Two former University of Maine teammates and All-Americans have incurred different fates of late.

Mark Sweeney, who has been playing for the California Angels’ California League (Class A) team in Palm Springs, Calif., was chosen to the league’s Southern Division All-Star team. He will play in Tuesday night’s All-Star game against the North team in Stockton, Calif.

Meanwhile, Andy Hartung’s season has been cut short by rotator cuff surgery. He won’t play again this season but Hartung’s father, Arthur, said his son should fully recover and be ready to play next season.

Sweeney, according to Palm Springs publicity director Dave Louis, is the leading hitter among all minor leaguers in the California organization with his .343 average.

In 63 games, right fielder Sweeney has collected 79 hits in 230 at-bats including 14 doubles, two triples and three homers. He has driven in 46 runs and scored 38 times. He has a slugging percentage of .458 and an on-base percentage of .438.

Sweeney has stolen eight bases in 14 attempts and has walked 40 times while striking out 27 times. The 23-year-old Holliston, Mass. native has made seven errors.

The lefthanded-hitting southpaw has had a 13-game hitting streak and was named California League Player of the Week for the week ending May 29. Sweeney hit .615 that week (16-for-26) with four doubles, four runs and six RBIs.

“It’s nice to be recognized,” said Sweeney. “It’s also nice to know people are always watching you. It means a lot.”

Sweeney, a 10th round draft choice of the Angels, hit .271 for Quad City (A) in his first full pro season a year ago with 14 homers, 20 doubles and 76 RBIs in 120 games.

“I’ve been more consistent this year,” said Sweeney. “I’m more knowledgeable as a hitter and that’s helped me. They’ve been pitching me a lot tougher than before but I’ve been trying to hit my pitch instead of the pitcher’s pitch. I’m more disciplined at the plate. I’ve learned to be a better hitter.”

Sweeney said he has been trying to “zone” pitches and widening the zone with each strike.

“Whether it’s a fastball, curve or change-up, if it’s in my zone, I try to drive it,” said Sweeney, who has been hitting the ball to all fields. “If it isn’t in the zone, I’ll take the pitch (unless there are two strikes). By zoning pitches, you also get to see more pitches and that is beneficial. I’m a much more intelligent hitter.”

He also said he hasn’t been trying to hit homers, instead “I’ve been trying take what the park gives you.”

His team’s ballpark in Palm Springs is a very difficult place to hit homers.

“My walk to strikeout ratio is much better this year. I’ve been putting the ball in play more and I’ve still been driving in runs and producing runs. That’s what I want to do,” said Sweeney.

Sweeney would love to get the chance to move up to the Angels’ AA team in Midland, Texas but he isn’t going to dwell on it.

“I’m just going to keep on doing what I’m doing and let things fall into place,” said Sweeney. “I’ve still got a lot to learn. If I can keep doing what I’ve been doing, I’ll force the Angels to do something.”

Hartung, a 31st round draft pick and the Chicago Cubs’ Minor Leaguer of the Year a year ago when he played for Winston-Salem (N.C.) of the Class A Carolina League (.278, 23 homers, league-leading 94 RBIs), was playing for Daytona in the Florida State League this season (Class A). He was among their leading hitters and RBI men.

Hartung, a Stoneham, Mass. native who had gone 3-for-9 with a three-run homer for Class AA Charlotte at the end of last season, had a very good spring training for Class AA Orlando but he was sent to Daytona to learn to become a third baseman.