Becker, Cookson Silence All-Star Bats The best MVABL players took to the field Saturday afternoon, August 12, at Action Sports Center for the 2017 All-Star Game. Team Anderson bested Team Wilson 6-3 in the second inter-squad All-Star Game. With the first-ever ASG rainout on July 23rd, a handful of original All-Star members were unavailable for the make-up. Coach Rick Anderson of the South Dayton Slammers was forced to make due with a limited pitching roster, but he made it work with the three hurlers he sent to the mound that day. In an occurrence not seen yet during All-Star play, both starting pitchers came from the same regular season team. Dayton Rangers pitcher Joe Becker was making his second straight All-Star start, this time for Team Anderson. On the flip side of the coin, Team Wilson sent out rookie flamethrower Ryan Kemp of the Rangers. Kemp allowed a leadoff single to Wright Knights outfielder Jerel Bristol, but got three groundouts to second base and three strikeouts to blank Team Anderson over two innings of work. Becker followed suit for the first two frames before Team Wilson got on the board in the top of the third. Miami Valley Expos outfielder Jake Walters doubled and scored on Slammers’ Dan Barhorst’s sacrifice fly. But the lead was short-lived as Team Anderson jumped on reliever Matt Redman of the Camden Redlegs, the season’s Wins leader, in the bottom of the inning. Eric Becker of the Rangers worked a one-out walk and stole second base. Jerel Bristol doubled him home to tie the game. Redlegs third baseman Mike Hartman followed with a double of his own, plating Bristol for a 2-1 lead. Joe Becker notched a 1-2-3 fourth inning to wrap up his performance, and Team Anderson provided him with some insurance, scoring three times in the bottom of the fourth as they batted around. Knights shortstop Alec Hutzelman led off with a sharp single and moved to third following a one-out double by Neil Stafford of the Kettering Royals. Wild Boars outfielder Joey Wilson laced a single to center to score Hutzelman and increase the lead to 3-1. Eric Becker reached base following a tough hop that ate up the third baseman, loading the bases. Redman got the hot-hitting Bristol to ground to third, where Royals’ Chris Flaherty fired home to cut down the runner at the plate. But Redman wasn’t out of the clear yet as regular-season teammate Hartman smacked an RBI single and Royals’ Christian Evans did the same to give Team Anderson a 5-1 advantage after four innings. Team Wilson looked to get back in the swing of things in the top of the fifth as the bottom of the order greeted reliever Joey Wilson of the Wild Boars with three straight hits. Brehon Perry of the Mad River Machine singled and tried to steal second, but was gunned down by Redlegs catcher Ryan Gross. The next batter, Chris Flaherty, doubled and Jake Walters singled him home to make it 5-2. But Joey Wilson settled down to strike out the next two batters to alleviate any more damage. Kevin Reynolds of the Machine relieved Redman for Team Wilson in the fifth and tossed two scoreless innings allowing one hit and one walk. Team Anderson turned the ball over to 21-year old rookie lefthander Michael Cookson of the Royals in the sixth inning and struck out six of the first eight batters he faced. Meanwhile, Team Anderson manufactured another run in the bottom of the seventh as Hutzelman doubled and later scored on Stafford’s sacrifice fly. Cookson ran into some trouble in the top of the eighth. After striking out the first two batters, Cookson loaded the bases with three straight walks. Brandon Marshall of the Rangers made it four-in-a-row as his free pass scored Redlegs’ Matt Mattice to bring the score to 6-3. But Cookson settled and K’d the next batter to leave the tying run at first base. Cookson wrapped up the ninth to earn the save, setting an All- Star Game record for a relief pitcher by striking out 8 batters. That is the most strikeouts by an All-Star pitcher since Beavercreek Sox lefty Jon Venters k’d 9 in the 2014 contest. Joe Becker earned his first All-Star Game win, and Matt Redman suffered the loss. NOTES from the Game: Jerel Bristol has the longest active streak to appear in an All-Star Game (5) Over half of the players (19) made their first All-Star appearance Camden Redlegs third baseman Mike Hartman took home Offensive Player of the Game honors going 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and 2 RBIs. It was the third straight All-Star Game where a third baseman took home the MVP award. The Defensive Player award was shared between Dayton Rangers pitcher Joe Becker and Kettering Royals pitcher Michael Cookson. Becker threw 4 innings, allowed 3 hits and 1 run to earn the win. Cookson tossed the final 4 innings, allowing 1 hit, 4 walks, and struck out 8 for the save. Previous All-Star Award winners: MVP – Glenn Yawger (Knights) 2016; Ian Huss (Sox) 2015; Jeff Tetrault (Knights) 2014; Matt Stiffler (Mariners) 2013; Paul Little (Indians) 2012; Matt Stiffler (Shockers) 2011; David Moss (Thunder) 2010; Taylor Hause (Shockers) 2009; Brennan Glass (Sox) 2008; Chris Tabler (Sox) 2007; Gabe Thomas (Woodpeckers) 2005; Ron Runyon (Royals) 2004 Defense – 2B Brennan Sokowoski (Machine); 2B Brandon Howard (Redlegs) 2015; P Jon Venters (Sox) 2014; 2B Jeremy Wylie (Braves) 2013; P Matt Klaus (Mariners) 2012; OF Jacob Robinson (Redlegs) 2011; SS Brian Duffy (Royals) 2010; Steve Dunlap (fan) 2009; P Dustin Lacey (Sox) 2008; SS Jacob Robinson (Rangers) 2007; P Toby Stewart (Woodpeckers) 2005; SS Mike Leach (Astros) 2004 Results of the 2017 HR Derby: 16 participants took their shot at the title of HR Derby King. Four players hit home runs in the first round and each advanced to the second round. Ryan Kemp hit 2 HRs and Christian Evans, Brehon Perry, and Paul Wilson each hit 1. As the second round involves carry-over totals from Round 1, Evans, Perry, and Wilson needed at least one home run to tie Kemp. Evans hit first in the second round and went scoreless. Wilson followed with one home run to keep him in the running. Teammate Perry smacked two in his at-bat to take the lead by one. Kemp then hit two home runs in his first four swings for the win, taking home the cash prize and the title of 2017 MVABL HR Derby Champion. .