In a country starved for heroes, the MetroWest Adult Baseball League stepped forward Tuesday night June 28 with two units of specially skilled men ready to do baseball battle for diamond glory.
And when the last light flickered out high above the emerald grass in Ashland, Massachusetts, the MWABL National League All-Stars had triumphed over their American League counterparts, 5-0.
"Never at the field of the Ashland Red Sox have so few fans been bitten by so many mosquitoes for so little a reason," said American League losing pitcher Steve Saraceno afterward. "And this is the National League's finest hour."
Indeed, the N.L. contingent, led by Millis Braves ace Jim Callaghan, did not allow a single run to cross the plate. The feat was all the more remarkable considering last year's 17-4 pounding of their "all-star" staff. The closest the Americans came to scoring was in the third inning, when Callaghan induced Framingham Oriole Tom Galvani to hit into a 1-2-3 double play to end a bases-loaded threat.
"Galvani has got to learn to drive the ball in that situation," said Saraceno afterwards. "If he can just settle down in pressure situations like that, then there's a chance he could develop into a very good hitter in this league. Time will tell."
The National League attack was led by Paul Sonnett (3-for-3, double), Matt Sandock (2-3), Bill Hoover, Dave Devillis (2-for-3), and Jerry DiLuzo (1-for-2, walk). In all the National League collected 13 hits.
Jack Buchanan of the Marlboro Indians led the sputtery American offense with a single and two walks. Nine different A.L. batters hit safely, but the team scored no runs and stranded 11 baserunners. Typical of the night was Saraceno's final strikeout with two runners in scoring position.
"I have got to learn to drive the ball in that situation," Saraceno said afterwards. "If I can just settle down in pressure situations like that, then there's a chance I could develop into a better hitter than Tom Galvani. Time will tell."
The Nationals plated an unearned run in the first, three runs in the fifth on two walks, an error, and two hits. Another unearned run crossed the plate in the sixth.
In contrast to the postseason MWABL All-Star games of recent years, play in this midseason game was generally crisp and the pitching good. Saraceno threw 7 innings for the Americans, allowing no earned runs. Fellow Red Sox hurler Kevin Quinn also pitched well in his All-Star debut.
Congratulations to Matt Sandock and Bill Hoover who were named as co-MVPs of the game!