The first annual Blue Chip Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Game held at Mitchel Field saw a little bit of everything. Good pitching, defense, and timely hitting resulted in a 2-0 South victory.
The game began as a pitcher’s duel as the North Division’s starter, Steven Ortiz (Nor’easters, Cochise College) and teammate Michael Storms (Nor’easters, Adelphi University) combined to toss two shutout innings. The South Division’s starter, Rich Gennaro (Astros, Molloy College) and Andrew Nagel (Storm, Amherst College) matched those zeros through two innings. The South Division struck in the top of the third. Vinny Pecora (Seminoles, Molloy College) led off with a single and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. With one out, Joe Stewart (Seminoles, Mt. St. Mary’s College) drove in Pecora with a single giving the South a 1-0 lead. After reaching on a fielder’s choice, Carlos Espinosa (Mansfield University) stole second base. Espinosa came around to score on a throwing error on Brian Sanders’ (Storm, Dominican College) single giving the South a 2-0 lead.
As the sun set and the lights turned on, pitching dominated the game. From the bottom of the third inning on, Billy Amendola (SUNY Old Westbury, Thunder), Chris Wiercinski (Molloy College, Seminoles), Robert Milopsky (Hillsborough CC, Titans Blue), Drew Silverman (University of New Haven, Titans Blue), Andrew Williams (Storm, Adelphi University), and Dom Micara (SUNY Farmingdale, Astros) of the South Division combined to keep the North scoreless for the final 7 innings. The six pitchers struck out seven North batters allowing one hit to Chris Peralta (Molloy College, Titans Gold).
From the top of the fourth inning on, Patrick Morrissey (Monroe College, Sound), Mike Volgende (Tufts University, Redbirds), Kyle Issing (Titans Gold), Michael Laskowski (SUNY Purchase, Diamond Spikes), and Bryan Lyons (St. Joseph’s College – LI, Titans Gold) of the North kept the game close by keeping the South scoreless through the final 6 innings. The five North pitchers struck out five while allowing 3 hits. Two of the three hits came off of the bat of Domenick Castiglione (College of Staten Island, Storm). Kendon Strachan (Bloomfield College, Thunder) connected for the third hit for the South.
The All-Star Game concluded after nine innings in a 2-0 South victory. The BCCBL would like to congratulate all the players in this year’s All - Star Game
