All-Star Festivities!

On a warm, windy day in Woodstock, the Valley League all-stars gathered to run a little, try to hit home runs, and play a game.

The festivities started at 5:30 with the home run derby. Now, the first thing that must be understood is that the wind was blowing in, stiffly, against hitters- seemingly against both lefties and righties. Therefore, very few home runs were hit; in fact, just three. In the first round, each hitter received seven swings. The top advancers received 5 more in the second round.

Results from round 1:

Mike Schwartz, Harrisonburg: 0
Kevin Deese, Fauquier: 0
Zach Helgeson, New Market: 0
James Roche, Front Royal: 0
Sanchez Gartman, New Market: 0
Steve Sabins, Winchester: 0
Todd Brazeal, Staunton: 1
Daniel Bowman, Luray: 0
Jared Simon, Front Royal: 0
Ryan Durrence, Covington: 0
Steve McQuail, Front Royal: 1
Matt Blow, Woodstock: 0

Twelve players took seven swings (that's 84 total), with only 2 home runs. Brazeal and McQuail moved to round 2:

Todd Brazeal: 0
Steve McQuail: 1

Ladies and gentleman, the 2009 All-Star Game Home Run Derby Champion is Steve McQuail!

Steve getting ready to hit in the second round, with Woodstock owner Stu Richardson behind the cage

Next up was the 60-yard dash. A few folks set up cones across the outfield, right field to center, and the runners went in pairs. The winner of the dash is Justin Wilson, from Fauquier. Justin did not make the All-Star team, but he came to run. He ran a 6.51. Here's the list of runners and times:

Rob Kral, Waynesboro: 7.16
Todd Brazeal, Staunton: 7.5
Bobby Brown, Harrisonburg: 7.03
Zac Helgeson, New Market: 7.69
Richard Gonzalez, New Market: 7.07
Kent Burford, Staunton: 7.06
Alex McClure, Waynesboro: 7.1
Chris Clinton, Staunton: 6.73
John Dishon, Staunton: 6.57
Ryan Durrence, Covington: 7.47
Brian DeLucia, Rockbridge: 7.2
Blake McDade, Staunton: 7.27
Kenny Mickens, New Market: 7.03 (Unofficial time: 6.7)
Aaron Dudley, Winchester: 7.41
Matt Blow, Woodstock: 7.57
Kevin Garcia, Winchester: 7.18
Zeth Stone, Haymarket: 7.22
AJ Wirnsberger, Luray: 7.23
Greg Hopkins, Haymarket: 7.15
Steve McQuail, Front Royal: 6.93
Dan Bowman, Luray: 6.77
Dave Fallon, Winchester: 7.22
Drew Martinez, Luray: 6.7
Chad Oberacker, Fauquier: 6.75
Bobby Rauh, Winchester: 6.65
Jared Simon, Front Royal: 7.1
Steve Sabin, Winchester: 6.96

Justin Wilson, left, running with Steve McQuail

And then we played a game! In a year that offense seems to rule (as I discussed with Kurt Davidson the other day), this game had almost no offense. A total of one run was scored (by the South), only 12 hits were recorded (9 by the North), only 4 free passes were given, and 21 outs were recorded by strikeout.

The game's only run scored in the top of the 6th inning by the South. After a Ryan Durrence strikeout to lead off the inning, Richard Gonzalez chopped a grounder to third. The North's Steve McQuail threw the ball away, allowing Gonzalez to advance to second on an E5. After another strikeout for out #2 in the inning, Bobby Brown drilled a double in the gap to bring Gonzalez home. That score held up.

Bobby Brown was named the South's MVP after going 2-4 and the game's only RBI. Drew Martinez was named the North's MVP after singling twice in three at-bats, and adding a stolen base.

The losing pitcher was Grant Sasser (although the run was unearned), and the winning pitcher was Alan Watts. Brian Burgess earned the save after a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

South MVP Bobby Brown (Arizona)


Drew Martinez, North's MVP

Another fun thing that I worked on throughout the game is getting the highest radar reading for each pitcher. This meant that I was able to sit with the scouts right behind home plate, and, just like last year, listened to, and participated in, some great conversations about player development and scouting procedure.

Here's the best fastball each pitcher recorded:

Ian Marshall, Woodstock: 94
Eric Alessio, New Market: 93
Matt Benedict, Haymarket: 91
Heith Hatfield, Woodstock: 89
David Gibson, Staunton: 84
Greg VanSickler, Front Royal: 89
Matthew Shepherd, Waynesboro: 93
BJ Martin, Fauquier: 87
Cassidy McDaniel, Covington: 87
Grant Sasser, Haymarket: 84
Tyler Sanders, Luray: 89
Alan Watts, Rockbridge: 90
Tyler Truxell, Luray: 88
David Hayes, Fauquier: 85
Chris Enourato, Waynesboro: 91
DJ Hicks, Luray: 92
Jack Leathersich, Haymarket: 91
Chris Sorce, Harrisonburg: 94 (Seattle's crosschecker was there to see Chris- the Mariners drafted Sorce this year)
Guido Knudson, Woodstock: 90
Brian Burgess, New Market: 86

One last picture: Rob Kral, left, running wtih Todd Brazeal

One last note, filed under weird. Jerry Carter and his family brought the funzone package from Waynesboro, so folks could try out their arms against a radar gun. The highest reading was a whopping 91 mph. When it was announced, the scout sitting to the right mentioned that he might have to go find the person who did it.

Turns out that the culprit was Luray's Ben Alsup, masquerading as the public. And yes, he hit 91 while throwing in cowboy boots.

All in all, it was a fun, but tiring, night!

Comments

[Eric West]

Velocity means a lot to most of the scouts in attendance, but did anyone have an above average breaking ball that the scouts seemed to like?

[JohnLL]

Eric,

It was fascinating listening to the scouts all night, but they didn't say too much about really good breaking balls- they more often mentioned when one didn't break (a spinner). The one that created a few gasps, though, was a slider Brian Burgess threw in the 9th inning.

I really need to go to scout's school.

JLL

[Jerry Carter]

Great wrap-up coverage of the day!