North Outlasts South in GBL All-Star Game
July 15, 2009 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
St. George RoadRunners News Release
ST. GEORGE, UTAH - The best of the best in the Golden Baseball League converged upon Bruce Hurst Field Tuesday night. Players from Canada, Columbia, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and the States put on a great show that culminated in the Northern Division's 9-6 win in front of 1,477 fans in Southern Utah.
Chico Outlaw outfielder Truan Mehl went 4-for-5 with three doubles and three RBI to be named the game's Most Valuable Player.
The night also had two GBL players signed to affiliated baseball contracts. Chico LHP Donald Brandt was scooped up by the Milwaukee Brewers while Victoria Seals ace Isaac Hess is headed to the minor leagues for the Boston Red Sox. The signings mark the 12th and 13th players in the league to be purchased by MLB teams this year. The league is also inching closer to its 100th player being purchased since 2005.
The Northern Division struck first off Long Beach's Jose Lima. Calgary's Fehlandt Lentini took the second pitch of the game over the wall in left for a solo home run. After a one-out Mehl double, Chad Ehrnsberger (EDM) lined a single to left-center scoring Mehl. Drew Miller (CAL) doubled down the right field line to bring home Ehrnsberger and give the North a 3-0 lead.
Hess and Chico righty Evan White retired the first South batters in order before the visitors extended their lead in the third. Singles by Mehl and Ehrnsberger followed by Miller being hit by a pitch loaded the bags. Wilver Perez from Victoria beat out a double play to notch an RBI when Mehl scored. Colin Moro (CAL) grounded out but brought home Ehrnsberger to increase the lead to 5-0.
Mehl's second double in the fourth scoring Lentini and a one-out solo blast by Perez in the fifth pushed the North All-Star to a 7-0 advantage.
The Southern team finally broke the seal on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth. RoadRunner Angel Sanchez lined a solo homer to left off Viper lefty Joe Sergent and teammate Ruddy Yan doubled in Yosvany Almario. After five innings the North still lead 7-2.
Mehl again punched home two more runs with his final double in the sixth off St. George's Eude Brito.
The North held a 9-2 lead after the seventh inning stretch, but the South squad did not give up. RBI singles by Yuma's Carlos Villalobos and Yan, a sacrifice fly from Skip Adams (TUC) and a run-scoring ground out from RoadRunner A.J. Valentine plated four runs off Capitals reliever Aaron Easton. The South closed to 9-6, but got no closer.
Scoreless innings by Javier Garcia (VIC) and Jason Pearson (EDM) shut down any chance for a Southern comeback. Both squads tallied 13 hits - Mehl leading the Northern charge with four safeties while four Southern stars (Yan, OC's Nick Guerra, LB's Omar Bramasco and Villalobos) each snagged a pair.
Before the game, twelve sluggers participated in the Home Run Derby sponsored by SkyWest Airlines. After one round to cut the field to two, Calgary's Lentini (5 HR) and Tucson's Jim Rushford (4 HR) qualified for the finals. With a quick 2-0 decision, Lentini defeated Rushford to win the All-Star Home Run Derby.
Second half action in the GBL continues Thursday night. In the North, Chico visits Calgary and Edmonton travels to British Columbia to take on the Seals. The Southern Division features the Yuma Scorpions travelling to Orange County and the Tucson Toros playing at Blair Field against the Long Beach Armada.
The St. George RoadRunners resume GBL play on Tuesday, July 21 in Long Beach. The club will play two exhibitions - Thursday, July 16 against a team of high school all-stars from Utah and Monday, June 20 against the Southern Utah Legends.
Both exhibitions can be heard on the RoadRunners Radio Network with John Potter beginning at 7pm.
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Golden Baseball League Stories from July 15, 2009
- Armada elevates Long Beach native Buller to pitching coach - Long Beach Armada
- Big Night in St. George at All-Star Game - GBL
- North Wins GBL All-Star Game as Two Players are Signed by MLB Teams - GBL
- Mehl Named ASG MVP, Brandt Signed By Brewers - Chico Outlaws
- North Outlasts South in GBL All-Star Game - St. George RoadRunners
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