2033 All-Star Game

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Looking forward to this game! Maybe the IL can finally win one. Also that logo looks shiny! Great job!

You mean the Florida Leones?

It’s those Gulf Stream teams, Havana and Florida, against the rest of the PEBAverse! Let’s hope for a monster hurricane!

Was this not part of a Yuman prediction at some point?

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It’s time for the fans to settle into their seats, ready to enjoy some Ropa Vieja (tender shredded beef that is cooked in tomatoes and served over tons of fluffy white rice. The name literally translates to "old cloths”), Picadillo (ground beef, potatoes, olives, raisins, and string beans), Masitas (crispy chunks of fried pork are tender on the inside and crunchy on the outside and oh so flavorful) and Tostones (flat, fried plantains that I could eat like a bag of potato chips) – washing it down with anything rum, and get ready for tonight’s 27th PEBA All-Star Game.

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The Futures Game was played on the 11th of July, while the festivities around Havana were hopping.

Both teams scored an early run, with the game sitting at 1-1 into the 4th - and then the SL exploded. A 2-run homer by Benjamin Gentileschi (PS) and a 2-run triple by Tsuginori Takahashi gave the SL 4in the frame - Takahashi scoring on a sac fly would make the score 7-1. The SL would ultimately finish with a 10-2 victory.

Kentucky's Jin-song Zambrano had a pair of hits for the IL, while Takahashi - the game's MVP, and Tempe's Roberto Gutierrez matched the feat. Jason One of Yuma also homered.

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In the Home Run Derby, the final came down to Gilberto Fernandez of San Antonio and Armando Gandarilla of Toyama - with the Calzone star eeking out the win, with a 16-15 victory.

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The Cuban National Anthem shall be performed by The Cuban Youth Choir

The National Anthem of the United States will be performed by 88-year old Jose Feliciano

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And the players take the field for the 27th PEBA All-Star Game. Iwao Maruyama is on the mound for the IL as Shin Seiki 2B Logan Malone strides to the plate...

Malone rolls the ball out front of the plate - fielded by Tony Burston, he throws to first for the first out of the game!

That brings up Wind Dancers hot shortstop, 'El Cid'. He takes a ball in and then one even more in - he's hit by the pitch - had shot in the ribs, but he jogs to first...

Juan Carlos Ornelza, the strong outfielder for the Badgers comes to the plate. He works Iwao for a 3-1 count - at which Rodrigo dashes to second - easily beating the throw for a stolen base - Juan Carlos looking at a strike two. On the full count pitch, he rolls the ball to second, Rodriguez fielding it cleanly - flips it to first for out number two - Vasquez hustling into third...

That brings up Toyama's - and maybe the SL's MVP - the 'Gorilla' - Armando Gandarilla, looking for the big 2-out RBI, but he get's under a 1-0 pitch and pops it up foul, with Fernandez taking care of it at first.

The SL go down, after a half inning:
SL 0
IL coming up...

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Fargo's Owen Barse will start this one for the SL and he will face the Florida's young outfielder Gordon Knopp... to a loud round of boos...

Barse is all over the place against Knopp and walks him on four straight - not a good start.

Ricardo Mateo, the star shortstop for Havana comes to the plate under a deafening hail of cheers, as the hometown fans show their love for the 'Ogre'. On a 2-1 pitch he takes one deep into right field - to the track - but River MacCausland hauls it in and quickly fires a strike to 2nd before Knoop gets any funny ideas...

That brings up the Home Run Champ - San Antonio's 1B Gilberto Fernandez. Barse looks to be settling in, and on a 2-2 count, he gets Fernandez to pop it high on the infield, with Vasquez taking it in on the mound...

So with 2-down, 'Matchbox' comes to the plate - initially getting a raucous boo that ultimately gives way to cheers. But with the count full, Barse get's him to swing through a pitch for strike three to end the inning...

After 1...
SL 0
IL 0

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As the new pitcher runs in from the bullpen, the crowd all rise to their feet as 'Old Nick' - Enrique Vazquez, the long Havana Ace comes in to face Sanchez, McCausland and Parker.

Madison's Marcos Sanchez works a full count - with Vasquez missing wide for ball four - a lead off walk for the SL...

River McCausland, the 'Gnats outfielder swings at a 1-0 count, grounding one slowly to third - 'Voodoo' fields it, and get's the force at second, but Rodriguez has no play at first. One down...

Tony Parker, the long-vetren catcher and multiple All-Star drives the first pitch into the hole at short - Ogre dives, makes the stop and in one motion fires to second - but wide, and Rodriguez can hold on - the SL has runners at 1st and 2nd with one out...

Okinawa's Francisco Fernandez comes up - and in walking on a full count, he never get's the bat off his shoulder - loading the bases for Tempe's DH - Jim Fox...

And for the third time in the inning, Vazquez walks a batter on a full-count - and walks in a run for the top of the SL order...

Logan Malone takes a 2-1 pitch up the middle - past a diving Mateo - Parker scores, and right behind him is Fernandez - Gordon Knopp comes up with the ball... strong throw home... OUT!! Parker is tagged out.. 2-down...

'El Cid' comes to the plate with a chance to make it a big inning - and he works Vazquez to another full count - but this time 'Old Nick' gets the other Vazquez looking for the third out - limiting the damage to just 2...

on to the bottom of 2...
SL 2
IL 0

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Coming in for the SL, to relieve his Great Lakes counterpart is Crystal Lakes Dean McNeill, who will face Pedro Rodriguez, Juan Mendoza and Pedro Coronado...

McNeill starts out cold, as he's wide on all four pitches to Rodriguez...

'Redeye' comes to the plate, and after McNeill has started with 5-straight balls, he swings at ball 6 and dribbles it out front of the plate - Parker pounces and fires to second, just beating Rodriguez to the bag with his throw for the force...

Up comes 'King' Coronado, and on McNeill's second pitch, Mendoza get's a huge jump - stealing second without a throw. Dean remains calm, and with the count full, he get's 'King' swinging at strike three...

That brings up Vern Duncan looking to get the IL on the board. He inside-outs his swing and grounds one to first, where 'Gorilla' smoothly fields it and gets the third out...

After 2...
SL 2
IL 0

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With 5 Leones on the squad, the crowd has a bust night of ovations, and the latest is Glenn Thomas, who comes in to pitch the third...

Juan Carlos comes to the plate and on (another) a full count, he rolls the ball to short - with Mateo making the play with ease...

Thomas works around 'Gorilla', looking tense, and on a 3-2 count, he throws one wide for ball four...

Marcos Sanchez comes to bat for the SL and he takes a 1-strike pitch right up the middle for a clean single, with Gandarilla stopping at second...

River McCausland comes up and he puts the pressure on - he grounds a 1-2 pitch up the middle - under 'Ogre's glove. Any other runner likely scores from second, but the 'Gorilla' holds at third...

Tony Parker comes up, and there must be something in the water and Thomas goes full on him - walking him on a wide ball four - and in comes Gandarilla - the second run walked in...

Okinawa's Francisco Fernandez comes up, and the IL looks to be in trouble - and Francisco waited no time - scorching a ball over the head of Mendoza, skipping off the wall and by the time he gets the ball into the infield, Fernandez has a bases clearing triple - and it's 6-0!

Thomas get's Fox on a swing strike three, and Logan Malone lifts the first pitch lazily to left to end the inning...

But it's a 4-run rally for the SL... heading to the bottom of the 3rd...
SL 6
IL 0

[KenH]

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Neo-Tokyo's Ernesto Martinez comes on for the SL in the 3rd, facing Tony Burston, Knopp and Mateo...

Shockingly, Martinez goes full on Burston, who lines the ball up the middle for the first hit for the IL...

Knopp also sees a 3-2 pitch, and he, too lines it up the middle - and Burston, feeling gutsy, rounds the bag for third, but Fernandez' throw is on target and a strong one - and Burston stops mid-way and heads back to second - Sanchez fires it to second - we have a pickle!!! but Burston is somehow able to stop his momentum and scamper into third, ahead of Malones throw... after all that, it's runners at 1st and 3rd, with no outs...

Ricardo Mateo, hits a 2-1 pitch hard, to the left of Vasquez - who dives and knocks it down, but he can't make a play, as Burston scores...

Martinez, though, looks unperturbed, and he quickly dispatches Gilberto Fernandez on three strikes...

That brings up the 'Matchbox' and on a 2-2 pitch, he delivers - a line single up the middle - Knopp scores easily and it's 6-2...

Pedro Rodriguez comes on, looking to do some damage and cut that lead to one - looks at a strike, with Mateo stealing third. Martinez works around Pedro, but ultimately walks him on a 3-2 pitch - loading the bases, but setting up the double play at all bases...

Juan Mendoza lifts a fly ball into shallow center - Fernandez comes on, with a strong throw - Mateo doesn't even contemplate trying to score - two down...

Pedro Coronado comes on and after fouling one off - hard, he rips one down the right field line - Mateo Scores, Hernandez scores, 'King' stops at second with an RBI double and just like that it's 6-4!

Vern Duncan comes up and gets - you got it - a full count, but he'll look at strike three to end the inning...

But it's a 4-run rally for the IL...

Off to the 4th...
SL 6
IL 4

[KenH]

Coronado!!!!

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Coming on to pitch the fourth for the IL is Arlington's Santiago Garcia and he'll get the 2-3-4 hitters for the SL...

Rodrigo Vasquez slaps the first pitch offered up past 'Voodoo' for a lead-off single...

'Megavolt' Ornelza takes a strike as 'El Cid' steals second easily. Juan Carlos looks like he's waiting for Rodrigo to take third, but instead, he's caught looking at strike three for the first out...

With the open base, Garcia has no problem throwing four wide ones to Gandarilla, making it runners at 1st and 2nd...

But the problem with the semi-intentional walk? Then you lose your rhythm and that's what happens with Sanchez up - four straight balls to load the bases - the IL need a shutdown inning, and now they are in trouble, again...

River comes up swinging at the first pitch he sees from Garcia, and lifts one deep enough for Vasquez to tag and score from third...

Tony Parker comes to the plate in just the situation he loves - 2-outs and runners on base - and it seems Garcia knows this as he nibbles his way to a full count - only to balk!! moving both runners into scoring position. But he puts his anger behind the ball and blows it by Parker to minimize the damage...

That's a run for the SL... Heading to the bottom of four...
SL 7
IL 4

[Borealis]

It's been an odd All-Star Game - as it isn't until the bottom of the 4th before we have our first Evil Eva sighting - young Roberto Rivera taking the mound for the SL...

Rivera has no trouble with Burston - he gets the catcher to pop a 1-2 pitch up the Sanchez right at the bag...

Knopp, on the other hand, he walks on a 3-1 pitch...

Ricardo Mateo is swinging on a 3-0 pitch from Rivera, but he lifts a lazy fly ball to left, easily handled by 'Megavolt'...

Knopp takes off on a 2-1 pitch to Fernandez, and Parker doesn't even bother with a throw. Rivera nibbles, knowing he has the open base, and he ends up walking Gilberto...

Then, Rivera comes in a little tight on a 2-1 pitch to Hernandez - and hits him in the... glut, to load the bases... Suddenly a potential easy inning looks scary for the SL...

And Scary indeed - and Pedro Rodriguez lines Rivera's first pitch through the hole at short - scoring both Knopp and Fernandez - who slides in ahead of the tag - and it's a 1-run game, 7-6...

Rivera and Parker seem to have some confusion over what to throw, and after conferencing at the mound, Rivera promptly throws one past Parker and both runners move up - giving Mendoza a chance to give the IL the lead...

But Rivera gets Mendoza looking to end the inning... 2-runs for the IL

We move to the 5th...
SL 7
IL 6