National Team Wins 2010 CPL All-Star Game
July 21st, 2010A game that had the makings of a slugfest at the beginning turned into a pitching battle as the National All-Stars defeated the American All-Stars 5-4 Wednesday night at McNair Field.
David Chester from the Gastonia Grizzlies, the starting first baseman for the National Team, was the Rawlings Offensive Player of the game, logging three RBI in a 2-for-2 outing, including a two run home run over the left field wall in the first inning. The night capped an outstanding 24 hours for Chester, who took the Home Run Derby crown the previous night with 11 total round trippers.
It was the American squad who struck first, scoring three runs in the top half of the opening frame against National starter Brad McAllister from the Morehead City Marlins. Only one of those runs was actually counted as an earned run however, with the Americans taking advantage of a defensive miscue from starting short stop A.J. Rusbarsky from the Edenton Steamers.
After the two teams combined for five runs in the first inning, there would be only four runs the rest of the way, as the pitching took over.
The National squad struck for two more runs in the third inning when Florence’s Mac Doyle hit a two run blast down the left field line that was just able to stay fair and give his team a 4-3 advantage. They would lead the rest of the way, adding a big insurance run thanks to Chester’s run producing single in the fourth to make it 5-3.
The CPL American Team lifted hopes of a comeback in the eighth after Morehead City Marlins outfielder Justyn Carter was plunked by a pitch, and then stole second and third base during the next at bat. Florence’s Trey Hernandez would ground out to short to bring the American team’s deficit to one, but the offense would be shut down the next inning by Wilmington closer Mark Montgomery. The right handed sidewinder struck out two in a perfect ninth to get the save and preserve the one run cushion. Montgomery after the game was named the Rawlings Defensive Player of the Game for his efforts.
Forest City’s own Nate Hyatt was the winning pitcher of the All-Star contest, while the loss was handed to Jerry Battipaglia from Outer Banks.
The National All-Star Team, who were led by Owls head coach Matt Hayes, stretches their unbeaten streak over the American squad with the victory to four games, including a 2-2 tie in ten innings last year. They have also won all but one contest since 1004, when the format was changed to the current teams.
