Victory Twice as “Grand” for MVABL All-Stars

  Some of the best MVABL players took to the field Saturday afternoon at Thomas Worthington high school near Columbus for the inaugural MVABL-COMABL intra-state All-Star Game. The Dayton All-Stars were able to overcome a 5-run deficit with the help of a pair of grand slams from co-MVPs Drew York (Thunder) and Taylor Hause (Shockers) to knock off the Columbus All-Stars 14-7.

The COMABL jumped on the board in the bottom of the first as the Knights’ Shawn Herlihy singled to right to lead off the frame. Then the Titans Carter Garnon obliterated a chest-high fastball deep into (and almost over) the trees in left field at an estimated 500 feet. The unannounced Rawlings shuttle launch must have rattled the MVABL pitcher, who (ro) requested (b) to (swi) remain (ha) nameless (rt), as four subsequent walks turned into an early exit for the starting pitcher. The Rangers’ Brad Clark came in and struck out two to end the scoring with the COMBABL leading 5-0 after one inning.

In the second, Thomas Fluty (Shockers) doubled off the wall in left field. After a walk and an error, the bases were loaded with two outs. Taylor Hause then stepped up and delivered an 0-1 pitch over the wall in left center for a grand slam. Clinging to a one-run lead, the COMABL got one run back in the third. In that inning, the MVABL got a scare when Bison outfielder Tom Harmon drilled a comebacker off of Clark’s back that was hit so hard that it ricocheted to Doc Hayes at third who relayed to first for the putout. Probably still catching his breath, Clark’s next batter was the Bears’ Justin Wohlford, who tattooed a 400-ft shot to left field into the lumber yard to give the COMABL a 6-4 lead.

The MVABL got that run back in the top of the fourth as Drew York and Fluty singled. Hayes was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Brandon Ward (Sox), who singled in York. The Dragons’ TJ Lee took the hill in the fourth and got out of trouble as Ward and Phil Crisp (Astros) turned a nice double play to end a COMABL threat.

The floodgates opened in the top of the fifth as the MVABL got to Barracudas ace Wayne Lewis once again. Matt Addis (Astros) reached on a fielding error and was followed up by a walk to Crisp. Andrew Verrett (Slammers) doubled to left center to drive in the tying run. Cilnt Wolf (Rangers) worked a base-on-balls to load up the bags for York, who connected with the team’s second grand slam of the game. The MVABL took a 10-6 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth. Lee served up a solo home run to Herlihy to make the score 10-7.

In the top of the sixth, Steve Marshall (Rangers).singled to right field. Chris Flaherty (Dragons) followed with a single. Wolf doubled to right center to plate Marshall. York then singled to score Flaherty and Wolf for a 13-7 advantage. The final run for the MVABL came in the ninth as Marshall’s ground ball to short scored TJ Lee from third.

TJ Lee picked up the win in relief, pitching the fourth and fifth innings. Sox pitcher Mitch Jones induced four groundouts and two flyballs to right in two unblemished innings of work. Jonathan Silverman (Rangers) pitched the final two frames, recording his first five outs via the K.