Warren “AA” All-Stars Defeat Mercer County League Stars

The Warren “AA” Baseball League All-Stars defeated their counterparts from the Mercer County Baseball League by a 5-0 score in the first annual inter-league All-Star game. The two leagues have played a partial mixed schedule during the regular season since 2008, similar to the AL vs. the NL in Major League Baseball, however, this was the first attempt at an All-Star contest.

A trio of Warren pitchers kept the Mercer County hitters at bay, allowing only 6 hits in the 9-inning competition. Jeff Miller of A.J. Construction started and picked up the win, working the first three innings, allowing only one hit and facing the minimum 9-hitters. Rob Walker got that hit for Mercer Co., but was promptly thrown out trying to steal second base by Champion Marlins catcher Cliff Panezich. Miller was followed to the mound by Matt DiMuzio and Jeremy Krol, both of the Mahoning Valley Knights, who were just as effective in preserving the shutout for the win. Collectively, Warren pitchers struck out seven Mercer county batters while walking only one. Working the last 4 innings Krol was credited with a save.

The Warren Stars grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning which they never relinquished. Rick DiMuzio (Mahoning Valley Knights) started the rally when he was struck by a Rob Walker pitch. Dave Nypaver (Metter’s Bar) immediately followed with a single and both runners advanced on an infield out. Cliff Panezich then stroked his first of two doubles down the left field line to drive both runners home. In the 4^th inning, Panezich got his second double, putting him in position to score on John Hauser’s (P.I. & I.) RBI single for a 3-0 Warren lead. Warren added their final two runs in the fifth when they loaded the bases on a single by DiMuzio, walk to Nypaver, and a single by Mike Swoboda (Metro Ice Brewers), setting the stage for Panezich again, who promptly delivered a single to drive home DiMuzio and Nypaver to close out the scoring.

Leading the way for Mercer County was Jim Knight of the Andover Angels with a 2 for 4 night, while Trevor Littweiler (Jamestown Redbirds), Phil Palerino (Redbirds), Andy Saksa (Angels), and Walker (New Hamburg Hounds) each collected one hit.

For Warren, Panezich went 3 for 4 with 2 doubles and had a hand in all five of the runs scored by Warren with  4 RBIs and one run scored. Rick DiMuzio chipped in with two singles in three at bats. For his efforts Panezich was named MVP for the game.............

 

HOME RUN DERBY:

Prior to the All-Star game the two leagues held their first annual Home Run Derby, also. Each league had six entrants:

Mercer County League				Warren "AA" Baseball League
NAME		TEAM		NAME		TEAM
Matt Greleski		Jamestown Redbirds		Tom Jones		P.I. & I. Express
Tom Saksa		Andover Angels		Jeremy Krol		Mahoning Valley Knights
Brent Gable		Jamestown Redbirds		John Hauser		P.I. & I. Express
Andy Saksa		Andover Angels		Andrew Beachy		Metro Ice Brewers
Dave Roeder		New Hamburg Hounds		Paul Logar		Metro Ice Brewers
Cory Hochschild		Jamestown Redbirds		Mike Swoboda		Metro Ice Brewers

After round one there were still seven participants going into round two. At the end of the second round the two finalists were Tom Jones of P.I. & I. Express going up against the Redbirds’ Brent Gable. When the dust settled in the finals Jones had defeated Gable 2-1 to capture the first annual Home Run Derby between the two leagues.