UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Ross Adolph of the Brooklyn Cyclones earned Bush’s New York-Penn League All-Star MVP honors with a home run and three RBI, and Nick Dunn led the charge for the home State College Spikes contingent as the South All-Stars defeated the North squad, 7-1, at the 2018 New York-Penn League All-Star Game presented by the Central PA Convention & Visitors Bureau on Tuesday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
(Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Cyclones)
The Spikes, hosting the NYPL All-Star Game for the second time in franchise history, saw three players represent the South in the annual showcase of baseball’s future stars. Dunn led the way with a 1-for-2 night in which he scored a run and drew a walk. ShortstFigueroain Perez and Edwin Figuera, who served as a designated hitter in the game, each went 0-for-2.
Adolph keyed the South side to a three-run surge in the first inning with a two-run triple, then slugged a solo shot to the bleachers in right field in the third.
West Virginia’s Travis Swaggerty also produced a two-run single in the third to help the South All-Stars’ cause. Edwin Rodriguez of Williamsport added a sacrifice fly, and Aberdeen’s Willy Yahn aided the effort with a double and a triple.
Auburn’s Kyle Marinconz plated the only North run with an RBI groundout in the second. Eric De La Rosa of Connecticut was the lone North All-Star with a multi-hit game, collecting two singles while also being hit by a pitch.
South starter Matthew Hammonds of Aberdeen earned the win, striking out one batter and hitting one in the opening frame. Jose Vasquez of Connecticut started for the North and yielded three runs on two hits and a walk in the first for the loss. Vasquez recorded one strikeout.
Fans were able to get autographs from both All-Star teams as the gates opened at 3 p.m. In addition, despite the rain wiping out the Celebrity Softball Game, several participants, including Ki-Jana Carter, Blair Thomas and Wally Richardson, signed autographs for fans leading up to the game.
After the All-Star break, the Spikes are right back at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park to start a two-game mini-series with the Williamsport Crosscutters (Philadelphia Phillies) on Wednesday night. The 7:05 p.m. matchup will feature left-hander Diego Cordero (2-2) on the mound for State College against Williamsport right-hander Francisco Morales (3-3).
