Dodos Help West All-Stars Win Mid-Summer Classic!

Saturday June 25, 2011

The Dodos and the A Division West All-Star team opened the weekend festivities with a bang Saturday morning at CSUN. Taking the mound for the West was White Sox All-Star, Law Crone. Crone responded by retiring the side in order to start the game, striking out two. The West offense rewarded Crone with a five-run, two-out rally. Dodos' All-Star center fielder, Chris Hems, started the rally when he belted a 2-0 pitch over the left centerfield wall, followed by a single and triple from Sox stars Brad Shafran and Crone. Charles Dethloff hit an RBI single, then Weston Wulff from the Loons and the Nation's own Steve Cole both hit RBI doubles to give the West an early 5-0 lead over the East and Cy Young leading candidate, D.J. Cook from the Durham Bulls.

Law Crone was in command all game, scattering eight hits over seven innings, surrendering just four runs (2 ER) while striking out nine batters. He also went 2 for 3 at the plate.

With a 6-4 lead in the bottom of the sixth and one out, Crone hit a single and stole second to get into scoring position for Dethloff. Dethloff singled to score Crone. Wulff and Matty Lane both added RBI singles to give the West a 9-4 lead.

Having a five run lead, Crone gave way to Loons' pitcher Eric Bribeaux. After retiring the first batter, Bribeaux walked one then surrendered a two-run home run, closing the lead to 9-6. A single and a walk brought up the East's cleanup hitter, D.J. Cook. With two outs, the West looked to Steve Cole to end the threat.

Cole proceeded to walk Cook, loading the bases. Cole and the East's batter were locked into a full count battle when Cole threw ball four. A wild pitch that eventually found the backstop, allowing all three runners on base to score, tying the game at 9-9. Cole struck out the next batter on three straight pitches.

A leadoff walk by White Sox infielder, George Williams was followed by an RBI triple from Dodos' MVP points leader, Dustin Burke. Hems plated Burke with a single and a walk and a hit batter loaded the bases. With one out, Wulff hit a sacrifice fly ball to left field, scoring Shafran from third base to give the West a 13-9 lead going into the ninth inning.

Cole took the mound in the ninth and retired to side to get the win, pitching an inning and a third, walking and striking out two. Crone received the game ball (MVP) and Wulff was the Silver Slugger, which he received nothing for.

Fantasy Performances of the Day:

Williams (Sox) 2-3 (R, BB); Burke (Dodos) 1-3 (3B, R, RBI, BB, K); Hems (Dodos) 2-4 (HR, 2R, 2RBI); Shafran (Sox) 1-2 (2R, RBI, BB, SB, SF); Crone (Sox) 2-3 (3B, 2R, RBI, HB, SB); Dethloff (Dodos) 2-4 (2R, 2RBI); Wulff (Loons) 3-3 (2B, 2R, 3RBI, SF); Cole (Dodos) 1-4 (2B, RBI, K); Lane (Dodos) 1-2 (RBI, SB, HB); May (Sox) 0-3 (K); Funnes (Loons) 1-3; Bribeaux (Loons) 1-3; Mitchell (Dogs) 1-3 (R, K); Klein (Dogs) 0-1.

Crone (ND) 7 IP, 4R, 2ER. 8H, 2BB, HB, 9K; Bribeaux (ND) .2 IP, 4R, 4ER, 2H, 2BB, 2-R HR); Cole (W) 1.1 IP, R, ER, 2BB, 2K, WP.

The Dodos are off this weekend to celebrate the Fourth of July. The action will return Sunday, July 10, 2011 when they face the Cubs at Sylmar High at 2PM.

The Dodos 2011 All-Star Game special edition jerseys.