West is best in FL All-Star Game
QUEBEC CITY – The West Division used a two-run inning and some strong pitching to beat the East 2-1 Wednesday night in the Frontier League’s all-star game played at Stade Canac.
Washington, which has the best record in the league at 38-18, had five players selected to the game and three participated.
Outfielder Caleb McNeely, who was not voted into the game as a starter for the West, did get a starting nod and played the entire game. McNeely went 0-for-4 at the plate but made a key defensive play in the bottom of the sixth inning. McNeely caught a fly ball for the second out of the inning and threw out Trois-Rivieres’ Raphael Gladu, who attempted to tag and score from third base.
Washington starting pitcher Kobe Foster pitched a scoreless and hitless bottom of the second inning. The lefthander registered one strikeout and walked one.
Wild Things relief pitcher Christian James entered the game with the West leading 2-0 in the sixth. James inherited a runner on third base with one out. Gladu hit an opposite-field RBI double down the left-field line to make it 2-1. Gladu then stole third base, setting up the fly ball and double play to McNeely.
Also chosen for the all-star game were Washington starting pitcher Zach Kirby and closer Gyeongju Kim. Washington pitching coach Alex Boshers was part of the West’s coaching staff.
The West struck first, in the fifth inning, when Evansville’s David Menham and Schaumburg’s Christian Fedko hit back-to-back doubles for a 1-0 lead. Fedko made it 2-0 when he scored on a single by Joliet catcher Drew Stengren.
Menham, who had two doubles, was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
Gateway’s Lukas Veinbergs was the winning pitcher and Lake Erie’s Trevor Kuncil had a four-out save.
Both teams were held to five hits.