WEST OUTLASTS EAST IN 2006 ALL-STAR GAME

Box Score to be released shortly

WATERTOWN, NY – The East Division All-Stars rallied from a 5-0 deficit with four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, but the West Division All-Stars hung on for a 5-4 victory in the 2006 New York Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Game. The game was played in front of 795 fans at Duffy Fairgrounds in Watertown, New York.

With two outs in the ninth inning, and runners on second and third, Ryan Femath (St. Mary’s TX) singled to right field off reliever Jake Hoover (Neosho CCC). One run scored, but Ryan Jablonski (Delaware) threw out the potential tying run at home plate to end the game.

The West Division All-Stars built their five-run lead by scoring five runs over the first three innings. Before the ninth, eight West Division pitchers combined to throw a four-hit shutout against the East. West Division starting pitcher Cody Eppley (Virginia Commonwealth) earned the victory with one scoreless inning pitched. He retired the side in the first inning and proved to be the most effective pitcher. East Division starter Sean O’Dowd (Cal State East Bay) earned the loss. He did not allow a hit, but did give up an unearned run.

Nick Adams (South Dakota State), of the Hornell Dodgers, was named the game's Most Valuable Player. Adams went 1-for-3 with two stolen bases and two runs scored for the West Division. Corey O’Neill was 2-for-3 with one run batted in. Also driving in runs for the West were Ryan Jablonski, Eamonn Powers (Florida Tech) and Matthew Reimer (St. Joseph’s IN).

West Division pitchers, in order of appearance, included Cody Eppley, Rob Scahill (Bradley), Dylan Rees (RIT), James Ledford (Kellogg CC), Jake Dennstedt (Brockport State), Brian Espersen (Mercyhurst), Khalid Afify (Binghamton), Frank Dougherty (North Alabama) and Jake Hoover.

East Division catcher Ryan Overland (Fresno State) went 2-for-3 with a run scored and one RBI. He was the only East Division all-star with a multiple hit game. Tommy Fitzgerald (Fort Scott CC) had one hit and two runs batted in. Ryan Femath drove in the other run for the East Division.

East Division pitchers, in order of appearance, were Sean O’Dowd, Matt McKissick (New Orleans), Jeremy Kehrt (Southern Indiana), Joe Testa (Wagner), Trevor Smith (Northeastern), Will Hassett (Siena), Louie Bernadini (Wheaton MA), Eric Beaulac (LeMoyne) and Matt Vieira (Cal State East Bay).

The West Division jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Nick Adams reached first base on a fielding error. Adams stole second and moved over to third on a throwing error. East Division starter Sean O’Dowd walked Tyler Haile (Dallas Baptist) to put runners on the corners. With Ryan Jablonski at the plate and no outs, the West attempted a double steal. Haile was thrown out going to second, but Adams scored from third for the West’s first run.

The lead expanded to two in the second inning. With one out, Matthew Reimer (St. Joseph’s IN) singled off Matt McKissick. Later in the inning, Corey O’Neill doubled to right-center field, plating Reimer all the way from first.

Three more runs for the West crossed the plate in the third inning. Nick Adams singled and stole second base against reliever Jeremy Kehrt. Tyler Haile, Ryan Jablonski and Eamonn Powers strung together three hits in a row to score runs number three and four for the West. The final run for the West Division scored on a fielders’ choice by Matthew Reimer.

The East bats finally came to life in the ninth inning against Jake Hoover. A one-out walk to Nicolas Stewart (Francis Marion) started the rally. Pinch hitter Chris Dove (Elon) singled and Darin Mastroianni (Southern Indiana) walked to load the bases. Ryan Overland hit a ground ball to the right side. West Division second basemen Justin Wright (Virginia Commonwealth) was there, but the ball bounced off his glove, one run scored and everyone was safe. Tommy Fitzgerald followed with a two-run double to right-center field, cutting the East deficit to two.

NOTES:

·          Saratoga’s Darin Mastroianni won the Home Derby. Mastroianni was not originally scheduled to compete in the contest. Jon Nicolla (Duke) had been slated to be Saratoga’s home run hitter. But, Nicolla was hurt last night, so Mastroianni was inserted into the derby. Mastroianni defeated James Donaldson (Northeastern) in the final round, 3-1.

·          Corey O’Neill (LeMoyne), of the Genesee Valley Riverbats, was selected as the Bob Bellizzi Big Stick Award Winner. O’Neill had two hits, including a second-inning RBI double.

·          Saratoga’s Trevor Smith (Northeastern) was named the Tom Kenney Defensive MVP. Smith, pitching for the East, struck out all three batters he faced in the fifth inning.