All-Star game couldn’t have given any more extreme highs and lows for former Bangor Lumberjacks outfielder Jake Whitesides.

Whitesides, who was voted to the 2004 NEL-CBL all-star roster and picked to bat leadoff for the NEL team, hit a three-run home run and doubled in the July 20 game in Forth Worth, Tex. If that wasn’t enough of a rush for the Columbia, Mo., native, he did it before a large contingent of family and friends who made the trip from as far away as St. Louis and Columbia to see him play.

“Most of my family was there,” said the 23-year-old Whitesides. “It was a real thrill to be able to do that in front of them.”

The next day, the news got even better as he was contacted by the Chicago White Sox and signed to a minor league contract. As Whitesides was preparing to pack for his trip to Kannapolis, N.C., the after the all-star game, his cell phone rang. The words he heard were devastating.

The parents of Whitesides’ stepfather, Ed, were involved in an auto accident on their way back to Missouri and Sue Gibbs, his “grandmother” was killed.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Whitesides said. “She didn’t even find out I’d been picked up before it happened.”

If that wasn’t enough, Whitesides’ travel arrangements and lack of funding for a plane trip to Missouri kept him from being able to attend the funeral. Still, he managed to somehow rise above his despair and disappointment and not only play, but play well for Kannapolis, the low Single A affiliate of the White Sox. He batted .375 in his first four games, despite his distractions and the fact he had to switch from right field to play a position he hadn’t played in a long time – second base – in the fourth inning of his first game.

“Yeah, I did alright. I made the plays I was supposed to,” the Houston Astros 2000 fifth round draft pick said with a chuckle.

Since then, Whitesides has been firmly ensconced in right field.

His batting average has taken a bit of a hit as he entered weekend action batting .265 with nine hits in 14 games with two triples, two runs, three RBIs and one stolen base. Still, he’s happy.

“It’s been a pleasant surprise playing every day,” he said. “I didn’t know who they already had here, so I could have been on the bench.”

Whitesides says the biggest adjustment has been being one of the older players on the roster and the expectation from younger guys that he’ll help them out.

“Everything else is pretty much the same, although there’s more one-on-one contact with coaches here and I’ve been picking up on a lot of things,” said the fifth-year pro player. “The bus trips are still tough and I’m only getting an extra $100 more a month.”

What does he miss most about Bangor.

“I miss the seafood, definitely… Oh, and my teammates of course,” Whitesides said with an embarrassed laugh.

Ross a big loss

The results of a magnetic resonance image (MRI) on Donnie Ross were negative for ligament/tendon tears or injury requiring surgery, but the Bangor Lumberjacks slugger is still on the disabled list until the pain in his hand becomes bearable enough to swing a bat. Ross’ left hand was badly bruised after he was hit by a pitch two weeks ago. Ross said he may get an anti-inflammatory and/or painkiller injection to see if he can use his hand well enough to play as a designated hitter.

The absence of the 27-year-old Tennessee native in Bangor’s lineup is noticeable in terms of loss of punch and the need to place other players in positions they may not be excelling at – either on the field or in the lineup. Ross was leading the team in batting average (.327) and was second in home runs (14) and third in RBIs (30) when he went on the DL.

“With Derry [Hammond] out for awhile and now Donnie, you’re darn right it’s hurt us,” said Bangor manager Kash Beauchamp. “We’ve got guys who aren’t hitting real well right now who could probably use a day off, but we just don’t have that luxury with our injuries.”

Andrew Neff can be reached at 990-8205, 1-800-310-8600 or at aneff@bangordailynews.net