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East Trumps West in 2013 All-Star Game

July 10, 2013 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


In a game that was not shy of entertainment, the East squad came out on top of the West side 11-8 in the 2013 TCL All-Star Game. Pump Jacks star, Ty Marlow, was named the MVP after going 3-for-5 as the starting designated hitter, as well as pitching a solid inning on the mound.

The fans packed Driller Park for the 2013 TCL All-Star Game while the players packed the box scores. In a game that featured 18 different pitchers and successfully featured every player on each all-star roster in the game, the East All-Stars (made up of the East Texas Pump Jacks, Acadiana Cane Cutters and Woodlands Strykers) defeated the West All-Stars 11-8 (the West consisted of the Brazos Valley Bombers, Victoria Generals and Texas Marshals). The All-Star game certainly did not lack any excitement as the two teams combined for 20 hits, 19 runs as well as three lead changes.

Ty Marlow, in his last game as a Pump Jack, was awarded the MVP going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and one RBI. Marlow also pitched a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts to clinch his MVP candidacy.

The West got onto the board first thanks to two errors from the East side. In the second inning, Chabriel Pizarro of the Texas Marshals opened the frame with a sharp single to left. Brett Kauten, from Brazos Valley, then grounded into a fielder's choice, erasing Pizarro at second. Kauten stole second, and then on a steal of third the throw from catcher Mitchel Nau (Acadiana) was bobbled by third basemen Joey Armstrong and rolled into left. Kauten got up and made it home safely as the ball was mishandled by Ricky Sanchez in left, giving the West a 1-0 lead.

The West all-stars then tacked on another run the next inning to take an early 2-0 lead. Blake Kopetsky, the outfielder from the Bombers, led off with a single up the middle, his second of the night. With runners on second and third, after two wild pitches and a hit batter, Romeo Cortina from the Victoria Generals knocked in a run with a ground out, plating Kopetsky.

After three quiet innings, the East side offense powered back in the fourth adding three runs to take the lead away. The west pitching found themselves in a bit of trouble after the bases were loaded on three straight walks with only one out. Strykers first basemen, Dirk Masters, came up with the clutch hit, knocking a single into the gap in right to bring home two. Ty Marlow brought home the final run of the inning on a fielder's choice, putting the East over the West 3-2.

However the lead turned hands once again in the seventh inning as the West battled back into the game plating four runs to regain the lead.

The East pitching got into a bit of hot water after a walk, a hit by pitch, and a single load the bases with no outs. Zachary Marberry, the designated hitter from the Texas Marshals, lined a single right up the middle off the East pitcher Jake Winston, almost knocking him to the ground. The liner brought a runner home and tied the game. Kopetesky then knocked a two run double into left center to regain the lead for the West.

The lead did not last long though, as the East answered right back in the bottom of the inning, scoring five thanks to some help from the Pump Jack all-stars. Ty Marlow got the inning going with an infield single, and Armstrong followed with an opposite field single. Both Jacks advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch, and Strykers outfielder, Brian Smith, who entered the game in the sixth, worked a 12-pitch walk to load the bases with no outs.

With the bases juiced, Kilgore native Matthew Dickey roped a single up the middle to bring home both his Pump Jack teammates home, cutting the deficit to 6-5.

With Conner Fikes at the plate, Smith who was off on the pitch stole third, and Dickey moved to second on a passed ball. Smith scored on a wild pitch to knot the game at six. Brooks Marlow came up huge with a RBI triple into deep center to score Dickey and give the East the 7-6 lead. Kevin Santana, who also entered the game in the sixth, kept the comeback going with a single up the middle to score Marlow and push the lead to 8-6.

The East side added some insurance runs in the eighth inning to widen the game to four. Ty Marlow once again led off the inning with an infield single, and advanced to second on a ground out from Armstrong. The Woodlands outfielder, Brian Smith, rocketed a double into left center to bring home Brooks Marlow for the first run of the inning. Matthew Dickey followed with a single to plate Smith for his third RBI of the night.

However, in an all-star game you can never count one team out, as the West made things interesting in the top of the ninth. David Paiz Jr. got the ball rolling with a walk, and Marberry singled. Both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch from Gandy Stubblefield. Paiz Jr. scored the first run of the inning on another wild pitch, and Marberry followed scoring on a grounder from Matt Eureste. However, Stubblefield, the closer from the Woodlands, battled back to induce back-to-back groundouts to secure the win for the East side.

In order to get every player and pitcher into the game, the festivities rolled into the bottom of the ninth, and the East added yet another run to push the final to 11-8. With one out, Kyle Cedotal revved up the East squad with a single just fair down the line in left. He moved over to second on a groundout from Masters, which brought up the eventual MPV Ty Marlow with two outs. Ty Marlow kept the inning going with a single for his third hit of the night, helping to secure his MVP status. Cedotal scored the final run of the all-star game coming home on an error.

As per usual in an all-star event, a number of pitchers shone for both sides. The East squad was led by Ty Marlow's 1-2-3 two-strikeout inning, but other pitchers contributed to multiple strikeout innings for a total of eleven. Nick Rossetta of East Texas allowed a run in his inning of work, but he struck out two batters. Justin Sinabaldi of Acadiana did not allow a run and struck out two, as did Alex Garza of the Woodlands Strykers who allowed an unearned run to score.

The best pitching performance of the night came from the opposite side of the field with Zac Curtis of the Brazos Valley Bombers fanned the three men he faced in order. Jason Freeman, also of the Bombers, was issued the loss as he allowed five runs on five hits (all earned) in his lone inning of work.

Ironically, John Gremillion of Acadiana had the roughest night for any East squad pitcher, but he picked up the win throwing one inning and getting touched up for four runs (all earned) on three hits.

The night opened with the Home Run Derby witch featured a total of 12 balls crushed over the wall. Kevin Santana was crowned the victor, blasting three home runs in the finals without recording an out.

After a day off on Wednesday, the East Texas Pump Jacks head on the road for a two-game set against the Victoria Generals before returning home to Driller.

The Jacks welcome the Brazos Valley Bombers on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday marks the second giveaway of the season. The first 500 fans will be given LED personal message fans, presented by Convergys. Beat the heat with these great personal fansm which feature a flashing message when you turn them on. Take them everywhere for a great blast of cool air and a unique way to support the Jacks.

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Texas Collegiate League Stories from July 10, 2013


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