South Dominates All-Star Game in Wichita

WICHITA, KS- The South Division defeated the North Division 12-3 in the University of Phoenix - Wichita Campus 2010 American Association All-Star Game at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium on Tuesday night.

Designated hitter Christopher Garcia (Shreveport-Bossier) won MVP honors, going 3 for 5 with four RBI, including a two-run, opposite field home run to left-center just two batters into the game.

The South put the game away with a seven-run top of the sixth, highlighted by a grand slam from right fielder John Allen (Fort Worth).  Adolfo Gonzalez (Pensacola), Robert Perry (Grand Prairie), and David Espinosa (Grand Prairie) opened the inning with consecutive singles to load the bases.  Garcia lifted a deep flyball to left that scored Gonzalez that opened a 6-0 lead.  John Alonso (Pensacola) lined a single to left that plated Perry and Espinosa to make it 8-0.

After Palmer Karr Jr. (Shreveport-Bossier) bounced a single through the right side of the infield, Benji Johnson (El Paso) walked to re-load the bases, setting up Allen's blast that clanked off the bottom of the video board in left-center.  The grand slam came on the first pitch from reliever Jacob Schmidt (St. Paul).

The South built on Garcia's first-inning home run in the third when Lou Palmisano (Pensacola) drove in Greg Porter (Grand Prairie) with a fielder's choice.  Espinosa and Garcia hit back-to-back RBI singles with two outs in the top of the fourth to make it 5-0.

The North finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run to left by Reggie Abercrombie (Sioux Falls).  Jason Cooper (St. Paul) hit a solo blast to dead center in the seventh to cut the lead to 12-2.  Trevor Lawhorn helped the North scratch out a run in the ninth with an RBI groundout.

Ryan DiPietro (Shreveport-Bossier) earned the win, pitching a scoreless third.  Nick Singleton (Wichita) took the loss, allowing two runs in the first.

Cooper finished a triple shy of the cycle, with a double and single in addition to his home run.  Espinosa collected four hits, scored three runs, and drove in one.

Beau Torbert (Sioux Falls) won the home run derby, edging Garcia.  Torbert was down to his final swing in the final round and tied it with a home run to left.  Torbert connected on his first attempt in the 'blast off' with Garcia to clinch the tournament.

The South has won three of the last four All-Star Games.

The Wingnuts return to action on Thursday, July 29th when they open a four-game series at Pensacola as well as a 13-game road trip.  First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 p.m.  All the action can be heard live on Oldies 93.5 KWME and worldwide at www.kleyam.com  The Wingnuts next play at home on Saturday, August 14th when they host the Sioux Falls Pheasants.  For tickets, call the Wingnuts' office at (316) 264-NUTS.

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