Photo and information submitted by Durin Rogers. (Credit, Rogers said, goes to Christine Cecere-Wormley)
The American League All Stars of the Batavia Major League Baseball League beat the nationals in the league's annual season-ending all-star game, 12-8.
Pictured are, front row, Quinton Betances, Bryn Wormley, Vincent Grazioplene, Luke Rogers, Matt Neal, and back row, Manager Dan Utter, Kyle Kendall, Logan vonKramer, Jason Dykstra, Jesse Reinhart, Alex Totten, Dominik Taylor, Brandon Bartz, Coach Dan Utter Sr.
After the jump a submitted game story (click on the headline to read more):
Five (5) doubles in the fifth inning led to American Division Victory over the National League 12 to 8 in the 2013 Majors Division All-star Game.
The Batavia Major League Baseball League has hosted its season-ending All-star Game for almost 40 years. Each year 12 players from various teams are selected to represent the American and National Division and battle it out for seven innings under the lights at the Paul E. Sputore Field in Batavia, New York. The 2013 All-Star Game was no exception with incredible offensive and defensive plays on both sides. In the end, the American League pulled off the victory 12 to 8 highlighted by strong bats and a string of doubles in the 5th inning.
On the coin toss, the American League, managed by Yankees Manager Dan Utter, pulled home field advantage with the National Division, managed by Phillies Manager Mike Anderson, batting first. American Leaguer Dominik Taylor (Yankees) got the start on the mound, striking out the first batter. Two consecutive walks would lead to eventual scores by Joey Gefell (Astros) and Vincent Dirisio (Phillies) for the National League. Following an unassisted out by first baseman Brandon Bartz (Red Sox), catcher Jason Dykstra (Red Sox) threw the runner out at third base to end the inning.
Max Rapone (Braves) got the start on the mound for the National League and returned the favor by throwing out the first batter at first base, striking out the fourth batter, and a throw out at third-base by National catcher Gavin Schrader resulted in no score.
Taylor returned to the mound in the second inning, striking out three of the five batters he faced, but not before Cody Henry (Braves) scored for the National League making the score 3 to 0 at top of the second inning. Rapone likewise returned to the mound, striking out one before being relieved by Owen Mileham (Phillies) who threw out the runner at first and struck out a batter; but not before the American Division tied the game on scores by Bartz, Quinton Betances (Athletics) and Kyle Kendall (Rangers).
Luke Rogers (Red Sox) got the call to pitch in the top of the third inning for the American League. Following a walk, Rogers struck out the next batter for the first out of the inning. With two strikes and a runner on second, Rapone hit a deep fly ball to centerfield that was caught by then CF Logan vonKramer (Athletics). The catch started what would prove to be an amazing double-play when vonKramer relayed the ball to pitcher Rogers, who in turn made the throw to the plate where veteran catcher Bryn Wormley blocked the plate and made the tag for the third out. Gefell took the mound next for the National League in the bottom of the third, striking out two, but not before Vincent Grazioplene (Rangers) and Rogers scored for the American Division to take the lead 5 to 3.
Rogers returned to the mound in the top of the fourth for the American League, getting the first two outs and striking out the last, but not before the National Division took the lead 7 to 5 on two well-placed hits by Ryan Lang (Mets) and Dylan Warner (Astros), resulting in runs by both players, as well as Gavin Schrader (Mets) and Henry. Gefell continued strong pitching for the National League limiting the American Division to one run by Kendall on a solid hit by vonKramer to cut the lead by the National Division to 2.
Brandon Bartz (Red Sox) continued the American League pitching power in the top of the fifth inning, striking out three of the five batters he faced, allowing for the American League to show its true power at the plate and what would be a turning point in the game as the American League struck for five doubles in the fifth inning resulting in six runs. With one out, Rogers of the American League drove a Henry pitch deep down the right field line for a double. With two runners on, Bartz hit a towering shot to centerfield, bouncing off the fence and scoring two. Dirisio relieved Henry to get the second out of the inning. Yet the American Division continued to pour it on with a Dykstra double up the middle to score Bartz, as did Kendall to left field and Jesse Reinhart (Rangers) to left center, all of which resulted in the batters scoring and the American League taking the lead 12 to 7.
Kendall then took control of the mound in the top of the 6th inning for the American League. The National League's first two batters, Dirisio and Schrader, each struck for singles resulting in Dirisio scoring. Kendall struck out the final three batters, stranding a National League runner on third base with the score 12 American, 8 National.
The American Division added to its cause with another hit by then lead-off batter Wormley, however a good play in the field and strong pitching from National League pitcher Schrader downed the remaining American League batters.
With the game on the line, Kendall returned to the mound, hitting the first National League batter and speedster, Mckenzie Riegle (Braves), putting a runner on base. Following a great play resulting in the inning's first out and advancement of the runner to scoring position, Kendall struck out the remaining two batters, ending the game to a crowd roar and American League win.
The National Division Team players were: Max Rapone, Cody Henry, Mckenzie Riegle, Dylan Warner, Joey Gefell, Sawyer Siverling, Gavin Schrader, Max Tenney, Jordan Welker, Owen Mileham, Vincent Dirisio and Ryan Lang.
