By Luke Tanaka, Radio Broadcaster
Battle Creek, Mich. – Alex Hermeling tossed a 1-2-3 third inning in helping the South Division All-Stars to a 3-1 victory in the 2015 Marshfield Clinic Northwoods League All-Star Game.
With the South up 2-1 in the third inning, South manager Duffy Dyer (Kenosha) called upon Hermeling. All eight pitches the right-hander threw were strikes. He began the inning by forcing Steve Sada (Alexandria) to ground out right back to the mound and finished it with consecutive three-pitch strikeouts.
Lake Bacher (Lakeshore) received the win by pitching a perfect fifth inning, while North starter Brady Anderson (Willmar) picked up the loss. P.J. Schuster Jr. (Kenosha) recorded a one-out save as one of three South pitchers to throw in the top of the ninth.
Three of the game’s four runs scored in the first inning. The North took their only lead of the contest when Luke Stratman (Waterloo) hit a wind-aided home run to straightaway centerfield. The South quickly answered back with two in the bottom half of the inning, as Anthony Gonsolin (Madison) scored Mason McCoy (La Crosse) on a sacrifice fly and Eric Filia (Kenosha) came home on a North Division error.
The South added an insurance run in the eighth with Filia scoring again when Lucas Raley (Lakeshore) grounded out to second base.
Filia was also honored as the “Star of Stars” at the game, wrapping up the contest with two hits, a walk, and two runs scored.
The Bombers return to action tomorrow when they host Filia and division-leading Kenosha. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. It is also Thirsty Thursday presented by Labatt ($2.00 Labatts all night long) and Summertime St. Patty's Day presented by Mcgonigles Pub & Grill. Be sure to wear green and enjoy some Irish music and green beer.
The Battle Creek Bombers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (BOS) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). For more information, visit www.battlecreekbombers.com.
(Story photo courtesy of Battle Creek Photography and Design – Levi Green)
