2036 All-Star Game

[Board of the PEBA]

Rene Padilla is the starter for the SL and Duluth's top gun is 9-3 with a 3.00 ERA. He will start out facing the reigning 3-time IL Royal Raker, Gordon Knoop.

'Strum' digs in... he sharply hit's a grounder to Rodrigo at short who quickly fields and throws the speedy Knoop out at first...

Ricardo Mateo is next up and he's caught looking at a 2-2 pitch for out number 2...

That brings up 'El Jaguar' - West Virginia's mound CF. He rolls a 1-2 pitch towards the gap at first, but Joe Riley is there and makes the play easily...

3-up, 3-down... on to the second...

SL- 2
IL - 0

[Board of the PEBA]

To begin the 2nd it's 'Liver' Pate coming in for the IL. New Jersey's ace is 6-5 on the year with a 2.87 ERA and he'll face Raul Ortega - the Shin Seiki outfielder to start off the inning...

Pate crowns Ortega with inside heat, before hitting him with a 1-2 pitch to put a runner on base to start the inning...

Next up, Duluth's Juan Velasquez, who is amongst the big stories on the year - the resurgence of the Warriors. Velasquez get's ahead of himself on a 2-1 pitch and pops it high on the infield - Vito van Wondel calls for it and makes the catch...

Coming to the plate is Aurora's quasi-rookie, the 'Otter', Angel Silva. He grounds a slow roller to second - Roberts get's the force at second, but 'Otter' is too fast for 'Ogre' to make the return throw worth it... 2-down...

Batting 9th is Neo-Tokyo 2B Joe Riley, who is hitting .310 on the season with 21 HR. He hits a 2-0 pitch - a low, sinking liner to center that Guzman, shading in a bit, races in and makes the catch...

Heading to the B2...
SL - 2
IL - 0

[Board of the PEBA]

It will be Toyama's Alfredo Gonzales coming in to pitch the 2nd for the SL. Alfredo is 9-6 with a 2.81 ERA for the SL-leading Wind Dancers.

'Drang' leads it off for the IL and after seeing a ball grounds a hard to the left of short, but Vasquez fields it cleanly yo get the Florrida 1B out by plenty...

van Wondel's teammate - Bartolo Mora is up next and he grounds a 1-2 pitch towards the hole at short, but with the shift, Santos is there to make the play and easily nails Mora for the second out...

It's a Florida Threesome on the inning as Michael Roberts strides to the plate. Gonzales tries to find the down and in location against 'XXX', but in the end walks him on 5-pitches...

The Scottish - who are the surprise of the IL thus far, have 3B Juan Ramos up next, and he digs in looking to get the IL on the board. but three big swings and he's sent back to the bench as he strikes out...

After 2-innings of play...

SL- 2
IL - 1

[Board of the PEBA]

Amsterdam's Carmelo Lambert will come on in the third for the IL to face Javier Aguilar, the SL lead-off hitter. Lambert is 9-3 on the year with a 2.67 ERA.

Aguilar turns on a tough pitch at the hands and rolls it towards first - 'Drang' ranges from the bag and fields it - Lambert hustles to the bag and takes the underhand through - Aguilar racing down the line - OUT!! A bang-Bang play that has the Madison star slamming his helmet to the ground - he thought he was safe.

The umpires go to review on the play... and he's out - Carmelo beat him by inches...

'El Cid' up for his second at-bat. He works Lambert to a full count before skying one to left - and Knoop doesn't even move as the ball lands right in his spot for the second out...

That brings up Santos, with the games lone big hit - the 2-run homer in the first. Make that TWO!!! He pulls Lambert's first pitch high and over the wall in dead right field for a solo homer and the earl MVP favorite has given the SL a 3-0 lead!

Claudio Perez is up next and Lambert looks clearly upset - walking him on four pitches.

'Mustache' Takahashi comes up, looking to increase the damage and he swings at a full count pitch - that get's by catcher Antonio Mesegue - and all the way back to the backstop. 'Mustache' reaches first on the wild pitch, with Perez taking second. The Lions' pitcher is in trouble now.

And trouble indeed, as Raul Ortega wastes no time, winging at the first pitch, lining it high and down the line - just inside the foul pole for a three-run homer - and it's now 6-0 SL and here comes the Florida manager - he's bringing in Amsterdam's Shane Pereles to try and finish the inning.

Pereles is 0-4 on the year, but over 51 IP has a sparkling 1.76 ERA.

Juan Velasquez will be the first to face 'Squich'. Pereles get' Velasquez to pop-up to short to end the inning - but it's a big one! 4-runs off a pair of homers and as we head to the bottom of the third...

SL- 6
IL - 0

[Board of the PEBA]

It is Yuma's Young-pal Pin coming in to pitch the third with a cozy lead. Oil is 5-4 and has a 3.12 ERA for the ragged Arroyo team. And he will face a rising star in the IL - London's Gianpaolo Eremitani.

'Clogger' steps in ad swings at an 0-2 pitch and hit's one softly to left, Velasquez lopes in and makes the catch for the first out...

Batting 9th for the IL is Kentucky's catcher Antonio Mesegue, who's inability to corral an inning ending strike three has the IL in the mess they are in. He hits a hard one to short - Vasquez sticks with it and makes the play to first...

That brings the top of the order up and Gordon Knoop. 'Strum' checks his swing on a tight 3-1 pitch that the ump calls ball four. 'Chief' turns and looks at the ump, but he says nothing and flips the ball back to Pin.

'Ogre' comes to the plate with 2-out, looking to take advantage of the baserunner. He takes a pitch - a ball, as Knoop breaks for second and easily beats Perez' throw, but the potential rally fizzles as Mateo pops the next pitch up to Riley for the 3rd out.

After 3...

SL - 6
IL - 0

[Hitmen]

The Home Run Derby featured some old and new faces - and some interesting match-ups to begin with.

Right out of the gate it was Antonio Santos and John Pulsifer squaring off with Toyama's DH homering on his last pitch - leading to an anticipation of things to come. 'Clogger' would take down the Floridian 'King', New Jersey's Denis 'The Don' Johnson would eek by Niihama's young Ian Vader, and Bartolo Mora took out Okinawa's Kyoichi Nagata.

The second round saw Pulsifer on fire - sending London's star Eremitani home with a 5 homer differential, while New Jersey's 'Don' took out Mora, setting up a showdown between a Hitman and a Wind Dancer.

In the end, it would be Pulsifer who would take home the trophy with an 11-8 victory and a total of 37 HR in the competition!

Runner up! Not shabby for The Don!

[Board of the PEBA]

Coming out of the 'pen is Arlington starter Sa-yoor Chang, 7-5 on the season with a 3.61 ERA.

Angel Silva will lead it off for the SL. After fouling off a pair of pitches, Silva strikes out swinging.

That brings Joe Riley, the 9th hitter to the plate for the SL. He hits a roller to the hole at short - it eludes Ramos, Mateo can't grab it - it's through for a single - with a big turn, but Knoop is quick to gather it and get it back into the infield.

Javier Aguilar is up for his third at bat, as the SL looks to extend their lead. Chang battles, but a full count pitch is low for ball four - putting runners at first and second for Rodrigo Vasquez,

Chang goes full on Vasquez as well, but 'El Cid' lifts one to shallow right for 'Clogger' - not deep enough for Riley to try and advance.

Two down now and the manor the hour - Santos is at the plate. Chang, wanting nothing to do with the powerful Dinosaur, walks him semi-intentionally.

That brings up Claudio Perez - and with 2-out a chance to put the game away early. He swings hard at a full count pitch - but pulls his head and rolls it to second to end the inning - a big threat, but nada...

Heading to the bottom of the 4th...

SL - 6
IL - 0

[Lions]

but pulls his head and rolls it to second to end the inning

Oh dear!

[Board of the PEBA]

Changes galore for the SL as Shin Seiki ace Jorge Castillo comes in for the SL. Marcos Sanchez of Neo-Tokyo will take over at first, Alexander Craig of Kalamazoo at third, Crystal Lake's Barry Wallace at short and the Bears big gun Mauro Mata behind the plate.

Castillo with a 12-4 mark ad 3.14 ERA will face Alfredo Guzman for the IL.

And on the first pitch, 'El Jaguar' lines it right past Joe Riley for the first hit of the game for the IL!

Vito van Wondel is up, and looking to keep the vibe going, but he pops up a 1-1 pitch halfway up the line toward first and Sanchez makes the play.

Castillo works the count to Mora full, before he misses wide with ball four.

'XXX' comes up with two on and one out. He lifts one up high to left, an easy play for Velasquez. Two down...

Juan Ramos comes on and he's no match for Castillo, swing and missing for strike three - and just like that, the inning is over for the IL...

Heading to the 5th...

SL - 6
IL - 0

[Bureaucrats]

Coming out of the 'pen is Arlington starter Sa-yoor Chang, 7-5 on the season with a 3.61 ERA.

Angel Silva will lead it off for the SL. After fouling off a pair of pitches, Silva strikes out swinging.

That brings Joe Riley, the 9th hitter to the plate for the SL. He hits a roller to the hole at short - it eludes Ramos, Mateo can't grab it - it's through for a single - with a big turn, but Knoop is quick to gather it and get it back into the infield.

Javier Aguilar is up for his third at bat, as the SL looks to extend their lead. Chang battles, but a full count pitch is low for ball four - putting runners at first and second for Rodrigo Vasquez,

Chang goes full on Vasquez as well, but 'El Cid' lifts one to shallow right for 'Clogger' - not deep enough for Riley to try and advance.

Two down now and the manor the hour - Santos is at the plate. Chang, wanting nothing to do with the powerful Dinosaur, walks him semi-intentionally.

That brings up Claudio Perez - and with 2-out a chance to put the game away early. He swings hard at a full count pitch - but pulls his head and rolls it to second to end the inning - a big threat, but nada...

Heading to the bottom of the 4th...

SL - 6
IL - 0

Chang with a shutout! I love it!

[Board of the PEBA]

Orlando Trujillo of New Jersey is on the mound to face the SL with a 7-6 record ad 3.65 ERA, and he's facing 'Mustache' to begin the 5th.

Takahashi rolls one right at Ramos at third, but he has great speed... Ramos gathers and throws in one motion - OUT! A bang-bang play!

Raul Ortega comes up and he looks at a pair of strikes before swinging at a tough 0-2 pitch and rolls it to the right of the mound Trujillo is slow getting to it and his throw is late - Ortega beats it out!

'Chief' Velasquez comes to the plate and he takes a 2-2 pitch high to left-center, where Guzman hauls it in.

That leaves it up to Angel Silva if the SL is to expand their lead here. But the young Auroran rolls it to van Wondel, who steps on the bag for the third out.

Heading to B5...

SL - 6
IL - 0

[Hitmen]

Two scoreless innings by NJ’s Pate and Trujillo, can’t complain here!

[Board of the PEBA]

Reno's right-hander Jose Ojeda is on for the SL, with more defensive changes - Out in CF is Pat Watson, Dan Bean of Okinawa in Right and Reno's revived Steve Boyer is in left, Jose Aleman, Aurora's star shortstop is in to play 2B, and slated to take over at DH s John Pulsifer.

Ojeda is 8-4 with a 2.86 ERA fr the Desert Hills leading Zephyrs - in what is the tightest, most perplexing division this year. He'll face 'Clogger' leading off and he skies one to left, where Boyer camps under it and makes the catch...

Antonio Mesegue is up next and he lines Ojeda's first pitch to right-center, but Dan Bean is there easily to make the catch - two down...

That brings up Gordon Knoop to the plate looking to start some 2-out magic... but with the count full, Ojeda misses down and in for ball four.

With Mateo up - and nothing to lose, Knoop breaks for second, but the strong-armed Mata is quick to the throw and beats Knoop, surprisingly, to the bag - out!

And that's how the 5th ends...

Heading to the 6th...

SL - 6
IL - 0

[Board of the PEBA]

Coming on for the top of the 6th is a number of changes for the IL - Dean McNeil - no stranger to SL fans, but now of San Antonio is on to pitch. Kentucky's She-de Mu is on to play left, Hartford's Tom May to play short, Manchester's Raul Cuellar - and quite the ovation he received, Havana's Ramon Francisco at first, and Katsunan Ichihara to play 2B.

McNeil - the long-time Sandgnat will face Jose Aleman to start the 6th. Aleman turns on a full count and rolls it to first, where Francisco smoothly makes the play for the first out...

Marco Sanchez works a full count from McNeil and then rolls it to first where once more Francisco makes the unassisted put out...

That brings veteran Barry Wallace to the plate. Wallace swings and misses at strike three and it's a quick inning for Dan McNeil...

To the bottom of the 6th...

SL - 6
IL - 0

[Board of the PEBA]

Tempe's lefty Carlos Munoz is on for the SL and over 49 IP he has a 2.20 ERA and 70 K. He's facing Tom May who came in for Mateo, who was left stranded at the plate when Knoop was caught stealing. Cameras caught the 'Ogre' having words first with Florida's Knoop and Florida's manager Felix Garza as he was removed from the game - no love loss between the Havana and Florida franchises for sure.

May lifts the first pitch up high to left-center, Boyer and Watson converge - Boyer intent on the ball doesn't hear Watson calling for it until the last minute - and just avoids a collision with he fragile Dinosaur...

Manchester's Raul Cuellar receives a second ovation as he comes to the plate - and gets a round of applause even after he strikes out swinging on a full count pitch...

Havana's Ramon Francisco, 'The Wizard' lifts a 2-2 pitch high and down the line, that Dan Bean catches I foul territory for the third out.

After 6, with time running out on the IL...

SL - 6
IL - 0