Blue Crabs well-represented at Atlantic League All-Star Game

Six appear in tilt, but Freedom Division rallies

Friday, July 18, 2008

Click here to enlarge this photo File photo by GARY SMITH George Sandel collected the first Liberty Division hit at Wednesday’s All-Star game, which was held in Bridgeport, N.J. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

Six Blue Crabs players –– third baseman Patrick Osborn, shortstop George Sandel, pitcher Ryan Bicondoa, designated hitter Curtis Pride, catcher Adam Shorsher and pitcher Matt Schweitzer — made the trek up to the home of the Somerset Patriots to take part in the league’s mid-summer classic as members of the Liberty Division side.

‘‘It was just an awesome experience,” said Schweitzer, who was playing in his second All-Star Game of his career. ‘‘Somerset put on a great show, and really did it right for us players. It was a very enjoyable experience.”

Newark’s Ramon Castro was named the game’s most valuable player after belting two home runs in his first two at-bats, the second off Bicondoa.

Bicondoa’s lone inning of work was less than impressive. He allowed four runs on four hits and a walk, and was charged with the loss. After surrendering the homer, Bicondoa gave up RBI singles to Somerset’s Josh Pressley and Newark’s Jose Herrera.

Schweitzer had more success against the MVP, as the left-hander went after Castro in the bottom of the eighth and got the strikeout. Schweitzer struck out both batters he faced in the inning.

‘‘My approach when I got on the mound was just to relax and enjoy the experience,” Schweitzer said. ‘‘The last couple of outings I have had this season I have kind of struggled, so it felt good to pitch well. I was fortunate to strike them both out.”

Osborn also enjoyed a successful night, as he scored the first run of the game for the visiting team. He singled in the top of the fourth and scored on a single by Camden’s Ron Davenport to bring the score to 4-1.

Osborn went 1 for 3 on the night with a walk and the run scored.

The Liberty Division tied the game at 4 in the top of the inning, but the Freedom Division went up by four in the bottom off of Bicondoa.

Sandel committed two fielding errors in the first inning as he bobbled groundballs.

Sandel is the league’s leader in fielding errors with 22 on the season. He redeemed himself in the fifth with a diving stop that turned into a big double play for his team.

Sandel also picked up the first hit of the game for the Liberty Division with a single in the third inning off of Newark’s Benito Baez. Shorsher and Pride each came off the bench late in the game, but Pride flied out. Shorsher struck out against York closer Nick McCurdy to lead off the ninth.

In addition to the 8,290 fans, an Atlantic League All-Star Game record, who attended the game, 30 major league scouts were also in attendance.

After watching the Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, N.Y., a game that started Tuesday night and went into early Wednesday morning, the scouts came to Bridgewater to look for talent hidden in the independent league.

The All-Stars playing in the game also got to meet some VIPs, Donald Trump, the famed billionaire entrepreneur, as well as former Major League managers Don Zimmerman and Jim Frey.

‘‘That was a pretty neat experience,” Schweitzer said. ‘‘These are guys you see on TV, but then you get to meet them, and they are just regular, everyday people. We all got to talk to them for a little bit.”

The Blue Crabs All-Stars will now meet up with their teammates on Friday for a six-game road trip with stops in Lancaster and Newark.