PGCBL All-Star game ends in tie

SAUGERTIES — The PGCBL All-Star game went on Tuesday night at Cantine Field but there was not a winner as they ended up playing to a 5-5 tie in the showcase between the East and West Divisions.

The West Division got off and rolling quick as they scored three runs in the top of the first inning. That came from an RBI double from Trevor Rogers of the Geneva Red Wings and then a two-run single from Adirondack’s Chris Rotondo.

However, the East Division chipped away at that deficit. They scored for the first time in the bottom of the second inning and then again in the fourth to make the game 3-2. The RBI’s came from Albany’s Aaron Roose and Amsterdam’s Michael Turconi.

In the sixth inning, things went the way of the East. It became an Oneonta show as John Rhodes singled home Saugerties’ Dillon Lifrieri to tie the game at three. Two batters later, the trend continued as Rhodes came around to score on a hit from Cavan Tulley to give the East the lead. Brian Hart of Glens Falls also chipped in an RBI to make it 5-3 at the time.

The West Division staged a comeback in the eighth inning as Newark’s David Bermudez hit an RBI double to make it 5-4, and then Derek Kasperzky of the Watertown Rapids drew a walk from Saugerties hurler Austin Cole to tie the game at five.

After that, neither of the teams really threatened and the game was called a 5-5 tie after nine innings were played, the first time in the nine-year history of the league that its All-Star game ended in a draw.

Despite this, Oneonta’s Rhodes was named the game’s MVP. He went 3-4 with the game-tying single and then the go-ahead run in the sixth inning.

“It’s tough coming in and playing with guys that you haven’t played with all summer, but towards the end we were having a good time. That’s what it’s about, coming here and having a good time, meet new people. Overall it was a good day,” Rhodes said.

The All-Stars will now head back to their respective teams for the playoff push. The regular season ends on July 31.

Elmira’s Harmon wins Home Run Derby

Before Tuesday’s game, a home run derby was held featuring one player from each team. Each player had three minutes to hit as many home runs as they could. Four went to the semifinals and then two went to the finals.

In the first round, Albany’s Luke Franzoni, Elmira’s Trae Harmon, Saugerties’ Tyler Kelder all put up 12 home runs, and Newark’s Allen Murphy, the defending home run derby champion, put up 11 homers, good to advance to the semifinals.

Harmon and Kelder had seven home runs each in the semifinals to six from Murphy and five from Franzoni as they moved onto the finals.

Harmon went first in the final and put on a show, hitting another 11 home runs. Kelder only hit six in his home ballpark, and Harmon was named the 2019 PGCBL Home Run Derby champion.