VBL falls to CRL 2-1 in inaugural all-star game

WALDORF, Md.—From the pregame home run derby to the final out of the ninth inning, the first-ever Mid-Atlantic Summer Classic didn’t disappoint anyone who came to the game Wednesday night.

Former major leaguer Billy Ripken was among the 3,035 in the stands, posing for pictures with fans before the game and joining Johnny Holliday in the broadcast booth for an inning.

Daniel Bowman clubbed eight homers in each of the two rounds, easily the most among the 10 Valley Baseball League and Cal Ripken League participants, to earn the derby crown and wow the early attendees at Regency Furniture Stadium with monstrous shots beyond the left field fence.

Once the game started, it was the pitchers’ turn to show what they could do.

In a tight pitching duel, it was only fitting to name a hurler MVP of the game, the honors going to the Cal Ripken League’s Nick Cicio after he worked his team out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam in the sixth inning and sent the CRL Stars on their way to a 2-1 victory.

“That’s one of the toughest situations to be in as a pitcher,” said Cicio, who earned the win when the CRL offense broke a 1-all tie in the bottom half of the sixth. “I didn’t really think about [the situation]. I just came in and said, ‘I need to get this hitter out.’ I focused on one hitter, one pitch at a time. … Before you know it, you’ve got three outs and the guys haven’t moved up.”

The left-hander from the College Park Bombers recorded two more outs the next inning, striking out one and surrendering no hits.

Although the VBL squad lost the inaugural game, both sides enjoyed participating, and the Haymarket representatives were no exceptions.

“It was good stuff. I think it was a good first annual game,” Senators third baseman Greg Hopkins said. “Personally, I think we have better pitching, but I’m biased. Usually pitchers dominate all-star games.”

Hopkins started at third for the VBL Stars and reached base on a hit-by-pitch and lined out twice, but he was not the only Haymarket player to see time in the game. Matt Benedict threw an inning, surrendering a run on three hits. Jack Leathersich, the Senators’ lights-out closer tossed a hitless frame, striking one out and walking one.

Even Haymarket head coach Ryan Fecteau saw time on the field, coaching first base during the game.

“Wasn’t a lot of action over there,” Fecteau laughed. “It was fun and I definitely had a good time.”

Former Potomac pitcher Mike Matta joined in on the mound for the CRL club, pitching the fourth. The Mount Saint Mary’s product allowed just one hit in that frame. Matta also retired Hopkins on a lineout to shortstop after a six-pitch battle.