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The Islandian Times
Monday, July 23, 2001
RU Stars Rally, Top TU Stars 5-4
The first-ever Islandian Pro Alliance All-Star Game was played in Fairfax at the Frog Pond and the Ruthlandian Union All-Stars saved the best for last. The RU Stars rallied for four runs in the ninth to stun the TU Stars 5-4. Waleska's Smokey Joe Carter (.137) (Waleska) delivered a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth to score Scooter Perez (Volusia) from second base. The RU Stars had done little with the bats up until the their last at-bat and trailed by a 4-1 score. In the rally, they really tore into Jackie Leslie (12-3 3.74) of Fairfax. A lead-off walk to Yoshi Motsuzuki (.292) (Valmara} and singles by Gil Foster (.344) (Elnora) and Chuck Hill (.320) (Forest City) loaded the bases. Perez's (.380) single made it 4-2 and Matty McDermott (.326) (Belair Beach) singled to cut it to one run. Maury Smith (.354) (Glasco) tied the score with a deep fly to right. That set the stage for Carter's walk-off line-drive single to right that decided the game.
In the first frame, a double by Alan Hansen (.398) (Bayview) and a single by Dwayne Coleman (.299) (Bayview) produced the first run of the game sending TU ahead 1-0. In the second, a double by Rod Kelly (.303) (Cape Coral) and two singles by Eric Richter (.325) (Luxora) and Flint Battle (.234) (South Fork) added another run. Dixie Baker (.320) (Colfax) homered for RU in their half of the second to cut it to 2-1. TU went up 3-1 in the third on a walk to Donnie Frazier (.291) (Blue Lake), who stole second and went to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Matt Merrill (.315) (Arlon) pushed him across with a single. It wasn't until the seventh that another run was put on the scoreboard. TU's Rodger Wooten (.291) (Cape Coral) made it 4-1 with a long, solo homer.
TU's second baseman Alan Hansen (Bayview) was selected the Star of the Game as he went 3-for-4. The Tycobbian Stars outhit the Ruthlandian Stars 16 to 10 with catcher Eric Richter (Luxora) going 3-for 3, and left fielder Matt Merrill (Arlon) and right fielder Rob Kelly (Cape Coral) each collecting two hits apiece. Second baseman Gil Foster (Elnora) was the only RU Star with two hits. Smokey Joe Carter (Waleska) also got credit for the victory with a scoreless ninth, while Jerry Harrison (Bayview) suffered the defeat.
Marston's Johnny Walters skippered the RU Stars to victory, while Fairfax's Harry Buckley piloted the TU Stars. The game was played at the Frog Pond in Fairfax because the Frogs had the best overall record so far in the regular season. Walters and Buckley were chosen as managers for having the best divisional records. They got all of the position players in the game.
RU pitchers Zarek Zalewski (13-5 2.36) (Valmara], Ron Benson (15-7 2.56) (Sugar Valley), Herm Bahr (11-6 3.34) (Forest City) and Charles Darby (11-10 3.59) (Glasco) did not play in the game. They recently pitched and would have been used only as a last resort. The RU Stars were also missing Fairfax's outstanding slugger, Gregg Vincent, who is hitting .326 with 26 homers, 77 RBIs and scored 61 runs. He has been out for about the last ten days with a sprained ankle.
TU pitchers who did not participate because they had pitched too recently: Toshiharu Ito (10-3 2.34) (Ginza), Ken Olson (11-8 2.70) (South Fork) and Norm Gross (12-7 3.48) (Bay St. Clair).
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