NYPL State College Spikes

Spikes Star in NYPL All-Star Game, Blue Tops Red, 7-4

Published on August 21, 2019 under New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - The State College Spikes made an impact on the 2019 New York-Penn League All-Star Game as Andrew Warner went 2-for-2 at the plate, Andre Pallante pitched a scoreless inning, and David Vinsky and Martin Figueroa each scored a run, but the Red s quad fell to the Blue, 7-4, on Wednesday night in the NYPL's annual showcase of future stars at Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George.

Warner, who started in left field for the Red squad, led off the second inning with a single to left off Garrison Bryant of Brooklyn. The product of Columbia College in Missouri then singled to left in the fourth to put Figueroa at third.

Vinsky, the starting designated hitter for the Red squad, produced a fielder's choice in the same frame to plate Figueroa and bring in the first run for the Red. Vinsky would later cross the plate himself on a single from Eliezer Alfonzo of Connecticut.

Figueroa started at first base for the Red team, showing off the versatility that has made him a contributor for the Spikes after not having played the position as of yet in the regular season. The native of nearby Elizabeth, N.J. grounded out and reached on an error in his two plate appearances, and made a fine pick to finish a second-inning double play.

Warner also shone defensively, throwing out a runner at second base in the opening frame.

Spikes pitching made its first appearance in the fourth, when right-hander Andre Pallante came into the game. Pallante, the Cardinals' 2019 fourth-round draft choice, retired all three batters he faced, one via strikeout, on 16 pitches, nine of them for strikes.

Left-handed reliever Hector Villalobos capped the All-Star evening for the Spikes as he entered the exhibition contest in the sixth. Villalobos allowed a solo home run to Tri-City's Nathan Perry, but rebounded to finish the inning with just that hit and a walk against him. Villalobos also struck out two batters and tossed a total of 18 pitches, 12 of them for strikes.

The Blue squad took a 4-0 lead after three innings, and coasted to victory. It was the first win for the Blue team after an All-Star format change, succeeding previous matchups between American League and National League affiliates and between North and South teams.

Perry and Aberdeen left fielder Kyle Stowers each homered, with Stowers going deep for a solo shot in the eighth off Batavia's Brock Love.

Right-hander Matt Cleveland of Brooklyn was given credit for the win for the Blue, with West Virginia's Cameron Junker pitching a scoreless ninth for the save. Red starter Anderson Munoz of Staten Island took the loss after allowing a first-inning run.

The game was delayed one hour, seven minutes at the outset by a thunderstorm that rolled through Staten Island.

The Spikes' quintet of All-Stars will rejoin the team in Batavia on Thursday to begin a three-game set against the Muckdogs. State College is just two games out of first place in the New York-Penn League entering the set, with West Virginia leading Batavia by a percentage point for the top spot. Right-hander Adrian Mardueno (3-2) will get the ball for State College, with Batavia's starter as yet unnamed.

The Spikes then return to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park after the jaunt to Batavia for a three-game home set against the West Virginia Black Bears (Pittsburgh Pirates) that starts with Sunday's Trace McSorley Bobblehead Giveaway presented by The Nittany Lion Inn & The Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center and State College's ESPN Radio 1450 for the first 1,000 fans with FIREWORKS after the game presented by First National Bank.

Tickets for all four games remaining on the 2019 home schedule, are currently on sale through the Spikes Ticket Office. Tickets can be purchased by calling (814) 272-1711 or by visiting the Ticket Office in person from 9 a.m. to the end of the game on gamedays Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to the end of the game on gamedays Saturday and Sunday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on non-gamedays Monday through Friday.

Fans can also buy and download single-game tickets by visiting StateCollegeSpikes.com.

Catch all of the action on Thursday via the Spikes Radio Network, presented by Penn State Sports Medicine, Official Healthcare Provider of Penn State Athletics, at 6:50 p.m. with Spikes Live, presented by Mount Nittany Health, on the air from Dwyer Stadium. The Spikes' radio broadcast can also be heard worldwide through the "Listen Live" link on StateCollegeSpikes.com, provided by the club's flagship radio home, NEWSRADIO 1390 WRSC, as well as the TuneIn Radio app.

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New York-Penn League Stories from August 21, 2019


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