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North Gets Past South In EOBL

Photo by Kim North/ South catcher Cody Ray reaches for a high throw as North baserunner Zach Greene slides in safely with the winning run during Monday’s East Ohio Baseball League All-Star Game at Memorial Park in St. Clairsville.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The hot summer sun was shining brightly on the Memorial Park diamond Monday, but some two-out lightning in the bottom of the sixth lifted the North to a 5-3 nod over the South in the annual East Ohio Baseball League Kyle Rose All-Star Game.

Through five at-bats, the North was held to a pair of harmless infield singles. It finally exploded in the sixth when it hit for the cycle in rallying past the South.

Union Local’s Ty Kildow hit a soft single into left field leading off and Bellaire’s Gabe Rejonis, who owned the previously mentioned hits, drew a walk from Martins Ferry’s Gerald Pintarich. However, a popup and liner to right left the North down to its last out. Kaden Blomquist, playing his last high school game on his home field, sent an 0-2 offering to the gap in left-center for a double as Kildow and Rejonis scored to make it 3-2.

Zach Greene, also from UL, smashed a 1-2 pitch to deep right-center that easily scored Blomquist to tie the contest. Greene, however, wasn’t satisfied with a double and chugged for third. When the relay throw was bobbled, he headed for home and slid in safely with the eventual game-winning run.

“I rounded second (base) and saw where (third base) Coach (Tom) Sliva was going to hold me. All of a sudden I look up and he’s yelling ‘go, go, go,’ so I took off running. I came around third and (catcher) Cody Ray was blocking the line so I took a slide inside, touched the plate with my right hand and the umpire called me safe.” Greene said. “It was a crazy play.”

Bellaire’s Thor Duffy, who started on the mound for the North, belted the next pitch well down the left-field line for a solo homer.

“We got hot there with two outs,” said Sliva, who served as the North manager. “We scored all of the runs with two outs.”

The South tallied all of its runs in the third when Union Local’s Ray drew a leadoff walk and Martins Ferry’s Jacob Johnson was hit by a pitch. Monroe Central’s Cooper Rush knocked in Ray with a base hit to right. Johnson took third and Rush went to second on the throw home. Austin Bassa, who started for the South, laced a double to left-center that plated Johnson and Rush for a 3-0 advantage.

However, the South managed a trio of hits over the final three innings. It also stranded runners at first and second in the sixth with no outs as Kildow shut the door.

The South also threatened in the seventh when Martins Ferry’s Cory Bennett legged out an infield single, but he was erased on a 6-4-3 double play.

“I thought it was a well-played game in beautiful weather,” South manager Mike Valesko, of Harrison Central, said. “For some of these kids this might have been the last time they will play a competitive sporting event. That’s what is so unique about baseball all-star games because it marks the end of their high school careers. If they aren’t going to college to play, then it’s one last time they get to represent their schools and their families. It’s time to have a little fun.”

Kildow picked up the win. The third North pitcher, he went the final three inningss, striking out one and not issuing a walk. Pintarich suffered the loss. He fanned one and walked one, while also stroking a leadoff double in the fifth, only to be erased on a forceout.

“That was fun. It’s always fun when the kids all get together because they all know each other,” Sliva said. “They play Legion ball together and play travel ball on the same teams. I have a good time.

“All I ever tell them is play the game the way you’re supposed to play it. You are representing yourself, your school and your family. They do. It’s nice to see them go out and hustle and do what they are supposed to do.”

GAME NOTES

∫ Players from Bellaire, Bridgeport, St. Clairsville and Union Local formed the winning squad, while players from Barnesville, Harrison Central, Martins Ferry, Monroe Central, River and Union Local comprised the South.

∫ Only seniors were permitted to play.

∫ The game was shortened from the usual nine innings to seven due to the extreme heat.

∫ Veteran umpires Jim Little (home plate) and Donnie Madzia (bases) worked the game. Madzia, along with Lance Jacob and Mike Cox, will work an Ohio state tournament Division IV semifina Thursday at Huntington Park in Columbus.

∫ Dane Morgan, a EOBL mainstay and current commissioner, threw out the first pitch.

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