BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The West Coast League All-Star game made a triumphant return to Joe Martin Field, Wednesday as 3,308 fans witnessed the North defeat the South 5-3.
Tommy Markey (Port Angeles Lefties/Fordham) delivered a two-run single to cap a four-run bottom of the third and earn the game’s Most Valuable Player accolade. Earlier in the frame, Logan Shepherd (Victoria HarbourCats/Mercer) and Trent Lenihan (Edmonton Riverhawks/British Columbia) drew back-to-back bases loaded walks to put the North on top 2-0 before Markey doubled the home team’s advantage.
The South battled back with three runs in the fifth. Xavier Rios (Corvallis Knights/CSUN) celebrated his birthday with an RBI-double to get the visitors on the board. Andrew Estrella (Ridgefield Raptors/Loyola Marymount) and Cooper Mullens (Springfield Drifters/Michigan) each delivered a sacrifice fly to pull the South within 4-3.
In the bottom of the seventh, the North added an insurance run as Talan Zenk (Nanaimo NightOwls/Everett CC) worked a leadoff walk and scored on a two-out double by Jason Green (Edmonton Riverhawks/Niagara).
The South put the tying runs aboard in the ninth, but Joe Thornton (Wenatchee AppleSox/Gonzaga) struck out Landon Young (Walla Walla Sweets/Washington) to strand the runners and earn the save.
Preston Watkins (Bellingham Bells/Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) struck out two in the eighth inning and was credited with the victory. Ty Pangborn (Yakima Valley Pippins/Akron) was charged for all four runs in the third and suffered the loss.
The South’s Blake Wilson (Corvallis Knights/Washington) made a spectacular diving catch on a sinking line drive to center in the bottom of the first and garnered the Guts and Grits Award.
Brock Ketelsen (Corvallis Knights/Stanford) was 1-for-2 with a stolen base and was named the game’s top prospect for the South. Mitch Haythorn (Wenatchee AppleSox/Northern Colorado) struck out one and did not allow a run in the fourth inning and was the North’s top prospect.
A replay of MLB.com’s coverage of the game is available.
During the game, the Max Higbee Center was a presented a check for $21,000 from proceeds generated at Tuesday’s Community Champions Game.
About the West Coast League
The West Coast League is western North America’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. With teams ranging throughout Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Alberta, the WCL offers top collegiate players the chance to compete at a high level, develop their skills, and showcase their talents in front of thousands of fans, MLB scouts, and national media. The WCL’s 20th Anniversary Season will conclude with the WCL championship game August 14.
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