Article Options

East tops West in Frontier League all-star game

BY MARK URBAN, For the Southern

Wednesday, July 16, 2008 11:29 PM CDT

TRAVERSE CITY - In a game dominated by pitchers, it was once again the big boppers that decided the outcome.

After nine innings couldn't decide a winner in Wednesday's Frontier League All-Star Game, the contest was decided by a home-run hitting display for the fourth time in seven years.

Florence 's Angel Molina, Tuesday's Home Run Derby champion and All-Star Game MVP, cleared the fence in left field to force a second round. Molina wasn't needed in the second round as Kalamazoo 's Mike Russell hit two dingers and Washington 's Jacob Dempsey one to give the East team the title and break a 2-2 deadlock after nine innings.

"I think it's the best (two days) in my life," said the native of Puerto Rico, who earned $1,000 for the home run title on Tuesday and helped his East teammates take home $150 for the All-Star victory, compared to $75 for the losing side.

The Frontier League came up with the concept of a Home Run Derby to decide the All-Star Game after the 2002 MLB game was declared a tie. It also helped to avoid a long extra-inning affair, like Tuesday's version of the midsummer classic ended in 15 innings.

"In a lot of ways, the way it ended was better than winning 2-0 in nine innings," said Kalamazoo 's Fran Riordan, manager of the East squad. "The crowd was into it. I've never seen two teams more into a Home Run Derby to decide an All-Star Game.

"It was real exciting and fun to be a part of."

The extra swings - with three hitters representing each side - were necessary after the West team scored two in the top of the ninth inning off Kalamazoo closer Brandon Parillo.

"The guys really wanted it," Southern Illinois manager Mike Pinto said of his West team. "All of a sudden the ninth inning comes and the energy level in the dugout increases. They wanted to tie the game and see it decided by a Home Run Derby.

"What an incredible experience for the guys."

Pinto said the players weren't the only ones who had a great All-Star experience.

"I coached in the Northern League All-Star Game for the Joilet Jackhammers, but this was my first one as a manager. I got to know a lot of the guys that we faced on the other teams and I got to know a lot of the guys on the other teams."

Of course, that doesn't change anything when the second half of the season starts and te Miners are chasing a West Division title.

"The war starts again on Friday," Pinto said as fireworks lit up the sky over Wuerfel Park.

Southern Illinois ' Tim Dorn led off the ninth inning with a walk, took second on a groundout and third on an infield single by teammate Willie Keene.

Dorn cut the lead to 2-1 on Robbie Knapp's single up the middle. After another walk, Keene came across to knot the contest when Southern Illinois' Mike Scanzano ripped a shot down the line that Chillicothe third baseman Adrian Cantu was able to stop and get a force out, but was unable to get Scanzano at first throwing from his knees.

A groundout ended the game deadlocked 2-2 after nine innings.

"We were able to stop the bleeding, keep the game tied and get it to the Home Run Derby," Riordan said.

Rockford 's Jason James went first in the Home Run Derby and sent two over the right field fence to give the West a 2-0 lead. Dempsey hit one for the East to make the score 2-1, where it stayed until Molina was down to his last 'out' in the all-or-nothing contest.

"There was pretty big pressure," Molina said. "I got a pretty good (pitch). After I needed one (to tie), I did the same thing I did last night. I put my hand in my shirt and pumped it up."

Hitters were afforded just two 'outs' in the second round of the tiebreaker. Dempsey gave the East a 1-0 lead with a shot to right center and Russell made it 3-0 with two blasts to left.

Dorn got one back with a deep drive to left, but the third and final batter for the West couldn't get another out.

Traverse City outfielder Mike Epping, who drove in the first run of the game, said it was tough watching someone else control his destiny.

"Once the game was over, it was kind of out of your hands," Epping said. "You're there cheering, but it's pretty much sit back, watch and hope for the best."

The host East team broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth inning versus Southern Illinois right-hander Jake McMurran.

Kalamazoo 's Kyle Kmiecik led off the inning with a single back up the middle and moved to second as the Beach Bums' Mike Goetz drew a two-out walk. Epping dropped a single into short left field to score Kmiecik with the first run of the game.

"It was fun," Epping said of the All-Star Game victory. "It was great. The house was packed and everybody was cheering.

"It was great to get that hit and score the first run."

The East wasted little time adding to it, pushing a run across in the sixth against Windy City righty Jason Lowery.

Florence 's Kelly Hunt got the rally started with a single up the middle in his first at-bat of the game. He took second base when Kmiecik was hit by a pitch and came around to score on a two-out single to left by Florence 's Billy Mottram.

The West team got just one runner to third base in the first five innings, despite five innings over that stretch.

The West picked up two hits in the third inning off Traverse City 's David Nathanson. With one out, Scanzano picked up an infield single and Rockford 's Joe Anthonsen followed with a single up the middle, but a 4-3 double play ended the threat.

In the fourth, Windy City 's Philip Phil Hawke drew a one out walk and Gateway's Charlie Lisk followed with a single up the middle. Both runners moved up on a groundout, but Kalamazoo 's John Brownell struck out James looking to squash the threat.

The game was dominated for most of the nine innings by the pitchers. The West had seven hits in the game compared to six for the East.

Scanzano was the only player for either team to have two hits.

"Good pitching surpassing good hitting," said Traverse City 's Ryan Gehring, the starting pitcher for the East. "Good defense, good pitching and timely hitting is what it's about.

"All-Star Games don't usually have a lot of runs because you're facing a different pitcher every inning."

In the end, it was the hitters that decided it.