SANFORD, Fla. – The North All-Stars rallied late in the game and held on for a 6-4 win over the South All-Stars on Saturday night at Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium.
Before the exhibition, twelve of the league’s top power hitters took part in the Home Run Derby. The derby was highlighted by an impressive performance from Chase Smartt (Troy) of the Winter Garden Squeeze. Smartt stroked twelve longballs in the first round, to the delight of the crowd of hundreds in the stands. Smartt was joined in the finals by Garrett Zech (USF) of the Altamonte Springs Scorpions, who launched seven dingers of his own in round one. Zech then defeated Smartt, 4-2, in the final round to take home the derby trophy.
“It was exciting to win the Home Run Derby. I went into trying to just have fun. It was a great atmosphere. It was kind of a shocker for me since I’m not a home run hitter, but it was a good experience,” remarked Zech.
Once both teams were introduced, the game was underway with a first pitch from Michael Johnson (North Carolina A&T/Leesburg). Johnson showed why he was voted in as the top pitcher in the North, retiring the first three South hitters in order on nine pitches, all strikes. In the bottom half, Omar Villaman (Florida Southern/Sanford) scored on a throwing error to make it 1-0 North.
The lead didn’t last long as Anthony George (UCF/Altamonte) hit a solo home run in the top of the second to tie things up.
The South All-Stars threatened in the top of the third after a double by Cristian Rivera (Webber Int’l/Winter Park), a walk to Jacob Silverstein (West Florida/Winter Garden) and a single from Jacob Katzfey (Wichita State/Winter Park) loaded the bases. However, Ronny Orta (Nova Southeastern/Sanford) was able to quell the rally with a strikeout, a popout and a strikeout.
In the bottom of the third inning, Elih Marrero (St. Thomas/Sanford) drove in his teammate Villaman with a groundout, giving the North a 2-1 advantage.
Dany Rodriguez (Reinhardt/Winter Park) and Drew Frederic (Troy/Winter Garden) started the top of the fourth inning with singles. After a strikeout, Rivera came through again with a base hit to plate Rodriguez. After a single from Silverstein loaded the bases, Katzfey scored Frederic with a sac fly to give the South a 3-2 lead.
Again, the North was able to respond quickly. Cody Oerther (High Point/Sanford) led off with a single, and moved to second on a wild pitch. After moving to third on a groundout, Oerther scored on a sac fly from Matthew Mulkey (Winthrop/DeLand), knotting the game at three apiece.
A pair of errors would prove costly in the fifth inning. Camden Williamson (North Carolina A&T/Leesburg) reached on an infield single, and moved all the way to third on a throwing error by the South pitcher. He then scored on the next play when a second throwing error by the
South second baseman allowed Elih Marrero to reach base. After Marrero stole third, he scored on a RBI groundout from Tristen Gagan (Southeast Missouri/Leesburg), making the score 5-3.
Things stayed that way for a while as Kyle Wiseman (Lake Sumter/DeLand), Jimmy Robbins (Troy/Altamonte), Ryan Allain (Florida Tech/Leesburg), Ethan Jones (Flagler/Leesburg) and Drew Peden (Florida Atlantic/Leesburg) all threw scoreless frames.
In the eighth inning, Marrero reached base again with a single. A failed pickoff attempt put Marrero on third base. He was then brought in by Sanford teammate Gunnar Lambert (Florida Atlantic) who sent a double to the right field wall to make it 6-3.
Cristian Rivera tried to lead a late rally for the South in the ninth inning, starting things off with his second double of the game. After moving to third on a groundout, Ray Alejo (UCF/Altamonte) scored Rivera with a single, creating the final score of 6-4.
Rivera took home MVP honors after finishing the day 3-4 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI. Marrero led the North team by going 2-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Williamson, Katzfey and Rodriguez each had two hits on the night as well.
