Eastern Division Wins NWL All-Star Game

Published on August 4, 2004 under Northwest League (NWL1) News Release

SPOKANE, WA – The best that the Northwest League had to offer squared off on a perfect summer evening for baseball in Spokane, Washington in the Northwest League 50th Anniversary All-Star Game. With the league's top prospects on display, the outfield lights at Avista Stadium nearly stole the show after a power outage caused a one-hour and ten-minute delay in the action, forcing the game to be shortened to just seven innings.

The power delay occurred in the top of the 4th inning with the Eastern Division leading 3-1, thanks to a Ryan Harvey two-run homerun. After the power returned, the teams provided a power surge of their own with each team scoring three runs in the 5th inning. The East prevailed in the seven-inning exhibition game 6-4, with Harvey taking home Most Valuable Player honors, thanks to a 2-for-2 performance that included a homerun, a double, and three RBI. Harvey also walked, completing a perfect night at the plate. Matt Weber of the Boise Hawks earned the win while Vancouver's Travis Ford took the loss for the West. Spokane Indians closer Jarrad Burcie picked up the save for the Eastern Division, recording the final two outs of the game.

The Western Division All-Stars, led by Salem-Keizer Volcanoes Manager Joe Strain, got out of the gates in a hurry in the 5th inning, with back-to-back singles by Clay Timpner of the Volcanoes and Brent Johnson of the Everett AquaSox. Sox catcher Omar Falcon came through in a big way with a two-run triple to score both Johnson and Timpner to tie the game. Salem outfielder Brian Horwitz gave the West a short lived 4-3 lead with an RBI groundout to score Falcon with the go-ahead run.

Spokane Indians Manager Darryl Kennedy and his Eastern Division All-Stars answered back in their half of the 5th inning. Indians third baseman Travis Metcalf got the East rally going with a one-out single off of Ford. A single by Ryan Norwood of the Boise Hawks and a double by Yakima Bears' catcher Orlando Mercado scored Metcalf and Norwood. Harvey followed with an RBI double to score Mercado and give the East the decisive 6-4 lead.

Prior to the All-Star Game, the 6,775 fans in attendance were treated to a power hitting display during the Spokesman-Review Home Run Derby. Yakima's Chris Carter treated fans to an impressive display of raw power, crushing 19 homeruns in the three round win to take home the championship and $500, courtesy of the Spokesman-Review. Carter also earned $1,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Yakima with his victory. Carter's tape-measure shots drew plenty of applause from the fans. Carter hit eight home runs in each the first and second rounds to advance to the finals to face Colt Morton of the Eugene Emeralds. Morton, the league's homerun leader with 13, managed just two in the final round before Carter took the stage. Carter quickly put all doubt aside by belting three homeruns in his first five outs to take the championship.

Teams from the Northwest League will enjoy an off day on Wednesday, August 4th before returning to action on Thursday night. Forty-five games into the 76-game Northwest League schedule, the Eastern and Western Division pennant races are beginning to heat up with 31 games to play. In the Eastern Division, the Tri-City Dust Devils are clinging to a two game lead over the Spokane Indians, while the Boise Hawks and Yakima Bears are just three and four games, respectively, out of first place. In the Western Division, the Everett AquaSox remain in first place where they have sat for much of the 2004 season. The Sox hold a three game lead over the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes and Vancouver Canadians, while the Eugene Emeralds are nine games behind Everett in the West. The Northwest League All-Star Game is proudly presented by Coors, Pepsi, the Spokesman-Review, KHQ TV, and Citadel Broadcasting.

Northwest League Stories from August 4, 2004

• Manager Roy Howell on deck for call-in radio show - Eugene Emeralds
• Matt Tuiasosopo to Join Everett AquaSox - Everett AquaSox
• Saturday Night's Game Sold Out - Spokane Indians
• Volcanoes Begin Six Game Homestand - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
• Eastern Division Wins All-Star Game 6-4 - Eugene Emeralds
• Eastern Division Wins NWL All-Star Game - NWL1

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