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Past All-Star Games2008 - Madison, Wisconsin
South Division ends three-game All-Star losing streak with 8-4 triumph Vaughn, Josh Prince (Green Bay, Tulane) and Rob Lyerly (Madison, Charlotte) all had two hits for the victorious South Division squad. One of Prince's hits was a two-run home run that he blasted over the left field fence on a 3-0 pitch off Phil Haig (Rochester, Illinois). The North Division was paced by Brian Hernandez' (St. Cloud, College of the Canyons) 2-for-2 night and two RBI from Josh Upchurch (Alexandria, Florida Gulf Coast). Chris Sale (La Crosse, Florida Gulf Coast) earned the win for the South Division, while Alex Kalogrides (Brainerd, San Francisco) took the loss. South Division's Matt Jansen (Madison, Purdue) took the mound to start things off in front of his home crowd. Jansen did not disappoint the Mallards faithful, striking out the side in the top of the first while throwing 20 pitches. After Jansen's masterful work through the North Division lineup the South Division took their first at bats and put two on the scoreboard, thanks to an RBI double by Vaughn and a run-scoring single by Lyerly that brought around Vaughn. The familiar All-Star Game defensive changes began in the second inning. Kyle Gumieny (Wisconsin, Lamar CC) moved to the mound in place of Jansen and promptly gave up a leadoff home run to Eric Stephens (Rochester, Cal State Fullerton) to cut the South Division's lead in half. Gumieny was able to get an out before giving up three straight base hits and a walk to give the North a 3-2 advantage after one-and-a-half. The North Division also made a pitching change in the second inning, bringing in Nate Woods (Thunder Bay, Belmont). After Jeff Cowan (Wisconsin, High Point) reached on an error, Troy Frazier (Wisconsin, Kentucky) grounded into a tailor-made double play and Rocky Gale (Green Bay, Portland) grounded out to second to end the inning and keep the lead intact. Neither team could push a run across in the third inning. In the bottom of the fourth the South Division scored two runs to retake the lead 4-3. Kalogrides moved to the mound to start the frame and gave up a leadoff single to Lyerly. He then hit Joey Register (Waterloo, Texas A&M) with a 1-0 pitch to put runners on first and second with nobody out. Cowan drew a walk, loading the bases still with nobody out. Frazier then tied the game with a single, scoring Lyerly. The catcher Gale stepped to the plate and grounded into a fielder's choice force-out at third, scoring Register to get the lead back. The fifth and sixth went by with little fanfare with another two-run frame for the South Division coming in the bottom of the sixth, making the score 6-3 in favor of the boys in green. The scoring in pairs continued for the South in the bottom of the seventh, as Nick O'Shea (Green Bay, Minnesota) doubled and later scored on a Register single. The junior came around on a P.J. Polk (La Crosse, Tennessee) twobagger. The North Division added their final tally of the night in the top of the eighth, when Derek McCallum (St. Cloud, Minnesota) hit a sacrifice fly to left that scored Mike O'Neill (Thunder Bay, Southern California) from third. That was all the scoring for the night, and the South Division emerged on top 8-4.  All-Star Game History
Written by Gregg Hoffmann The All-Star Game has added to the stature and entertainment value of the Northwoods League throughout its history. Nobody is more aware, and appreciative, of that fact than League commissioner Dick Radatz, Jr. "I remember our first one in 1995 in Wausau," Radatz said. We had moved to six teams, which was a big step, and had Bernie Allen (former Minnesota Twin and Washington Senator) come down for it. It was sort of a validation of the league at the time." Of course, another ASG that stands out in Radatz's mind is 2001, when the NWL stars beat Team USA, 1-0, in 10 innings. Team USA was coached by Pat McMahon of the University of Florida and featured several college stars, including current Brewer Rickie Weeks. "I remember looking on the field during pre-game workouts and thinking I'm watching a bunch of millionaires in the making," Radatz said. "But, as the game went on, I started to realize that they were all college kids playing with wooden bats." The NWL Stars pitched 10 different pitchers for the 10 innings and all shut out Team USA. They finally pushed a run across in the 10th to win it. It was the first time Team USA had been shut out by a team from the lower 48 states and the team's only loss to a team from the lower 48. "That was very memorable and brought our League recognition," Radatz said. "I think people realized we had a very competitive League." In 1999, the ASG moved to St. Cloud, where it stayed for a few years. In 2004, Phillip Hawke, who would go on to become the League MVP that season, was picked the ASG outstanding player, after leading the South Division team to a 12-0 win with a home run and four RBIs. The host community for the ASG has always done a great job, according to Radatz. In 2005, Alexandria drew 1,857, the largest crowd in its history at the time. The North won that game, 5-2. "That was a great turnout for a small town in Minnesota," Radatz said. "Every community has gone all out for the game, and I'm sure La Crosse will do the same thing this year." (Editors note: La Crosse drew 3,413 fans to the 2006 ASG, then the 2nd largest crowd in NWL All-Star Game history). Some NWL players who have been All-Stars have gone on to bigger things. Curtis Granderson, who now leads off for the Detroit Tigers, was an All-Star back in 2001. Three former NWL All-Stars who were top draft picks include Thomas Diamond, who played for St. Cloud, and was taken as the 10th pick in the 2004 draft by the Rangers, and Lance Broadway, who played for the Wisconsin Woodchucks and was taken 15th overall by the White Sox in 2005. Max Scherzer, a former La Crosse Logger pitcher and NWL All-Star, was picked 11th by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2006 amateur draft. Interestingly enough, a couple big name former NWL alums didn't make the League All-Star team. Dodgers outfielder Juan Pierre and MLB pitcher Jeff Weaver weren't All-Stars. Neither was former Brewer Wes Obermueller. "Pierre was young when he played in the League, and Weaver only went 2-5," Radatz said. "We converted Obermueller from an outfielder to a pitcher in this League, so he was just making the transition." The speakers at the luncheon before the ASG also have included some All-Stars. Former major leaguer and TV analyst Jay Johnstone was among them. Former big league manager Jimy Williams and Twins' President Dave St. Peter were on the agenda at the 2005 affair in Alexandria. Three years ago, former major league catcher and manager Bob Brenly, now a Cubs' TV analyst, was the featured speaker in La Crosse. Then Twins General Manager Terry Ryan spoke at the event in Mankato in ‘07. Former Brewer Greg Vaughn was the keynote speaker in 2008. A home run contest and other festivities have been added to the NWL All-Star Game week in recent years. "I love to see that it's gotten bigger and better," Radatz said. "I think it is a fun event for everybody, and showcases our League and the talent in it."  |
