East wins PGCBL All-Star Game on Monday night

The East Division All-Stars have defeated the West Division All-Stars, 18-2, in the 2015 PGCBL All-Star Game to move to 4-0 in all-star games between the two squads.In a gorgeous night in Little Falls, New York more than 1,300 fans watched the best players in the PGCBL compete.The day started with batting practice and Scout Day activities in front of scouts from more than a dozen teams, including the San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee Brewers and Detroit Tigers.Following the Scout Day activities, 10 sluggers from across the league competed in the 2015 Home Run Derby.First Round Results:Albany: Slayton Vaughan, 2Amsterdam: Handsome Monica, 2Glens Falls: Harrison Bragg, 4 (Advanced to Finals)Mohawk Valley: Troy Scocca, 1Saugerties: Clint Hardy, 3 (Advanced to Finals)Adirondack: Brendan Looby, 1Elmira: Hayden Kelly, 2Newark: Charlie Sobieraski, 1Utica: Taylor Olmstead, 2Victor: Mark Cardinalli, 2Finals:Saugerties: Clint Hardy, 3Glens Falls: Harrison Bragg, 0Attached you will find a photo of Hardy with PGCBL President Jeff Kunion and Hardy’s “Baseball Buddy” Tyler Grates.After pre-game introductions and the National Anthem, it was time for baseball.Starting pitchers Zach Logue (Amsterdam) and Michael Messier (Utica) tossed scoreless innings for the East and West, respectively.The East took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second as Troy Scocca (Mohawk Valley) hit an RBI single to score Fairfield University teammate Brendan Tracy (Amsterdam). Coach Keith Griffin’s club extended the lead to 2-0 in the third as Ryan Hooper (Glens Falls) hit a solo home run to left field. Hooper has hit four home runs for Glens Falls, which leads the team.In the top of the fourth, a throwing error by Tracy allowed a run to score for the West and Josh Lovelady (Elmira) scored on a wild pitch later in the inning to tie the game at two. The East All-Stars answered in the bottom of the fourth on a throwing error by Christian Santisteban (Elmira), a Riley Mahan (Amsterdam) sacrifice fly) and a Justin Yurchak (Amsterdam) two-RBI double.The East put up its second four-run inning in the bottom of the sixth as Troy Scocca hit his second RBI single of the game, Sam Machonis (Mohawk Valley) and Mark Powell (Glens Falls) both hit an RBI single and Scott Manea (Amsterdam) hit a sacrifice fly to center.A wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth allowed Joe Venturino (Saugerties) to score to make it an 11-2 game and Scott Manea (Amsterdam) hit an RBI groundout later in the inning to make it 12-2. Home Run Derby Champion Clint Hardy (Saugerties) hit an RBI double to left field to make it 13-2.Ryan Hooper (Glens Halls) drove in two more runs in the bottom of the ninth with a double. Scott Manea hit a three-run home ruTyler Ehlers (Glens Falls) allowed the two West runs in his inning of work, but picked up the win for the East. Logan Harasta (Newark) gave up the four runs in the bottom of the fourth to take the loss for the West.Scott Manea (Amsterdam) was named the All-Star Game MVP after going 2-for-3 with five RBIs, including the three-run home run. Scocca becomes the second Amsterdam player to be named All-Star Game MVP.On the season, Manea is hitting .308 with 13 RBIs.From PGCBL President Jeff Kunion:”You couldn’t have asked for a better night for baseball. Mother Nature cooperated with beautiful weather. The Home Run Derby provided some early action for the fans, some of the finest players in the league were able to exhibit their skills to great fans and more than a dozen scouts and the postgame fireworks show was a great way to cap off the night.”