FROM NECBL RELEASE
Holyoke, MA (Saturday, July 18, 2009)- The Holyoke Blue Sox were privileged to host the New England Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Game, and the Division that they represent did not disappoint as the Western All-Stars take down the East, 6-5.
But the stories of the day was not just the game itself, the record attendance at MacKenzie Stadium, or the exciting festivities ran all day.
Holyoke Blue Sox all-star Jake Rosenbeck (Buffalo) received the honor of the Most Valuable Player of the game. “It is a great honor to even be on the field with these guys, let alone being named the MVP,” Rosenbeck said.
In the ball game, the third baseman notched two base hits, along with the single in the bottom of the third inning that tied the game at two. When asked about the overall experience of the All-Star game, he was all-smiles. “It was awesome; especially since it was in front of around 5000 people.”
Along with showing his great bat by knocking in an RBI during the game, afterwards he displayed an uncanny ability to gage an attendance number. On the evening, MacKenzie Stadium held a massive 4,906 people, the most in its Blue Sox history (beating out the attendance of the game between the Blues and Team USA, a then-record 4,811). The number beat the top attendance mark of any NECBL All-Star Game, beating the previous mark of 4,100)
Along with Rosenbeck, All-Star starter Jim Wood (Trinity) got in on the action by garnering a single in his two at-bats on the evening.
Fellow Blue Sox outfielder and all-star Stephen Arcure (William and Mary) found time in the game, and nearly made the most of it by scorching a ball to the deep left-center field gap, but had it caught for a tough-luck out. Blue Sox pitcher Chase Brewer (UCLA) got an inning in during the middle of the contest and pitched the way he has nearly all season long: scoreless baseball.
But what the night brought to Holyoke was an incredible atmosphere, crowd, and a well-played baseball game that ended as sweet as it could, with a hometown hero receiving the MVP award.
