Central Amherst 'Major' Americans prevail in all-star game

Paslaqua and Robert Rummings.

The Central Amherst "Major" all-stars from the American League defeated the National League, 8-6, on June 16 at the Wehrle diamonds on June 16.

Pitcher Michael Schake started for the National League and kept the American League scoreless.

Jake Alessandra then took the mound for the American League and kept the side scoreless with an outstanding catch in left field by Ben Morina.

The American League bats came alive in the second, with hits by Robert Rummings, Andrew Pierino and Morina, scoring Joe Insalaco and giving the Americans a 3-0 lead.

Pierino's pitching kept the National League scoreless in the second, despite hits by Fulham and Patrick Gramza. Rummings threw out Dan Fulham's attempt to steal second on a picture-perfect throw to George Zimmerman, who put on the tag.

In the third, Patrick Yanity homered a towering blast just off straight-away center, scoring Alessandra and Zimmerman in the process and extending the American League lead to six.

Kevin Doherty pitched effectively for the American League in the third, helping to keep the Nationals scoreless. Eddie Doherty then pitched for the Nationals, allowing only one run from a long line drive by Nick Hillebrand, raising the American League lead to seven.

right photo, are: front row - Nick Boccio, Jim Croglio, Madison Maley, Patrick Gramza, Matt Connolly, and Joe Ortalani; second row - Matt MacDonald, Michael Schake, Luke White, Joe Comer, Eddie Doherty, Paul Schmitt, Jack Lyons, Chris MacPherson, Michael Uba, and coach Rick Pepe.

C.J. Westcott took the mound for the American League in the fourth. Despite two runs by the National League, Westcott kept his cool, retiring the last two National batters with the bases loaded.

As the American League bats were silenced in the fifth and sixth innings from exceptional pitching by Joe Comer and Joe Ortalani, the Americans responded with their own scoreless inning with pitching by Morina and fielding by Robert Paslaqua. The Nationals scored again in the sixth with a long double by Michael Uba, scoring Ortalani.

The Americans scored one more in the seventh off Matt MacDonald but the Nationals weren't done. In the bottom of the seventh, the Nationals got scores by Comer and Jim Croglio, but P.J. Anders, pitching for the Americans, found a way and preserved the American League victory.

Rounding out the all-stars for the Americans were Sean Brown, Pat Noonan and Evan Thielman. They were coached by Mark Nagy. Nick Boccio, Matt Connolly, Jack Lyons, Chris MacPherson, Madison Maley, Paul Schmitt and Luke White rounded out the Nationals, who were coached by Rick Pepe and Jack Murray.