National League holds off American League in All-Star game

Published Aug. 19, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Brian Stives
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- When the best of the best gather to play a game, excitement is one element everyone can count on. The Mountain Home Air Force Base Intramural Softball All-Star was no exception Aug. 14.

The National League Team defeated the American League Team 15 - 14 on the Troy Nichols' two-out RBI single to right field in the bottom of seventh inning.

The National League was led by game MVP Mark Novak, from the 366th Logistics Readiness Squadron, who went three for four with a homerun, double and also stole home on a passed ball in the third inning.

The American League started the game with two singles before Sam Persley, 726th Air Control Squadron, cleared the bases with a monster blast over the left field fence. Duane Grandpre, American League pitcher from the 366th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, calmed down after giving up the dinger and retired the next three batters.

Grandpre cut into the American League lead in the bottom of the inning after hitting a triple over the second baseman's head and scored on a single by Mark Barber, from the 366th Fighter Wing. The American League led 3 - 1 after one inning.

Ryan Hendrickson, 726th ACS, led off the top of the second inning for the American League with a Barry Bonds-like homer over the trees in centerfield. Ramon Roman, 366th Comptroller Squadron, added another run for the American League with an RBI single to centerfield.

In the bottom of the inning, the National League bats came alive. The National League began the seven-run inning with back-to-back-to-back homeruns by Novak, Matt Carlson, from the 366th LRS, and Dustin Reid, from AMMO. Nathan Torry, from the 366th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, and Barber both hit RBI doubles, while Grandpre hit a two-run double between them. Barber scored later in the inning when he stole home plate on a passed ball.

The American League was held scoreless in the third. However, the National League continued their assault on the ball, tacking on five more runs in the inning. After three innings, the National League held a commanding 13 - 5 lead.

The fourth inning belonged to the American League. They cut into the National League with an offensive assault of their own. After four straight singles, Roman stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. On the first pitch, he crushed the ball toward the right-center fence. The ball cleared the fence by almost 20 feet for a grand slam. Emmanuel Santillian, 366th Services Squadron, added a run on a blast to left field, but was thrown out at second trying to stretch the single into a double, ending the inning.

The National League added a run in the bottom of the fifth inning, and led 14 - 11. Then, the American League tied the game in the sixth inning when Santillian hit an RBI sacrifice fly to center field and Hendrickson hit his second homer of the game, this one a two-run jolt to almost the same spot as the one in the second inning. Roman blanked the National League in the bottom of the inning.

Dirk Pifer led off the top of the seventh with a single to centerfield for the American League. Adam Hillis hit into a fielder's choice to the shortstop and outran the throw to first by the second baseman, breaking up a double play. Roman flew out to centerfield and Hillis was thrown out at second trying to tag up - ending the top of the inning.

Novak hit a double to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning and Matt Carlson was walked. Then Reid and Mark Mitchell both flew out to the shortstop. With two outs and runners on first and second, Nichols hit a line drive to right field, and Novak scored easily from second on the play, ending the game.

Stats:
National League:
Matt Carlson, 3 for 3, homerun, triple, RBI; Mark Novak, 3 for 4, homerun, double, stolen base, RBI; Duane Grandpre, triple, double, 2 RBIs; Mark Barber, 3 for 4, double, RBI; Scott Cote, 2 for 3, homerun, 2 RBIs; Nathan Torry, 2 for 4, double, stolen base, RBI; Troy Nichols, 2 for 4, 2 RBIs; Dustin Reid, 1 for 4, homerun, 3 RBIs; Mark Mitchell, 1 for 4, RBI.

American League:
Dirk Pifer, 3 for 3, RBI; Nicholas Williams, 1 for 1; Sam Pursley, 3 for 4, homerun, 3 RBIs; William Spradlin, 3 for 4; Tim Holtorf, 3 for 4; Chris Price, 2 for 3; Tony Mejia, 2 for 3, double; Ramon Roman, 3 for 5, grand slam, 4 RBIs; Adam Hillis, 3 for 5; Ryan Hendrickson, 2 for 4, 2 homeruns, 3 RBIs; Emmanuel Santillian, 1 for 4, 2 RBIs.

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