The West Division All-Stars posted seven runs in the seventh inning, led by MVP Nik Balog’s three-run home run, to defeat the East Division 11-4 Wednesday at UC Health Stadium.
Four Freedom players participated and they all played critical roles in the game. Tony Vocca threw a 1-2-3 seventh inning and earned the win. On offense, Taylor Oldham, Austin Newell, and Andrew Godbold combined to finish 6-for-9 with two runs and two RBIs.
The East Division cracked the scoreboard in the third inning. David Popkins (Washington) drilled a ball over the left-center field fence to put the visiting side up 1-0.
The West quickly answered in the bottom half of the inning to tie the score. After a single from Rolando Gomez (Evansville) and a double from Josh Allen (Evansville), Aaron Dudley (Normal) delivered a sacrifice fly to left.
The East took a 3-1 lead with an unearned run in the fourth and a solo blast from Taylor Smart (Windy City) in the sixth.
Trailing 3-1, the West took charge of the game with six consecutive hits in the seventh. After an Aaron Gates (Southern Illinois) walk, Francisco Rosario (Southern Illinois), Santiago Churino (Normal), Balog (Evansville), Alex De Leon (Southern Illinois), Godbold, and Oldham all recorded hits to put the West ahead 8-3.
The West added three more in the eighth to pad their lead. Balog launched his second home run of the game, while Newell added an RBI.
Jose Barraza (Lake Erie) took Randy McCurry (Evansville) deep for another East Division solo shot, but the West still came out on top 11-4.
Churino (2-for-2, 2 R, 1 RBI) and De Leon (3-for-3, 2 R) helped out Balog (2 HR, 5 RBI) and the Freedom bats for the West. Vocca earned the win and none of the team’s eight pitchers allowed more than one run.
Mike Devine (Lake Erie) took the loss for the East, while the first five pitchers of the game combined to allow just seven hits and one run. Seven different players recorded the seven hits for the East with Popkins, Smart, and Barraza all posting homers.
The Freedom begin the second half of the schedule with a six-game road swing. It all begins Friday, July 15 when they face the Joliet Slammers at 7:05 p.m.
From Freedom Communications