January 9, 1940
1940 ASG: Comebacks, Extra Innings Cap Thrilling Western League Triumph
Sherburn (BP) – They had the fire power, but they didn’t have Okura Ito and in the end, that made all the difference. The Eastern League All-Stars jumped out to a commanding 7-run lead in the early innings of the 3rd Annual ULB All-Star Game held at The Paramount in Sherburn, Norwich. But the Western League All-Stars did not give up, and led by Kingston’s Okura Ito and Balmoral’s Francisco Rodriguez, they overcame the deficit to pull out a thrilling 11-10 victory in extra innings.
The victory continues the trend of the ‘home team’ winning the event for the 3rd year in a row.
Bottom of the 1st:
With Colm Soper pitching for the Eastern League, Gary Watkinson picks up a 2-out walk. A throwing error allows Okura Ito to reach first, moving Watkinson to second.
Watkinson comes in to score on a Francisco Rodriguez single and the Western League gets on the board first.
Eastern All-Stars 0 – Western All-Stars 1
Top of the 2nd:
The Easterners get to Brady Murdy early and often. Jim Friend hits a one-out triple and comes in to score when Quentin Stubber follows with a single. Next up is Bob Boynton, who triples as well, scoring Stubber to make it 2-1.
Later, with runners on first and third with two out, back-to-back singles by Adam Ashley and Ryley McLarnon score two more, and the Eastern All-Stars take the early lead.
Eastern All-Stars 4 – Western All-Stars 1
Top of the 3rd:
The Eastern League broke out the long ball in the third inning. Terence Durney led off with a solo shot to right field off of SP Michael Wilberfoss.
Later, with two out and runners on first and second, SP Colm Soper joined in the fun, smashing a 3-run homerun 379 ft. to left field, giving the Easterners a seemingly commanding lead.
Eastern All-Stars 8 – Western All-Stars 1
Bottom of the 3rd:
With two out and facing SP Joel Fearn, Okura Ito, Francisco Rodriguez and Fergus Chitty hit three consecutive singles, scoring Ito.
Following a pitching change, Ron Westmacott hits the Westerners’ fourth consecutive single, bringing in Rodriguez for the Western All-Stars’ third run.
Eastern All-Stars 8 – Western All-Stars 3
Bottom of the 4th:
Hyun-jung Moon leads off with a walk and reaches third on a Zak Kidd single with nobody out. Following a pitching change, Glen Yeend brings home Moon on a sac fly to center field.
During Gary Watkinson’s subsequent at-bat, Zak Kidd steals second and later tries to steal third, but is thrown out by C Kane Broom. Watkinson then grounds out to 1B (U3) to end the inning.
Eastern All-Stars 8 – Western All-Stars 4
Bottom of the 6th:
Aaron Flanagan leads off with a double off of Matthew Shelley and reaches third on a Mo Symes ground out. Dominic Carmody singles to score Flanagan.
The Westerners load the bases when Glen Yeend is hit by a pitch and Rhett Curnow reaches on an error. Okura Ito then singles, bringing in Carmody and Yeend, cutting the deficit to one.
Following a pitching change, Francisco Rodriguez singles off of Larry Parrish’s first pitch to load the bases once again with one out. William Tozer then hits into a fielder’s choice at second, scoring Curnow, and the game is tied.
Eastern All-Stars 8 – Western All-Stars 8
Top of the 10th:
Jay Atwood leads off with a double off of SP Bradley Dodson and comes in to score when Quentin Puddy follows with a single.
After Puddy is replaced at first with pinch runner Dwayne Hollinshead, Rovilson Valdevieso and Dylan Watkins hit back-to-back singles, scoring Hollishead and giving the Eastern All-Stars a two-run lead.
Eastern All-Stars 10 – Western All-Stars 8
Bottom of the 10th:
Okura Ito leads off with a double and immediately comes in to score when Francisco Rodriguez follows with a double of his own.
Following a pitching change, RP Kantaro Sumita singles off of SP Clyde Boney with one out to score Rodriguez and the game is tied once again.
Eastern All-Stars 10 – Western All-Stars 10
Bottom of the 11th:
Jayden Tennant leads off with a walk off of Clyde Boney and reaches third when Kade Limeburner follows with a double.
PH Tadayuki Jouda becomes the hero, hitting a sac fly to centerfield, scoring Tennant from third for the winning run.
Eastern All-Stars 10 – Western All-Stars 11
Kingston’s Okura Ito won Player of the Game honours, going 5-6 with 2-2B, 2 RBI and 2 R.
Balmoral’s Francisco Rodriguez shone as well, going 4-5 with 1-2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB.
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Here are the complete All-Star rosters:
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Here are the standings as of January 9:
