January 10, 1950
Triple Threat: Eastern All-Stars ‘Cash In’ for Their Seventh All-Star Win
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Pulberry, Oxford (BP) – With views overlooking Pulberry’s skyline as well as the picturesque Amberg Inlet on Braeland’s south-west coast, Trolleys Stadium played host to the United Leagues’ 13th Annual All-Star Game. 28,100 baseball fans looked on as the Eastern League All-Stars capitalized on their scoring chances to win their 7th All-Star Game, 7-1. For the Western League All-Stars, it was a game of frustration, as on three separate occasions they managed to put runners on the corners, only to come up short each time.
“We had our chances, but when the Eastern Leaguers needed an out, they got it”, shrugged Western League manager, Wolseley’s Tony Fay.
“Give them credit. They hit the ball really well with runners on base and their pitchers beared down when they had to. That was the difference.”
Indeed, although the Western League All-Stars outhit their Eastern counterparts 10-7, all their hits were singles. The East meanwhile, generated three triples and two doubles, with four of the ‘extra-baggers’ driving in runs. There were no home runs by either team for the second straight season. With the victory, the Eastern All-Stars halt their two-game losing skid and take a 7-6 lead in the annual affair.
Player of the Game honours went to Embro Suns’ 3B
Keon-chae Cho, who came into the game in the 6th inning as a pinch hitter for Brunswick Legends’ 3B Jorge Arredondo. The 24-year old Cho went 1 for 2, with a walk, a double, an RBI and a run scored. It was the South Korean product’s first selection to the All-Star Game.
“It was pretty special, just to be here”, enthused Cho.
“I’m just glad I was able to get into the game and contribute. Before the game, I was simply in awe of all of the talent in the room – old stars, young stars. So to be singled out in this way is just amazing.”
Below is a summary of the notable plays:
Top of the 1st:
After Stratford’s LF Roberto Ríos strikes out swinging on a full count to start the inning, Jorge Arredondo gets plunked by Fort Richmond’s RHP Roberto Taváres on the second pitch. Next up is Cobourg’s CF Raymond Williams, who smacks a 1-0 pitch into deep centerfield for a run-scoring triple. Williams then comes in to score when Braeland City’s 2B Patrick Lidgate grounds out to the shortstop.
Eastern League 2 – Western League 0
Bottom of the 4th:
An error, a passed ball and a single put Wolseley’s CF Carlton Hawking and Kingston’s C Danny Trowbridge on the corners with one out. But Cambria’s SS César Ruíz hits a line drive straight to his Eastern League counterpart, Cobourg’s John Medley and Kingston’s 1B Dean Bishop then hits into a 6-4 fielder’s choice to end the inning.
Eastern League 2 – Western League 0
Bottom of the 5th:
Balmoral’s 2B Sean Brearton leads off with a single. Downie’s RHP Kelii Pelanekelina then gets two quick outs before Fort Richmond’s CF Dylan Moyne singles Brearton to 3B. But once again, the Western squad fails to capitalize when Fort Richmond’s 2B Nobuyoshi Yoshida grounds out to 2B for the third out.
Eastern League 2 – Western League 0
Top of the 6th:
With Wolseley’s RHP John Palm on the hill, POG Keon-chae Cho draws a four-pitch walk to lead things off. He is immediately followed by Brunswick’s rookie CF Cameron Osmotherley, who pounces on Palm’s first offering for the East’s second run-scoring triple. With two out, Stratford’s C Aaron Skidmore reaches base safely on an error (E6), allowing Osmotherley to come home.
Eastern League 4 – Western League 0
Top of the 7th:
Two Embro Suns’ players figure in the East’s next run. RF José Maldonado draws a full-count, two-out walk off of Fort Richmond’s RHP Shinzo Okamoto. Keon-chae Cho then follows and lines a full-count double into leftfield, scoring Maldonado.
Eastern League 5 – Western League 0
Bottom of the 7th:
Dean Bishop and Sean Brearton lead off with back-to-back singles and a one-out fielder’s choice at 2B by Sherburn’s Jack Burt puts runners on the corners for the West for the third time in the game. But Wolseley’s RF Howard Ockey flies out to deep RF to end the threat.
Eastern League 5 – Western League 0
Top of the 8th:
The Easterners add to their lead when Downie’s 3B Dominic Dudding singles off of Fort Richmond’s RHP Ch’ang-chieh Li with one out. Up next is Dudding’s teammate, SS Mac Medley, who cranks out a line-drive triple into right-centerfield for the East’s sixth run. Adding insult to injury, Medley scores the East’s final run on a wild pitch during Cobourg’s LF Fergus Thackwray’s subsequent at-bat.
Eastern League 7 – Western League 0
Bottom of the 9th:
Pulberry’s SS Francis Jones leads off with a single into rightfield off of Downie’s RHP Joong Ling. Dean Bishop then draws a full-count walk to advance Jones to 2B. But Wolseley’s C Éric Denis grounds into a 4-6-3 double play, as Jones advances to 3B. The West Leaguers finally get on the board when Sherburn’s 3B Fraser Rae singles home Jones.
After Wolseley’s SS George Kimpton singles to put runners on first and second, Brunswick’s RHP Lao Chen comes in to try and close things out. He does, after inducing a 1-3 ground out from Howard Ockey to end the game.
FINAL: Eastern League 7 – Western League 1
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Here are the complete All-Star rosters:
