2004 MVABL All-Stars
*2004 MVABL All-Star Game*
 August 14, 2004 - Miamisburg HS
NATIONAL LEAGUE - 15

(Top row: Shawn Schmitt, Clint Wolf, Ethan Goetz, Mike Leach, Steve Louis, Brian Girard, Jeremy Campbell, Dave Rooker, Chris Fullenkamp; Bottom Row: Brian Robinson, Courtney Parks, Scott Pollak, Tony Walters, Neil Lynch , Mark Franklin, Ron Runyon)
AMERICAN LEAGUE - 10

(Top row: Matt Klaus, Drew Bridewell, Toby Stewart, Gabe Thomas, Bob Overbeek, Adam Stewart, Jeff Dillard, Justin Newlen; Middle Row: Josh Thomas, Kevin Ashworth, PJ Dixon, Tony Payne, Brandon Osborne, Chaz DeShayes; Bottom Row: Steve Marshall, Billy Back, Mike Siegman)
Wolf and Runyon Homers Propel Nationals to 15-10 Win over Americans

     The MVABL's best players converged last Saturday at Miamisburg High School to participate in the MVABL's first ever All-Star game. The teams were split up into a National team and an American team. The National team was comprised of players from the Rangers, Astros, Bargo's and Royals; and the American team was made up of players from the Woodpeckers, Outlaws, and Angels. Miamisburg sportswriter John Cummings threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

     The National team was the visiting team and got the sticks out early. Clint Wolf (Rangers) blasted a 3-run homerun off of American starter Josh Thomas (Woodpeckers) in the first while Ron Runyon (Royals) added a 3-run shot of his own off of Kevin Ashworth (Outlaws) to give the National team a 7-0 lead. The American team battled back with two runs in the 3rd with a two-run single off the bat of Drew Bridewell (Woodpeckers). But the National team got the runs back in the 4th with hits from Brian Robinson (Rangers), Dave Rooker (Royals), and Steve Louis (Astros). Bridewell added another RBI single to bring the score to 9-3.

     The National squad put the game out of reach in the 6th as 11 batters went to the plate scoring 6 more runs. Runyon, Mark Franklin (Royals), Ethan Goetz (Rangers), and Louis each had RBI singles. Courtney Parks (Rangers) added a 2-run triple as well. With the score now 15-3, the National team looked like they were going to embarrass the Americans. However, the National team failed to score any more runs the rest of the way as the Americans mounted a comeback.

     Gabe Thomas (Woodpeckers) hit a 2-run homerun in the 7th. Billy Back (Woodpeckers) singled in a run in the 8th and scored on a sacrifice fly to cut the lead nearly in half. But the American team could only muster 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th and the National team held on for the victory. Brian Girard (Astros) picked up the victory pitching two scoreless innings to start the game.

     The game's Most Valuable Player (MVP) went to the Royals' Ron Runyon who had 2 hits, including a homerun, scored twice and drove in 4 runs. Mike Leach of the Astros took home the game's Best Defensive Player award with 3 assists including a double play.

Braswell Outduels Klaus for HR DERBY Crown


     Bryan Braswell of the Bargo's defeated Matt Klaus of the Woodpeckers in the Sudden Death round of the HR Derby.

     Sixteen players participated in the 2004 MVABL HR Derby which was held prior to the All-Star game at Miamisburg High School. With a nice breeze blowing in from left field, homeruns were certainly hard to come by. After round 1, only six players managed to go deep. Gabe Thomas and Matt Klaus of the Woodpeckers led the way with 2 HR's apiece, while Mike Siegman (Woodpeckers), Billy Back (Woodpeckers), Steve Louis (Astros), and Bryan Braswell (Bargo's) each hit one. The top 4 hitters get to advance to the second round, and since there was a tie, all participants who hit HRs got to advance.

     Steve Louis led off the second round by hitting 1 HR, which looked to be a good shot of winning the HR Derby title, until the Derby's two left-handed hitters got to bat. Both Matt Klaus and Bryan Braswell hit 2 HRs to eliminate Louis and advance to a Sudden Death round.

     In the first round of Sudden Death, each hitter got 10 outs to accumulate homeruns. However, both failed to clear the fences. Therefore round 2 of Sudden Death came in to play, which states that the HR Derby champion will be crowned based on the quickest to hit a HR during the round.

     Matt Klaus led off and hit a HR on his 4th pitch. However, Braswell stepped in and promptly hit a homerun to right on his first pitch of the round to claim the HR DERBY championship.

     Thanks goes out to all participants and all pitchers for an exciting HR Derby!