|
|
 |
ALL-STAR Game on July 7th
May 11, 2006 - 09:00 PM --
Reed garners MVP honors for Perky
Lansdale's Markowitz throws only 1-2-3 inning for Perky hurlers
The local stars beat the Perky league 5-3, just as fate said they would.
By Keith Groller Of The Morning Call
A lightning strike from a recent thunderstorm has put the Limeport Stadium scoreboard on the fritz, freezing the lights for runs scored at 5-3 in favor of the home team.
Well, as it turned, the final score of Friday night's All-Star game between the Blue Mountain League and Perkiomen Valley Twilight League at Limeport was … you guessed it … 5-3, and in favor of the home team — in this case, the BML.
That coincidence was just one of many things that worked out for the two amateur baseball leagues as they staged a well-played showcase before several hundred fans on a postcard-perfect night in one of the area's most treasured sports venues.
As a bonus, the two leagues made a sizable donation to the American Cancer Society.
''It was a beautiful night,'' BML president Eric Charles said. ''The two leagues are very comparable and it was a well-played, crisp game. We couldn't ask for more.''
The nine-inning game was completed in a tidy 21/2 hours and featured a little of everything.
There were three home runs — two by the BML, including a two-run blast by game MVP Ian Burley of the Hellertown Royals.
There were RBI doubles by the Royals' Chris Grynaviski and Mark Nicholas and a double play turned by the BML that went from an Oriole (second baseman Ehren Steiner) to a Creeker (shortstop Jim Borton) to a Cardinal (first baseman Scott Thomas).
There was also plenty of fine pitching as six BML hurlers tossed shutout innings.
The Perkiomen League pitchers were nearly as sharp.
''This was a good experience,'' said Grynaviski, the 2005 BML MVP. ''This was my first all-star game and it was great to meet all of the guys in our own league who you go against all the time, and finally get to know them a little bit.''
It was not a coincidence that the Royals, the defending BML champs and the team in first place again this summer, put their stamp on the win.
Besides big hits by Burley, Grynaviski and Nicholas, Hellertown's Ryan Amey, Jeff LaPorta, and Rocky Gencarelli pitched an inning apiece.
''This was very good competition,'' said Burley, the Notre Dame-Green Pond and Lafayette College product. ''We had no idea what to expect. It was fun to see what else is out there. It was also great to meet guys from your own league, put the animosities aside for a night and realize that we're all the same — we all love the game of baseball.''
Burley (2-for-3) scored the go-ahead run in the fifth. He singled, reached second on a wild pitch and scored on Grynaviski's double to center.
The BML added an insurance run in the sixth when Brandon Nardella walked, stole second and scored on Nicholas' double.
After getting the tying run in the top of the fifth, the Perkiomen League had runners in each of its last four-at-bats, but couldn't score.
Still, Perkiomen manager Bob Letter had no complaints after the leagues got together for the first time since the Perky League stars routed the BML 22-3 on July 23, 1988, also at Limeport.
''You can't beat this ballpark and the great setting,'' said Letter of the Collegeville Black Sox. ''We're very comparable leagues, both using wooden bats. It's a great way to spend a Friday night. We've had trouble finding a league to play us. We played a few other leagues, but they stopped. This was great experience. Hopefully, we'll do it again.''
| |
|
