FL Lake Erie Crushers

East beats West in 2011 Frontier League All Star Game

Published on July 13, 2011 under Frontier League (FL)
Lake Erie Crushers News Release


AVON, Ohio. - Pitching dominated the 2011 Frontier League All Star Game at All Pro Freight Stadium, as 5,237 fans saw the two teams combined to score just six runs on eight hits, and the Eastern Division All Stars came away with a 4-2 victory.

The West entered as heavy favorites, as they had posted incredible numbers through the first half of the season. However, they were not able to take advantage of three errors committed by the East, and they were held to just a pair of hits all night long.

The Eastern squad scored three of their four runs in the bottom of the first inning to set the tone for the evening. Matt Brown of the Traverse City Beach Bums began the inning with a double, and made his way to third on Mike Torres's (Windy City) base hit. Torres then stole second, and he scored along with Brown moments later, on a triple from Joliet's Erik Lis.

The two runs for the West came on the only two homeruns of the night. In the top of the fourth, the Normal Cornbelters' first baseman Steve Alexander delivered the Western Division's first hit of the evening with a solo shot over the wall in left field. In the top of the fifth, Southern Illinois second baseman Will Block blasted a solo homer to left as well, marking the Western Division's final hit of the evening.

In the sixth inning, the East took advantage of the West's second of two errors on the night. Jake Eigsti of the Rockford Riverhawks walked with one out and stole second base. With two outs, Joliet's Bobby Leeper hit a pop up to shallow right field, which was dropped by Florence's Chris Curley, allowing Eigsti to score.

The West squandered a chance to tie the game in the top of the eighth inning. Lake Erie's Kelyn Schellenberg retired the first batter he faced, before Florence's Justin Holloway and Gateway's Joe Agreste reached on errors. Schellenberg ended the threat quickly, by retiring the next two batters he faced.

Lis was named the game's MVP. In addition to his game changing two-run triple in the first inning, he also delivered a base hit in the third inning to complete a 2-for-3 performance. He and Torres were the only two batters to hit safely more than once.

Washington Wild Things right hander Casey Barnes earned the victory after tossing a scoreless first inning, while River City Rascals right hander Zach Sterner suffered the loss after giving up three runs on a trio of hits in the first. Rockford's Brett Durand recorded the final two outs of the ballgame to earn the save.

For the Crushers, Andrew Davis started the game at third base, and went 0-for-3, while Nick Mahin went 0-for-1, and Schellenberg tossed a scoreless eighth inning.

The Crushers are back in action on Friday night to begin the second half of the season. They will begin a three game series on the road against the Washington Wild Things. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM.

The Lake Erie Crushers, the 2009 Frontier League Champions, play ball at All Pro Freight Stadium, a 5,000 capacity stadium located in Avon, OH. The Frontier League is an independent baseball league with 12 teams operating throughout the Midwest. Season tickets for the 2011 season are on sale now! For more information on tickets, promotions and team news, visit the team website at www.LakeErieCrushers.com or call 440-934-3636.

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Frontier League Stories from July 13, 2011


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