The South needed just one homer to defeat the North in the 2014 Northwoods League All-Star Game.
In the fourth, Wisconsin Rapids’ Zack Domingues (Long Beach State) drew a walk with one out. Third baseman Paul DeJong (Illinois State) then singled off Andrew Towns (Walters State Community College).
Pete Alonso (Florida) of the Madison Mallards hit a three-run homer, and the South had a 3-0 lead.
“I knew he was going to throw me a fastball, it’s a showcase-type deal,” Alonso said. “I just tried to catch some barrel on the ball and not ground into a double-play…and the ball traveled for me.”
The right-handed hitter praised the league for this experience. “Being in the dugout with a hall of famer (Robin Yount) was really special…and it was like a big league atmosphere,” he also said.
Green Bay Bullfrogs starting pitcher Roberto Baroniel (Nova Southeastern) picked up the win for the South. In the fourth, the righty gave up one hit and had a strikeout.
Fellow right-hander Tim Black (Central Michigan) of the Madison Mallards pitched a scoreless ninth and had a strikeout. He also recorded his sixteenth save of the season.
The Willmar Stingers’ lefty Towns (3-1) suffered the loss for the South.
Before the game, the North and South teams competed in a home-run derby. The North outhit the South 18-13. First baseman Levi Scott (UT-Arlington) from the Mankato MoonDogs led the North in homers. After hitting a majestic, towering 445 ft. homer, Lakeshore Chinooks outfielder Brett Siddall (Canisius) won the individual home-run title.
The Lakeshore Chinooks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st 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 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel<http://northwoodsleague.com/video/>. For more information, visit www.lakeshorechinooks.com.