By WJBC Staff
PEORIA – The Eastern Division took a lead in the first inning and never looked back, eventually taking the 51st Annual Midwest League All-Star Classic by the final score of 5-0 Tuesday night in front of 5,858 fans at Dozer Park.
The East took the lead in the first inning against Peoria righthander Luis Perdomo. Lansing’s Anthony Alford led off with a walk, stole second base, and scored on a single through the right side by his Lugnuts teammate Ryan McBroom for the 1-0 lead.
The Eastern Division struck again in the fourth against Clinton’s Lukas Schiraldi. Lansing’s Rowdy Tellez reached on an error and went to third on a double by Bowling Green’s Jace Conrad. Tellez scored on a groundout by South Bend’s Charcer Burks to give the East a 2-0 lead.
The East added three insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Cedar Rapids reliever Cam Booser started the inning on the mound for the West and allowed a Nick Torres walk and back-to-back singles from Bowling Green’s Nick Ciuffo and Lansing’s Richard Urena. Torres scored on a groundout by Bowling Green’s Grant Kay to make it 3-0. Kane County’s Cody Geyer came in to pitch and gave up an infield single to Great Lakes infielder Michael Ahmed plating Ciuffo. The throw to first on the Ahmen single was wide of the bag allowing Urena to score for a 5-0 East lead.
Perdomo took the loss for the West Stars, allowing one run on a hit and a walk, striking out one. South Bend hurler Jeremy Null got the win for the East with three strikeouts in his shutout inning. The Western All Stars were stifled throughout the evening offensively, managing only five baserunners on three hits, a walk, and a batter who reached on a dropped third strike. There were a total of 29 strikeouts in the ball game, 16 recorded by Eastern Division pitchers.
