RED SOX OR ATHLETICS

AMERICAN DIVISION PULLS AWAY LATE IN 18AA ALL STAR GAME For those who did show up, the 18AA All Star game Tuesday, December 10 at the Lantana Sports Complex was a close one for least seven innings. In a game that started with only eight players on each side and finished with nine players on each squad, the American Division (Yankees, Atlantic Sails) scored five runs in a sloppy 8th inning to beat the Nationals (Giants, Marlins, Braves) 10-3. Apparently the result of some mixup, three members of the Angels and one member of the Sails failed to show up. The Nationals also were missing two Giants players and two members of the now defunct Braves. The eight man start probably contributed to the first run of the game. Jason Patton (Sails) ripped a triple to right field to score Nick Castelluccio (Yankees), who led off the walk, in the top of the first. While it may have been a hit anyway, with such space to cover in the outfield, Patton’s shot hit the wide open spaces. The Nationals tied it in the bottom of the second. Keith Buck (Giants) beat out an infield hit and two consecutive errors by the Americans allowed him to score. The Americans went ahead 2-1 when Patton was credited with an RBI on a grounder to deep short and the throw to the plate was too late. The Nationals posted two runs off Patton in the fifth inning to take a 3-2 lead. Joe Stone Braves) was hit by a pitch, Todd Roman (Marlins) singled up the middle and Scott Cobb (Marlins) singled to left, scoring Stone. Carlo Dominguez (Giants) then singled up the middle, scoring Roman for the Nationals’ only lead of the contest. The Americans went ahead with a pair in the 7th inning. Rico Perez (Yankees) drew a walk and advanced to second when pitcher Mike Trotman (Marlins) threw wildly in an attempt to pick him off. Perez scored on an infield error on Nick Castelluccio’s grounder. Nick scored on a sacrifice fly to Tony Rodriguez (Yankees), but ran themselves out of an inning when Yo Perez (Yankees) was cut down at third. The American Division put it away with a five run eighth inning, feaaturing hits by Mike Saturno (Sails) and Rodriguez, two walks, two fielder’s choice, a stolen base, two errors and two wild pitches. They added one more in the 9th. Gabe Rodriguez (Yankees) doubled to right, moving Saturno to third, where he scored on Mike Casteluccio’s sacrifice. Mike (Yankees) closed the game out with two scoreless innings, giving up two hits, but striking out four. Patton was chosen as the game’s Most Valuable Player. In addition to getting two hits, he fanned five in three innings