January 9, 1951
Eastern All-Stars Win a ‘Scorcher’ in the Nation’s Capital
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Braeland City, Perth (BP) – With clear, blue skies and afternoon temperatures shooting up to 85F, the Eastern All-Stars hosted their Western counterparts at Kings Park in Braeland City. A full house of 27,000 was on hand under the unrelenting skies to witness the Easterners take the 14th annual All-Star Game, their 8th victory in the annual mid-season classic and their second in a row.
Despite the respective League’s very best hurlers taking the hill, it was the bats that made the most noise, scorching the pitchers in the early going and racking up 15 runs on 24 hits collectively. But the heat also got the fielders as well as a record five errors were committed, four by the ‘home’ team. (It surpassed the four errors made in the 1948 All-Star game).
“They weren’t fooling them today, that’s for sure”, opined Eastern League manager, Bill Bouchet of Downie, on the pitchers’ lack of success.
“Fortunately, our guys were able settle down quicker and hold off [the Western League’s] hitters until we had built up a lead. Otherwise, hit could have been a longer day that it was.”
On a day that saw 19 different batters collect at least a hit,
Player of the Game honors went to Cobourg Red Stockings’ CF
Raymond Williams, who hit a triple and drew a walk, collecting 2 runs and 3 RBI over four innings of work (and one official at-bat). He’s the first Red Stocking to win Player of the Game honors in an All-Star game since three-time all-star Matthew Lane did it exactly 10 years ago.
“Yeah, it’s a pretty cool moment,” acknowledged Williams, after accepting his honor.
“You always want to make a positive impact of some kind, whether it’s a hit or a great catch or whatever.” When asked if the hot weather had any impact on the game or not, Williams replied,
“It didn’t for me. Whether the sweltering heat was affecting the pitcher’s grip on the ball though, I couldn’t say. But it seemed everyone was seeing the ball very well today, so maybe there’s something to it.”
Below is a summary of the notable plays:
Bottom of the 1st:
RHP Roberto Taváres gets the start for the Westerners, but receives a rude welcome by his Eastern counterparts. Stratford’s Patrick Lidgate and Stratford’s Jake Walker lead off with back-to-back singles, putting runners on the corners. Next up is Cobourg’s Raymond Williams who smacks a line drive triple into right field, cashing in both runners. With one out, Brunswick’s venerable Stuart Bentham bloops a single just fair into shallow left field, scoring Williams for the East’s third run.
Western League 0 – Eastern League 3
Top of the 2nd:
The West responds right away as Wellington’s RHP Scott Wheeler takes the hill for the second inning.
With two out, Wheeler gives up back-to-back walks to Kingston’s Katsunan Chikafuji and Roberto Taváres before Fort Richmond’s Dylan Moyne reaches 1B safely on an infield hit, loading the bases.
Manager Bill Bouchet then gives the hook to Wheeler in favor of Wellington’s RHP Finlay Capstick.
But a throwing error by SS Jake Walker and a single by Balmoral’s Carlton Broadbent score three runs before the inning is over.
Western League 3 – Eastern League 3
Bottom of the 2nd:
Downie’s Dominic Dudding leads off with a first-pitch single, causing manager Tony Fay to bring in Wolseley’s LHP Axel MacKay to replace Taváres. But a four-pitch walk to Patrick Lidgate and back-to-back sac flies by Jake Walker and Raymond Williams scores Dudding, returning the lead back to the Easterners.
The East adds another run when Wellington’s Matthew Floyd draws a full-count walk and Stuart Bentham singles in Lidgate from 2B.
Western League 3 – Eastern League 5
Bottom of the 3rd:
Sherburn’s Ben Buschlen gives up a lead-off double to Brunswick’s Marcus Peyto. With two out, Patrick Lidgate singles into shallow left-centerfield. Peyto dives into 3B, but CF Dylan Moyne throws the ball away, allowing Petyo to score.
Western League 3 – Eastern League 6
Bottom of the 4th:
The West’s pitching woes continue when Fort Richmond’s RHP José Rodríguez walks Raymond Williams and hits Downie’s Howard Dumbrill to lead off the inning. Although Queensland’s Ryan Conisford hits into a 4-6-3 double play, Williams reaches third base on the play and scores on Cobourg’s Alexander Tolmie’s first-pitch double. Downie’s Alfonso León then singles home Tolmie for the East’s 8th run.
Western League 3 – Eastern League 8
Bottom of the 5th:
Facing Balmoral’s RHP Rodrigo González with two out, Howard Dumbrill crushes the first pitch he sees for a
solo home run, 390 ft. into the right-centerfield bleachers.
Western League 3 – Eastern League 9
Top of the 8th:
Brunswick’s RHP Lao Chen takes the mound for the East to start the inning. Kingston’s Carlos Camasura battles Chen for nine pitches before drawing a walk to lead off. With one out, Wolseley’s Make-make Kamaka doubles, putting runners on the corners. Chen is then replaced by Cobourg’s LHP William Say.
But Cambria’s Wenceslas Jasmin draws a four-pitch walk to load the bases. Wolseley’s Éric Denis then singles home both Camasura and Kamaka.
Up next is Fort Richmond’s Nobuyoshi Yoshida, who doubles home Jasmin.
With Denis at 3B, Pulberry’s Gerard Koerner launches a fly ball to dead centerfield. Denis breaks for home, but a tremendous throw by CF Howard Dumbrill cuts down Denis at home plate to end the inning.
In the top of the 9th, the Westerners try to keep the momentum going when Wolseley’s Carlos Ortíz singles and Pulberry’s Roland Binns reaches safely on an error with two out. But LHP William Say induces a 3-1 groundout from Cambria’s Edmund Boswell to end the threat and the game.
FINAL: Western League 6 – Eastern League 9
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Here are the complete All-Star rosters:
