Northside Hitmen manager Chuck Lucas poses with All-Star Game MVP Miguel Cabrera and winning manager Tedd Mallasch
This past weekend, the Illowa APBA League assembled to play some APBA as well as to play our annual All-Star Game.
The Chicago Division continued their dominance of the All-Star Classic as they won the the game 7-3. The South Division got off to a early lead when Josh Hamilton drove home Joe Mauer on a base hit in the first. But runs for the South Division were going to be few and far between from then on out. The Chicago Division wouldn’t have that problem.
It seemed Kentucky Kernels manager Keith Smith was always rolling doubles during the Game
They exploded for six runs in the eighth inning thanks in part to doubles by Ryan Braun, Robbie Cano and David Wright. But it was starter Miguel Cabrera who was named Game MVP. Cabrera hit a solo shot in the seventh inning and contributed an rbi single in the six run eighth.
Congrats to division manager Tedd Mallasch and the rest of the Chicago Division!
Networking
On Friday night, John Heneghan (above, right) stopped to say to the Illowa APBA League. John lives in Naperville and we both thought it would nice to connect up. John and the guys got along great and it was apparent he shares a love for baseball history.
We’re planning on keeping in touch with John and hope to see him again.
For the regular season games, my Twin City Thunderchickens went 15-15 for the weekend. I can’t complain… I came in to the weekend in last place.
A “Perfect Game from the Pen”
John Heneghan was witness to one of the oddest games of the weekend. I got into quite a match with Tedd Mallasch’s Chicago Champions. This game lasted 18 innings! Not only that, my relief staff pitched a full nine innings of perfect ball. Beginning in the 10th and lasting until the 18th, Rafael Perez, Chris Perez, Manny Parra and Matt Harrison combined for a virtual “perfect game”. That came to a halt when Harrison gave up a homer to Jeff Francouer in the 19th losing the game 3-2.
“You’re not coming out till you finish the Inning”
I have Stephen Strasburg on my team and he really hasn’t seen much time in the IAL yet. I thought I’d unleash his BKZ grade and see how he does before I have to put him back in the closet for a year due to his injury. This was his first since he was ejected in the second inning and it seems like the rookie has some learnin’ to do.
Strasburg was facing the Three Rivers Gamblers and the first inning was rather uneventful (one run driven in by a double play). The second inning was a bit different. It began with a Prince Fielder homerun and didn’t end until 14 batters and 11 runs later. And yes, Strasburg finished that inning. And no, he didn’t come back for the third.
Later in the weekend, Stephen Strasburg redeemed himself by earning his first win in his IAL Hall of Fame career.
All in all, a good time was had by all. It was All-Star break but that didn’t stop managers from talking trade for the 2012 season. Thanks to John Heneghan for stopping by and thanks to the Naperville Best Western for putting us up. We’re sorry for making so much noise late Friday night.
A few more photos…
Rising Bamm Beanos manager and manager of the South Division readies the squad for the Game
The All-Star Game
uh oh, better get a pinch hitter ready
Playing late into the night
Bamm Beano C starter Wade Davis pitches a no-hitter against the Chicago Champions!
