Updated July 20 2010

National CPL All-Stars Outlast Americans, 5-4

FOREST CITY, N.C.

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(photos courtesy of Pat and Brandon Grecinger)

The National CPL All-Star team took the lead in the bottom of the third and fought off a late rally by the American squad Tuesday night to win 5-4 in the 2010 Coastal Plain League All-Star Game at McNair Field in Forest City, North Carolina.

A crowd of 2,412 fans piled into the home of the Owls to cheer on their favorite CPL All-Stars.

The Americans led off the first with a single by Brian Billigen (Edenton/Cornell) to right field. A double to left by Chase Vergason (Columbia / Florida Atlantic) put runners at second and third with no outs.  A walk by starter Brad McAllister (Morehead City / Barry) to Ryan Daughtry (Wilson / Barton) loaded the bases for Jake Magner (Edenton / North Dakota), who reached on a throwing error by third baseman Chas Crane (Peninsula / Winthrop) that scored both Billigen and Vergason.

Then, Kevin Deese (Asheboro / West Alabama) hit into a 4-6-3 double play that also scored Daughtry from third. McAllister would get the last out he needed to get out of the inning, but the damage was done as the American squad held a 3-0 early lead.

Despite the hole they were in, the National All-Stars managed to push two runs across in the bottom of the first to pull within one run. Nick Orvin (Columbia / The Citadel) led off with a single to third, and then advanced to second on a groundout by Will Skinner (Forest City / Middle Tennessee State). Orvin stole third and then came home on a two-RBI home run by David Chester (Gastonia / Pittsburgh).

Trailing 3-2, the National team got things working offensively again in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Jerry Battipaglia (Outer Banks / Villanova) walked Crane and then gave up a homer to Mac Doyle (Florence / Wofford) to make the score 4-3 Nationals.

An inning later, the National All-Stars added an insurance run to their lead. Orvin drew a one-out walk and then advanced to second on a wild pitch from Patrick Dolan (Florence / Charleston Southern). Another out later, Chester drove in his third RBI of the night with a single through the left side that scored Orvin.

Down 5-3 in the top of the eighth, the Americans were yet ready to go home. Justyn Carter (Morehead City / Saint Peters) led off and was immediately hit by pitcher Chase Boruff (Forest City / Carson-Newman). Carter stole second and then third, and then crossed the plate on a groundout to short by Trey Hernandez (Florence / Texas A&M – Corpus Christi). Boruff settled in and retired the next two batters to avoid any further damage.

With the National All-Stars leading 5-4, they turned to closer Mark Montgomery (Edenton / Longwood), who didn’t disappoint. Montgomery retired three straight, including the last two on strikeouts to earn the save.

After the game, the Coastal Plain League honored the Rawlings Offensive and Defensive Players of the All-Star Game. Chester (pictured left) took home the Rawlings Offensive Player trophy after going 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored. Meanwhile, Montgomery (pictured right) was selected as the Rawlings Defensive Player of the Game. He pitched one inning of hitless baseball, walked zero and struck out two.

The night before, Chester (Pittsburgh) won the 2010 CPL All-Star Home Run Derby with 11 bombs. He is the only player in CPL history to win both the All-Star Home Run Derby and then win the Offensive Player of the All-Star Game award.

The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 14th season, the Coastal Plain League features 15 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. Furthermore, the CPL has had over 800 alumni drafted and 36 alums make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league Web site at http://www.coastalplain.com.

Contact:

Justin Sellers

Phone:

(919) 852-1960