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The Eastern All Stars were able to outlast the West in 10 innings, scoring 3 runs late to pull away and win the 2023 Coastal Plain League All Star Game 8-6.
The West jumped out early, thanks to a solo blast in the 2nd from Macon’s Jarrett Jenkins, who pushed one to the bottom of home run hill in left field for a 1-0 lead. Mason Dunaway of the Peninsula Pilots answered with an RBI single in the top of the 3rd, but two runs came across on an error and a groundout for the West to make it 3-1 after 3.
The offenses traded zeroes in the 4th, before Joe Mershon of Morehead City doubled with one out in the 5th and scored on Dunaway’s sacrifice fly. Two more runs came across for the East in the 6th courtesy of a Noah Stout sac fly and a Cole Garrett RBI double (Florence and Tri-City, respectively).
The West tied the game in the 7th with an RBI single from G Allen of Forest City, sending the game down to the wire in front of a sold out crowd. In the bottom half of that inning, the Blowfish faithful saw one of the best catches in stadium history, as Henry Garcia of Peninsula went over the wall in left to rob Blowfish 3B Cooper Blauser of his first CPL homer. The fans at Lexington County Baseball Stadium were treated to a visit on the field from Abraham the Camel, and the debut of the new Hot Dog Man, throwing frankfurters to hungry patrons in the crowd.
The East took the lead in the 9th off Owls closer Colton Huntt, with AJ Mendolia of Wilmington bringing home a run with a single. The East had a chance to lock down the victory, but with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, Asheboro’s Tyler McPeak stung a grounder through the right side to score Blauser.
With the game in extras, Jacob Dienes of Asheboro toed the mound despite not initially being slated to pitch due to injury. After sending the automatic runner to second to start the inning, the East used 4 walks and a 2 RBI single from Josh Kross to score 3 and command the lead. Blowfish catcher Ryan Ouzts was summoned on to get the last out, despite not pitching since high school.
Michael Caldon ended with the win, allowing the automatic runner to score on a groundout but allowing no further in the 10th for an 8-6 win. Jacob Dienes took the loss in a game that lasted 3 hours and 42 minutes.
Joe Mershon was the player of the game, going 2-3 with a double and a run scored. Shane Rademacher from the Wilson Tobs earned pitcher of the night, striking out all 3 batters he faced in a scoreless 5th.
Dariyan Pendergrass represented the Blowfish well, going 2-2 with a run scored and a stolen base, while Cade Bouknight struck out a pair in a scoreless 7th inning of work. Blauser went 1-2, Zach Cowart made a couple fantastic plays at 3rd, and Ryan Ouzts went 1-2 and also got an out on the mound.