West beats East during all stars game
The senior and junior division All-Star Games in the North Dufferin Baseball League were played July 8 in Owen Sound with the West beating the East 6-2 in the senior game and the Ballistics hammering the Dirt Devils 12-2 in the junior contest.
This was the West’s sixth straight victory in the annual contest.
The game opened with both sides trading a run in the third inning with the East going ahead with a lone run in the fourth on an Aaron McLeod solo home run.
In the fifth frame the West plated two runs to take the lead and in the top of the ninth added three more runs to extend the lead.
The East was limited to six hits during the contest with McLeod adding a double in addition to his home run in his two at bats. Battery mates Brett Beardsall, Nolan Nicholson, Ryan Bartley and Nate Kramer chipped in with singles.
Brad Petch and Kurt Roy hit three singles during the game and Steve Barrett, Travis Fulford, Travis Saunders, Steve Bourget and Anson Dupuis singled for the winning side.
Petch and McLeod were named the game’s most valuable players for their batting record in addition to Petch stealing two bases and scoring twice.
Stellar pitching performances by both teams kept the game moving at a fast-pace, with the West using three pitchers and the East rotating in five men on the mound.
Mike Derech started for the West, pitching three innings, allowing one run on three hits, and walking one.
Ethan Kennedy-Munsterman came in for the next three innings, giving up one run on one hit, and striking out three.
Nick Hodgson finished the game and over his three scoreless innings allowed two hits and struck out three.
The East had Matt Barr pitch the first two innings. He gave up three hits, walked one and struck out four batters.
Nate Kramer pitched the third and fourth frames, allowing one run on one hit, walking one, and striking out two.
Wayland Wilson entered in the fifth and over his one inning of work gave up two runs on three hits. He fanned one batter.
In the sixth, Ryan Bartley entered and pitched two scoreless innings striking out four of the West batters.
Trevor Smith ended the game pitching the eighth and ninth innings. Three runs crossed the plate on four hits and he struck out one batter.
Ballistics trounce Dirt Devils
The Junior All-Star Game, played after the seniors, was plagued by light rain which ended the contest after six innings of play due to deteriorating field conditions.
Starting in the first inning, the Ballistics plated four runs including a double by Jayden Akins which scored two runs. Akins would score when Ben Nicholson hit a home run during his first at bat.
In an attempt to answer, the Dirt Devils scored two runs in their half of the first. They were held off by strong pitching by the Ballistics for the remainder of the game.
A sloppy sixth inning resulted in eight runs scored for the Ballistics as they took home the win.
In all, the Dirt Devils were limited to three hits in the game, two singles from Nic Guthrie and one from Dale Critchley.
The Ballistics had nine hits. In addition to the double by Akins and the homer from Nicholson, Anson Dupuis, Jhett Winkel, Jack Sinclair, Miya Waldron, Bryce Cameron, Joseph Park, and Brady Janes singled for the winning side.
Toeing the rubber for the Ballistics in the first two innings was Tait Lightheart. He allowed two runs on two hits, walked four, and struck out one.
Akins came in for a lone inning and gave up one hit while fanning two batters.
Nolan MacNeal pitched the fourth inning and walked two batters.
For the remaining two innings Cameron Mulvihill kept the Dirt Devils off the board, walking only one batter.
The Dirt Devils started Wyatt Thompson on the mound. Over his two innings he gave up four runs on three hits, walked one, and struck out two.
Easton Dobbie pitched the next two innings, allowing two hits and fanning one batter.
Cameron Sauder took the ball for one and one-third innings, giving up seven runs on three hits, walking one, hitting two batters, and striking out three.
For two-thirds of an inning, Alex Styles finished the game giving up one run on one hit, hitting one batter, walking one, and striking out one.
Nicholson was named MVP for his two-run homer to start the game for the Ballistics and Guthrie was named for the Dirt Devils for his two hits, two stolen bases, and one run scored.
David Anderson photo: Jack Larmer of Team Dirt Devils begins his slide into home plate as Team Ballistics catcher Anson Dupuis readies to catch the ball and tag out Larmer in the first inning of the Junior Division All-Star Game on July 8. The Ballistics won the game 12-2.
