Wednesday, July 18, 2085
TU STARS TRIM RU STARS IN THRILLER
'Twas a very exciting IPA All-Star Classic this year at Bayside Park in Belair Beach. The Tycobbian Union All-Stars captured a high-scoring 9-8 shootout thriller that ended with the tying run being thrown out in the bottom of the 9th. Right fielder Yank Yankovich (South Fork) broke the hearts of the Ruthlandian Union All-Stars with a perfect throw that nailed Gib McAvoy (Belle Plaine) trying to score from second base to end the game. There was lots of offense and action galore with very little pitching. The two star-studded teams amassed 34 hits between them, each chalking up 17 base hits. Third baseman Danny Cantrell (Ginza) put the TU Stars up 8-5 in the top of the 6th with a 3-run roundtripper and was voted the game's Most Valuable Player. Rookie center fielder Henri Tallyrand (Rocky Rapids) also homered for the RU Stars.It was a solo swat.
This was a rock 'em, sock 'em affair in contrast to the low-scoring pitching duels of the last three years. The Tycobbian Union increased its already-dominating lead in the All-Star Classic to 85 wins and only 50 defeats. The TU Stars have triumphed three of the last four years.
Ruthlandia ran up an early 5-2 lead in the first four innings and seemed well on their way to victory, but it was not to be. Their bullpen collapsed on them when Tycobbia jolted them for 6 runs in the 5th. It was an absolutely miserable inning for losing pitcher Dex Antoon (Wynnamac), who was torched for 6 runs and 8 hits in his only frame. The victory went to rookie Dookie Garnham (Hartsdale), who worked a scoreless 4th inning.
Never-say-die Ruthlandia roared back from a 9-5 deficit in the last three innings and came within a heartbeat of tying the score. They might have won the game except for Yankovich's fine arm.
The victorious Tycobbian skipper was Hugo Sutton of Rolling Hills. Taking the loss for the Ruthlandian Union was Brock Josephson, manager of the Belair Beach Sunbirds. They were protagonists in the Pro Cup Series last year.
