Austin Knight (Boys Latin) was the Most Valuable Player for the North
Sean Thompson (Archbishop Curley) was the Most Valuable Pitcher for the North
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The best high school players in the state gathered at Oriole Park on
Sunday for the Brooks Robinson All-Star Game, and the South squad, led by Devin Gardner (Kent Island)
pounded out ten hits as they beat the North, 10-5.
Hitting third in the
powerful South line-up, Gardner hit a two-out solo shot into the
left-field seats, in the bottom of the first, to give his team a 1-0
lead. Gardner, who was named the MVP for the South, doubled in the
sixth, to finish the day 2-for-3, with two runs scored and an
RBI.
"It's really a thrill to be able to be here, and have a good day," said the fleet center-fielder.
The South would get two more in the second, one on a RBI single from
Carl Trevers (Riverdale Baptist), and another that scored on a sac-fly
off the bat of Cory Jensen (Severna Park).
The North came from behind in the fourth inning when they sent ten men
to the plate and scored five times, but the South got three in the
fifth and four more in the sixth to take a commanding five run lead
that they would not relinguish. Austin Knight (Boys Latin), who had
two hits on the day for the North, drove in two in the fourth with a
bases loaded single. Knight was named the MVP for the North.
The South took a 6-5 lead in the fifth, getting the go-ahead run on a
successful first and third double steal, with Jenson racing accross the
plate.
In the sixth, Gardner led off with a double, Tom Gilchrist (Sherwood )
singled, Chris Bell (Leonardtown) got an RBI single, Brian Hudson
(Stephen Decatur) drove in a run with a sac-fly, Mike Foster (Easton) doubled. In addition, Tommy
Winegardner (Riverdale Baptist) singled and Tyler Bennett (Colonel
Richardson) walked with the bases loaded to force in a run. Bennett
did the same thing in the fifth, giving the catcher two RBI on the day.
Curley's Sean Thompson was the Most Valuable Pitcher for the North,
retiring all six hitters that he faced in the third and fourth innings.
Thompson struck out five in a row in a brilliant stint.
"I was hitting the corners with my fastball," said the tall right-hander.
Kevin Brady, the starter for the South had four strike-outs in two
innings of work to earn the Most Valuable Pitcher Award for his squad.
"My fastball had good movement," said Brady. "Pitching on this mound is a dream
come true," added the tall righty, who was drafted by the Orioles two
weeks ago and was recently named the Gatorade Maryland State High School Baseball
Player of the Year.
Second baseman Mike Foster (Easton) had a big day the South going 3-for-3, with a double, an RBI, and he scored three times. Phil Ruzbarsky (Westminster) had a triple for the North.
After the big fourth inning by the North, Mike Boyden (LaPlata), who
got the win, and Sander Beck (Severn) retired nine batters in a row for
the South.
NORTH 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 5 7 0
SOUTH 1 2 0 0 3 4 x 10 10 0
Dillon, Thompson (3), Futter (5), Zier, and Sawyer and Jamison
Brady, Feigl (3), Boyden (5), Beck (7) and Travers and Bennett
WP- S- Boyden
LP-- N-Futter
2B-- S-Gardner, Foster
3B- N- Ruzbarsky
HR- S-Gardner