Americans Shut Out Nationals
16-0
American Team
National Team
The best MVABL players took to the field Sunday afternoon at Athletes in
Action’s Sports Complex for the 2008 All-Star Game. The American Team,
comprised of players from the Sox, Woodpeckers, Indians, Aviators, and Dragons,
defeated the National Team, which included members of the Astros,
Rangers, Royals, Panthers, and Outlaws, by a score of 16-0.
The
Beavercreek Sox, owners of the best record in the league, showed why they are
atop the league standings as they utilized their young pitching staff to the
tune of 7 innings of work, allowing four hits and striking out eight. Sox
pitchers Wes Rehmert, Dustin Lacy, and Brennen Glass and Woodpeckers ace TJ Lee combined on the
five-hit shutout.
The Americans got the offense
rolling in the top of the second inning off of Nationals starter, Bryan Leach
of the Dayton Astros. The Woodpeckers’ Jon Milliron doubled home teammate Drew York with the first run
of the game. Then starting pitcher Wes Rehmert
grounded out to second, allowing the Dragons’ Aaron Brown to score and give the
Americans an early 2-0 lead. The Americans piled on four more runs in the third
inning when Drew York’s triple to right field was lost in the sun bringing home the Indians’ Joe Pickarski
and Sox outfielder Jeremey Fruhwirth.
Aaron Brown followed with a single to plate
With a 6-0 lead, the Americans scraped a
run across in the fourth and fifth innings off of Rangers reliever Jacob
Robinson. The Indians’ Mike Pickarski led off the top
of the fourth with a triple and scored on a hit off the bat of Aviators
shortstop Jeremy Kilgore. Brennen Glass doubled in Rehmert in the fifth for a comfortable 8-0 advantage for
the Americans. Jacob Robinson struck out the side in the sixth inning, and
Rangers teammate Brad Clark pitched a scoreless seventh.
Nationals coach Brian Girard took the
hill in the 8th inning and promptly served up a triple to Glass, who
later scored on a fielding error. Astros reliever
Mike Leach was touched up for 7 runs in the final inning, highlighted by a Jon
Dalton home run to right field, the first ever home run by Sox player in an
All-Star game.
The Nationals only managed five hits on
the day, two by Panthers outfielder Taylor Hause. Hause and Aviators catcher Rick Anderson each hit doubles.
Brennen Glass
of the Beavercreek Sox was named the game’s Most Valuable Player coming in off
the bench to go 3-for-3 with a double, triple, 2 RBIs, and 2 runs scored. This
was the second straight year that a reserve player picked up MVP honors. Other
players up for the award included: Jon Dalton was 1-1 with a 2-run home run and
a walk; Wes Rehmert 2-for-4, 2RBIs, 2 runs scored; Aaron
Brown 2-for-2, RBI, 2 runs scored, and Andy Gersbach
2-for-3, double, 2 RBIs.
The Defensive Player award went to Sox
relief pitcher Dustin Lacy who pitched three scoreless innings, striking out
five batters and allowing only one baserunner. Other
top defensive performances included: Aaron Brown’s leaping grab of a line drive
at second base; Dan Marsh’s lost-in-the-sun, you’ve-got-it-I-got-it shoe-top
snag in shallow centerfield; Jacob Robinson striking out the side in the 6th
inning.
Results of the 2008 HR Derby. Seven players hit home runs during the first round of the HR Derby: Jon Dalton, Ike Iacavone, Tim Peffley, Clint Wolf, Joe Staten, Drew York, Jeremey Fruhwirth. The most memorable shot came off the bat of York who ricocheted a shot off the AIA scoreboard in left field. The second round saw Dalton and Peffley hitting home runs which forced a Sudden Death round. Peffley went first and could not connect on any of his 10 pitches. Dalton stepped in and after a few line shots, finally blasted a shot deep to left field to win the crown.
Beavercreek Sox 1B Jon Dalton
Kettering Royals 3B Tim Peffley
Previous All-Star Award winners: MVP – Chris Tabler
(Sox) 2007; Gabe Thomas (Woodpeckers) 2005; Ron Runyon (Royals) 2004
Defense – SS Jacob Robinson (Rangers) 2007;
P Toby Stewart (Woodpeckers) 2005; SS Mike Leach (Astros) 2004