SCRANTON – Scranton’s Billy Fox and Wallenpaupack’s T.J. Schmalzle were selected as their team’s Most Valuable Players in a senior baseball all-star game held Friday night at Connell Park.
Fox drove in runs with a double and a single and reached base when he was hit by a pitch in his other plate appearance while helping the White defeat the Red, 12-4, in a game shortened by rain.
The second annual all-star game, organized by the 570 Sports Show, was switched from a Lackawanna League vs. Wyoming Valley Conference format last year to an all-Lackawanna League game this season because of a lack of available WVC players. It was the first game of an all-star doubleheader that saw the two leagues from District 2 meet in softball.
Schmalzle had a three-run homer in the bottom of the third to force a 4-4 tie.
The game remained tied until the White scored eight times in the top of the fifth.
Rain forced the stoppage of play in the top of the sixth. The game did not resume.
Christian Galimi from Delaware Valley struck out six in three innings as the starting pitcher for the White. Riverside’s R.J. Santarsiero worked two scoreless innings and struck out two.
Matt Saita started for the Red and struck out two in three innings.
North Pocono’s Ryan Ruddy led off and went 2-for-2 with a double, a walk, two runs and an RBI for the White.
Fox followed him with similar results, scoring twice in addition to driving in two runs.
Tommy Rohan from Holy Cross was next and also reached all three times with an RBI single and two walks.
Lakeland’s Logan Fuga had an RBI triple and scored twice.
Galimi had an RBI single and scored.
Schmalzle, who led off, had his team’s only two hits. He started the bottom of the first with a single and came in to score.
Catcher Gavin LaCoe from Abington Heights recorded all three outs for the Red in the third inning by throwing out runners attempting to steal.
Players from Blue Ridge, Delaware Valley, Holy Cross, Lackawanna Trail, Lakeland, Old Forge, Riverside, West Scranton and Western Wayne made up the White team, which was sponsored by Conte Paving. The Red, sponsored by Jimmy John’s, consisted of players from Abington Heights, Elk Lake, Mid Valley, Montrose, Mountain View, Valley View and Wallenpaupack. Players from North Pocono and Scranton were split among the two teams.
