By: Kasey Salamie
Southland Vikings Contributor
Whiting, Indiana– You could not have asked for a better All-Star game. The game was played in brand new, Oil City Stadium. There was a good crowd on hand to watch the top players of the Midwest Collegiate League compete. Also, there was a great game played between the North All-Stars, which featured players from the Rockford Foresters and the Chicago Zephyrs, and the South All-Stars, which featured players from the Southland Vikings and the Will County CrackerJacks.
CrackerJack second basemen, Connor Szcerba, made an immediate impact in the first inning by hitting a single then stealing second. Szcerba would end up scoring the first run in the game from an RBI fielder’s choice by Southland Viking’s George Patteson. Szerba would reach base four times in the game recording two hits and walking twice. Szerba also had two stolen bases and a RBI.
“It felt good to be a part of this team,” said Szerba. “This league is really well represented and the game showed that. I have seen a lot of the pitchers from the North All-Stars so I knew how they would attack me. I felt really comfortable at the plate tonight.”
The South All-Stars increased their lead 2-0 in the second inning by a single from Viking’s James Dawson that plated Dontrell Rush.
The North tied the game in the third inning because of a clutch two-run double from Ryan Hickey that knocked in Ryan Cowhey and Cyrus Wimberly.
In the fourth inning the South All-Stars responded by pushing across a run to retake the lead 3-2. In the fourth Dominic Biagini had a RBI single that Dontrell Rush scored on. Szcerba also singled and would eventually come around to score on a wild pitch in the fifth inning to make the score 4-2
The South had the lead going into the bottom of the seventh when Ryan Cowhey hit a 2-run triple to tie the game. Luke Collins then knocked in Cowhey on a RBI single to give the South the lead 5-4. They would increase their lead by two-runs to make it 7-4 going into the ninth inning.
It was a battle from start to finish and the ninth inning exemplified that. Trailing 7-4 in the ninth inning the South showed they would not give up. When you’re trailing three runs going into the last inning it is imperative that the lead off hitter reaches base.
Dominic Biagini was the lead off hitter of ninth and he reached base by getting walked. He would then advance to second on a base hit by Dontrell Rush. The South would then make two outs. Brandon Truitt came up with two outs and he lined a single to left that loaded the bases up.
Even though there two outs in the inning the South hitters seemed to have great confidence against North All-Star pitcher Alex Raver. Derek Thomas came up with a key two-run single to bring the South within one run. Elliot Armstrong would then proceed to single. Szcerba then came up to the plate with the bases loaded and his team down one run with two outs. Szcerba would deliver by getting walked. The South All-Stars scored all three of their runs to tie the game with two outs. This game went into extra innings.
Rockford Foresters infielder Regulo Moy won the game for the North in the bottom of the tenth inning with a walk-off single that scored Ryan Payne.
Daryn Streed received the win for the North. Rush was charged with the loss for the South.
Will County CrackerJack’s manager Vern Hasty, who was a bench coach on the South All-Star squad, was happy to be a part of the Midwest Collegiate League’s first ever All-Star game. “The fans got their moneys worth tonight. I was proud to be a part of this game,” said Hasty.
The manger of the Southland Vikings, who was the manager of the South All-Stars, was happy to be a part of a game like this. “This game was very exciting. Both teams battled. I was impressed with the way our team came back from down three runs in the ninth,” said Cunningham.
The starting shortstop for the South All-Star team, A.J Doyle, had the opportunity to play in front of a lot of family and friends because he is from the area where the All-Star game was held. Doyle also entertained the seven hundred fans that attended by making some incredible plays in the field. The most notable play he made was diving play in the second that sent the crowd to their feet.
“It was really cool to play in front of a lot of family and friends. I am happy I was able to be a part of this,” said Doyle. “I was able to make those plays tonight because of concentration and reading the ball off the bat.”
The starting catcher for the South All-Star team, Kuris Duggan, was also really impressed with the game and the event. “I was impressed with everything tonight. It was a fun experience. I got to know a lot of the players on the other teams,” said Duggan.
The Midwest Collegiate All-Star game was a great success. A big reason for that success was the great game that was played on the field. It was also a success off the field because former American League Rookie of the year and Chicago White Sox Ron Kittle helped raise money to benefit ALS.
Kittle signed baseballs for five dollars each with all of the proceeds going to ALS research. Kittle ended up signing 108 baseballs. Also half to the ticket proceeds will be donated to ALS research and 710 people attended the ball game.
The Southland Vikings will resume play on Thursday at 5:35 at Wayne King Jr. Field against the CrackerJacks.