It was a beautiful night in Etobicoke for the WEMSL 2008 All Star Game!
This year’s teams were captained by Chris from Shooters and Jeanette from Bulldogs, who each had a great group of All Stars show up for the match. Officiating the game were Trev from Rampage and Jeanette, who pulled double-duty when umps were scarce. Viper-Andy filled in for a couple innings so Trev could enjoy his tasty beverage.
As expected, it took a few innings for each team to gel with their teammates on the field. After the White Crew got off to a slow start at the plate, going 3-up, 3-down in the first, they broke out big time and posted a mercy inning in the 2nd. Crews’ Jon Bezanson got it started with a lead-off home run and was followed by six straight hits from his teammates. A couple more in the next column and the White Crew was leading 9-3 after three innings were in the book. The gap wasn’t grand, but it proved to be too much for Jeanette’s group to bounce back from.
The next few innings saw the Green Monsters put on a great defensive performance, as they held the White Crew scoreless in three straight innings. They were able to gain a couple runs back in the fourth, but had two scoreless innings of their own in the 5th and 6th. Chris’ White Crew pumped out another five runs in the 7th and the Monsters answered back with four of their own. Heading into the open 8th and 9th and the White Crew led the game 14-9. Another seven runs from the them in the final two sealed the deal – Final Score: Chris’ White Crew 21, Jeanette’s Green Monsters – 10.
Highlights of the Night:
- Two players went perfect at the plate, both from the White Crew – Crews Control’s Jon Bezanson (3-for-3, with 2 RBIs, 1 SC Fly) and the Moosers’ Adam, (4-for-4, with 4 RBIs). Both players also had a home run, the only two of the night for either team.
- Crews’ Jon Bezanson just missed hitting the cycle – by a triple.
- Steph from the Vipers, was the only gal of the game to post an extra base hit – a double – and finished an impressive 4th in the standings for her team.
- Bulldogs’ Shannon, put up 3 big ribbies on the night, the most of any player on her team. Coupled with Viper-Steph’s two, they were responsible for driving in half of their team’s runs.
- Although both teams each had memorable defensive moments and each turned a double play, there were still a slew of errors by both. Jeanette’s Green Monsters scored 7 of their runs as a result of 5 White Crew fielding errors. On the other side of the scoresheet, the White Crew earned 10 of their 21 runs as a result 6 Green Team errors.
- Neither TBA reached the .500 mark: the Green Monsters went .362, and White Crew only reached .436.
- Ducks on the pond….. Jeanette’s Green Monsters couldn’t get ‘em home, and it hurt ‘em; they left 12 baserunners stranded. Chris’ White Crew only faired a bit better, stranding 9.
- Americo, where were you tonite??? Not on the stat sheet apparently – he gets the distinction of being the only All Star Guy to go O-fer on the night. You’re not alone in the razzing club though; Bryan from Fireballs posted the only “K” of the night by an All Star Guy.
- Finally, the “Brain-Fart of the Night” award goes hands-down to Rob from the Vipers for that bone-headed play at third base in the second inning…. we all remember it, no verbose explanation needed here. But, since he’s one of my boys, I’ll give him props for trying to make up for it with that diving-catch attempt at the end of the game and the fact that he finished at the top of the stats for his team.
Congrats to everyone for another great All Star Game and Cheers to the second half of the season!
