Mason McCoy and Steve Passatempo share co-MVP honors
By Robert Sherman – Kenosha Kingfish
Kenosha, Wis. – In the first ever Northwoods League All-Star Game hosted by the Kenosha Kingfish, the North Division was able to come away with a 9-5 win over the South.
The game arrived with heavy anticipation, after a thrilling Home Run Derby the day before. Kenosha’s own Marty Bechina (Michigan State) took the derby crown with six blasts. Steve Passatempo (Umass Lowell) of the Wisconsin Woodchucks finished second on the night with five home runs. Zach Jarrett (UNC-Charlotte) of Madison and Daulton Varsho (UW-Milwaukee) of Eau Claire tied for third with four apiece, and the South Division won the team competition 24-19.
The All-Star Game saw the North Division notch an impressive victory over the South. The North came right out of the gates hot with seven runs off of seven hits in the first inning. The North would then never look back from their 7-0 lead.
Steve Passatempo tried to will the South Division back with a 2-run blast to left field in the third inning. Marty Bechina and Passatempo came back with RBI singles later in the ball game to try and close the gap, but the North was able to hold on down the stretch.
Mason McCoy (Iowa) and Steve Passatempo shared the “Star of Stars” award presented to the All-Star Game’s MVP. McCoy went 3 for 6 with a double and an RBI to pick up the award. While Steve Passatempo’s 4 for 5, 3-RBI day paced the South Division lineup and won him co-MVP honors. Luke Ringhofer (South Dakota State) from St. Cloud also had an impressive day at the dish for the North, finishing up 4 for 5 with an RBI.
Wednesday will be the final day of the All-Star break, and then all 18 teams will be back to action on Thursday night.
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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 22-year-old summer collegiate 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 150 former 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 (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store and on Google Play.