East Bests West
in 1st All-Star Game, 9-5
Houston, TX, Jun 6 (BNN): Over 49,000 fans filled Bush Stadium in Houston Texas
to witness the 1st Annual SLCBA All-Star Game. Former President of the United
States, George W. Bush threw out the first pitch and announced, "The SLCBA;
you're either with us, or against us."
The near capacity crowd was definately with the SLCBA All-Stars as they roared
their approval and delight as the 'best in the business' presented them with pitching,
hitting, and base running for 10 innings of exciting baseball.
Despite taking place in an SL West ball park, the fans neverthelss roared their
approval as the East squad blew open a 5-5 game in the 10th with 4 runs and a 9-5
victory.
New Mexico pitcher Mike "Don't call me Merv Griffin" Douglas, the league's
winningest pitcher with 9 victories over the first half of the season, got things started
for the West side with a 3 inning, 1 hit, 2 strikeout peformance as the West led 3-0
after 3 innings.
Maine pitcher Bill Wilson (5-1, 1.92), didn't fare as well in his historic start for the SL
East.
In the West's half of the 2nd, Wilson's head was spinning as the West used some
nifty baserunning, including 2 of the 5 stolen bases they recorded on the day, and
only 2 hits to open the scoring and go up, 3-0.
Colorado pitcher John Frazier (6-1, 1.58) took over for Douglas and the West in the
4th and watched as the East played their own brand of exciting baseball.
The East was more direct in their scoring.
The East took the lead as they used 3 hits, including the 1st homerun hit in SLCBA
history, a 3-run shot by Virginia third baseman Jose Rodriguez (.321, 7, 33), to
knock Frazier from the game before the end of the inning and go up, 4-3.
Based on that homerun and his 3 ribbies, Rodriguez was named the games Most
Valuable Player, which caused many fans to boo when it was announced at the end
of the game by public address announcer Ed McMahon.
Many present thought that Indiana shortstop Jon "Big Steel" Lohse was more
deserving of the award. Lohse went 2-5 on the day, scoring 2 runs and knocking in
1 while being in the midst of both East scoring outbursts on the day.
The booing may have affected Rodriguez as he struck out his next 3 at bats in the
game while stranding 4 base runners.
Over the next 5 innings, the fans were treated to some quality pitching (Iowan
Gordon Williams pitches 2 1/3 innings of no-hit ball for the East; local favorite
Adelmar Mrtola struck out 3 in 2-plus innings of shutout ball for the West);
some quality baserunning (Arizona Scorpion Nacho Camal steals his 2nd base of
the game to go along with his 2 hits);
and some quality hitting (Massachusetts Patriot Miguel Barbosa goes long for the
East; Virginia's John Muggleston enters the game for the East as a pinch hitter and
goes 2-2 including the game's only triple).
The All-Stars went into the 8th inning tied at 5 and remained that way without a
threat by either side through the end of regulation.
With the league's two best firemen warming up in the West bullpen (Kenny Smith,
Tx., 15 saves, Tafari Gakere, Co., 14 saves), it looked like the West had the
advantage.
That advantage went all to hell as Gakere entered first to start the 10th inning; he
fails to retire a batter. Smith comes in to relieve Gakere and the East failed to blink.
The Easterners slapped around the two best relievers in baseball for 4 hits, 4 runs,
and 2 walks in the 10th to take a commanding 9-5 lead.
Ironically, after scoring 5 bases on the day, the West's last gasp is wiped away as
California's Salvador Reyes is caught stealing and the West otherwise go silently in
their half of the 10th.
Iowa's Bob Wright pitches 2/3 of an inning for the victory and Colorado's Tafari
Gakere, after allowing 3 runs while only throwing 7 pitches, is rightfully tagged with
the first loss in SLCBA All-Star history.
StatesLeague.com