Buckeye Division Outlasts Miami Division 11-8

       The best MVABL players took to the field Sunday afternoon, August 1, at Fifth Third Field for the 2010 All-Star Game. The Buckeye Division, comprised of players from the Sox, Astros, Redlegs, Slammers, and Cardinals, defeated the Miami Division, which included members of the Rangers, Royals, Shockers, Indians, Dragons, and Thunder, by a score of 11-8.

        Slammers rookie ace Sean Casey got the call for the Buckeye Division and was sharp over three innings of work, striking out 6 batters along the way. Casey’s only trouble came in the top of the second when the Thunder’s David Moss led off with a triple and scored on a wild pitch. Thunder teammate Drew York, who had reached on a fielder’s choice earlier, scored when Indians’ third baseman Reston Wilson hit a slow roller to third that was bobbled.  Rangers righty Jonathan Silverman started for the Miami Division and ended up with the loss, as he gave up three runs, two earned over the first three innings, in which the Miami squad never could overturn.

       As the Miami team held a 2-0 lead, the Buckeye team answered with two of their own in the bottom of the second. Sox second baseman Jeremey Fruhwirth doubled to left with one out. Cardinals shortstop Aaron Thacker then singled sharply to right to score Fruhwirth. One out later, Astros outfielder Evan Tennery’s groundball to shortstop was mishandled, allowing Thacker to score to tie the game at 2-2. Slammers right fielder Justin Dunlap singled to start the bottom of the third and came around to score on Fruhwirth’s RBI single to give the Buckeye Division their first lead at 3-2.

       Aaron Thacker drove in another run with a single in the fifth off Thunder pitcher Matt Walters to up the Buckeye lead to 4-2. Sox pitcher Tyler Fruhwirth relieved Casey in the fourth and went through the fourth and fifth innings unharmed. However, the Miami Division attempted a comeback in the top of the sixth. Thunder left fielder Lee Jury started off with a pinch-hit single, but was cut down by Slammers catcher Rick Anderson on a stolen base attempt at second. It proved costly as Robert Riley subsequently singled to left, took second on a wild pitch, and scored on an RBI single by Moss.

       Clinging to a 4-3 lead, the Buckeye Division started to go to their reserves to face Kettering Royals pitcher Jason Holmberg.  Holmberg walked Astros second baseman Tony Duncan with one out. Sox DH Dan Marsh reached on a fielder’s choice. Astros outfielder PJ Dobbins then singled in Duncan for a 5-3 lead. Rick Anderson then roped a two-run single. Redlegs shortstop Jacob Robinson launched a sac fly to center to give the Buckeye Division a comfortable 8-3 advantage after 6 innings of play. Marsh doubled in the seventh off reliever Shawn Schmitt of the Rangers and scored on a throwing error later in the inning to give the Buckeyes a 9-3 lead.

       New Buckeye pitcher Mason Reynolds of the Sox ran into trouble in the top of the 8th inning. Robert Riley singled, and then with one out, David Moss launched a two-run home run into the Dragons’ Lair seats in left field to cut the lead to 9-5. Royals outfielder Chris Jergens followed with a single. His courtesy runner replacement, Lee Jury, scored on Brian Duffy’s single. Moss relieved Schmitt in the 8th and gave up back-to-back doubles to the Astros’ Aaron Brown and Chris Copeland of the Slammers for an 10-6 score. Marsh later singled in Copeland to make it 11-6.

       The Miami Division had one last chance in the ninth inning. After getting Jury to ground out to start the frame, Mason Reynolds walked Rangers teammates Robert Riley and Ben Schooler. David Moss stepped up to the plate needing only a double to complete the first cycle in All-Star game history promptly hit the first pitch off the right field wall for a two-run double to cut the lead to 11-8. Reynolds was relieved by Cardinals rookie William Howard. Howard was able to get the final two outs needed to earn the save, and the win for the Buckeye Division.

       The Miami Division was led offensively by Moss’ 4-for-5 performance, including a double, triple, and a home run. He also drove in 5 runs and scored twice. Robert Riley finished 2-for-2 with three runs scored and a walk. Brian Duffy provided the only other RBI. The Buckeye Division got multi-hit performances from Jeremey Fruhwirth, Dan Marsh, and Aaron Thacker. Fruhwirth went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Thacker went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Marsh was 2-for-6 with a double, 2 runs, and an RBI. Sean Casey picked up the win and William Howard recorded the second save in All-Star game history. Jonathan Silverman suffered the loss.

NOTES from the Game:

-      This was the first time a father (Jeff Fruhwirth) coached two sons (Jeremey and Tyler) in an All-Star Game.

-      This was Jeff Fruhwirth’s fourth straight All-Star Game victory.

-      Dan Marsh is the only All-Star to get 6 official at-bats in a game….and he’s done it twice (last time in 2008).

      David Moss needed at least one of his teammates on base in the ninth inning for one last chance at history. His teammates came through, and Moss came through as well, belting a double off the right field wall to complete the first cycle in All-Star Game history!  The Miami Valley Thunder shortstop tripled in his first plate appearance. Following a punchout in the 4th inning, Moss had an RBI single in the 6th. He followed that up in the 8th with a two-run home run into the Dragons Lair seats in left field. Moss capped off the afternoon with a two-run double in the ninth to finish 4-for-5 with 5 RBIs and taking home Offensive Player of the Game honors.

       The Defensive Player award has been a difficult honor to bestow upon an All-Star in recent events. However, Kettering Royals shortstop Brian Duffy gave some late game relief to league management when he laid out for a Jeremey Fruhwirth liner in the hole, got up, and fired a seed to Joe Staten at first base to rob Fruh of a hit.   

                                         Previous All-Star Award winners:  MVP – Taylor Hause (Shockers) 2009; Brennan Glass (Sox) 2008; Chris Tabler (Sox) 2007; Gabe Thomas (Woodpeckers) 2005; Ron Runyon (Royals) 2004

                                                    Defense – Steve Dunlap (fan) 2009; P Dustin Lacy (Sox) 2008; SS Jacob Robinson (Rangers) 2007; P Toby Stewart (Woodpeckers) 2005; SS Mike Leach (Astros) 2004

 

Results of the 2010 HR Derby:

        A new record of 37 players (besting last year’s 26 entrants) joined the HR Derby lineup in an attempt to win $200 in cold hard cash. Twelve players hit home runs during the first round of the HR Derby: James Robinson, Robert Riley, Clint Wolf, Jake Kingsolver, David Moss, Drew York, Taylor Guntle, Jacob Robinson, Phil Kosier, Josh Jaynes, Reston Wilson, and Chris Jergens. With multiple first round homers, Moss, Guntle, Jergens, and Jaynes advanced to the second round. (SIDE NOTE: Moss, Jergens, and Jaynes also advanced to the second round last season). David Moss and Chris Jergens each launched 1 home run in the second round, forcing a Sudden Death round. In the Sudden Death, each player got 10 pitches. The quickest to hit their first home run would be the winner. Moss started off the round and failed to go deep on his 10 pitches. But Jergens, with the help of his dad pitching, launched the deciding blow on his 10th and final pitch of the Sudden Death round to take home the cash prize.