Editors Note: All attempts were made to accurately report coverage of the 2016 Nicewonger All-Star Classic. Please send any corrections to webmaster@sjmsbl.com.
The National League All-Stars used nine pitchers to combine on a three-hit shutout of the American League for a dominating 8-0 win in the 2016 Nicewonger All-Star Classic. The stellar National pitching was matched by a solid error-free defense, a first in SJMSBL All-Star history.
18-year-old youngster Jesse Palafox (Colt .45s) got the start for the Nationals and had only one blemish, a line drive double to the left-center gap by Randy Lashua (Twins). From youngster to veteran, the Nationals wheeled out 63-year-old Superman Mike Denevi (Giants) in the second inning. Denevi also had only one blemish when Rob Born (Indians) fought off an inside pitch for a pop fly single over the shortstop. Dan Karaszewski (Expos) gave up the final American hit in the top of the third, a soft single to left by Shawn Block (San José A's).
Don Chambers (Giants) - being in the right place at the right time - picked up the win when the Nationals broke a scoreless tie with their first run in the bottom of the fourth after Chambers threw a 1-2-3 top of the fourth. Altogether, the Americans were held to 1-2-3 innings four times. 52-year-old perennial All-Star Paul Codiga (Braves) had another solid appearance this year throwing a scoreless 7th.
The American All-Stars had their own solid pitching performances. Shawn Sanford (Yankees) - allowing only a walk - struck out six of the seven he faced in his two innings of work. Ryan Erickson (Yankees) was the only other American pitcher that didn't give up a hit.
The Nationals scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, a misplayed fly to center put Matt Zuvella (Giants) on second base with a double. Zuvella moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a hard line drive single to right by Chris Estrada (Reds).
The Nationals scored another run in the bottom of the fifth. Dwight Washington (Rockies) reached first on a broken bat infield hit. He moved to third when James Parenti's (Pirates) soft grounder to third was thrown past the first baseman. Washington eventually scored on Kyle Fager's (Nationals) line drive single to left.
A two-run rbi double by Chris Chambers (Giants) highlighted the three-run sixth for the Nationals. The Nationals topped off their scoring with a single run in the seventh and two runs in the eighth.
The only American offensive highlight was the Randy Lashua (Twins) line drive double to the left-center field gap in the first inning.
Defensively, the American League was plagued with five errors in the field.
That's it. Another Nicewonger All-Star Classic - named in memoriam for our past umpire-in-chief Dave Nicewonger who lost his battle with cancer in 2011 - is in the books.
Final score - National League 8, American League 0.