West All-Stars Win PGCBL All-Star Game, 8-5
July 19, 2018 - Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) News Release
ELMIRA, N.Y. - The 2018 Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Game was a rousing success, as the top players from each of the league's 13 teams came together in Elmira at Dunn Field. The West swept the day's competitions, as Newark's Allen Murphy (St. John Fisher) won the Home Run Derby, and the West won the All-Star Game 8-5 for their first win in league history. Jamestown's Alex O'Donnell (Mercyhurst) won MVP honors.
The West All-Stars never trailed on Wednesday night, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Early singles from Jamestown's Ben Livorsi (St. Louis) and O'Donnell led to runs on an East error, and Murphy drove in the third run of the inning with an RBI double. Any further threat was extinguished by Utica's Khalyd Cox (Savannah State), who threw out Murphy at third to end the inning.
O'Donnell continued his MVP efforts in the bottom of the third inning, singling and coming into score after two stolen bases and a West throwing error. The efforts of the Mercyhurst product increased the home team's lead to 4-0 after three innings.
The first home run of the night extended the West lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning. With Elmira's Jordan Westburg (Mississippi State) on first base, Zac Miller (Delaware) of the Geneva Red Wings clubbed a deep two-run home run over the left field wall of Dunn Field, extending the lead for the West Division to six runs.
Two more runs crossed the plate for the West in the sixth inning, concluding the scoring for the victorious side. Bradley Roberto (Franklin Pierce) from Adirondack reached on a one-out walk, and was driven by Julian Kurych (Wilmington) of the Watertown Rapids on a triple. Kurych scored to give the West an 8-0 lead on an RBI single by his Watertown teammate from Daniel Little (Richmond).
In the top of the seventh inning, the East All-Stars rallied for five runs, bringing the score within three runs heading into the closing stretch of the ballgame. Mohawk Valley DiamondDawg Stephen Furman (Iona) got the East on the board on an RBI single that scored Oneonta Outlaw Kyle Ruedisili (Washington and Lee). Saugerties' Tyler Kelder (St. Bonaventure) added a two-run single in the frame, while Glens Falls' Nick Kondo (UAlbany) and Mohawk Valley's Ryan Toohers (Villanova) also drove in runs for the East, scoring Albany's Cameron Masterman (Louisville) and Kondo.
Hometown Pioneer Rhyse Dee (Wake Forest) picked up the victory for the West Division, who had not won an All-Star Game in PGCBL history, losing each of the six previous East vs. West matchups.
The evening's festivities began with the newest edition of the PGCBL Home Run Derby. Murphy was one of six hitters to advance to the final round by virtue of hitting two or more home runs in the opening one-minute round. The Newark Pilot then claimed victory with two home runs in the final round.
Wednesday night's All-Star Game, which was played in front of a sizable, lively crowd at Dunn Field, showcased some of the best the PGCBL has to offer. The assembled All-Stars will now return to their teams for the league's stretch run before the PGCBL Playoffs begin on August 1.
Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 19, 2018
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- Dutchmen Staff Bends but doesn't Break in Win over Saugerties - Albany Dutchmen
- West All-Stars Win PGCBL All-Star Game, 8-5 - PGCBL
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