NDBL players dazzle at all-star game in Midland
David Anderson photo: Eric Orser of the East Division All-Stars tosses the baseball to Ian Rettie to make an out against West Division All-Stars’ Chris Greer at first base during the annual all-star game contest July 4 in Midland. The East won the game 7-1 over the west.
The annual all-star games of the North Dufferin Baseball League were played July 4 in Midland.
The senior division game was on tap first between the West and East Stars. The east took an easy 7-1 win. The junior division game between the Crushers and the Slammers was a tight affair with the Crushers prevailing with an 11-9 win.
For the senior game both sides scored a run in the first inning of play but the East pitching was near perfect only allowing the West five hits over the nine-inning contest.
The East scored a run in each of the second and third frames and added two more in each of the fifth and sixth for the final of 7-1.
The East had some timely hits by Kurt Roy with two singles and Chris Fafalios with two doubles. Rob Parent, Mitchell Pike, Matt Drury, Ian Rettie, Josh Hickey, and Colin McKeen each singled for the winning team.
Fafalios also topped the runs column when he crossed the plate three times.
The West managed hits from Tristan Cabral who started the game with a triple and run scored. Sean Connor, Tyler Linger, Kevin Dumond and Mack Morrish chipped in with singles.
Brad Crosby started on the mound for the East and through three innings allowed one run on two hits, one walk and struck out three batters. Drury pitched the next three innings giving up two hits and two walks with Rettie closing the game for the final three innings allowing no hits, one walk and striking out one batter.
Pitching duties for the West fell to Chad Watters who over four innings allowed three runs on three hits, one walk, and sitting down two. Liam Jacques came in for two innings and allowed four runs on six hits striking out one. Jesse McIntyre finished the game in the eighth and ninth frames allowing two hits while fanning one.
The stellar performance by Fafalios crowned him MVP for the East going two for two, a hit by pitch, and three runs scored. The West MVP was Cabral who tripled and scored the only run for his team.
The junior division game had the Crushers meet the Slammers, each having players from all the teams in the league and then divided into two squads. The result was a very close ball game and some interesting plays. In the end, the Crushers took the game 11-9 over the Slammers.
Picking up hits for the Crushers were Mac Sealy, Alex Banski, Devon Wu with two hits, Matt Gill with four, Brayden French with a single and a double, Riley Davies with two singles and a double, and Josh Wilkins who singled and had two doubles.
The Slammers got on the scoreboard with hits from Brennan McGillvary, Jordan Kight, Cole Newton, Aaron White, Cam McPherson, and two hits each from Brett Scott, Rielly Swailes, Tristan Hill and Alex Lojko. John Malarczyk had the only homerun of the day, which came in the eighth inning.
Both teams had four players toe the rubber. The Crushers started with Wu for the first four innings. Wu allowed one run on five hits, had one hit batsman and fanned six batters. Matt Gill followed for two innings allowing five runs on four hits, two walks, and one strike out.
Brayden French pitched the seventh inning giving up no runs and allowing only two hits. Aaron Giroux ended the game giving up three runs on four hits, one walk and sitting down two for his two innings.
Carter Chapley started on the mound for the Slammers giving up seven runs on eight hits, walking four and hitting one batter. He had two strikeouts through his three innings. Aaron White pitched four frames allowing two runs on seven hits, three walks, and three strikeouts. Alex Lojko pitched one inning allowing two runs on two hits with two walks. Jordan Kight pitched the final inning and had two hit batters while giving up no hits or runs.
Most valuable players for the juniors went to Gill of the Crushers for his work at the plate going four for four, one run scored and pitching two innings. Malarczyk of the Slammers picked up the title for his home run, two RBI’s and three defensive catches in left field.
