NEWS

LYNN, Mass. - The West Division defeated the East Division 5-1 in the 2023 NECBL All-Star Game, presented by Metro Credit Union, behind eight scoreless innings thrown by nine different pitchers.

 

Catcher Kevin Bruggeman (Upper Valley, C, Hofstra) won the 2023 All-Star Game MVP after going 2-for-2 on the night with two hits including a two-out two-run single with the bases loaded in the fourth inning. Bruggeman was one of two West All-Stars with multi-hit performances, joined by Anthony Livermore (Keene, 3B, Northwestern).

 

The West Division struck first with a leadoff single by T.J. Williams (Vermont, OF, Notre Dame) on a full count in the top of the first inning. Williams stole second base and later scored from second on an RBI single by Greg Bozzo (Keene, C, Northeastern). East Division starter Santhosh Gottam (Newport, RHP, Brown) limited the damage to one run to keep the game close through the first inning.

 

Garrett Howe (Ocean State, 2B, Samford) hit a leadoff double with a blooper to left field for the East Division. Howe attempted to steal third, but was caught with a perfect throw by the catcher Greg Bozzo (Northeastern). West Division starter Nolan Sparks (Vermont, RHP, Rochester) escaped a first inning jam with a diving stop by Kyle Hannon (North Adams, 3B, Penn State) at third base to leave two runners stranded for the East Division.

 

Alex Logusch (Ocean State, RHP, Winthrop) allowed three walks to load the bases in the fourth and a Ryan Cesarini (Upper Valley, DH, St. Joseph’s) sacrifice fly scored Javon Hernandez (Danbury, SS, Auburn) to start the inning. 

 

The West continued its rally when Williams reached base for a third time after his second hit-by-pitch to load the bases once again with two outs. Bruggeman’s two-run single drove in Nighthawks teammate Adarius Myers (Upper Valley, OF, Louisiana Tech) along with Brandon Butterworth (Vermont, 2B, NC State) to give the West a commanding 4-0 lead. 

 

Brent Francisco (Bristol, RHP, East Stroudsburg) recorded the first 1-2-3 inning of the evening after retiring three straight batters in the fifth inning, including strikeouts of Anthony DePino (Mystic, 3B, URI) and Mike Bello (Mystic, OF, Auburn).

 

Bruggeman reached base for a second time with a single to right field in the sixth inning, and later advanced to second on a Kyle Hannon two-out walk. Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman (Ocean State, RHP, East Carolina) struck out the league’s second-leading home run hitter Samuel Tackett (North Adams, OF, Virginia Tech) to escape the jam with a scoreless frame to keep the East within four.

 

Michael Weidinger (Valley, LHP, William & Mary) retired the side in the sixth inning, including two fly outs and a strikeout of Nolan Nawrocki (Martha’s Vineyard, SS, Clemson) to continue a dominant pitching performance by the West Division.

 

In the bottom half of the seventh inning, Anthony Livermore (Keene, 3B, Northwestern) showcased his speed with a diving attempt at first base to earn an infield single in his first plate appearance of the game. Livermore went on to steal second and third base before scoring on three straight walks allowed by East pitcher Jay Allmer (Mystic, RHP, Seton Hall), the league’s leader in saves. 

 

The East Division cut into the lead with a solo home run by Jake Berger (North Shore, 3B, Harvard) in the bottom of the eighth. Fellow Navigator Stan DeMartinis lll (North Shore, OF, Bentley) followed with a single to left, but Week 2 Pitcher of the Week George Viebrock lll (Danbury, LHP, Denison) retired the next three batters to maintain a 5-1 lead for the West heading into the ninth.

 

West Division Fan Vote winner Luis Misla (Upper Valley, LHP, SUNY Cortland) split the ninth inning with 2023 Home Run Derby champion and two-way player Anthony Steele (Danbury, LHP, Penn State) to seal a dominant 5-1 victory for the West Division.